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November 9, 2005

DeafNation Expo appears for first time in Rochester, brings together over 2,400 people

From: DeafNation - Nov 9, 2005

Media Contact:

Joel Barish, DeafNation
P.O. Box 762
Frederick, MD 21705-0762
FAX 301.682.7529
expo@deafnation.com
marketing@deafnation.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DeafNation Expo appears for first time in Rochester, brings together over 2,400 people

Rochester, NY [November 9, 2005] – DeafNation Expo wrapped up its 2005 schedule by coming to Rochester, N.Y. on Nov. 5. “The day was a wonderfully perfect day with the warm weather. In fact, I must have brought the nice weather all the way over from the DeafNation Expo last week in California,” joked DeafNation CEO Joel Barish. “In all seriousness, Rochester was an ideal location to finish up our 2005 schedule. I was extremely impressed with the community, the sponsors and the 2,400-plus attendees, especially since it was our first appearance in Rochester.”

Several companies, including Sorenson VRS, Sprint, Fuse Wireless, and Frontier, sponsored the event. "Sorenson VRS is proud to be the premier sponsor of the first DeafNation in Rochester,” said Kian-Guan Au, Sorenson VRS training and install manager for western and upstate New York. “This year's Rochester DeafNation was a great opportunity for networking, learning about the latest technology trends, and giveaways like the big screen TV from Sorenson VRS.”

"It was so much fun to see Deaf Rochester come to DeafNation Expo. I was reminded once again why Rochester is such a great place for deaf and hard of hearing people to live,” said Mary Beth Barber-Mothersell, Sprint account manager for New York Relay. “Sprint enjoyed meeting with the people who use our services on a daily basis. DeafNation did a great job coordinating this event; people had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the entertainment provided by John Maucere.”

Performer John Maucere was yet again a crowd favorite, surprising expo-goers with fun questions as he visited booths in his SuperDeafy costume. Maucere also presented the Dating Game with Mary Monroe and the John Leno Show, both sponsored by Sprint. Presenters included the National Deaf Business Institute, Deaf Senior Housing in Rochester, and Deaf Rochester News. Sponsors and exhibitors gave away door prizes, and younger people were seen participating in various children’s activities throughout the day.

“I thought the show was very well organized and promoted, which in turn yielded a large and enthusiastic crowd. The highlight of the show was the diversity of vendors in attendance along with the informative presentations on the main stage,” said Fuse Wireless president Bill Trout of Columbia, Md. “DeafNation shows are beneficial to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities for a myriad of reasons.  They expose the community to both new and existing assistive technologies and products, offer informative seminars that help improve the quality of life for Deaf/HOH individuals, and provides very targeted entertainment for attendees.”
 
“Another really beneficial aspect of doing the expo in Rochester was that media coverage was heavy,” said Barish. “There were newspapers and television stations that stopped by, which showed me how respected the Deaf community is in Rochester. We’re eager about coming back to Rochester next year!”

DeafNation Expo is visiting 12 cities in 2006, with the first one planned for Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 11. Admission is free for all attendees, and registration may be completed by visiting www.deafnation.com.

About DeafNation
DeafNation and DeafNation Expo are the premier destinations for people wanting to stay updated about the latest happenings in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Visit www.deafnation.com for the latest news, video clips in sign language, and exclusive coverage of events such as the Deaflympics and World Federation of the Deaf activities. DeafNation Expo is the foremost exhibition for, by, and about Deaf people. DeafNation Expo, held at different locations across the nation each year, is a celebration of culture, an exhibition of technology, and a business and social event – all wrapped up in one dynamic, spectacular event at no charge to attendees. Visit DeafNation’s website today at www.deafnation.com!

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