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Human Rights Commission launches new sign language video

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October 18, 2007

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For immediate publication

Toronto - Ontario Human Rights Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall is being joined today by the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, at an event hosted by the Canadian Hearing Society to launch the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s first ever sign language video.

“Disability is the number one ground of discrimination cited in complaints filed at the Commission. While we have done much to raise awareness and advance human rights for persons with disabilities, this video will help make that information more accessible to deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing individuals and others,“ remarked Ms. Hall. “It’s also an excellent opportunity to show what can be achieved through cooperation and creative thinking,” she added.

The Canadian Hearing Society first suggested the idea of a sign language video and provided guidance. For the Record Productions Inc. produced the video, and Fourth Wall Media/One Stop Network graciously donated the advertising space. The video will be promoted through a public service announcement in sign language and text format that will air on the Toronto Transit Commission’s One Stop Network for three months beginning today.

The multi-format video, based on the Commission’s latest brochure called Disability and the Duty to Accommodate: Your Rights and Responsibilities under Ontario’s Human Rights Code, is available in American Sign Language and Langue des signes québécoise as well as English / French captioning and audio.

To view the video, please visit the Ontario Human Rights Commission Web site.

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Afroze Edwards
Sr. Communications Officer
Communications and Issues Management
afroze.edwards@ohrc.on.ca
(416) 314-4528

Jeff Poirier
Senior Policy Analyst
Policy Education, Monitoring and Outreach Branch (PEMO)
Ontario Human Rights Commission
jeff.poirier@ohrc.on.ca
(416)314-4539