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Please help support this cause that is dear to my heart.
Dance4Relief is a charity organization that I have been a part of for a few years. It is a cause that I strongly believe in because it incorporates two of the things I love most: music and kindness. For the past few years, Dance4Relief has thrown several successful events in the Atlanta area. At each event we combined a typical night out on the town with a focus of raising awareness and funds to support many causes around the world.
On December 29th, 2006, Dance4Relief and Surface team up for one heck of a bash before the New Year at Fever. We feel that, as a community that loves its music, we should pay a little respect to people who cannot always share in the same love. So as a result, Dance4Relief will be taking donations all night long to go towards the Atlanta School for the Deaf .
This event is FREE for all to attend, all you have to do is reply with your full name and whoever else you want to bring (bring as many people as you would like). Donations will be accepted all night long and every penny will go towards our charity. Please email me with any questions you might have, and PLEASE forward this onto others that may be interested.
Thank you all,
Chris Meadows |
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I have compiled some important information on the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf just in case anyone is interested in reading more. As I am sitting here reading and typing this, it really hits home the impact this could have. As I am compiling this information I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without my hearing, and I don't just mean in relation to my music, but in every aspect of my life. Please help me make a difference by spreading the word about this event. This event is about having fun, but more importantly, as if with all Dance4Relief functions, the most important thing is to raise awareness and funds in support of a cause.
WEBSITE:
http://www.aasdweb.com/
MISSION:
At AASD, our mission is to empower students to lead full, productive, and independent lives. To gain this personal power, each student must be able to communicate in the broadest possible range of settings. Thus, our fundamental goal is to develop the maximum set of communication and literacy skills that each student's individual abilities will allow. To achieve this goal, we incorporate a Comprehensive Communication philosophy that includes multiple sign language systems, speech, speech-reading, written English literacy, and the use of special technologies that augment communications. We also provide auditory improvement where appropriate.
LOCATION:
Atlanta Area School for the Deaf
890 North Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, Georgia 30021
Telephone: 404-296-7101 (voice) or 404-296-6626 (tty)
AASD's outstanding facilities are nestled within a scenic wooded setting that spans more than 17 acres. Our campus is conveniently located 20 miles east of downtown Atlanta, where it is readily accessible from all of Atlanta's metropolitan and surrounding counties. Yet, because of AASD's proximity to Atlanta, instruction is enhanced by the city's vocational, recreational, and cultural offerings. Each of AASD's classrooms is specialized for different ages and student needs. The campus itself is structured as four schools in one, with distinct school wings-a preschool, elementary, middle school, and senior high-each with its own age-appropriate dining facilities. Our superb gym is utilized almost daily for sports and athletic activities. And our outstanding auditorium is the site of numerous special programs and activities.
AASD's facilities are state-of-the-art, utilizing educational technology designed especially for the unique communication needs of the deaf. Classrooms provide networked computers and appropriate software, which are augmented by a fully equipped media center and technology center. Classrooms also have one-way observation areas where faculty, parents, and other authorized persons can view class activities without disrupting students. AASD's campus also contains a number of special facilities that address the special needs of the deaf. These include:
Diagnostic and evaluation center
This advanced facility is used to provide comprehensive diagnostic and evaluation services for students who are hearing impaired.
Life skills settings
These include an in-school bank, store, and complete mock residence that provide students with opportunities to practice daily living skills and job skills.
TV production studio
This unique facility includes video editing and closed-caption authoring equipment and is satellite linked to other state locations. |
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| i'm really looking forward to this event! not only is a great cause but, i get to see my two favorite dj's ;) |
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| quote: | Originally posted by money_penny
i'm really looking forward to this event! not only is a great cause but, i get to see my two favorite dj's ;) |
this is gearing up to be the biggest Dance4Relief yet. Please come one and come all, I would love to see all the old TA crew come out in support of myself, Greg and the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. Did I mention its FREE? Yeah, no excuses people!:D |
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This is a quick article about one of our own here in Atlanta who is always up for supporting great music, and against great odds too. Chewy is deaf, and he is one of the people who have inspired myself and Dance4Relief to give to a cause dear to him. This was taken from his blog on Myspace with his permission.
What Chewy Hears
By: Jewels
Posted: 09/20/2004
http://www.myspace.com/chewythepimp
“Chewy” is a young man who has become somewhat of an icon in Atlanta’s nightlife, not because he goes to almost every major club event he can possibly go to and not just because he’s pretty well known on many DJ music internet forums. The reason people are inspired by Chewy is that he exhibits more love for electronic music, the DJs, the promoters, and shows more spirit and enthusiasm than most people you will ever meet. To see him dancing or raising his hands up in the crowd is truly inspirational and you can’t help but get excited when Chewy hears music. What’s even more intriguing is that Chewy is totally deaf.
I found out that Chewy was hearing impaired through a topic on a forum one day. Ferry Corsten had just headlined an Atlanta club event and apparently, Chewy had an experience of a lifetime. “Wow!!! I just met the .6 DJ in the world and got a pic of us [together]. I told him that I was deaf and feel the beat, then he smiled gave me a hug.”
I had to reread that. I had seen this guy post enthusiastic responses to promotions notices and had read his dialogue and reviews of events. Not once did I understand that this young man heard the music he loves with such unprecedented passion in a totally different way than you or I.
”I was born hearing impaired,” Chewy says, “I was 18 months old and the doctors kept telling my parents that ‘boys are slower than girls,’ when they would ask why I wasn’t talking yet. Finally, we found out I actually had nerve damage and severe hearing loss.”
If you ask Chewy if his disability ever gets in the way of his goals or dreams, Chewy explains that it’s a mixed blessing.
“Something I cannot do is spin records on turntables. I just can’t hear with the headphones (the picture at top right was a fun attempt Chewy made at DJing for the camera). But something I can do is dance around loud music. Being hearing impaired has also made me very stubborn and determined to get what I want no matter what that may be. I think this can be good most of the time, but sometimes it’ll get me into trouble because I don’t know when to stop!” He says with that bounty of cheerfulness one can find infecting.
So what exactly does Chewy hear when he listens to music, or especially music at a dance club? Just what is this personal and intriguing experience like for someone who truly “feels” music?
“When I hear music, I become incredibly excited. I can tell by the beats per minute if it’s a fast or slow song. I like the faster, upbeat tempos the most and the slower tracks or songs are harder for me to pay attention to because I usually can’t hear the words unless they are on a music video with closed captions.”
“I like electronic music because it has a fast tempo and I can really feel the vibrations as the music plays. The first time I heard electronic music I was hooked. Another reason I like it is because it usually doesn’t have many words. It's just music I can "feel". Other music doesn’t have as much of a beat to vibrate and the words are usually needed to fully appreciate the song."
We asked our Dr. Saleeby, our resident medical expert at JIVE and health columnist, to explain what takes place when a hearing impaired person actually “hears” music.
"Basically with the loss of the primary sense of hearing (or partial loss) one can use other secondary senses to compensate. For example, the vibratory sensory mechanism located in the skin is a part of the peripheral nervous system along with pain sensors and temperature sensors all relaying information back to the central nervous system (the brain).
In the case of the hearing impaired, they rely on ‘feeling’ music by appreciating the low frequency vibrations in certain music. Usually those that are best perceived are the deep repetitive beats of the base rhythm in music. Drums are better than a violin.
Techno, with its driving quick rhythmical beats (the kind that makes the windows in a low rider shake) will allow the "listener" to enjoy the music and/or even dance with the beat of the music.” - JP Saleeby, MD
And just how have the people in the dance community such as at clubs and EDM events received Chewy? Does he feel people have generally treated him with respect or has he ever felt badly about an experience that happened at a dance club or party?
“The people around me when I go out are always nice to me, especially when I’ve told them I can’t hear them and I have to read lips to understand what they are saying to me. Some people ask me how I can hear the music so I tell them I can feel the beat. They think it’s awesome.”
As I mentioned before, Chewy is well known on some pretty large internet forums that cater to DJ and EDM information and socializing. One such forum is www.edmplanet.com, a great place for younger people to meet and make friends, plan nights out, and just discuss electronic music. And of course there are the JIVE Magazine forums where we first “met” Chewy ourselves. For a hearing impaired person, the internet can play an extremely important role in their lives in terms of socializing with people and becoming part of communities and making friends.
“Sometimes I feel I almost can’t do anything without the Internet,” Chewy says, “That’s the only way I can really communicate with my friends and family. Without it I’m lost!” (The second photo at right is LilSteven, one of Atlanta's most recognized and awarded local DJs, shown with Chewy at JIVE Magazine's Spring BBQ club event at the Crescent Room in Atlanta this year. Chewy got to know Lilsteven online.)
Even with all the positive aspects of Chewy’s social life, every once in awhile he still has to deal with misconceptions about the hearing impaired.
“Some people think those of us who can’t hear, can’t drive a car or have a "regular job" but we can. Driving mostly involves seeing not hearing. Also, as long as you explain the job you want me to do slowly, I can do almost anything a hearing person can do, sometimes even better.”
When asked about his enthusiasm for music, and to inspire other people to appreciate music more, Chewy has a sincere philosophy he shares freely with anyone. “When we dance, we don’t talk with words, we talk with our bodies. I think I communicate with everyone through dancing. We all 'speak' the same language when we dance.” |
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