Deaf ExpoTM California Show Plans Underway

From: CSD - Oct 24, 2003

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
For Immediate Release: Oct. 24 , 2003

Contact: Erin Casler
CSD Public Relations
ecasler@c-s-d.org
(605) 367-5761

Deaf ExpoTM California Show Plans Underway

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Three additional sponsors have committed to the upcoming Deaf Expo 2003 West show in Long Beach, Calif. Along with Sprint as national sponsor, new sponsors are Toyota Motor Sales USA, Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness (GLAD) and Wynd Communications Corporation. Deaf Expo 2003 West takes place Friday and Saturday, November 7-8 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Deaf ExpoTM draws thousands of patrons on the West Coast and has gained a national reputation for setting trends and innovative programming. Deaf Expo is the only nonprofit consumer trade show presented from a deaf perspective. This unique experience is a place for the deaf and hard of hearing community to mingle with their peers and an opportunity for hearing people to learn about another culture. Over 100 exhibits have been confirmed to date at Deaf Expo 2003 West.

Sign language and deaf studies students will be able to participate in a new Sign Language Playhouse program. In addition to entertainment on the Deaf World Stage, there will be presentations on challenges of multi-cultural life in the seminars program and a brand new 'Teenage Block' activity area.

"Dormitory," which was unveiled at Deaf Expo 2003 East in Philadelphia, will also be shown during an evening function in Long Beach. This showing was made possible by AT&T IP Relay. "Dormitory" is a no holds barred look at life in a residential school dormitory. "No Talking Allowed," a romantic comedy featuring an artistically frustrated painter and a struggling model passionately striving for success in their careers, will have its world premiere.

Childcare is provided during both show days at nominal cost. LifeSigns has been designated as official show interpreter referral service and Long Beach Airport Marriott is the official hotel. For show ticketing, hotel and exhibit information, contact the Deaf Expo Hotline at toll free TTY: (877) 890-9458, Voice: (866) 295-4899, e-mail deafexpo@deafexpo.org or visit the official show web site at www.deafexpo.org.

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About Our Sponsors Sprint is the nation's leading provider of telecommunications relay services to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and individuals with speech disabilities. Calls can be made to anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with no restrictions on the number, length or type of calls. All calls are strictly confidential and no records of any conversations are maintained. Sprint Relay provides service to 30 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the federal government. For more than 13 years, Sprint has been providing traditional relay service that is both convenient and reliable. Using state of the art technology and equipment to bring relay service to hundreds of thousands of customers, Sprint Relay processes more than 39 million calls annually or more than 120 million minutes of conversation that otherwise would not be possible via phone. Sprint's Internet Relay service is available at www.sprintrelayonline.com. Sprint Video Relay Service, powered by CSD, is available at www.sprintvrs.com. For more information on Sprint Relay visit www.sprint.com/relay.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), established in 1957, is the sales, marketing, distribution and customer services arm of Toyota in the United States. Based in Torrance, Calif., TMS employs approximately 6,000 employees nationwide. Since Toyota began selling cars in America, it has been committed to doing more than manufacturing and marketing vehicles. By providing financial resources and encouraging employee volunteerism, Toyota continues to form partnerships with organizations nationwide, such as Deaf ExpoT, to make a difference in the community.

The Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness, Inc. (GLAD) has been improving the lives of deaf and hard of hearing individuals since its establishment as a volunteer organization in 1969. Founded on the philosophy. "of, by and for the deaf and hard of hearing," GLAD's Deaf Community Center encompasses a wide array of specialized health and human service programs for the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Wynd Communications is the leading provider of two-way wireless services designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The official wireless provider of Deaf Expo West for the last six years, Wynd has been providing life-changing wireless service to the deaf community since the introduction of WyndTell in 1997. Wynd's commitment to innovation has yielded many service firsts, including TTY messaging, live TTY chat, member access to AAA Roadside Assistance, wireless faxing, InSight Movie information and more. Wynd offers the most complete collection of wireless devices, services and accessories, all available through its authorized dealers and the Deafwireless Superstore. For more information, visit the Deafwireless Superstore at Deaf Expo 2003 West or on the web at: www.wyndpartners.com or www.deafsuperstore.com.

Deaf Expo is a registered trademark of the Communication Service for the Deaf.

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