Friday, July 11, 2008

Disney Gets Award

Walt Disney World in Orlando is has been given the National Association of the Deaf's Access Award for it’s use of sign language interpreting service at the park. Since Walt Disney World often invents its own names for things, it has invented hundreds of Disney-specific word signs. Signs that are unique to a character or to a location must be learned by all the interpreters who work there.


Many of the stage shows, parades and other attractions at the park offer ASL interpretation services at least once a week. The Disney-signs were created with the help of ASL Services located in nearby Kissimmee, Florida.


The award is not for Disney’s new words but for the way the routines are choreographed and how interpreters use their faces and bodies as well as with their hands to convey the language.