Services

COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Deaf Action Center offers the following educational programs:

Language and Communications
American Sign Language
Contact:  tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)

  • Six week courses
  • Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced
  • Structure of the language and development of its use
  • Grammar
  • Finger spelling and numbers
  • Conversional ability, culturally appropriate behaviors
  • Skill development practice, production, and comprehension
  • Deaf culture and history of the language   

September 2011 Classes:
Beginning ASL, Monday, September 26, 6:30pm
Intermediate ASL, Tuesday, September 27, 6:30pm
Advanced ASL, Thursday, September 29, 6:30pm

$50 per six-week class session - No registration required, but you must attend first class to be enrolled
Bring Cash, Check or Money Order to your first class session
Deaf Action Center, 3115 Crestview Drive, Dallas, TX  75235

American Sign Language for English as a Second Language
Contact:  tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)
Introductory course for students with little or no knowledge of American Sign Language and/or English. Course goals include: 

  • Presenting essential vocabulary and grammar
  • Developing pronunciation, reading, and writing skills necessary for basic communication and comprehension in English and American Sign Language
  • Presenting customs and insights on US and Deaf cultures," it will discourage them from learning to talk. This isn't true. Just as babies learn to crawl before they can walk, signing give babies a developmentally appropriate way to communicate before they can talk. Once children learn to walk, they no longer crawl. By using symbols to label objects, express needs and describe feelings, you create a mental framework which makes it easy to incorporate words as soon as your baby's vocal cords are developed enough to use them.

Sign Language for Families with Special Needs
Contact:  tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)
Sign Language is most commonly used to communicate with people who have hearing loss, but it can also be a valuable communication tool for people with various/other disabilities. For instance, some nonconforming behaviors associated with children with Autism and Down’s syndrome are often the result of the child's inability to communicate with others. "Signs," especially those expressing personal needs or wants, help alleviate the frustrations the individual is feeling. Often these individuals are more motivated to learn "signs" than verbal communication. Programs and "signs" are designed with each family's specific need in mind.

Baby Sign Language 101
Contact:  tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)
Baby "signing" is a guide for early language development. By teaching your baby to sign, you have the advantage of communicating with your child before they can speak. By far, the most common misconception is that by encouraging babies to use "signs.

Communication Technology
Dallas, Ft Worth, Abilene, Wichita Falls - Contact:  jim.wise@dactexas.org
Longview Area - Contact:  edith.hirth@dactexas.org

  • TY/TDD
  • Telephone and Internet Relay Services
  • Videophone Relay Service
  • Pagers
  • Text Messaging
  • Instant Messaging
  • Chat Rooms
  • Other communication technologies

Education and Academics
Hearing Loss in Action: Beyond the Clinical Diagnosis
Contact:  esther.kelly@dactexas.org or 214-521-0407
This six-week workshop studies the physiological, psychosocial, and cognitive aspects of hearing loss. Participants are encouraged to utilize their personal experiences, as they learn coping mechanisms to address their hearing loss in real-life situations. Also covers cutting-edge technology and assistive devices for the hard of hearing in-depth.

Youth Development Tutoring
Contact:  gayle.clasen@dactexas.org or amanda.clasen@dactexas.org
After school tutoring is available to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and families striving for academic achievement in Math, Reading, and English. Our highly skilled and certified education professional provides tutoring on site at several Dallas County High Schools, and motivates and supports students at-risk or wanting to enhance their educational opportunities. In addition to the main core classes, the following courses are also available: 

  • Life Skills Sessions: time management, budgeting, goal setting
  • Youth Development Tutoring - developing positive self-image, social skills, and respect for others through team building activities
  • These services are available Monday through Friday, and can be negotiated if additional time is needed.  

Computer Skills Training
Contact:  tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)
If you are searching for a job, are a Senior Citizen, or need some basic training, our classes will teach you computer basics and how to perform a variety of tasks, including: 

  • Keyboard comprehension
  • Logging on and off
  • Creating and printing letters, documents, resumes, and envelopes
  • Saving, retrieving, and deleting files
  • Sending and receiving emails
  • Attaching documents and photos to your email
  • Searching the Web

Driver's Education
Contact:  gayle.clasen@dactexas.org or amanda.clasen@dactexas.org
Provides a thorough knowledge of the rules and regulations for obtaining and maintaining a Texas Driver's License. Texas Driver's Handbook is comprehensively reviewed, with an emphasis on the responsibility of the individual driver for traffic safety and how to avoid penalties. Covers topics including: 

  • Fees and requirements for testing
  • License to drive
  • Vehicle inspection and registration
  • Signs and signals
  • Safety hazards and safety tips
  • Fines and penalties

Classes are limited in size for individualized instruction, personal interaction, and a fuller understanding of detailed course material. 

Defensive Driving
Contact:  tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)
Defensive Driving provides a way for individuals to resolve a traffic citation, reduce insurance rates, and become safer drivers. Defensive Driving can also be completed online (instructions for this are available upon request).

Financial Literacy: Delivering Education About Finances (DEAF)
Contact:  tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)
Funded through a grant from Citigroup Foundation, this course is taught in American Sign Language and teaches basic consumer rights for various forms of consumer transactions. It is designed to help students become more educated about consumer credit, savings, investing, and overall financial health. Covered topics include: 

  • The bank to customer relationship and banking customers’ legal rights
  • Legal issues surrounding credit and debit cards
  • Predatory lending such as payday loans, rent-to-own, title loans, furniture store scams, and yo-yo car sales
  • Identity theft
  • Credit reporting and scoring
  • Mortgage lending
  • Investing and compounding
  • Retirement planning

Life Skills Training
Contact: tuncer.dibirdik@dactexas.org or 214-377-1896 (VP)
This ten-week course studies practical life management issues and emphasizes the role of personal responsibility in all types of decision-making. Covered topics include: 

  • Goal setting
  • Problem solving
  • Time management
  • Advanced nutrition
  • Food selection, cooking safety, and preventing food borne illness

Vocational Adjustment Training
Contact:  gayle.clasen@dactexas.org or amanda.clasen@dactexas.org
Go from high school to high skills! This course provides helpful and practical life management skills to make the transition from high school into the work force, and better prepare you for your desired vocation. Covers topics including: 

  • Improved communication skills
  • Work ethics
  • Grooming
  • Daily planning

GED Preparation
Contact:  gayle.clasen@dactexas.org or amanda.clasen@dactexas.org
Basic skills courses help students prepare to pass a General Education Development (GED) test. Courses include: 

  • Basic Language Skills: basic reading/writing strategies using American Sign Language, development of sight vocabulary and collaborative use of materials in themes relevant to students' lives.
  • Basic Reading Skills: analyzes literature to improve comprehension and organizational patterns. Includes summarizing and responding to reading.
  • Basic Science: presents physical, life, and earth sciences. Students learn critical thinking skills necessary for solving practical problems found on the GED exam.
  • Basic Math: focuses on understanding the concepts and types of applied problems found on the GED exam, including subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, and fractions.
  • Basic Social Studies: presents history, political science, geography, and economics. Students learn critical thinking skills necessary for solving practical problems found on the GED exam.

Cost: $50.00 (non-refundable, paid in total at the first class)
Location: Deaf Action Center, 3115 Crestview Drive, Dallas, TX 75235, Linda Fenske, Instructor
There is a minimum of seven people per class; if less than seven people are enrolled at class start date, these people will be moved to another class.