Houston Mormon deaf branch finds way to serve (Utah Deseret News, October 29, 2011)

Article from LDS Church News/Deseret News today about the Fallbrook Deaf Branch (Houston, TX) and their day of service.

HOUSTON — Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from several wards in Houston combined efforts to prepare and donate clothing to Houston’s Career and Recovery Resources, or CRR, on Oct. 15. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the LDS Church’s welfare program President Henry B. Eyring encouraged members worldwide to choose one day to give service in their respective communities.



Spearheaded by the Fallbrook Deaf Branch and joined by the Kleinwood, Memorial Springs and Champions wards, more than 2,500 items of interview-ready clothing were carried in on hangers and in wardrobe-size boxes. Tony Lynch, CRR’s employment specialist for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Division, was overwhelmed by the amount of clothing that was brought through the doors of CRR.

“CRR helps anyone who has a barrier to gaining employment,” Lynch said. “These barriers could be that they are deaf or hard of hearing, have an emotional problem, a recovering addict; any barrier really. We provide clothing for job interviews, job-readiness training, computer literacy training, etc. This clothing is really going to help our clients.”

The Fallbrook Branch chose CRR, a United Way organization, in part because many of its members have used and benefited from the assistance of CRR.



“I go to CRR three or four times a week,” said Karen Hancock, a hard-of-hearing woman who has been a member of the Fallbrook Deaf Branch for 15 years. “I thought it was a wonderful idea when our branch decided to serve this organization. (CRR) really needs help down there.”

And how does she feel about the idea of a day of service?

“It shows how we all can serve different kinds of people, including the deaf and hard-of-hearing.”

The LDS Church's welfare program was organized in 1936 during the Great Depression. Its purpose is to help people not only in temporarily difficult circumstances but also to promote self-reliance as a way of life.

Mormon leaders are hoping the day of service will inspire people to get more involved in their communities and to go beyond just the one day of service. They hope it will become a life-long commitment.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705393305/Houston-Mormon-deaf-branch-finds-way-to-serve.html

Sign Language Materials Help Deaf Community Come to Christ

This article published in the Church in the News section of lds.org, explains how materials are prepared, translated, interpreted, and produced for Deaf members of the Church.

Some Deaf people read English just fine. Some prefer to have materials in their native language, just like speakers of any other language,” said Joseph Featherstone of the Church Translation Department, who is Deaf. “Having these products in ASL allows Deaf people more access to the gospel and more access to feeling the Spirit.

“The Book of Mormon translation into ASL has made a huge impact on the Deaf community in terms of being able to learn and have access to the gospel,” Brother Featherstone continued. “When I read the Book of Mormon in English, I read it and understand it, but when I see it expressed in ASL, it does something different. It is completely personal to me, and it touches me.

Correction about LDS Counseling Services for the Deaf

We previously posted that counseling services for LDS Deaf members were available through videophone. Because of recent changes regarding counseling via videophone, LDS Family Services no longer offers this service. Likewise, counselors/therapists are not licensed to provide counseling or therapy across state lines if they are not licensed in those states.

A therapist licensed in California cannot provide counseling to a person in New York through videophone, for example, because the counselor is not licensed in New York.

Please contact counselors who you trust in your area to help with these needs.

2011 LDS Deaf Symposium

The 2011 LDS Deaf Symposium website is now available, hosted by the Ogden Valley Deaf Branch. The Symposium will be held at Weber State University and looks to offer plenty to see, do, and learn about.

View the site at http://ldsdeafsymposium.org.