TORONTO, June 11, 2002 -- Jennifer Jackson’s unfaltering spirit, intelligence and humour, plus the determination she inherited from her parents, have carried her to where she is now – one of the few deaf people in Canada to graduate from law school.

When she receives her law degree from York’s Osgoode Hall Law School during convocation ceremonies this Friday, at least two dozen of her family and friends will be there to see her graduate. Many of them, including her parents and sister (a York student), are also deaf.

Jackson, who uses American Sign Language and an interpreter to communicate in some situations, acknowledges that there are many more opportunities available for deaf people today than there were during her parents’ generation. "Advances in technology, better resources and changing perceptions towards the deaf have thrown the doors wide open," she said. "In dealing with the ‘hearing’ world, my strategy has always been to bring up the subject of my deafness with others right away, because I am comfortable with it and want others to be comfortable too."

Jackson is preparing for admission to the Ontario Bar and plans to work in intellectual property law, including copyright and trademarks. She has accepted an articling position commencing this fall with Bereskin & Parr, a Toronto law firm specializing in intellectual property.

While a law student, Jackson worked with the Community and Legal Aid Services Program at Osgoode and the Law Journal, becoming its senior editor in her second year. She also attended Keele University in England as an exchange student in the fall of 2001.

Jackson also holds a BA (Honours) from York in Political Science and Law and Society conferred in 1999. She credits the support she received from York’s Office for Persons with Disabilities and the encouragement of her professors for her success. She gives special credit to Prof. David Mason of York’s Deaf Education Program in the Faculty of Education (himself deaf) who became her mentor throughout her studies.

Jackson will receive her Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) on Friday June 14, 2002, at 2:30 p.m., York’s Keele Campus, in the convocation tent, east of the Joan & Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts, 4700 Keele St.

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For further information or to arrange for an interview, please contact:

Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
416-736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca

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