Disheartened by the lack of support for the deaf and hard of hearing, Terri Antoniw, who is deaf, founded the Brandon Deaf Connection Coffee Group in Manitoba’s second-largest city. Since its formation in January this year, the group has grown to around two dozen people of all ages who meet for coffee and conversation in ASL. The group organizes meet-ups and community events for the deaf and hard of hearing in Brandon, Manitoba, welcoming ASL signers, learners, and hopeful learners to join. Brandon Deaf Connections meets monthly at Shoppers Mall to practice American Sign Language (ASL). The group’s founder says, “Being involved in the community is the best way to learn ASL.”
The monthly coffee meet-ups give visibility to the growing deaf community, Antoniw said. People often stop by to learn more or join in practising ASL. When people see the group signing, having fun, and laughing at the mall, they generally walk up and talk to the group. Terri Antoniw started Brandon Deaf Connections to build connections within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and highlight the need for more resources outside Winnipeg. She points out the challenges of accessing interpreters in Brandon, as they must travel from Winnipeg, making it expensive and impractical for short meetings. While technology like video calls or voice-to-text helps, it is often unreliable and lacks the full experience of in-person communication.
Antoniw, deaf since birth, felt isolated growing up in Brandon without knowing ASL. Her life changed when she learned ASL and accessed more resources after moving to Winnipeg for college. She now wants to provide similar opportunities for others who can’t relocate to larger cities with better support.
Brandon Deaf Connections aims to raise visibility and support to encourage better services and inspire ASL interpreters to move to Brandon. Regular member Yvonne Zarn stresses the need for more ASL support in Brandon, which impacts every aspect of her life. Tammy Lumax, another group member, expresses excitement about the meet-ups, where she can socialize and learn more signs.
Other group members acknowledge the barriers to getting ASL support and classes in Brandon and believe that community involvement is the best way to start learning ASL. The coffee meet-ups help break down these barriers and offer a practical way to learn.
