RELEASE: Gallaudet offers aid to those displaced by Hurricane Katrina

From: Gallaudet - Sept 3, 2005

PRESS RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Mercy Coogan, Director of Public Relations, Gallaudet University
Phone: (202) 651-5727
TTY: (202) 651-5727
Cell: (202) 299-6117
Fax: (202) 651-5704
Email: Mercy.Coogan@Gallaudet.Edu

Gallaudet University provides relief to deaf and hard of hearing victims of Hurricane Katrina

(WASHINGTON) Gallaudet University has opened its doors to deaf, hard of hearing and hearing undergraduate and graduate students who were attending a college or university now closed due to Hurricane Katrina.

According to University Provost Jane K. Fernandes, displaced students may enroll either on a visiting student basis or as a full-time transfer student. Two deaf undergraduate students attending schools in New Orleans at the time of the hurricane are already being processed by the Gallaudet Admissions Office. The University is also open to deaf and hard of hearing students displaced from elementary or secondary schools.

Undergraduate students, please contact:
(202) 651-5114 (tty)
(202) 651-5750 (voice)
(202) 651-5744 (fax)
(800) 995-0550 (tty/voice)
admissions.office@gallaudet.edu (e-mail)

Graduate students, please contact:
(202) 651-5400 (tty/voice)
Graduate.School@gallaudet.edu(e-mail)

Deaf or hard of hearing elementary and secondary school students, please contact:
(202) 651-5397 (tty/voice)
Michael.Peterson@gallaudet.edu (e-mail)

Gallaudet also welcomes Deaf Community members displaced by the hurricane and is working with the Louisiana School for the Deaf and the Mississippi School for the Deaf to identify those deaf and hard of hearing people in need of food and shelter, including the use of campus facilities.

The University has established a special fund to support relief efforts for the deaf and hard of hearing community in the storm-affected area, including especially the Louisiana School for the Deaf and the Mississippi School for the Deaf. Contributions should be sent to:

The Office of Development
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Checks should be made payable to: Gallaudet University/Hurricane Relief Fund

The Mental Health Center at the University is prepared to offer services to displaced students, as well as current Gallaudet students, faculty, teachers or staff who have family and friends in the hurricane-ravaged areas.

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About Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University is the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduate students. The University enjoys an international reputation for the outstanding graduate programs it provides deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students, as well as for the quality of the research it conducts on the history, language, culture, and other topics related to deaf people. In addition, the University's Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children at its two demonstration schools and throughout the nation by developing, implementing, and disseminating innovative educational strategies. Gallaudet is located in Washington, DC.