Friday, May. 16, 2008

Exhibit offers glimpse into life of deaf person

The Deaf Cultural Center unveiled a one-of-a-kind exhibit Friday — one that gives hands-on experience of what life is like for a deaf person.

The exhibit is another opportunity to celebrate and teach people about deaf culture, director Sandra Kelly said.

“In a way, we hope it will be one-stop shopping for ideas,” Kelly said.

The new exhibit is set up like a studio apartment. Within it are various items deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals would use. For instance, there is a strobe-light alarm system to alert someone if there is a fire. There is also an alarm clock that vibrates to make the bed shake.

Kelly said she sees the exhibit serving a practical purpose for all Olathe residents. She increasingly receives phone calls from people saying they need assistance for a family member who has lost his or her hearing.

“I get phone calls from sweet, little old ladies saying, ‘I guess it’s time he starts learning sign language,’” Kelly said. “...But this will show there are devices out there to make them realize life can continue to be independent.”

And if people aren’t sure if they want to purchase adaptive equipment, they will have a chance to try it, such as the TTY/video phone in the exhibit.

“I am so thrilled about helping people understand this is more than just a museum with this living facility,” Kelly said. “This is a vital place that provides info to people.”

The exhibit will be updated as new technology develops. Creating the exhibit was a challenge for designer Karen Mills, who said she had a “shoestring” budget.

“I tried to create a room that was timeless and not trendy so 10 years from now it will not fade out,” Mills said.

The exhibit decor has “green” elements as well, such as compact fluorescent bulbs.

“I’m trying to get that green stuff out there because it is healthier,” Mills said. “This project is great because we now have the chance to educate the public and do more than anything we’ve done so far to raise awareness about deaf culture.”

Kelly said she hopes the realistic-looking exhibit will inspire students from Kansas School for the Deaf.

“We needed it to look real — like somebody lives here and this is how it works — to show that (they) are not going to live with your parents forever,” Kelly said.

The exhibit is at the Deaf Cultural Center, 455 E. Park St.

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