Chicago-based Deaf Communication by Innovation (DCI), a gay-owned and deaf-owned company, will coordinate international sign interpreters for the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. In a sponsorship agreement valued at almost $90,000, DCI will oversee daytime and evening sign language interpretation for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, artists and fans attending the Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival. The arrangement includes interpreter training in international sign language skills to ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing people from all countries will be able to participate fully at the Gay Games.

DCI representatives will also attend the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD), an international deaf GLBT conference, and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), a national conference for sign language interpreters, on behalf of Gay Games Chicago. DCI will sponsor various social events for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community during the Gay Games.

Raymond Rodgers, president and majority owner of DCI, served as a volunteer international sign interpreter at Gay Games V in Amsterdam, where he gained experience in all aspects of interpreting in an international environment. Rodgers has been an active member of the Gay Games VII Marketing Committee since Chicago was awarded the Gay Games and has helped to ensure that the large GLBT deaf/hard-of-hearing community in Chicago is well represented at all stages of planning for Gay Games VII.

“Deaf Communication by Innovation is extremely proud to be the exclusive sign interpreting services provider for Gay Games VII,” Rodgers said. “We will do our best to do great work for a great cause.”

“We are extremely grateful to Raymond Rodgers and the staff at DCI for this generous contribution,” said Tracy Baim, Chicago Games, Inc. (CGI) Fundraising Committee co-chair. “Inclusion is one of the key values of the Gay Games. This arrangement should send a clear message to the worldwide deaf and hard-of-hearing community that they will be welcome with open arms at the 2006 Gay Games.”

Baim worked with CGI board members Roberto Tijerina and Amelia Lopez to secure the sponsorship.