Hands Across Communications

Hands Across Communications is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. It was founded in 1993, born out of the need for new and innovative programs to fill the gaps in the education of deaf and hard of hearing children.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Family Multimedia Programming

The past three years have given us an opportunity to share successes and failures. We have learned a great deal and appreciate your continued support. We are very excited about the new programs that are in development for the upcoming year. Our current project is focused on a 2 film documentary called "The Other Side: South Africa Safari" and "The Other Side: Japan Adventure". We plan to distribute to deaf and mainstreamed schools as well as wider audience distribution in America and other countries.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

To provide/develop quality entertainment programming for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences.
To create and disseminate high quality sign language for the deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing in an entertaining and stimulating format.
To provide interaction between deaf/hearing professionals working together through the medium of creating an entertainment programming for television and film.

IDENTIFYING THE NEED

Hearing people have complete access to information in the world around us. Their social and educational growth is directly promoted through environmental auditory stimulation, such as conversation, radio, television, music and sounds emanating from today's world. The deaf are "out of the know" simply because the information systems are not wholly inclusive.

ADDRESSING THE NEED

A group of similarly concerned individuals has been assembled with the single focus of producing, marketing and distributing a series of videos intended to fill that void. What is the focus? Educational, societal and moral issues surrounding deaf culture and special needs, not only in America but around the world.

HOW

Through a series of documentary films focusing on the deaf culture in different countries, we can experience and gain a greater understanding of deaf struggles and successes in other countries. We will also explore their language and activities.

Programs will be designed for academic settings as well as home viewing in mind.

For example, one video will be a creative blend of sign language and spoken word for children ages 3-6, aimed at developing creativity and camaraderie. Each video will be designed to appeal to all children, whether hearing, hard-of-hearing or deaf, with the subject material stressing their similarity and sameness rather than differences.