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Last issue's most-read story: MD. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF DORM AIDE SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS FOR SEX ABUSE OF 2 FEMALE STUDENTS / The Associated Press
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NATIONAL
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Dalton, GA
SCHOOL OFFICIAL RECALLS HARROWING DRIVE TO RESCUE FOUR DEAF STUDENTS
They were stuck and someone had to go get them. Four Dalton Public Schools students who are deaf — Raymond Bravo, Diego Olvera, Raul Real and Jenelle Serrano — attend special education classes contracted through Gordon County Schools. Most school days, they make the trip to and from Calhoun without any issues. But on Tuesday, Jan. 21, as a winter storm started, the students were stuck miles from home. So BeLinda Parrish, director of transportation for the Dalton schools, took it upon herself to go get the kids in her truck, hoping its four-wheel drive would keep her on the road. / Dalton Daily Citizen
Internet
ONLINE PREACHER FOR THE DEAF COMES OUT AS ATHEIST
Justin Vollmar, a pastor who has been running the Virtual Deaf Church online for the last four years, made a shocking announcement to his followers Friday, declaring he has become an atheist because there is "NO GOD" and Christianity is "all nonsense." Vollmar explained his decision in a blunt and blasphemous YouTube video Friday. "This may shock you completely," signed Vollmar in the run-up to his revelation made through subtitles. "Yes, I have become an atheist." / Christian Post
Medford, NJ
MEDFORD CARE CENTER AGREES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO HEARING IMPAIRED FOLLOWING SETTLEMENT
A privately-run nursing and rehabilitation facility must provide a sign-language interpreter for the deaf and the hearing impaired as the result of a discrimination lawsuit, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced on Monday. The agreement is part of a settlement that resolves a lawsuit filed by the family of a deaf patient, Mary Jane Barton, against the Medford Care Center in 2012. Barton’s family claimed Medford Care Center continually failed to [provide] a sign language interpreter for her outside of two conferences with physicians during a six-month stay in 2012. / Patch.com
Internet
NANCY: 'DUNN HALF DEAF, YET HEARS THREAT ON LIFE?!'
Michael Dunn took the stand in his own defense Tuesday, telling the jury he shot and killed 17-year-old Jordan Davis in self-defense. Dunn told the jury that he lost hearing in his right ear from scuba diving when he was younger. “So he’s trying to tell this jury that with his windows up that he could hear a kid in another car threaten to kill him, and he’s half deaf?” asked Nancy Grace. / Nancy Grace
Westerville, OH
DEAF ELDERLY WOMEN TARGETED IN LOTTERY SCAM
Police say an elderly deaf woman helped swindle thousands of dollars from women with the same disability. Westerville police believe the lottery scheme has been going on for more than two years over video phone. Detective Ted Smith tells ABC6/FOX28 he got a call from a detective in North Carolina last April about a woman living in a deaf community in Westerville. Smith says the people behind the 700K Deaf Awareness Lottery took advantage of her inability to hear. She's accused of using sign language to tell other deaf women, including an acquaintance, they've won $700,000 but first have to wire their own money for taxes and fees. / WSYX
Weldon, NC
MAN WANTED FOR ASSAULT OF DEAF RESIDENTS
Police in Weldon are looking for a man accused of breaking into a residence and assaulting two deaf people there. In the same case, the State Bureau of Investigation is looking into a suspicious fire. Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon said 33-year-old Billy Paul Fitts, who has an address listed at Ponderosa Camp Grounds in Weldon, is believed to just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday have broken into a residence, where he assaulted the residents with the intent of robbing the property. “They were familiar with the suspect,” Macon said. / The Daily Herald
Salt Lake City, UT
UTAH LAWMAKERS INVITED INTO DEAF, BLIND CLASSROOM AS SCHOOL ASKS FOR FUNDING
Trace Malone wrote a letter to his state legislator and didn't ask for anything except for a quick handshake. "It was the coolest letter, hand-addressed and written in Braille," said Rep. Lee Perry, R-Perry. He said he couldn't pass up the chance to meet 15-year-old Trace, of Ogden, who is blind. "These are the reasons I'm elected," Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, said Thursday as he led kindergarteners from the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind through various restricted areas of the Capitol. He said they had "special VIP access" for the day. / Deseret News
Internet
OKLAHOMA SENATOR TRYING TO SHUT DOWN THE OKLAHOMA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
Please Help!!!! The new legislative session has begun. One of the bills out there is SB1864 authored by Senator Greg Treat from Oklahoma City. Senator Treat's bill wants to create a task force to study the effectiveness of the Oklahoma School for the Deaf. This is an unnecessary bill. We need to contact Senator Treat and those on the Education committee to let them know we are opposed to this bill. / LinkedIn
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INTERNATIONAL
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Japan
COMPOSER DUBBED 'JAPAN'S BEETHOVEN' ADMITS HE CAN HEAR
A man dubbed “Japan’s Beethoven”, who admitted someone else wrote his music and came under fire when his ghost composer claimed he could hear perfectly well, apologized on Wednesday, but insisted he used to be deaf. Mamoru Samuragochi said his impairment had improved in recent times but that when he had first paid part-time music school teacher Takashi Niigaki to pen works in his name, he had been unable to hear. “I feel deeply ashamed of myself for living a false life,” Samuragochi said in a statement. / South China Morning Post
See Also OLYMPICS: TAKAHASHI DEFENDS CHOICE OF MUSIC BY 'DEAF FRAUD' / GlobalPost
Adelaide, Australia
DEAF CAN: DO SELLS SOUTH TCE PROPERTY FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
The fight to save the city base of Adelaide’s deaf community has ended with the sale of the South Tce property for a residential development. Deaf Can: Do has sold the property to an unnamed development consortium, who plan to demolish the modern hostel wing and Adelaide Deaf Club addition to the 86-year-old heritage building to make way for an apartment complex. Plans for the sale caused protests and deep resentment last year from deaf community members, who argued they were being unfairly punished for Deaf Can: Do’s financial woes, while the organization said the cost of maintaining the old building was crippling. / Herald Sun
Auckland, New Zealand
DEAF MAN IN NEW ZEALAND ADMITS TO SEXUAL ASSAULT OF 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A 20-year-old deaf man has admitted to the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl on New Year's Day. Tim Horne, from Auckland, entered a guilty plea before the Waitakere District Court. The young girl had been playing with other children in a park when Mr Horne approached them around 8:20 pm on Jan 1. He then began dancing with the children and offered them chewing gum. He grabbed the girl when he noticed the other children were moving away from him. / International Business Times
Ottawa, ON, Canada
OTTAWA MAN CHALLENGING CONTROVERSIAL NEW VICTIM FINE SURCHAGE
Tim McCooeye is poor, drug-addicted and sometimes holds a sign warning of the zombie apocalypse. The 51-year-old panhandler may also be the person to bring down the Conservative government’s controversial mandatory victim fine surcharge. On Wednesday, McCooeye and his lawyer filed what is believed to be the first serious constitutional challenge to a law that would levy a victim surcharge that McCooeye says he can’t afford to pay. McCooeye, who suffers from hepatitis A, B and C and is currently on medication to treat his depression, was born deaf. / Ottawa Citizen
Edmonton, AB, Canada
DEAF MEDICAL RESIDENT ON PATH TO BECOMING 'AMAZING PHYSICIAN'
Deaf medical resident Dr. Jessica Dunkley explains what she loves about medicine. “What I really appreciate about medicine are the patients that feel like they haven’t got the medical attention from a doctor, and when they feel that they’ve received that and it really inspires them,” Dunkley says during an interview at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. “They really appreciate our time, and when I can make a difference, that really matters.” Dunkley, 34, is the first deaf doctor trained at the University of Alberta. / Edmonton Journal
Toronto, ON, Canada
NINA RAINE'S 'TRIBES' GETS TONE DEAF PRODUCTION
Nina Raine’s Tribes has been acclaimed and showered with awards in London as well as New York and it’s not hard to see why. It tells the story of Billy, deaf since birth, whose family have shunned such usual communication tools as signing and instead treat him as though he can hear, just not very well. The resulting clash of cultures, perceptions and emotions is highly dramatic, deeply touching and profoundly thought-provoking. Or it would be in a decent production. The one now on view through the combined auspices of Theatrefront, Canadian Stage and Theatre Aquarius is, not to mince words, an almost total mess. / Toronto Star
Scotland
WHY SCOTLAND BECOMING INDEPENDENT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SCOTTISH DEAF COMMUNITY
I am a supporter of Scotland becoming independent for many reasons. Here, I will write about what I believe are the major plus points. I will also outline briefly why I think that Scotland becoming independent is one of the best opportunities that the Scottish Deaf Community is ever going to have. Looking enviously at model countries such as Finland and Norway, for me, this is a great opportunity for a modern Scotland with a fairer traditional attitude to make deaf people’s lives more positive. / The Limping Chicken
York, England
DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED PATIENTS FEAR POOR CARE
A report has revealed that deaf and hearing impaired patients in York are being denied fair access to healthcare. A health watchdog said there was a "significant litigation risk" arising from misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, often because of a lack of sign language interpreters. In a statement, The British Deaf Association said: "(it) considers the number of incidences in the UK where health settings consistently fail to ensure Deaf people have adequate access to information about their own health is a scandal." / ITV News
Llanelli, Wales
DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE TWO COMEDIANS WHO TRIED TO TELL JOKES TO THE TOWN'S DEAF CLUB?
Can you do a stand-up comedy gig... using sign language? That’s the challenge Welsh comedians Phil Evans and Daniel Glyn have set themselves with what’s believed to be the first live sign language comedy gig for the deaf and hard of hearing. “This is something I’ve been thinking of for a long time, and it’s a gamble,” said Phil. “Other performers have said, ‘that will never work’ but I’m going to do it anyway." / Wales Online
Manchester, England
COUPLE WHO TRAFFICKED DEAF GIRL FROM PAKISTAN HAVE SENTENCES INCREASED
A couple who trafficked a young deaf girl into Britain to work as their domestic servant have had their sentences increased. Ilyas Ashar, 84 and Tallat Ashar, 68, kept the girl in a cellar at their Salford home where she was forced to do unpaid work as well as cook and clean for the couple. Following their sentencing last year, Solicitor General Oliver Heald referred the cases to the Court of Appeal saying they could have been "unduly lenient." And the couple’s sentences have today been increased by judges at the court in London. / Manchester Evening News
London, England
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP COLLEAGUES VOLUNTEER TO HELP DEAF JOB SEEKERS FIND WORK
Senior colleagues from Lloyds Banking Group are to visit leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire Disability on Tuesday 4 February to host an employability workshop as part of the Group's commitment to volunteering. Eight colleagues from the Group Operations team, including Director Mark Fisher, will share skills and insights with the charity and a small group of disabled people as part of the Group's Day to Make a Difference initiative. / The Wall Street Transcript
Donegal, Ireland
HARRINGTON TEES UP FOR DEAF GOLFERS
Padraig Harrington has become the face of a new initiative to help deaf people learn the rules of golf. The two-times major winner has fronted a film that has been signed in British Sign Language to help deaf golfers learn the rules in relation to water hazards, lost balls, bunker debris and other fairway challenges. Harrington made the original video at his home club of Dun Laoghaire on behalf of golf's governing body, the Royal & Ancient. / Inishowen News
Sweden
SWEDISH PTS PRESENTS FACEBOOK INTERFACE FOR DEAF-BLIND USERS
Swedish postal and telecoms regulator PTS said deaf-blind people and others with visual impairments can now use Facebook through a special interface that PTS commissioned from HiQ. It adapts itself to the type of device used, whether a smartphone, tablet or PC. It uses technology such as screen reader software, Braille display and screen magnification software. It ias available via the website www.fejjanforalla.se. / Telecompaper
Karachi, Pakistan
JS ACADEMY FOR THE DEAF CELEBRATES ITS 10 YEARS
JS Academy for the Deaf and its management held a ceremony to celebrate the 10 years of the academy with their alumni to follow up on their success and integration into society. The JS Academy is a project of the Mahvash & Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation and Noor-E-Ali Trust, according to a statement issued on Thursday. “It is one of the best charity institutions imparting education to deaf children in the country," said the statement. / The News International
India
THREE DEAF AND DUMB BROTHERS PROVE THAT THE HUMAN SPIRIT HAS NO LIMITATIONS
Three deaf and dumb brothers, having taken part in around 450 meets, were part of the ‘Beyond Belief’ river expedition rowing all the way from Murshidabad to Kolkata, in the first such initiative in the world. "The trio – Pinku, Subhankar and Dipankar Goldar – together fetched hundreds of medals in the over 450 international-national events. And please don’t demean them as being physically challenged. They have been regulars since 2008," said Abhijit Dasgupta of Sukriti Foundation. / India.com Health
South Darfur, Sudan
TEACHERS, CLASSROOMS NEEDED FOR 265 DEAF STUDENTS IN SOUTH DARFUT
Educators in South Darfur have appealed to the responsible authorities to make provision for some 265 hearing-impaired students and pupils. Directors of Special Education complain of a lack of trained teachers in sign language, teaching aids and appropriate classrooms. The Director of special education in South Darfur, Adam Ali says that there are 127 deaf pupils in basic schools and 97 students in secondary schools. / allAfrica.com
Nigeria
DEAF, DUMB CONVICT GETS 14 STROKES OF CANE FOR STEALING $61
A Karu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja,on Friday ordered that a 15-year-old deaf and dumb boy, be given 14 strokes of the cane, for stealing N10,000 ($61 US). The convict, a primary school pupil, was arraigned by the police before Chief Magistrate Hadiza Dodo, on a two-count charge of house breaking and theft. Dodo sentenced the minor, after the First Information Report (FIR) was read and translated to him by his father. / Vanguard News
Kenya
MOST DEAF CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL, SAYS FORMER KNUT BOSS
Concern has been raised over the high number of deaf children who are out of school. Former Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Francis Ng’ang’a, now the national chairman of the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, said only 8,000 deaf children are in school. “Our survey recently showed there are about 200,000 deaf children across the country. If only 8,000 are in school, we want to know where 192,000 children who are supposed to be in school, are,” said Mr Ng’ang’a. / The Standard
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LIFE & LEISURE
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Internet
AFTER DEAFNESS IS CURED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE WHO REMAIN DEAF?
Shot in the style of a documentary, The End follows four deaf children through their lives into an imagined future, as some decide to undergo treatment for deafness while others refuse it. But as the number of deaf people dwindles, what happens to the those who gradually find themselves without a culture? / io9.com
Richmond, VA
THIS DETECTIVE ADOPTED 5 DEAF DOGS, 4 OF THEM ARE PIT BULL MIXES
On January 30, the Richmond Police Department (RPD) in Richmond, Va., posted an album to Facebook called "RPD Loves Animals." The photos featured officers and the animals in their lives. But, one picture stuck out: the shot of Major Crimes Detective Mac Adams with his five deaf rescue dogs -- four of them are pit bull mixes. To date, the post has received more than 20,000 shares, the largest response in the department's Facebook history, according to a later post. / The Huffington Post
Edgehill, TN
COURSE TEACHES FIRST AID TO DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING TENNESSEANS
Dozens of Middle Tennesseans who are deaf or hard of hearing took part in a Community Emergency Response Team training session developed specifically for them at the nonprofit Bridges headquarters in Edgehill on Saturday. The event was the first of its kind in Tennessee, focusing specifically on those with hearing disabilities. / The Tennessean
Stillwater, MN
MCBRIDE OVERCOMES HEARING-IMPAIRED STRUGGLES
She walks into the doors of swim practice with a smile on her face and textbooks in tow. She makes an effort to talk to everyone, asking how the day went and exchanging funny stories. Senior Morgan McBride is upbeat, confident and talkative. But it hasn’t always been this way. No one can tell that she is hearing impaired and started life in a much quieter, secluded way. / Stillwater Gazette
Internet
SOMEWHAT DEAF AND COMPLETELY SCARED
I was born with nerve deafness in both ears. My left ear is much worse than my right, but neither are very good at picking up basic sounds. When I was a young boy, my mother would get mad at me because she thought I was just ignoring her. I'd be nestled in front of the TV and she'd ask me something from the kitchen. When I didn't reply, she'd say it louder, which of course I didn't hear. Exasperated, she'd come to the doorway of the living room and ask rather loudly why I didn't respond, and I'd tell her that I didn't hear her. Naturally she just assumed I was simply not paying attention like most kids, but that was not at all the case. / The Huffington Post
Chicago, IL
CHICAGO SKY STAR NAMED SPECIAL OLYMPICS AMBASSADOR
Chicago Sky player Elena Delle Donne is to be named a global ambassador for Special Olympics. The WNBA star is to officially take the title Friday at Homewood-Flossmoor High School south of Chicago. An assembly and basketball clinic are planned. Delle Donne has helped Special Olympics in the past. She has said the cause is near and dear to her because her older sister Lizzie has cerebral palsy and is blind and deaf. / The Associated Press
Killeen, TX
DEAF CHAPEL PRESENTER TO BE FIRST IN HISTORY OF UMHB
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will welcome the Rev. Tom Coughlin to present at its weekly chapel services on Wednesday. Coughlin is Director of the Deaf Apostolate of the San Antonio Archdiocese. Coughlin will make a presentation using American Sign Language. This is the first time in the university’s history that a chapel presenter has been deaf. Parker Kennedy, who is a deaf ASL professor at UMHB, said that the decision to bring in Coughlin to speak is a way to reach out to the deaf and hard of hearing community in Central Texas. / The Killeen Daily Herald
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Internet
COCHLEAR LIMITED SHARES DROP 9.8% AFTER RESULTS RELEASE
The manufacturer and distributor of cochlear implantable devices for the hearing impaired, Cochlear Limited, has just released its half-year results and the market doesn't appear to be impressed. The results showed a 2% increase in revenue to $377 million (before the effect of foreign exchange contracts) and a 53% decline in net profit after tax to $36.8 million (before provisioning for a patent dispute). / Ninemsn.com
Cambridge, MA
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS -- WITH NO EXTERIOR HARDWARE
Researchers at MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratory, together with physicians from Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, have developed a new, low-power signal-processing chip that could lead to a cochlear implant that requires no external hardware. The implant would be wirelessly recharged and would run for about eight hours on each charge. / MIT News Office
Baltimore, MD
TEMPORARY BLINDNESS COULD HELP DEAF PATIENTS HEAR AGAIN, STUDY FINDS
Patients suffering from hearing loss could be helped by temporary blindness, new research suggests.
Scientists discovered that when laboratory mice were for a full week kept in total darkness, it caused their brains to respond by heightening their sense of hearing. And what really fascinated the scientists was the way in which the hearing boost then remained prominent for a number of weeks after the lights were tuned back on. / Highlight Press
North Wales, PA
SCHOOL INCLUSION PROGRAMS CAUSE MADNESS IN THE MAINSTREAM
In his third book Madness in the Mainstream (MITM), Deaf author, school counselor and student advocate, Mark Drolsbaugh, questions the "Least Restrictive Environment" which calls for Deaf and hard of hearing students to be placed in a mainstream classroom, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). MITM explores the invisible and harmful long term educational, social and emotional effects that often go unnoticed and unaddressed for years among Deaf and hard of hearing students as a result of IDEA. / PR Newswire
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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New York, NY
SNEAK PEEK AT LEXINGTON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF'S 'YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN'
Lexington School for the Deaf presents You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, March 21 and 22. It is the first deaf musical presented [by the school]. The show presents the days of Charlie Brown and his friends. This production translates the beloved songs and stories into ASL with singing interpreters for the hearing audience members. / Broadway World
Washington, DC
REFLECTING ON 'TRIBES' AT STUDIO THEATRE
Our student subscribers took in TRIBES this past Thursday night. It’s an extraordinary show. It deals with internal dynamics both within the family and in the larger deaf community. Eager to hear reflections and connections made in the comments section below. / The Theater J Blog
Rochester, MI
OAKLAND UNIVERSITY OFFERS UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE FOR DEAF AND HEARING AUDIENCES
While the citizens of the fictional town Llareggub — “bugger all” backwards — are asleep, the narrator informs the audience that they are witnessing the townspeople’s dreams in “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas. Synergy on Stage, a dynamic company specializing in entertainment interpreting, is partnering with OU to do shadow-signing for the deaf and hearing impaired audience at every show. Audience members do not have to choose between language and action with shadow signing, because two costumed American Sign Language actors fully immerse on stage with the other actors. / Macomb Daily
Aspen, CO
MUSIC UNITES DEAF, HEARING
Chanel Gleicher, of Maryland, will discuss growing up in the deaf community in a presentation at Belly Up Aspen today. She has a lot of experience to draw from, having grown up in a deaf family. “I was born deaf,” Gleicher said Thursday. “(American Sign Language) is my first language. ... My family is completely deaf. I have one hearing sibling, but we all use American Sign Language to communicate." During college, Gleicher was crowned Miss Deaf Maryland and then Miss Deaf America in 2012. / Aspen Times
Washington, DC
'DEAF PEOPLE HAVE RHYTHM' AT STOMP CLASS
(Editor's Note: This is a non-captioned video that has no transcript -- thus a story about deaf people that is inaccessible to deaf people.) / USA Today
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SPORTS
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Santa Clara, CA
CALIFORNIA TEEN MATTHEW KLOTZ BREAKS TWO DEAF WORLD RECORDS
Sierra-Marlins Swim Team high school senior Matthew Klotz has rebroken two of his own Deaf Swimming World Records, clearing the marks in both the 100 back (58.35) and 200 back (2:05.64) in long course meters over the weekend at the Winter Super League Long Course Championships meet in Santa Clara. Klotz held two World Records headed into the meet, and with best times in both of those races, he ended the meet with two new World Records. / SwimSwam
Newnan, GA
BORN DEAF, OVERTON'S DISABILITY DOESN'T AFFECT HER PASSION
When the pre-game music blares from the loudspeaker, or when Newnan Lady Cougar basketball coach Lavarrett Pearson yells instructions to his team, junior point guard Dakota Overton can’t hear any of it. The Newnan High School student has lived in a silent world since birth and has to rely on educational interpreter Linda Lindsey to understand the instructions her coach is trying to convey to the team. But deafness doesn’t define Overton, nor does it stop her from fulfilling her dream of earning a spot on the school’s varsity basketball team. / The Newnan Times-Herald