League Opens New Office in Franklin - NEWS

From: League for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Nashville, Tenn - Feb 15, 2006

For more information:
Sharon Limpus
615-599-0080/615-554-9938 (cell)
sharon.limpus@comcast.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Nashville, Tenn. – February 15, 2006] – The League for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has opened a new location for its Franklin satellite office and classroom space to better serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents and their families in the Middle Tennessee area.

The League’s site is now at the Goodwill Industries Employment and Training Services, 595 Hillsboro Road in the Independence Square Shopping Center. The office is open for qualified, onsite interpreting services on Mondays from 12:30-4:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. for any Deaf or Hard of Hearing individual.

“We are very pleased with this partnership that provides us with office and classroom space in a convenient, popular location that has plenty of parking,” said Bonnie Funk, vice president of Interpreting Services. Funk hold certificates in interpretation and transliteration.

Offsite interpreting services are available by appointment through the League’s main office in Nashville. Walk-in interpreting services are also available at the League’s Nashville office from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Emergency services are available 24/7.

“The League has always served Williamson County as a part of the Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky region as the sole provider of qualified interpreters and comprehensive services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” said Les Hutchinson, Ph.D., League president/CEO. “Having a satellite location increases our presence and provides an alternative to any Deaf or Hard of Hearing person, just not those in Williamson County.”

Franklin residents Funk and Eric Workman, a certified interpreter and League staff member, will be the primary League interpreters offering services in the new location. A Williamson County satellite office first opened in Franklin in October 2003 at the American Red Cross office in the Community Services Building.

“We appreciated the commitment and support of our friends at the American Red Cross office, especially when they were working so hard to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina last year,” said Funk. “Our services from that first office location helped many Deaf residents and their families, and many people in the community learned sign language in the Red Cross’ classroom.”

The classroom space will be used for American Sign Language classes and other League programs. A new sign language class is being held there for students taking beginning conversational sign language. An intermediate class will follow its conclusion. Sign language classes are offered throughout the year in Franklin, Nashville and Clarksville by the League.

For more information about the League, its interpreting services, or its after-school programs, call 615-248-8828 (V/TTY) or www.leagueforthedeaf.com.