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A new door opens to expand world of deaf people

Help with reading, writing, working a computer and more is offered now at the South Branch Library.

ST. PETERSBURG - As of Tuesday, deaf and hearing-impaired people have a new place to learn coping skills such as improving reading and writing levels.

A satellite deaf literacy center at the city's South Branch Library, 2300 Roy Hanna Drive, also will offer sign language classes, computer training and story hours for youngsters, among other services.

The signing classes also are open to people who can hear. Deaf parents or parents who hear but have a deaf child are welcome, too.

Parents even are encouraged to bring babies to learn sign language, said Rosa Rodriguez, deaf literacy coordinator for the Pinellas County public library system.

The free programs are from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the library.

The deaf literacy outreach was established five years ago at the Safety Harbor library when staff members noticed an influx of deaf patrons and had difficulty communicating effectively.

So the library requested and received a state grant to start a deaf services program. After two years, the library system took over, Rodriguez said.

Now there are deaf literacy centers in Palm Harbor and Pinellas Park, in addition to the one at the Safety Harbor library. The South Branch center is St. Petersburg's first.

Rodriguez and St. Petersburg library director Mary Gaines say they expect the service will be well received.

At least two families have been driving to the Pinellas Park center from neighborhoods near the South Branch, Rodriguez said.

Countywide, about 60 hearing-impaired people come to programs regularly, she said. Another 200 are occasional attendees, and more than 200 people who hear also participate.

Literacy training is the big draw, Rodriguez said.

"We teach deaf adults basic reading, writing and computer skills," Rodriguez said.

"The national average (indicates) a deaf person graduates from high school and reads at a fourth grade level. We talk about everything in this (class), from terrorism, you name it. But once it's on paper, they get lost."

Researchers say deaf people experience reading and writing difficulty because they miss auditory cues. For example, youngsters typically may be taught to "sound out" words when learning to read or write them; but deaf or hard-of-hearing people have difficulty connecting sounds with printed words.

Sarah Harris, who is deaf, will be the regular teacher for the South Branch programs.

WHAT: Satellite deaf literacy center at South Branch Library

WHEN: 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays

WHERE: 2300 Roy Hanna Drive, St. Petersburg

CALL: Rosa Rodriguez at 724-1525, ext. 232, or the South Branch Library, 893-7244

COST: Free