DETROIT
FOR RELEASE: December 18, 2001Pontiac GMC Extends Its Community Outreach Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Through April 2002
DETROIT– When auto shows roll into 39 cities in 25 states nationwide between now and April 2002, thousands of deaf and hard-of-hearing people will be treated to a unique experience courtesy of General Motors’ Pontiac-GMC Division. The division’s annual community outreach program, which provides American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to accompany the deaf and hard-of-hearing through auto shows, is the only one of its kind provided by an automotive manufacturer.
The 2001-02 tour will provide opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to experience an auto show and its wealth of innovative products with the assistance of interpreters who are also trained product specialists. Recognizing that not everyone in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community use sign language as their form of communication, in select cities Pontiac-GMC is looking at providing monitors and/or kiosks for closed-captioning during the tour.
Pontiac-GMC has supported the deaf community through various programs for the past eight years, and continues its commitment this auto-show season. The program is in its fourth year, having provided more than 3,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing with personalized auto show experiences. Common reports state that there are more than 28 million deaf and hard-of-hearing living in the United States today.
ASL interpreters/product specialists will conduct tours of the shows for deaf and hard-of-hearing groups ranging in size from five to 100. Each group member is given a complimentary ticket to an auto show and a souvenir as a memento of their experience. The interpreters/specialists accompany the participants and provide translation throughout the General Motors Experience display area at the auto show and beyond for up to six hours.
"More than 1,500 deaf and hard-of-hearing school children, senior citizens and community members experienced auto shows through the Pontiac-GMC program last auto show season, and we are proud to extend it once again," said Lynn Myers, general manager for Pontiac-GMC. "This year we are looking at incorporating a new component with captioning on monitors, and hope that even more will join us in enjoying the auto shows."
Pontiac-GMC ASL Program
The auto shows with scheduled deaf and hard-of-hearing school and/or community visits include*:
| Auto Show Dates | City/State | Auto Show Dates | City/State |
| 12/26/01-01/01/02 | Washington, DC | 02/23/02-03/03/02 | Milwaukee |
| 12/27/01-01/01/02 | Indianapolis | 02/27/02-03/03/02 | Dallas |
| 12/29/01-01/06/02 | Phoenix | 02/27/02-03/04/02 | Rochester, N.Y. |
| 01/05/02-01/13/02 | Los Angeles | 02/28/02-03/03/02 | Raleigh, NC |
| 01/05/02-01/13/02 | Philadelphia | 03/02/02-03/10/02 | Cleveland |
| 01/06/02-01/10-02 | Baltimore | 03/02/02-03/10/02 | Columbus, Ohio |
| 01/12/02-01/20/02 | Detroit | 03/07/02-03/09/02 | New Orleans |
| 01/25/02-01/27/02 | Greenville, SC | 03/13/02-03/17/02 | Tulsa, Okla. |
| 01/30/02-02/03/02 | St. Louis | 03/13/02-03/17/02 | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
| 01/31/02-02/03/02 | Toledo, Ohio | 03/14/02-03/17/02 | Minneapolis |
| 01/31/02-02/03/02 | Grand Rapids, Mich. | 03/21/02-03/24/02 | Denver |
| 01/31/02-02/03/02 | Portland, Ore. | 03/30/02-04/07/02 | New York |
| 02/08/02-02/17/02 | Chicago | 04/04/02-04/07/02 | Peoria, Ill. |
| 02/09/02-02/17/01 | Pittsburgh | 04/13/02-04/21/02 | Houston |
| 02/13/02-02/18/02 | San Diego | 04/24/02-04/28/02 | Atlanta |
| 02/22/02-02/24/02 | Richmond, Va. |
* Schedule subject to change.
The tour also visited Miami in October. In November, the tour stopped in seven cities: Tampa, Fla.; Boston; San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco; Nashville, Tenn.; Orlando, Fla. and Charlotte, NC.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, senior citizens and community groups interested in participating in the program can email CarShowsforDeaf@aol.com for more information.
Media Note: Color slide and digital artwork, as well as b-roll in BETA format is available upon request to any of the regional media contacts. For interviews with Pontiac-GMC spokespersons and/or group members who will participate in the ASL program, please call any of the regional media contacts to make arrangements.