deafweekly

 

February 15, 2006
Vol. 2 No. 17

Editor: Tom Willard

Deafweekly is an independent news report for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. It is mailed to subscribers every Wednesday morning and available to read at www.deafweekly.com. For information, contact mail@deafweekly.com.

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The contents of Deafweekly are Copyright 2006. Any unauthorized use, including reprinting of news, is prohibited. Readership: approximately 5,000 including subscribers and website readers.

Please support our advertisers; they make it possible for you to receive this newsletter at no charge. For advertising information, see www.deafweekly.com/advertise.htm.




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NATIONAL
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POLICE FIND BODY PARTS, WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER

Sioux Falls, S.D. police searching for a missing deaf woman began sifting through a city landfill last Thursday and found some of her remains over the weekend. Darlene VanderGiesen, 42, was last seen leaving work on February 1 and her car was found in a restaurant parking lot. On Friday, police arrested Daphne Wright, 42, and charged her with first-degree murder. Wright, who is also deaf, made her first court appearance yesterday and pleaded not guilty. She is being held in jail with no bond. Police allege that Wright killed VanderGiesen because she thought the victim was interfering in a five-year relationship Wright had with a girlfriend. Investigators still can’t say how VanderGiesen was killed, but “we know there was some level of dismemberment,” Officer Loren McManus told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Searchers plan to remain at the landfill through the week, possibly longer, in search of more remains.

GEORGIA APPOINTS SCHOOL BOSS WITH NO DEAF BACKGROUND

The Georgia State Board of Education has appointed a new director for the Georgia School for the Deaf who has no specific background working with deaf students. Lee Shiver was appointed to the post last Thursday at the board’s monthly meeting. According to the Rome News-Tribune, Shiver began his career as a high school teacher in 1976 and most recently served six years as superintendent for the Pickens County school system. He will replace interim director Cynthia Ashby, who took over for GSD director Winfield McChord when he and six other faculty members were forced to resign in June 2005. McChord, in the job only 19 months, came to the school with over 30 years of experience in deaf education. “The state of Georgia keeps doing this over and over again,” said activist Dyan Newman, a GSD graduate. “They are clueless!!” Comments may be emailed to the board at lroberts@doe.k12.ga.us.

DISABLED WOMAN TESTIFIES AGAINST ACCUSED RAPIST

Two interpreters were on hand in Torrance (Calif.) Superior Court last Friday as a deaf and developmentally disabled woman testified against a cabdriver accused of raping her. According to the Daily Breeze, the 28-year-old woman used forceful gestures as she told a jury how she said “no” and fought back. “I pushed him. I pushed him. No. No. I pushed him. I told him, ‘No, no, I don’t want it,’” said the woman. Oscar Dela Cruz is charged with rape in the course of kidnapping in the alleged assault, which occurred July 28, 2005 in the parking lot of a strip mall in Lawndale, Calif. Dela Cruz claims the woman stood up and began undressing while he was driving her to her restaurant job, but the woman’s mother testified that her daughter suffers from cerebral palsy and seizure disorders and cannot do even simple tasks like getting dressed.

BUDGET WOULD ELIMINATE FUNDS FOR NEWBORN HEARING TESTS

President Bush’s proposed budget for 2007 would eliminate universal newborn hearing screening, reported the Associated Press. The $10 million program, administered by the National Institutes of Health, helps states provide newborn hearing tests for poor families. The tests are usually given before the babies leave the hospital. Early detection of hearing problems helps ensure that babies get proper services for their disabilities, said the report. The NIH did not receive a raise in funding and because of inflation it means the agency will actually experience a budget cut. “This is an affront to America’s children,” said Dr. Alan Fleischman of the New York Academy of Medicine. “It will really hurt children today and for decades to come.”

MARYLAND GOVERNOR OK’S FUNDS FOR SCHOOL EXPANSION

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. unveiled a $1.45 billion capital budget recently that includes a $24.6 million commitment for an expansion at the Maryland School for the Deaf’s Frederick campus. According to the Gaithersburg Business Gazette, the money will be used for a new elementary school building and a family education/early intervention center. Construction is expected to begin in January and be complete by November 2008. The funding, made possible by a state budget surplus of around $1 billion, is badly needed. The school is in “desperate need of renovations,” said state Sen. Alex Mooney, and is “stuffing kids into classrooms that are old and falling apart.”

DEAF MAN STRUCK BY JEEP IN FLORIDA

The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Monday on a 57-year-old deaf man who remained hospitalized at Halifax Medical Center with serious injuries after being struck by a Jeep. Police said in a statement that Johnny D. Fields was crossing Ridgewood Avenue at 9:15 p.m. Saturday when he stepped into the path of a Jeep driven by Timothy Draughton Sr., 29. Draughton was driving at or near the speed limit, and his passenger, a 30-year-old woman, was unhurt. “Fields is completely deaf,” said the accident report. “However, it is unknown if that contributed to this accident.” Police did not issue any citations and continue investigating.

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The Northeast Technical Assistance Center (NETAC) at NTID/RIT is proud of the Web site and videos produced by the project that feature individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing in various career fields. The Web site includes a list of different job categories that you can click on and learn more about many individuals who work in a particular career. You can read about their stories and how they reached their goals. The Web site includes individual photos, names, position descriptions, and much more. The videos feature individuals of diverse cultures, educational backgrounds and professions. Visit the Web site: www.netac.rit.edu/goals

Also, we want to feature you Deafweekly readers! We would like to include your career story on the Web site. If interested, check out the Web site: www.netac.rit.edu/goals

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CONNECTICUT COLLEGE FREEZES INTERPRETING PROGRAM

The Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted, Conn. has decided to halt enrollment for its interpreting preparation program, reported The Register Citizen News. The decision sparked a protest last Friday by a small group of students. “I want to work with deaf people,” said Irene Rivera, 24. “I want to be an interpreter.” But college President Barbara Douglass said the program - the only accredited interpreting program in the state - is attracting little interest, with some classes having only two or three students. “This is not an effective use of the college money,” she said. The program, which costs $1 million a year and serves 30 students each semester, is being re-evaluated and enrollment will continue in a year, said Douglass.

MAINE SCHOOL SEEKS TO LEASE UNUSED CLASSROOM SPACE

The Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in Falmouth, Maine wants to lease some classroom space to a private elementary school for hearing students this fall, reported Blethen Maine Newspapers. The plan, which must be approved by the state Legislature, would bring in extra revenue and expose deaf students to mainstream schooling before they leave to attend high school. (Since 2003, Baxter high school students have attended Portland High School.) Communications director Jim Gemmell said the tenant, the rent and the available space have not been determined, but one possible tenant is a Friends school, a private school that promotes Quaker beliefs such as community, integrity and non-violence.

UNHEARD ANNOUNCEMENT LEADS TO FLIGHT DELAY

A United Airlines flight out of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport was delayed one evening last week because a hard-of-hearing passenger didn’t hear an announcement. According to WQAD, the trouble started when a bag fell out of an overhead compartment as the plan taxied to a runway. Flight attendants asked for the bag’s owner to come forward, but no one replied and the plane returned to the gate as a precaution. Authorities opened the bag and found medication inside with the name of the owner. Airline spokesman Jeff Green said the person was on board but didn’t hear the attendants because he is hearing impaired. The flight, bound for Washington, D.C., departed about 45 minutes late.

MEMPHIS ORAL SCHOOL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RELOCATE

School officials from the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf announced yesterday that the school will be moving to a new location this year. The school, founded in 1959 to prepare hearing-impaired children from birth to age 6 for mainstreaming, has been at its current location in the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities for 20 years. A four-year search for a new home led to Germantown, where the school will share space with the Kingsway Christian Church. The collaboration will allow the church to construct a third building, which was in the original plans but was cut when funding ran short. Teresa Schwartz, the school’s principal, said the move will benefit students by providing interaction with hearing children. “It’s good for their social development and good for their language development,” she said.

ACADEMIC BOWL, IN 10TH YEAR, KICKS OFF TOMORROW

This year’s Gallaudet University Academic Bowl for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students kicks off tomorrow at the Mississippi School for the Deaf in Jackson, Miss. with the Southeast Regional, which runs through Sunday. Five regional competitions, coordinated by Gallaudet’s five regional centers, will take place over the next two months, with the top two teams scheduled to face off on Gallaudet’s Washington, D.C. campus April 22-25. The Academic Bowl, now in its 10th year, has three national sponsors: the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Sorenson Video Relay Service and Verizon. More information may be found at http://academicbowl.gallaudet.edu.

RACE CAR DRIVER AUCTIONS HELMET TO PAY FOR OPERATION

A race car driver raffled off a helmet to raise more than $30,000 for his cousin’s cochlear implant operation. Indy Car Series driver Tomas Scheckter started the raffle late last year, offering the winner an autographed 2004 Panther Racing helmet. According to Paddock Talk, more than $31,415 was raised from 21 states and four countries, witha Huntsville, Ala. woman winning the prize. Jaki Scheckter underwent the operation several months ago and is now working with a speech therapist to adjust to his new lifestyle. “My progress has been remarkable,” he said, but “it may take up to a year before I’m comfortable listening to speech.”

LOUISIANA GROUP INFRINGES ON COPYRIGHT

The Lafayette (La.) Athletic Association of the Deaf has been redistributing Deafweekly for more than four months in what Deafweekly editor Tom Willard calls “the most amazing case of copyright infringement I have ever seen.” Since the first week of October, the association has been copying Deafweekly, replacing the identifying information at the top (including the copyright notice) with a few of its own news items and sending the whole thing to members, ads and all, with no credit to Deafweekly. “Even if they did give us credit,” said Willard, “there is no way we would allow someone to redistribute Deafweekly in this manner.” He has mailed an invoice to the association to cover its unauthorized usage of copyrighted material.

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INTERNATIONAL
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NEW SOFTWARE TO HELP DOCTORS DIAGNOSE HEARING PROBLEMS

Australian researchers are developing software to help doctors speed up the diagnosis of ear and hearing conditions, said a news release last week from Research Australia. The online “decision support system” will be a collection of ear and hearing diagnoses and associated symptoms gathered from medical articles, reports and journals. “We are not suggesting that doctors will be eventually replaced by computers,” said Marcus Atlas, a leading ear surgeon and director of the Lions Ear and Hearing Institute. But the new software, expected to be available within a year, will help doctors more easily diagnose an ear or hearing condition. The software has been under development for 10 years at the University of Western Australia, with Paradigm Diagnostics head Stuart Bunt taking the lead role.

STUDENTS COLLECT HEARING AIDS FOR VIETNAMESE SCHOOL

Thirteen middle school students with hearing disabilities in Takamatsu, Japan collected 40 used hearing aids and shipped them to Vietnam last month. The students launched a drive last November after learning how expensive the devices were in Vietnam, reported The Yomiuri Shimbun. One of the school’s teachers, Aki Fujii, has been teaching art and music to hearing-impaired students in Vietnam since July 2004. In October, she emailed her school in Japan and explained that hearing aids in Vietnam cost more than the average monthly salary. “Is there anything we can do about it?” she said. Students put up posters, distributed leaflets and asked their parents for help. On January 19, they handed a box containing the hearing aids to a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers official, who arranged to send them to the school where Fujii works.

HUNGARY PARTY PROPOSES FREE TEXT MESSAGES FOR DEAF

A small opposition party in Hungary wants deaf people to be able to send 300 text messages a month free of charge, reported the English-Hungarian News Agency. Parliamentary group leader Karoly Herenyi of the Democratic Forum made the proposal at a Budapest press conference on Sunday. He said the benefit would help deaf people communicate without causing a burden on the government or causing a major loss to communication service providers. Hungary has about 60,000 deaf people, or 0.6 percent of the population. The press conference was interpreted by Tamas Nagy, a Democratic Forum member and candidate in this spring’s election.

U.K. CHARITY SHOP HELPS CHILDREN IN KASHMIR

A charity shop opened recently in Hertfordshire, U.K. to raise money for deaf children in Kashmir. The shop is filled with clothes, shoes, jewelry, games, toys and books, reported This Is Hertfordshire, and proceeds are donated to the Kashmir Deaf Children’s Trust. Mohammed Aktar, who runs a general store a few doors away, founded the trust two years ago and set up a school for 15 deaf children in his homeland of Pakistani-ruled Kashmir. Aktar has a 28-year-old deaf daughter who has received a lot of help in England, “but over there, there is nothing,” he said. “They had never even seen a hearing aid.” Now that the school is up and running, Aktar hopes to set up a mobile clinic to go into remote villages to conduct hearing tests and offer hearing aids.

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Fax at 908 352 7395

Write to:
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PO Box 2005
New York, NY 10159-2005

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U.K. UNIVERSITY TO OFFER BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE DEGREE

The University of Central Lancashire in the U.K. will introduce a three-year BA degree course in British Sign Language in September. According to The Guardian, academics claim the program will be the first of its kind in the country and will offer students the chance to study sign language in the same way as any other modern language. The British Deaf Association described the news as a breakthrough because it elevates the status of BSL as a language in its own right. “It’s fantastic news,” said association director Alistair Wright, “because we want to get away from sign language as being seen as a ghetto language and for it to become more mainstream.” Students must be competent in BSL before applying, and already 12 students, both deaf and hearing, have sent in their applications.

TORONTO CULTURAL CENTER ON TARGET FOR MAY OPENING

Construction of a Deaf Culture Centre in Toronto is in the final phases, said Helen Pizzacalla, president of the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf and chair of the Deaf Culture Centre. The new facility, set to open May 14, “will be an enormous source of pride not just for deaf Canadians, but for all Canadians,” she said. The center will include a museum of deaf-related artifacts, an art gallery, research and archive facilities, and a multi-media production studio. “An international project of this magnitude requires tremendous resources, both financial and creative,” said Nanae Ho, secretary of the center. “Fortunately, we have succeeded on both fronts.”

U.K. WOMAN MUGGED IN SUBWAY ON WAY TO CHURCH

A 44-year-old deaf woman in Brighouse, U.K. was mugged on her way to church last week, leaving her mother angry. Joanne Young was in the subway when a hooded youth approached from behind, grabbed her bag and ran off into the subway, reported Brighouse Today. Celia Young, the victim’s mother, fears the incident will rob her daughter of her independence. “It has taken us so many years to give her the confidence to go out on her own,” she said, “and some little toe-rag could have taken that confidence completely out of her.” Police searched the area and advised Joanne Young to find a different route to get to church. Said Inspector Pete Brennard, Brighouse area commander: “It was a despicable crime.”

ANONYMOUS DONOR REPLACES STOLEN TRANSMITTER

An 11-year-old schoolgirl is once again able to hear her teacher, reported Wight Today in Newport, U.K., after an anonymous donor replaced a transmitter that was stolen in a break-in over the Christmas holiday. Christine Dench was finding lessons almost impossible after the device, valued at 3,000 pounds ($5,229 US), went missing. The transmitter is a small box worn by the teacher that sends signals to Christine’s receiver, allowing her to hear what is being said through her digital hearing aids. Without it, all she could hear was a confusing mixture of noise. The school made a local appeal for the device to be returned and then sought wider publicity. “We were absolutely thrilled with the response,” said Headteacher Lesley-Ann Bryant.

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LIFE & LEISURE
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WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW FEATURES DEAF DOG HANDLER

The famous Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City had a dog handler this year who is deaf, said the Associated Press. Pam Estes of Columbus, Ohio entered Shaughnessee, a Glen of Imaal terrier that she works with as a therapy dog at the Ohio School for the Deaf. She prepared for the event by attending last year’s show as an observer. Her interpreter said she was nervous and excited to enter the ring this time, and her efforts paid off with a ribbon. The dog show, in its 130th year, concludes today with a morning reception at Sardi’s Restaurant.

NEW TYPE OF COCHLEAR IMPLANT UNDER DEVELOPMENT

The University of Michigan is working on a new type of cochlear implant that could greatly improve hearing for profoundly deaf patients and simplify insertion to help surgeons minimize damage to healthy ear tissue. According to a UM news release, the ribbon-like implant is being tested in guinea pigs and cats, and could be available in four to five years for use in humans. The implant uses thin-film electrode sites that directly stimulate the auditory nerve. Kensall D. Wise, leader of the UM development team, said the new implant will host up to 128 stimulating sites - compared to current technology’s 16 to 22 - and will allow “greater tonal range and better frequency perception.” The device could be used in current cochlear patients to improve their hearing, but the old implant would have to be removed first.

NOISE-RECORDING DEVICE AIDS AUDIOLOGISTS

The problem with hearing aids, said a report last week from New York’s WNBC, is that they need to be adjusted for the users’ sound environments, but how can a person with a hearing loss provide an accurate description of that environment? A new device called a sound activity monitor (SAM) has been developed to solve this problem. Patients wear an SAM for up to a week while it records all the surrounding sounds. An audiologist then uploads the recorded data into a computer and generates a visual portrait of the patient’s world of sound. Dr. Dennis Hampton, for example, used the device to precisely tailor Linda Doherty’s hearing aids to her sound environment and to her hearing loss. “I am so pleased with the change that made in my ability to communicate with lots of other people,” she said.

TINNITUS PATIENT NOT HAPPY WITH EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Lynn Steinman had hoped a new procedure would stop the ringing in her ears that has made her life miserable since it first hit 15 years ago, reported the Rocky Mountain News. But the 56-year-old Aurora, Colo. nurse instead is feeling “very discouraged.” In December, as part of an experimental trial at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Steinman became the second person in the world to be treated for severe tinnitus by implanting a brain-stimulation device usually used for brain disorders. The idea is to eliminate the tinnitus by interrupting signals to the brain. “They make a setting and it seems to work for about two days,” she said. “The doctor keeps telling me not to give up, that there are thousands of settings he can put this on, but none of them are holding for me. I’ve not been very happy.”

MOTHER PLEADS FOR HELP FOR DEAF DAUGHTER

A Chico, Calif. woman said in a letter to the Chico Enterprise-Record last week that her 44-year-old deaf daughter “fits nowhere.” Marti Lorber Hicks blamed “the government, schools, the deaf-in-denial and the ignorant bureaucrats” of the 1960s, 70s and 80s for her daughter’s predicament. “They decided deaf children should not ever learn American Sign Language but should be mainstreamed into regular schools and learn to speak,” she wrote. “So, my daughter is now able to speak, but she can’t hear.” She said two local colleges do not teach sign language for deaf people, and the NorCal Center on Deafness, no longer in Chico, “only taught sign language for people who wanted to be interpreters, not to teach the deaf to communicate.” Her daughter has no friends, said Hicks, and stress is affecting her physical and mental health. “My question is, can you help her?” she concluded.

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WORKING WORLD
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ARCHITECT CHOSEN FOR COLORADO HEARING CENTER

An architectural firm has been selected to design the new University of Colorado Hospital Marion Downs Hearing Center. HDR Architecture, Inc. was selected from a group of three finalists to design the building, located at the Fitzsimons Campus in Aurora, Colo. According to a news release, the center is dedicated to the ongoing legacy of Dr. Marion Downs, professor emeritus at the university’s Health Sciences Center. HDR will be assisted by John Dickinson, national special needs studio director at Winter & Company of Boulder, Colo. Dickinson, who has been deaf since 2, will “capture the intricacies and nuances of the deaf environment and translate them into an effective setting that encourages performance and growth,” said the release. Meanwhile, the university board is considering a proposal to change the center’s name to Marion Downs Institute for Hearing and Deafness.

KENTUCKY SCHOOL HOSTS COUNSELORS CONVENTION

Counselors of the deaf from around the country will be in Danville, Ky. tomorrow for the annual convention of the National Counselors of the Deaf Association. According to The Advocate-Messenger, the conference is held in the home state of the association president, which this year is Barb Snapp, a Kentucky School for the Deaf counselor. “Unbridled Spirit: Changes and Challenges” is the theme and one feature will be an “Expert Expo,” where attendees can share materials and learn about deaf resources. As in the past, participants were expected to bring a gift that represents their home states to be exchanged Saturday when the conference wraps up.

 

RESEARCH JOURNAL DEVOTES ISSUE TO HEARING LOSS

The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development (JRRD) has released its current issue, a supplement on hearing loss. A news release said 31 million Americans experience hearing loss, and the current JRRD contains information to help them. “This supplement addresses topics at the cutting edge of both basic and clinical hearing loss research and is edited by internationally renown experts in the field of audiology,” said the release. The JRRD has been a leading research journal in the field of rehabilitation medicine and technology for more than 40 years. For information, visit www.rehab.research.va.gov.

SOFTWARE GRANT AWARDED TO MADONNA UNIVERSITY

Madonna University of Livonia, Mich. has been awarded the 2005 Sony Virtuoso Education Grant. The grant was provided by SANS Inc. of North Branford, Conn., “the developer and exclusive licensor of Sony language learning software solutions.” The university will receive a Sony Virtuoso Digital Language Learning System with an ASL component, valued at over $50,000. “After reviewing many grant applications, we chose Madonna University because they presented a clear vision to incorporate our technology in the classroom,” said Stella Derum, national marketing manager of SANS Inc. Madonna University, a Catholic school founded to provide services to the underprivileged, has been offering four-year undergraduate degree programs in sign language studies and interpreting since 1975.

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ATTENTION TEACHERS OF THE DEAF

If you are interested in becoming an expert in the education of children with cochlear implants, we invite you to apply for the next 6 week Educational Consultant Training Program (ECTP) which will begin in mid-June. This will be the 8th time that the ECTP program has been offered. Over 60 teachers from 38 states have completed the ECTP program.

This intensive and field -tested 6-week training program will be held at three sites: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Phila, PA), the California Ear Institute (Palo Alto, CA) and the Atlanta Speech School (Atlanta, GA). Each class will be limited to 8 experienced teachers of the deaf. Each graduate of this full-time program will receives a certificate and 9 graduate credits.

Students also receive FREE tuition, books and materials and a stipend to cover living expenses while they are in Philadelphia, Palo Alto or Atlanta.

Please go to www.chop.edu/ectp to learn more about the program and complete the online application. Deadline for the summer class is March 15th. If you want to assist your educational program with the increasing number of children with cochlear implants, this is a great training program for you. You are immersed in the medical, audiological, speech-language, social-emotional and educational aspects of this specialized field for six weeks. Our graduates have made an impact in the quality of education for children with cochlear implants in mainstream program, deaf class, residential programs, etc.

Richard W. Fee, PhD, CED, Director

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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LOU FERRIGNO SIGNS ON AS SHERIFF’S RESERVE DEPUTY

Lou Ferrigno, the hard-of-hearing actor who played The Incredible Hulk on CBS from 1977 to 1982 and appears as himself in the CBS sitcom King of Queens, is now a Los Angeles County sheriff’s department reserve deputy. Ferrigno, 54, was sworn in during a ceremony Monday night, the Associated Press reported. “My father was a police officer with the New York Police Department,” he said. “I want to give back to the community, and I want to work with young kids, help them get off drugs.” Ferrigno began training last September, learning about firearms, first aid and high-speed driving techniques and earning recognition as an “outstanding trainee” by Sheriff Lee Baca. He’ll be working at least 20 hours a month, spending time with the sheriff’s Youth Activities League and the Special Victims Bureau, which assists abused kids.

VSA ARTS OFFERS FELLOWSHIPS FOR TEACHING ARTISTS

VSA arts has issued a Call for Teaching Artists, offering fellowships for teaching artists with disabilities in the visual and theater arts. Disabled artists who have taught in a K-12 classroom in the past three years and demonstrate artistic progress and achievement are invited to apply. Selected Teaching Artist Fellows will undergo orientation in Washington, D.C. during the week of April 24 and will attend the VSA arts Start with the Arts Festival held June 8-10. The application deadline is March 17, and artists will be notified by April 14. Updates may be found at www.vsarts.org/taf.

NEW WEBSITE ‘FOMDI’ HELPS FIND CAPTIONED MOVIES

Tayler Mayer, the deaf Los Angeles man who introduced Relay Review (www.relayreview.com) last year, is at it again. He launched a new website Monday that will help people find captioned films in their area. “No longer do you have to look across multiple sources for a nice evening’s outing at the theaters,” he explained. You can simply enter your zipcode to search at www.fomdi.com. Mayer said he chose the name Fomdi “out of thin air” because a more descriptive name would be either too long or awkward. The letters were picked out of his company’s name: TaylerInfomedia. In conclusion, “Fomdi is a personality that helps people do something easier and faster,” he said.

PENNSYLVANIA MAN CHOSEN FOR NEW TWYLA THARP SHOW

A dancer who began wearing hearing aids at age 3 has been chosen for a new Twyla Tharp show. Jason McDole, 31, of Hopewell, Pa. is performing as a member of the ensemble in The Times They Are A-Changin’ at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego,Calif. through March 12. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the next stop could be Broadway. “Jason McDole is a phenomenon: a unique, brilliant dancer and a wonderfully inventive artist,” said Tharp. “I love him.” McDole doesn’t know what caused his early hearing loss but believes it is congenital. He was mainstreamed in public schools, had private speech therapists to help him and wears two hearing aids. He had a bit of extra help so he could sing in the show. “That was challenging, but the musical director would take his time to help me out with the notes here and there,” he said.

FILMMAKER PROMISES ‘MOST COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTARY’

A Kingman, Ariz. filmmaker says a documentary now in the developmental stages “is considered to be the most comprehensive documentary about the deaf that will be done in our times.” Spoken Silence Films & Productions says its documentary will include a history of deafness; causes, treatments and social impacts; culture, language, schools and controversies; and achievements in the arts, science, sports and entertainment. According to a recent announcement, the development team is currently accepting “deaf stories” from individuals and organizations “to be considered worthy of inclusion in this documentary.” Contact them at development@spokensilence.com.

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With Hamilton Relay Wireless, there is no software to download!!

Hamilton Relay Wireless is available nationwide and does NOT require you to download any software. You could choose another Wireless Relay provider, but WHY?
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Place Hamilton relay calls with your Blackberry, Treo and Sidekick or with ANY device that runs AIM® or has a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) browser!
How? With AIM®, send an instant message to HipRelay.
With a WAP browser, go to http://www.hamiltonrelay.com/.

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*Note: All of our writers, designers, and editors are deaf or hard of hearing.

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SPORTS
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2007 WINTER DEAFLYMPICS RECEIVES $250,000 DONATION

Organizers of the 2007 Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, Utah announced Sunday that the Sorenson Legacy Foundation has donated $250,000 to sponsor the opening ceremony. This is the largest cash gift that the international sports competition has received, said a news release. The February 1-10, 2007 Games are expected to attract 400 athletes from more than 20 countries as well as over 6,000 fans. “We are elated by this very generous donation,” said Dwight Benedict, chair of the organizing committee. Foundation board member James Lee Sorenson said the foundation was proud to help make the Deaflympics successful. “These games are very important to the deaf community and this is a wonderful opportunity for Utahns to further the Olympic ideals. More information may be found at www.2007Deaflympics.com.

KEVIN HALL SHOOTS 72-81-80 AT PEBBLE BEACH

Kevin Hall shot a respectable 72 on the first day of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am last Thursday in Monterey, Calif. under warm, sunny skies. On Friday, the weather turned for the worse, with cool temperatures and overcast skies, and Hall finished with an 81. “I couldn’t feel my right hand because of the cold weather,” he explained in an online diary of the event. On Saturday he scored 80, and on Sunday he watched from the sidelines as the tournament wrapped up. “My 72-81-80 isn't the end of the road,” he wrote. “Far from it. God has a plan for me and this is only the beginning!!!!”

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READER RESPONSE
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I would like to say if Ben Soukup could make a small company grow and rake in $80 million a year ... “Hell, yes, he is worth the $800,000+ a year.” This guy met every challenge he took on and then some. So the others should quit their griping.

- DENNIS MURPHY, a 1962 graduate of the South Dakota School for the Deaf


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EMPLOYMENT
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Executive Director New England Homes for the Deaf

New England Homes for the Deaf seeks strong resident centered executive leader to manage its skilled nursing, assisted and independent living units in Danvers, MA. The qualified applicant should have 5 years executive experience, excellent interpersonal skills, knowledge of Federal & State regulations as well as strong financial management skills. Knowledge of American Sign Language or Deaf Culture necessary. Current NHA license or ability to become licensed required. NEHD will support the right candidate through the licensure process. Send resume to: New England Homes for the Deaf Search Committee, 154 Water Street, Danvers, MA. 01923 or info@nehomesdeaf.org.

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT GLAD

GLAD is an Affirmative Action Employer with equal opportunity for men, women and people with disabilities. For more information on the following positions, please go to: www.gladinc.org. The status of all positions is: Regular, Full-time, Non-Exempt, Full Fringe Benefits unless otherwise noted. All positions are open until filled.

JOB DEVELOPER/INTERPRETER - Anaheim, Norwalk
HARD OF HEARING SPECIALIST - Riverside
HIV HEALTH EDUCATOR (MSM) - Los Angeles
GLAD BUILDING/MAINTENANCE MANAGER - Los Angeles

If interested for any of these positions then please submit resume and application to:

Jeff Fetterman
Human Resources Specialist
Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc.
2222 Laverna Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90041
V/TDD: (323) 550-4207
Fax #: (323)550-4204
E-mail: jfetterman@gladinc.org

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CEO Position Announcement

Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA)

DCARA is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to build on over 40 years of continuous growth and evolution of the non-profit, community-based social service agency. DCARA serves the Deaf Community in the San Francisco Bay Area and 14 counties in Northern California. The CEO will be responsible for all aspects of the agency’s operations, programs, finances, and personnel. To see the full job announcement including information about DCARA, minimum qualifications and application process, visit http://www.dcara.org. CLOSING DATE: March 31, 2006

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PLEASE CIRCULATE AND POST
California Department of Education
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION: Supervising Teacher III (FYE)
Director of Instruction
TIME BASE: Full time
LOCATION: CA School for the Deaf in Fremont
SALARY: $6,921 - $8,830 (plus $700 for R & R and $100 for sign language) monthly

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

DUTIES: Provide visionary shared leadership training, support, guidance, supervision, and direction to the Division of Instruction; provide leadership and direction to ensure school-wide consistency in management practices and adherence to school and state policies, education code and federal legislation; provide guidance in achievement testing; guide the WASC/CEASD accreditation process; work collaboratively with other school staff to facilitate coordination of services that support the instructional program; serve as a member of the school’s administrative leadership team; monitor division budget; coordinate the instructional division’s emergency response training procedures and school wide drill.

QUALIFICATIONS: Five years of experience as a classroom teacher in a program for the Deaf; three years of experience as a supervisor of teachers; fluency in ASL; fluency in standard written English and experience writing reports; Master’s degree and possession or eligibility for California credentials authorizing teaching and administrative services; knowledge of state and federal education laws; and ability to use technology effectively.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES: Knowledge of professional standards for the teaching profession; skill in establishing consistent accountability practices among educational staff; ability to provide comprehensive mentoring for program supervisors; knowledge of all aspects of standard-based education and effective instructional strategies; knowledge of accreditation process; ability to model effective leadership techniques; ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, parents and the community; ability to facilitate change; knowledge of the dual language philosophy; knowledge of Deaf culture and ability to engage the Deaf community in fulfilling the mission of the school; knowledge of effective recruitment and hiring practices; skill in managing multiple tasks; ability to make effective presentations; skill in facilitating groups; ability to make decisions based on potential long-range impacts and school-wide needs.

WHO MAY APPLY: Candidates must submit a completed Faculty Application, Form SSS 100 to the Superintendent no later than April 1, 2006 or until position is filled. Applications will be screened and the most highly qualified applicants will be asked to interview. It is anticipated that interviews will be held in April, 2006.

LOCATION: California School for the Deaf
39350 Gallaudet Drive
Fremont, CA 94538
Contact: Henry Klopping, Superintendent
Telephone: (510) 794-3685 (V/TTY)
E-mail: HKlopping@csdf-cde.ca.gov

Employment provisions as outlined by the Department of Personnel Administrations State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) policy will prevail. In addition, current or future executive orders relative to filling vacant positions may also affect this process.
California Relay (Telephone) Service for the Deaf or Hearing Impaired: TDD Phones 1-800-735-2929 Voice Phones 1-800-735-2922

CALIFORNIA STATE GOVERNMENT AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ALL REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, SEX, MARTIAL STATUS, DISABILITY, RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, AGE OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

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