Deafweekly March 8, 2006

deafweekly

March 8, 2006
Vol. 2 No. 20

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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NATIONAL
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ARKANSAS MAN FATALLY SHOT BY DEPUTY

A deaf Arkansas man was shot outside his home Sunday by a sheriff’s deputy and died later in the day at a Little Rock hospital, reported The Associated Press. Sammy E. Thompson, 38, was described as suicidal by his wife, Brenda Thompson, and Van Buren County Sheriff Scott Bradley. “He had mentioned to her that if he shot himself, he was afraid he wouldn’t go to heaven,” said Bradley. “He thought if he got someone else to do it, he’d still go to heaven.” Police had been called to Thompson’s house on a domestic disturbance call. Thompson, who had been drinking, was shot after picking up a rifle and aiming it at the deputy.

FEDEX ORDERED TO PAY $108,000 TO DEAF WORKER

A federal jury in Maryland ordered FedEx to pay $108,000 in punitive and compensatory damages to a deaf former employee, reported HR.BLR.com on Monday. Ronald Lockhart had charged the package-shipping company in 2004 with violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide him with sign-language interpreters. Lockhart, who worked as a package handler in Baltimore, was represented by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “This verdict sends victims and their employers a big message,” said EEOC attorney Jacqueline McNair. “Disabled employees are not to be treated like second-class citizens.”

WOMAN ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH STABBING FRIEND

A 40-year-old Texas woman was charged Monday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing a deaf friend who wanted to have sex with her. According to the San Antonio Express-News, Carla Louise Reed told police that Darrell Fontelroy, 32, had come to her apartment and wouldn’t take no for an answer, repeatedly pushing and hitting her. She could not, however, describe to officers where or how she was struck. Reed allegedly waited to call EMS until she wiped up blood in the apartment, threw the knife into a dishwasher and cleaned the victim’s wounds in a bathtub. Reed was jailed on $30,000 bond and Fontelroy was hospitalized in stable condition, though “officers got few details from the victim after the 3 a.m. incident because of his hearing impairment.”

UTAH JAIL REFUSES MAN’S WORK RELEASE

Deaf sign language instructor Roger Wilkins’s plan to sell merchandise on eBay has run into a snag. Three weeks ago, Wilkins, 38, of Lehi, Utah, was sentenced to one year in jail for sexually abusing an 18-year-old student who was living with Wilkins, his wife and their three children. Judge Lynn Davis had included work release in her sentence so Wilkins could support his family, reported the Provo Daily Herald, but the Utah County Jail has rejected Wilkins’s home-based employment. “It is our policy that home-based businesses are not allowed,” said Capt. John Carlson, jail administrator. “If it can’t be supervised, then we don’t allow it.” Wilkins was given 30 days to find other employment and ordered to begin serving his sentence on weekends. Attorney Ron Yengich was looking into having Wilkins serve his sentence in a different jail that would allow his work release.

BOTTLE-STRUCK WOMAN SUES AGENCY

A West Virginia agency is being sued by a woman who says a deaf client hit her in the head with a bottle. According to the Charleston Record, April Crouch’s lawsuit targets Deaf Education and Advocacy Focus of West Virginia, Inc. and claims that Logan Gentry threw a full bottle of sports drink at her in a Dollar General store on July 28 during a DEAF-sponsored outing. The agency knew of Gentry’s “propensity to commit harmful and violent acts toward third-parties in a public setting without provocation,” said the lawsuit, and “had a duty to prevent such acts.” Crouch is seeking an amount “that will fully and fairly compensate for her injuries and damage,” which include “severe, significant and debilitating physical injuries, some of which are permanent in nature, as well as past, present and future emotional distress.”

WASHINGTON SCHOOL SUPPORTERS RALLY IN OLYMPIA

About 60 graduates, former faculty, students, parents and other friends of the Washington School for the Deaf turned up in Olympia last Friday to send a message, reported The Columbian. The rally at the Legislative Building was designed to impress upon lawmakers that the Vancouver residential school serves a vital purpose and must not be closed. Speakers included alumna Patricia Temprening LaGrave, who said public school teachers ignored her before she transferred to WSD, and parent Mel Orr, whose family moved from Los Angeles so 8-year-old Hayden could attend the school. Gov. Chris Gregoire had to cancel plans to meet with the group but said through a spokesman that she was frustrated with the Legislature for rejecting an $8.1 million request for capital improvements at the school.

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GOAMERICA SAYS HANDS ON VRS ‘TERMINATES MERGER’

GoAmerica, Inc. released a two-sentence announcement from Hackensack, N.J. last Thursday in regard to its planned merger with Hands On Video Relay Services, Inc.. A letter dated March 1, 2006 had been received from Hands On, which “purportedly terminates the merger agreement among the parties.” Only two weeks ago, it was reported that Hands On stockholders had approved the merger agreement, while GoAmerica stockholders had adjourned a meeting until March 13 because of a lack of a quorum. GoAmerica’s board of directors “is considering its alternatives in response to this letter,” said the news release.

MAN GOES MISSING, FOUND NEXT DAY IN WOODS

KTEN reported last week on a “missing deaf-mute” who was found a day and a half after disappearing from a Boley, Okla. facility. Richard Hensley, 52, was discovered missing Thursday morning by Firm Foundation workers, but authorities were not notified until that night. Weather conditions delayed an air search until 1 p.m. Friday. Three hours later, Oklahoma Highway Patrol pilot Jim Bullock spotted what appeared to be a body in a wooded area about a half mile from the facility and directed a trooper on the ground to the area where Hensley was found lying face down. He was transported by ambulance to an Okemah hospital, where his condition was not immediately known.

PILOT THANKFUL, BUT MAN QUESTIONS ‘RISK’

Stephen Hopson, the Ohio man who two weeks ago became the first deaf pilot to earn an instrument rating from the FAA, had a letter printed on AVweb on Monday. In it, he thanked American Winds Flight Academy and owner Denise Hobart, president Mike Kolomichuk and flight instructor Jason Edwards. Because of them, wrote Hopson, “I was able to achieve what everyone else thought was impossible.” But a second letter, from Todd Smith, suggested that deaf pilots put other people at risk. “I am gravely concerned that [Hopson] is endangering myself and my family, friends and business in his flyer endeavors,” wrote Smith. AV web writer Mary Grady replied with a reminder that Hopson can fly solo only with a “safety pilot” on board.

AGENCY TAKES DISABLED MAN’S 'OVERWEIGHT' DOG

A Minnesota man who lost both legs to diabetes had his service dog taken away because the dog was slightly overweight. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, a staff member of Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota went to Mark Grewing’s home one day last spring to pick up “Ozzie” for a weight check at a vet’s office two blocks away. Grewing, 45, waited outside in his wheelchair for an hour and then called the agency to find out what was going on. Executive director Al Peters told him that the yellow Labrador had been taken from him permanently - but wouldn’t give a reason. State Rep. Doug Meslow, an attorney, offered to represent Grewing at no cost but couldn’t get an answer, either. Finally, Pioneer Press Watchdog columnist Debra O’Connor got involved and learned that Ozzie had been taken away because Peters believed he had been overfed. How overweight was the 69-pound dog? “A couple pounds,” said Peters.

MASSACHUSETTS CONSIDERS HEARING AID BILL

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering state Senate Bill 566, which would require insurance companies to pay at least 85 percent of the cost of hearing aids every four years. Hearing-impaired writer Carrie Barrepski attended a public forum on the Hearing Aid Bill January 27 at the Senior Resource Center in Springfield. Barrepski, writing in the Springfield Republican, was impressed with guest speakers state Sen. Stephen Buoniconti and state Rep. Gale Candaras for “keeping this bill alive and pushing for it to be passed.” The bill is currently in the Financial Service Committee, she said, and with any luck it will be passed this spring.

CINCINNATI STATION CUTS BACK ON CAPTIONING

The $250,000 annual expense of fully captioning its newscasts has become “a significant issue” for WKRC-TV, reported the Cincinnati Enquirer, and the station is cutting back on the service. Channel 12 had been offering real-time captioning - with ad-libbed weather and sports, along with live reports and breaking news - since September. Last Wednesday, however, the station dropped captioning on unscripted portions on morning, noon and 4 p.m. newscasts. “We look at this as only temporary,” said program operation director Rick Wagar. “It is our intention to restore 100 percent captioning as quickly as possible.”

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INTERNATIONAL
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SOCCER PLAYER CLEARED OF RACIAL ABUSE

Police in the U.K. have completed an investigation that was launched by two deaf fans who claimed they lip-read a soccer player racially abusing another player on TV, reported BBC News. Steve Finnan, 29, the Liverpool player targeted in the investigation, said last Thursday he was astonished by allegations that he had racially abused Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. He issued a statement on the team’s website, saying he “wanted to set the record straight.” A Greater Manchester police spokesman said the case is now closed.

DEAF MAN, BLIND WIFE LOSE LIFE SAVINGS

A deaf 87-year-old man sat helpless as his blind 86-year-old wife was pinned to the floor by masked burglars, reported the Cambridge Evening News in the U.K. Bernard Aylett had just been discharged from a hospital after major heart surgery when three intruders forced their way into the couple’s Willingham home and robbed them of their life savings. “I find it hard to believe these men were human,” said Aylett’s wife, Millie. “They terrified us.” Police called the attack “disgusting” and appealed to the local community for help, even expressing hope that fellow criminals would “turn in the despicable crooks.”

WOMEN REPORT RAPE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Two young deaf women in the Philippines reported to police that they were molested and robbed by two unidentified teenagers who approached and befriended them while they were walking home from a computer café. According to the Visayan Daily Star in Dumaguete City, Chief Insp. Jimmy Fortaleza hired a sign language interpreter so he could understand the women’s complaint. The women, age 17 and 21, claimed the suspects invited them to dinner and they “rode a tricycle toward the barangay” where the alleged rapes occurred. The women, who had money and a cell phone stolen, were assisted by the police department’s Women and Children Concerns Desk.

NEW ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED IN SEYCHELLES

Seychelles Nation reported Monday on the launching of the first-ever Association of People with Hearing Impairment (APHI) in Seychelles, a nation of more than 100 tropical islands in the Indian Ocean. A recent ceremony featured special guest Vincent Meriton, Minister for Health and Social Services, who was given the honor of officially launching the association. Meriton said the government is formulating an Integrated National Disability Strategy for uplifting the lives of people with disabilities. APHI chairperson Anita Gardner also spoke, noting that the 200 people in Seychelles with impaired hearing deserve all services necessary to reach their full potential.

SINGAPORE MOM ACCUSES TEACHER OF ABUSE

The mother of a female student at a Singapore school for the deaf said a male teacher asked her child, “Are you a girl or a boy?” and demanded that she remove her clothes so he could confirm her gender. Liu Shan Li, 44, said at a press conference Monday that this was what her daughter Su Su Xin and a classmate went through last Wednesday, reported Sin Chew Daily. The girls objected violently and refused to comply, said the mother, leading to physical abuse by the teacher against Su Xin. Four classmates gave eyewitness accounts to the police, and Su Xin’s mother sought help from the opposition party Parti Keadilan Nasional. A lawyer for the party, saying the school has abused its powers, threatened to make a formal complaint against the school if officials do not provide a satisfactory explanation within two weeks.

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Extended LAST Registration- April 1, 2006

For Jewish deaf and hard of hearing people (single, married, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox) on August 13-25, 2006

Tourism
From USA, 450,000 visitors in 2005
See website.

Security
Body guard/medic person with group at all times
See website.

Highlights
Hiking: Golan Heights and Galilee, Swimming: Dead Sea, Climbing Masada (or cable car), Baking pita bread, Making olive oil, Exploring ancient, holy city of Jerusalem, Meeting deaf and hard of hearing Israelis. See website for proposed itinerary.

Website
http://www.njcd.org/ourway/sections.php?id=C0_70_9

Contact:
Email: Landau9@optonline.net
Fax: 908 352 7395

JDSR
PO Box 2005
New York, NY 10159-2005

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MAN DEAFENED IN PUB ATTACK CARRIES QUEEN’S BATON

An Australian man who lost his hearing in a pub attack 15 years ago was set to carry the baton during leg eight of Sunday’s Queens Baton Relay, reported The Standard in Warrnambool. Mark Gravolin, 36, doesn’t remember the 1991 incident at a Croydon pub that left him deaf, but friends tell him he tapped a man on the dance floor and the man turned around and hit him. “I fell back and hit my head on a railing,” said Gravolin. “I had facial fractures and a skull fracture.” His ability got worse and then better, but he ended up deaf in both ears. Gravolin said he signed up for the Queens’ Baton Relay for “recognition of what I’ve been through” and quipped, “If I start heading the wrong way with the baton, then I’ve obviously misheard something.”

INDONESIA PROTESTERS DEMAND FAIRNESS

Some 50 hearing-impaired people marched to a provincial council in Indonesia last Tuesday to “bring attention to the discrimination they receive from the government,” reported The Jakarta Post. The protesters issued a statement demanding proper education, better facilities and equal treatment. One man, 30-year-old Rusli of Mataram, said he can drive a public transportation vehicle but can’t get a license because he’s deaf. Councillor Hadi Faesal met with protestors and promised to bring their demands to government officials.

NEW HISTORY PROJECT TARGETS U.K.’S DEAF, DISABLED

English Heritage, a government agency that “manages the historic environment of England,” is teaming up with the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People to collect photos, posters and books about the experiences of disabled and deaf people across the U.K. “Historians have tended to ignore the lives of deaf people and disabled people,” said Pat Burke of English Heritage’s outreach office. “Future generations have no real picture of what life is like for these communities.” Coordinator Brian Kokoruwe, who is deaf himself, said the project is “long overdue” and represents “a golden opportunity for people to literally make history.”

BLAIR TOLD LACK OF CAPTIONING SETS ‘BAD EXAMPLE’

Prime Minister Tony Blair was told in parliament last Thursday that the lack of captioning on the Parliament TV channel sets an “extremely bad example,” reported Guardian Unlimited. More than a million hard-of-hearing people in the U.K. use subtitles when possible, said Tory Jeremy Hunt, but “there is no such facility on our own parliament channel.” He asked Blair, “Will you take urgent action to ensure that deaf people have the same access to democracy as everyone else?” But Blair didn’t think it was his job. “It is not up to me to decide how parliament arranges its affairs in that way,” he said.

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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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LIFE & LEISURE
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NEW ASHA STUDY POINTS TO HEARING RISKS

America is “going deaf from an earful of technology,” said The Kansas City Star last week in a story on a new report by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. While the iPod gets much of the attention, the association randomly chose nine devices with adjustable volume controls and tested the decibel levels. “All of the devices we tested can produce sound well above the maximum safety level of 85 decibels,” said ASHA spokeswoman Pam Mason. The group is particularly concerned about a new generation of music devices marketed to children, such as the Disney Mix Stick, which can produce up to 118 decibels.

VACCINE TARGETS CHILDREN’S EAR INFECTIONS

A new vaccine that could help prevent ear infections has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline Plc, reported CNN last week. Development of the vaccine was first revealed in the British medical journal Lancet. Ear infections, or acute otitus media, are common between 6 months and 4 years, said the American Academy of Pediatrics, with about 90 percent of children experiencing at least one infection before reaching school age. The vaccine was tested on 5,000 infants and young children in the Czech Republic and was found to reduce the frequency of infection by 65.5 percent. Glaxo plans to seek regulatory approval in Europe next year but has not given a date for filing in the U.S.

TEST COULD LEAD TO ‘INDIVIDUALIZED HEARING AIDS’

A Cambridge (U.K.) University Ph.D. student is developing a test to identify “dead regions” in the brain that could be responsible for hearing loss in children. Karolina Kluk’s findings may lead to individualized hearing aids for children, reported BBC News. Traditional hearing tests can’t be used on babies, said the report, but Kluk’s test checks brainwave responses to different frequencies while the patient is asleep, playing against background noise and covering all frequencies of human speech. Kluk has been awarded a prize by the charity Deafness Research UK and is now working with adults in Toronto, where she compares the results from standard hearing tests and her “electrophysiological” test.

SLIDE SHOW TELLS STORY OF PURIM

The Orthodox Union in New York City has developed a slide show that tells the story of Purim in a format suitable for deaf people, children and the elderly. The PowerPoint CD-ROM offers a graphics-rich presentation of the Esther story that can be projected onto a large screen or a computer monitor. “It’s not just for the deaf,” says Batya Jacob, program director of Our Way, the division of the National Jewish Council for the Disabled that designed the project three years ago. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 50 facilities used the presentation last year, and the O.U. wants to double that number by Purim this year, which falls on the evening of March 13. For more information, write to arielib@ou.org.

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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.

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WORKING WORLD
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HEPPNER, LLOYD APPOINTED TO GALLAUDET BOARD

Two new members have been appointed to the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees. Cheryl Heppner and Pamela Lloyd received unanimous approval at the board’s February meeting, said an announcement last week. Heppner is executive director of the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons and chair of the national Movie Access Coalition. Lloyd is program administrator for Telecommunications Access of North Carolina and former president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. Heppner and Lloyd “bring a depth of knowledge and experience that will greatly benefit Gallaudet for many years to come,” said interim chair Celia May Baldwin. They will attend their first board meeting in October.

SIGN LANGUAGE GLOVE TO BE AVAILABLE IN A YEAR

The “Acceleglove,” an electronic glove that translates sign language into text, will be available to the general public within a year, said Ivanhoe Broadcast News, and will probably cost less than $100. The glove uses sensors that send signals from movements of the hands and fingers to a computer, where the word or letter associated with the hand movement is displayed as text on the screen. Researchers are also developing the glove to translate sign language to speech. “It allows deaf people to function at their maximum within society,” said Corinne Vinopol, president of the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training in Wheaton, Md. For more information, call Jose Hernandez Rebollar at The George Washington University, 202-994-9425.

COMEDIAN RECALLS GIG AS DEAF SCHOOL SUB

Comedian Todd Barry wrote a True-Life Tale for The New York Times last week about his experiences as a substitute teacher at a school for the deaf. At first, he objected to the assignment. “I don’t know sign language,” he said. But he was told “ it doesn’t matter,” and it didn’t, or not as much as he thought. A student teacher knew sign language, the kids could read lips and there was a lot of eye contact, pointing and eyebrow gestures involved. He almost got fired when an innocent remark about paying a colleague $5 to “take them off my hands” was interpreted seriously by the dean. And he remembers a home economics class that consisted of two boys “who looked a bit too old for grade school. We spent the class hanging around and burning food.”

DAWNSIGNPRESS OFFERS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

DawnSignPress is accepting applications for its annual college scholarship. The San Diego, Calif. publisher of American Sign Language materials will award a $2,000 scholarship to a deaf or hard-of-hearing high school senior or a junior/community college student headed to a four-year university in 2006-07. The award may be used to help with tuition, books, supplies or other expenses. The company established the program in 2004 because “higher education is expensive,” said DawnSignPress president Joe Dannis. The winner will be announced in June. Last year’s awardee was Tia Dorsette of Detroit, Mich., who hopes to become an art teacher. For application forms, visit www.dawnsign.com/about/dspscholarship.html.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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‘DEAF GEOFF’ MAKES NOISE ON SYRACUSE AIRWAVES

The Syracuse (N.Y.) Post Standard did a story recently on Geoff Herbert, a WWHT-FM radio personality who goes by the name “Deaf Geoff.” Herbert, 21, “embraces his hearing loss and wants others to do the same,” said the report. Born with a severe hearing loss and speech impediment, Herbert has found early success in a profession that usually values people with a good ear and a clear voice. Herbert began interning at the station two years ago as a Syracuse University student and performed so well that he was hired as morning producer in fall 2004. He takes calls from listeners and sometimes misunderstands what they say, though he and hosts Marty and Shannon “draw the line at doing anything smacking of ridicule.” Herbert is developing a fan base and was recently recognized by his voice at a fast-food restaurant. “They were like, ‘Are you Deaf Geoff?’” said Herbert. “And they go, ‘Ah, man, I love the show.’”

INTERPRETER REMAINS ‘UNFLAPPABLE’ IN COMIC SHOW

The funniest person on stage at the “Friends of Bob and Tom Truly Twisted Tour” concert in South Bend, Ind. on February 18 was the sign language interpreter, reported the South Bend Tribune. “The interpreter remained unflappable as she translated the most foul-mouthed things to the delight of the comics, host Chick McGee and the audience,” said writer Tom Conway. Four comedians performing to a sold-out crowd at the Morris Performing Arts Center tried to shock the interpreter with different words and situations, “but she performed her job with unshaken confidence.” McGee noted it was ironic for her to be there, since “deaf people are the number-one audience for the Bob and Tom show - on the radio.”

MARYLAND THEATER PRESENTS HIP-HOP SHOW

The Associated Press reported from Bethesda, Md. last week, where a cast of hearing and deaf performers were rehearsing a children’s show called “Hip Hop Anansi.” Director Patrick Crowley has an interpreter on hand to communicate with deaf choreographer Fred Beam and two actors in the cast. Beam worked with Peace Justice Universal (known offstage as Pedro Urquilla), who wrote the score knowing that some people would feel rather than hear the music. The show runs through April 13 at the 26-year-old Imagination Stage (www.imaginationstage.org). Reviews have been mixed, said the AP, but the show has been playing to full audiences.

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It’s St. Patrick’s Day all month!

Your luck starts March 1st and continues all month with these specials. The Sonic Shaker Portable vibrating alarm clock will keep you on time! Travel case, pillow clasp, batteries included. Just $24.95. VibraLITE Watches for that person on the go. Bright blue “night light” helps you see the time, even in the dark. All varieties $10.00 off!

Call now at 1-800-233-9130 (V/TTY) or visit online at http://www.weitbrecht.com (use code WCI306D when ordering). Get a copy of our catalog by emailing your request to: sales@weitbrecht.com.

WCI. Your Single Source for Assistive Technology

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Sorenson IP Relay™ expands communication possibilities for deaf and hard-of hearing individuals by enabling free text-to-speech relay calls with any standard telephone user in the U.S. Sorenson IP Relay calls can be initiated by visiting the Web site at www.siprelay.com from a personal computer, or can be made with a Sidekick, Blackberry, Trço or other mobile device. A trusted Sorenson Communications Assistant (CA) instantaneously facilitates the conversation between the Sorenson IP Relay user and a friend, doctor or business associate. Sorenson IP Relay calls are free for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

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EMPLOYMENT
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AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE - INTERPRETERS & INSTRUCTOR FOR DISABLED

F·E·G·S is one of the largest health and human services organizations in the country with a budget in excess of $230 million and 3,500+ employees in more than 300 locations throughout the New York metropolitan area. We seek experienced professionals, fluent in ASL, to work with staff and adult disabled, deaf population at our Manhattan facility on Hudson Street.

Staff Sign Language Interpreters

FT: Reports to AVP for Deaf Services, provides sign language interpreting services in a wide variety of situations and settings throughout the organization. Occasional staff training on use of sign language interpreters.

PT: Provides interpreting services for individual and group counseling sessions, meetings, and other program activities for Continuing Day Treatment Program serving deaf, chronically mentally ill clients. Must have flexibility in working with client’s personal signing styles.

INSTRUCTOR/SPECIALIST - F/T

Day Habilitation Instructor/Specialist to supervise and support deaf adults with developmental disabilities in a classroom setting. Provide group and individual instruction. Tri-state driver’s license required.

Positions require BA (or equivalent combination of education and experience) and full fluency in ASL. Prior experience working with disabled population and RID/NAD certification strongly preferred.

Generous benefits. Send resume to our HR Consultants: HR Dynamics, Inc. (DEPT. JG/ASL), 345 Hudson Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10014. E-mail: jgardner@hr-dynamics.com. Visit our website: www.fegs.org.

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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
LIFESIGNS DIRECTOR - Los Angeles
COMMUNITY INTERPRETER - Riverside

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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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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