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West Philly Seniors to Enjoy Access to Free Training in ESL, American Sign Language
For immediate release
Philadelphia, PA (June 30, 2016) – Through a $13,000 grant awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Lottery, the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center (WPSCC) today announced plans to add adult education programs in American Sign Language and English as a Second Language (ESL) to address the growing needs of the neighborhoods and older adults it serves.
Rose Richardson, executive director of WPSCC, attributes rapid growth in the immigrant population as fueling the need for ESL education, citing a reality asserted by the Philadelphia Corporate of Aging that between now and 2030 the number of Asian and Hispanic older adults in Philadelphia will nearly double.
“Unfortunately there are already long waiting lists for ESL instruction throughout the city,” said Richardson. “This course will help older adults build critical communication skills so they are not socially isolated and are able to communicate effectively with medical professionals, neighbors, transportation companies, and other service providers.”
The addition of a course in American Sign Language will help vulnerable older adults who are experiencing communication challenges related to hearing loss. “American Sign Language classes are an effective, low-cost tool for empowering hard-of-hearing older adults with an alternative form of communication, as well as building the capacity of hearing individuals to relate to these members of the community,” said Richardson.
The new ESL and American Sign Language courses are free to seniors and will launch in November 2016. Each course Swill meet two times per week over 12 weeks. To meet demand, the courses will run four times throughout the year. Registration will begin in September at the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, 1016 N. 41st Street. For more information, visit westphilaseniorcenter.org.
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About the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center
The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center (WPSCC) improves the lives of 4,000 older adults through social services, initiatives that help to remediate food insecurity and poor nutrition, outreach to homebound seniors, support groups, and fitness and life enrichment programs. WPSCC is managed by LCFS, a member of the Liberty Lutheran family of services, with funds from the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. For more information, visit westphilaseniorcenter.org.