The Exhibition Hall
Businesses, educational institutions, social service agencies, and advocacy organizations were everpresent throughout the Exhibition Hall, where more than 750 people flowed in and out all morning. Altogether, 58 exhibitors showcased their products and services.
Louisiana-born Dr. Martina “MJ” Bienvenu was struck by the leaps and bounds of communication access technologies available at the expo. “We had none of this six, seven years ago, it’s amazing. Technology and access have made incredible strides.”
“New ideas! New concepts!” said James Macfadden, a trustee on both the Gallaudet University and RIT boards and the first deaf business person to be certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a minority business. “The exhibition hall has a lot to offer. It’s great.”
Among the exhibitors were the National Theatre of the Deaf; Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.; Dawn Sign Press; VRS Consumer Association; and several VRS companies. Among the more interesting exhibtions was BuTo Ltd., which displayed a gorgeous collection of Deaf-centric Southwestern carvings, prints and handicrafts.
Mark Amissah, however, delighted in the social aspect of the exhibition hall. “Wow is all I can say. It was like going down memory lane bumping into old friends from college days.”
