Deaf Expo(Tm) Targets Deaf Consumers, Sign Language And Deaf Culture Students Next Weekend

From: CSD - May 21, 2003

Deaf Expo 2003 to be held at
Pennsylvania Convention Center May 30–31

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — It appears that the first Deaf Expo(tm) show
on the East Coast will exceed show organizers' conservative
estimates. With over 70 exhibits confirmed to date, guest
appearances by actress Deanne Bray (PAX's "Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye"),
Christy Smith (CBS's hit series "Survivor"), sign language book
author Gabriel Grayson and "The Deaf Link" game show on the Deaf
World Performing Stage, as many as 6,000 patrons are expected to
attend the country's largest consumer trade show targeted at the
deaf and hard of hearing market.

Deaf Expo 2003 takes place Friday and Saturday, May 30–31 at the
Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia. The event
is open to the general public, with voice-interpreted formal
programs and seminars captioned in real time, courtesy of
VoicePrints, Inc. Sponsored by Sprint Relay, Deaf Expo 2003 will
include exhibits covering education, finance, giftware, health,
human resources, publications, recreation, religion and technology.
The Deaf Village also features home businesses, arts and crafts, and
distribution of materials announcing events and services relevant to
consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

A Deaf Expo 2003 day pass includes admission to the convention
center's Exhibit Hall D, where the seminar program, technology
forum, deaf art contest and Deaf World Performing Stage performances
take place.

Patrons can drop off their ticket stubs for hundreds of door prizes.
Drawings will be held each hour. Other daytime program features
include video relay demonstrations, TTYs and text pagers. Exhibitors
participating at Deaf Expo 2003 – Philadelphia will include
businesses that produce and distribute merchandise specifically for
consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as national
service providers who will promote their TTY or relay services.

Two evening events are also scheduled. A new program this year is
the "Sign Language Playhouse," where sign language students can
learn or polish their signing skills and participate in signing
activities and games. (A coordinator will be on site to sign class
attendance sheets.) Sponsored by AT&T IP Relay, Deaf Expo's second
digital film short, "Dormitory," will also have its premiere on
Saturday evening.

Hotel rooms are still available at Hilton Garden Inn, the official
hotel of Deaf Expo 2003 – Philadelphia. Receive special group
rates through the Deaf Expo 2003 toll-free hotline at (877) 890-9458
TTY or (866) 295-4899 Voice. Ticket ordering options, schedules,
exhibit request capabilities and other show information can be found
at www.DEAFEXPO.org.

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Deaf Expo(tm) is a registered trademark of Communication Service for
the Deaf, Inc.