Deafweekly March 16, 2011

deafweekly

March 16, 2011
Vol. 7, No. 21

Editor: Tom Willard

Deafweekly is an independent news report for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that is mailed to subscribers on Wednesdays and available to read at www.deafweekly.com. These are the actual headlines and portions of recent deaf-related news articles, with links to the full story. Minor editing is done when necessary. Deafweekly is copyrighted 2011 and any unauthorized use is prohibited. Please support our advertisers; they make it possible for you to receive Deafweekly.

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Last issue's most-read story: MOTHER SEEKS NICHE FOR HER DEAF DAUGHTER / Democrat and Chronicle
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NATIONAL
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Albany, NY
DEAF PUPILS RALLY IN ALBANY
Not unlike many 11th-graders, Sarah Flowers boasts of her achievements in high school: the seven Regents exams she has passed, her stints as class president and yearbook editor, and her sports activities. "That would not be available to me in a hearing school," said Flowers, a Cheektowaga resident who attends St. Mary's School for the Deaf in Buffalo. Flowers got up early Thursday and, instead of going to school, traveled 300 miles to Albany to speak -- and sign -- before several hundred students, parents and staff members from the 11 state-funded schools for deaf, blind and disabled children. Those schools are all on the chopping block in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's planned 2011 budget. / The Buffalo News

See Also OPINION: GOVERNOR'S PLAN IS DETRIMENTAL TO BLIND AND DEAF STUDENTS / The Journal News

See Also MEGNA: SCHOOLS FOR BLIND AND DEAF COST NY $93,000 A STUDENT / Politics on the Hudson

Boston, MA
DEAF-BLIND RESIDENTS ASK MASS. TO KEEP SERVICES
Jaimi Lard was one of several deaf and blind people who with their advocates visited the Statehouse last Wednesday to urge lawmakers to maintain funding for a program that provides specialized interpreters, transportation and other support for dozens of deaf and blind people and their families. They want to restore $450,000 earmarked for the DeafBlind Community Access Network, cut by Gov. Deval Patrick in his proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. / The Associated Press

See Also DEAF AND BLIND COMMUNITY AT RISK OF LOSING A LIFELINE / The Boston Globe

Farmington, NM
NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF CELEBRATES 125 YEARS
About 150 miles and sound separate nine Four Corners families from their children. "It's really hard," Anabell Cisneros said through an interpreter, "but we're happy he's achieving his goals." Anabell's son, Jesus Cisneros, is one of nine local students who travel to Santa Fe every week to attend the New Mexico School for the Deaf. "Of course he misses us, that's logical," Anabell Cisneros said. "But he's adapting very quickly." NMSD is celebrating its 125th anniversary this school year. / The Daily Times

Middletown, OH
PRELIMINARY HEARING SET FOR RAPE SUSPECT
An area men charged with rape will be back in Middletown Municipal Court March 16 for a preliminary hearing. Bond for Robert Newbraugh, 56, of Moraine, was set at $200,000. Newbraugh, who is deaf, is charged with raping a 62-year-old woman, who also is deaf. When the alleged sexual assault occurred Nov. 10 in the woman’s residence, she told Middletown police she was “adamant” about not filing charges against Newbraugh. But she recently contacted police and told them she wanted to file charges. / Middletown Journal

Phoenix, AZ
DEAF SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF LURING MINOR FOR SEX
A teacher at the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf has been arrested after allegedly soliciting sex from a former student, who is 17 years old. The 17-year-old's mother called police earlier this week after discovering some Facebook messages exchanged between her daughter, who is deaf, and the suspect, 39-year-old Bryce Freeman. Freeman allegedly admitted to knowing the victim was underage and soliciting sex from her anyway even though he knew it was wrong. / KSAZ

Kent, OH
PETITION: STOP DEAF DISCRIMINATION AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
Kent State University has one of the largest programs in American Sign Language in the nation, in one of the largest Deaf Communities. This information comes directly from the University's own website. However Kent State is discriminating against Deaf teachers, students, and the greater Deaf community by changing their rules so that studying American Sign Language at the main campus will only be open to students choosing to major or minor in the language. This is a grave injustice to both the students and to the Deaf community. / Change.org

Staunton, VA
RECYCLING DEBRIS PAYS DIVIDENDS AT VSDB PROJECT
It's a fact of the industry: Construction yields waste. And, it's a fact that it costs to haul it away. Tony Rollins, general superintendent of Kjellstrom + Lee Construction, has a new approach. He's overseeing the construction of four new buildings and the renovation of four more on the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind campus, and said that several years ago, all the debris from such projects would have gone to the landfill. But times change. / The News Leader

Washington, DC
IRS HAS VIDEOS AVAILABLE IN ASL
The IRS has built a YouTube channel complete with a series of ASL videos -- that are also voiced and captioned -- on a myriad of tax topics, including IRS2Go (the new IRS phone app for iPhone and Android), Earned Income Tax Credit, Free File and Fillable Forms, Small Business Employer, Unemployment Compensation and Home Energy Credits. / IRS

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INTERNATIONAL
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Linwood, Scotland
DEAF WOMAN JAILED FOR LINWOOD KNIFE ATTACK
A deaf woman has been given a 15-month sentence for stabbing a man while on bail for attacking a police officer with a knife. Patricia Martin, 48, of Linwood, left Andrew Finnegan severely injured after the attack in her home in October 2010. Martin, who is also unable to speak, was jailed for 32 months in November for the attack on the police officer. / BBC News

Sunderland, England
POLICE UNDER FIRE FOR ARRESTING DEAF MAN FOR SIGNING
Police officers who mistook a deaf man's frantic signing for rude gestures have been criticised by magistrates for arresting both him and his brother. Shaun Phuprate, 22, had raised two of his fingers to his ear in the internationally recognised sign for 'I am deaf'. But the infuriated constables, Steve Hawkins and Richie Smith, were convinced he was giving them a V-sign. / Daily Mail

East Grinstead, England
PARTIALLY DEAF MAN CAUSES FLAT FIRE AFTER FALLING ASLEEP WHILE SMOKING
A partially deaf man had a very lucky escape from his flat following a fire caused by smoking materials. The 91-year-old fell asleep at his home in Quarry Rise, East Grinstead, while smoking and the cigarette ignited a tea towel on the table. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent a crew from East Grinstead who found the fire out on arrival but the flat smoke-logged at about 9pm yesterday. The elderly man was not wearing his hearing aid and slept through the incident. / The Argus

Norwich, England
DEAF CENTRE AT CITY OF NORWICH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 2012 OLYMPICS
A group from Norwich started celebrating the countdown to London 2012 yesterday with an Olympics inspired dance performance at Norwich Playhouse. Students from the Deaf Centre at City of Norwich School performed ‘Dance Aloud’ at the theatre on St George’s Street in the city centre. The project, developed by Norfolk County Council, engaged local choreographer Neil Paris and had the young people working on it for two months. / Evening News

Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
READERS REPLY WITH JOB HELP
A deaf man’s desperate offer of $500 to anyone who could find him a job touched the hearts of Bully readers. The Morning Bulletin was flooded with phone calls from people wanting to help Rockhampton’s Brian Neill find a local truck driving job after a story appeared in Wednesday’s edition. However, none of the callers were interested in the $500 cash offer - they all stated they just wanted to help. / Rockhampton Morning Bulletin

Mumbai, India
DEAF AND DUMB MAN HELD FOR RAPE
The police arrested a 40-year-old deaf and dumb man for raping a minor girl in a public toilet at Hanuman Nagar in Bhandup (W) on Sunday. The accused, Balu Tikade, reportedly dragged the 10-year-old girl to one of the gents toilets and repeatedly raped her. Tikade was caught by alert residents who heard the victim screaming. An investigator said the incident occurred when the victim, a class V student, came out of the ladies' toilet around 3 pm. Tikade is a painter who lives in the same locality as the victim. / The Times of India

Nakawa, Uganda
2,000 DEAF UGANDANS RECEIVE HEARING AIDS
The lives of over 2,000 Ugandans with hearing defects will soon change after they are fitted with hearing aids donated by American-based Starkey Hearing Foundation in partnership with Uganda Revenue Authority and Hope Medical Clinics Uganda. The one-week mission dubbed “So Ugandans May Hear” during which each beneficiary will be fitted with a hearing aid, was on Sunday launched by the First Lady and Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, Janet Museveni. / New Vision

Tanzania
HE HAS GIVEN UP MUCH TO WORK WITH THE DEAF
Ibrahim Mlosi is a member of the Tanzania Association of Sign Language Interpreters (TASLI). He is also a sign language interpreter: What made you get involved? It enables me to communicate with people living with disabilities. More so, through my work, I earn a decent living and get to meet different people as well as develop new contacts. What’s the job like? It is all about transforming words into signs with the aim of delivering the message to the deaf. / The Citizen

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My Yesterdays
in a changing world of the deaf

by Mervin D. Garretson

An open lifestory of a totally deaf educator and advocate about growing up in an anti-sign world dominated by oralists and professional audists. Includes bits of deaf history, commentaries on ASL, deaf culture, the National Association of the Deaf, and the World Federation of the Deaf.

Also brief biographies of Gallaudet presidents the author has known since the 1940s, and other notable people in the field. Be prepared for some surprising and unexpected revelations about familiar figures in the field!

Available from Xlibris Marketing Service, 1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington. IN 47403. Toll-free phone 888-795-4274. Also available from Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Hardback $29.99 Softcover 19.99. The author also has some autographed softcover books for $15 plus shipping costs ($5.25). Merv Garretson 11577 SE 179th Loop Summerfield, FL 34491.

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LIFE & LEISURE
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Raleigh, NC
RED HAT TEAMS WITH RIT TO HELP DEAF CHILDREN
Raleigh-based Red Hat is sponsoring open source workshops at the Rochester Institute of Technology this summer that have the potential of improving technology for deaf and hard of hearing children. Three RIT students who are alumni of the Professors’ Open Source Summer Experience workshops have developed an open source prototype video chat package to produce smooth sign language video for One Laptop Per Child’s XO laptops. / Triangle Business Journal

Carterville, IL
JALC DEAFEST DRAWS CROWD TO JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE
Local deaf and hard of hearing people were treated to a full day of fun and frivolity Wednesday at the 17th annual DeaFest hosted by John A. Logan College. The event was coordinated by the college’s Interpreter Preparedness Program students and sponsored by both the college and the Midwest Gallaudet University Regional Center, now housed on campus. Featured performers were Pinky Aiello, who performed a juggling act, and Miss Deaf America, Rachel Mazique, who signed a story to children with the letters of the alphabet. / The Daily Republican

Philadelphia, PA
WOMAN MAKES SURE DEAF PEOPLE CAN ENJOY HER TALK AT PHILLY FLOWER SHOW
Gloria Day, whose landscape business is in Bern Township, presented a talk called "Le Petit Jardin" with a sign interpreter for the deaf at the International Philadelphia Flower Show Gardeners' Studio last Saturday. Gloria has been a flower show volunteer and presenter at the Gardeners' Studio for 11 consecutive years. Since 2001, Gloria has invited Rayna Notta, a professional sign-language interpreter, to sign her demonstrations at the Gardeners' Studio as a community service. This year, the show had three sign interpreters working throughout the lectures. / BCTV.org

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WORKING WORLD
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Rochester, NY
ASL MAKES DEBUT IN CDC SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL
Thanks to a group of deaf and hearing Rochester, N.Y., pioneers, a medical journal for the first time has served up a scientific article online with a new twist: an accompanying web video in American Sign Language (ASL), produced by the University of Rochester Medical Center. Preventing Chronic Disease, a journal published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in its March 2011 issue published a peer-reviewed article about health inequities experienced by deaf people. / UR Medical Center

Clearwater, FL
JEFF ROSEN JOINS THE Z AS GENERAL COUNSEL
ZVRS CEO Sean Belanger announced that Jeff Rosen has joined The Z® as General Counsel. In this position, Rosen will be a member of the executive management team responsible for the company’s legal and regulatory efforts. Rosen spent the past four years serving as General Counsel and Vice President of Governmental Affairs at Snap Telecommunications, Inc. Prior to that, he spent seven years as General Counsel and Director of Policy for the National Council on Disability and 13 years working as an attorney at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. / ZVRS

Washington, DC
LOUD AND CLEAR: METRO STATION AD TARGETING DEAF IS BIG HIT
Just before getting on the escalator at the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U station, you'll walk across a piece of history. It's a floor ad for Convo Relay, a service deaf people can use to make calls to hearing people. And the company believes it's the only commercial media buy targeted to the deaf population in the entire country. / Express Night Out

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Austin, TX
FILMS THAT SPEAK TO DEAF AND HEARING AUDIENCES ALIKE
Hundreds of filmmakers came to Austin, Texas, to attend the SXSW Film Festival this past weekend. The work of deaf filmmaker, designer and animator Robyn Girard stood out from the rest of the pack. Girard, a visual storyteller who works to bridge the gap between deaf and hearing audiences through film and animation, spoke about the portrayal of deaf people in film, how popular films often perpetuate stereotypes and how the deaf community can counteract those perceptions. / PBS News Hour

Miami, FL
'HAMILL' NAMED BEST FEATURE FILM AT MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL
"Hamill," a feature film based on the life of UFC light heavyweight Matt Hamill (10-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), is now two-for-two. The film picked up the Audience Award for Best Feature Film this past weekend at the Miami Film Festival. The honor comes four months after it captured the Breakthrough Film award at the 2010 AFI Film Festival in Los Angeles. "These awards are further proof to show that this film can survive theatrically and break the mold," said Eben Kostbar, who co-wrote and produced "Hamill" with partner Joseph McKelheer. / MMAjunkie.com

Rochester, NY
GUEST LINEUP / DEAF ROCHESTER FILM FESTIVAL
International flair, hometown talent, and rich experiences define our distinguished guest line-up. Each member of our guest line-up (biographies shown below) plays a major role in the success of DRFF ’11. / DRFF

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Introducing: “The Bomb Jr™.” Alarm Clock

There is a new kid in town. The Sonic Bomb Jr. Alarm Clock has arrived and should prove to be just as popular as his older brother. You can call him “The Bomb Jr™”. Even though he is smaller than the Sonic Bomb, he is still plenty powerful with a 102dB audio alarm and 6V bed shaker.

The Bomb Jr’s smaller size makes him a perfect travel companion. Best of all, Harris Communications has him priced at only $29.95, a great price for a quality alarm clock with bed shaker!

For more information on the Sonic Bomb Jr., go to http://bit.ly/HarrisComm_DW031311 or email us at: mailto:info@harriscomm.com.

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SPORTS
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Catonsville, MD
YOUTH BASKETBALL: CATONSVILLE REC COACH A WINNER
Coaching two boys basketball teams in the Catonsville Rec program can be a daunting task, although Kelby Brick routinely faces more challenges than his colleagues. Despite being deaf, or perhaps because of it, the Catonsville resident is able to give his sons' 12-and-under and 9-and-under squads more to ponder than a hastily scribbled play drawn on an eraser board. For one thing, kids learn that some people have obstacles to overcome -- and often do so capably. / Catonsville Times

Frederick, MD
FATHER AND SON CHAMPS AT MSD
When Derek Frank was growing up, his father, Dan, would tell him over and over again what it was like to win the Eastern Schools for the Deaf basketball tournament. Last month Derek found that out himself. He was a junior on the MSD basketball team that beat the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf 82-41 in the ESDAA championship game in Trenton, N.J. That came almost 30 years to the day that the MSD team Dan Frank played on won the 1981 tournament title, beating St. Mary's, 65-62, at MSD. / The Frederick News-Post

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EMPLOYMENT
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You can advertise your job openings here for just $20 a week (up to 100 words, 10 cents each add'l word). To place your ad, send the announcement to mail@deafweekly.com.

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Senior Information Technology Manager

-- Work closely with decision makers throughout the organization to identify, recommend, develop, implement, and support cost-effective technology solutions for all aspects of the organization.

-- Plan, coordinate, direct, and design IT-related activities of the organization, as well as provide administrative direction and managerial support for daily operational activities of the IT department.

-- Lead a Technology team of 12 with setting and attaining work priorities, coaching, performance management and creating a positive work environment.

Qualifications include:

-- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field and 7-10, years related work experience. Master of Business Administration with technology as a core component, preferred.

-- Continuing education curriculum in management soft skills

To see a full job description or to apply go to: www.c-s-d.org

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ADVOCATES INC.

www.advocatesinc.org

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Advocates-Inc/109340295781878?v=app_4949752878

Director, Deaf Services

Advocates is looking for a full-time 40 hour a week Director for our Deaf services programs. Deaf candidate strongly preferred or candidates that are fluent in ASL (American Sign Language).

The Director of Deaf Services is responsible for the successful administration and management of the clinical, budgetary and business operations of the residential services and programs assigned. Provide clinical and administrative supervision to all employees who work in the residential services and programs assigned to the Director of Clinical Services.

Qualification/Education/Experience:
Master’s degree in social service or related field plus 5 yrs supervisory/clinical experience. Provides crisis on call coverage as assigned.

1. Master’s degree in social services or related field supervisory experience.
2. Must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
3. Must have sensitivity to the needs of the population.
4. Strong computer knowledge.
5. High energy level, superior interpersonal skills and ability to function in a team atmosphere.
6. Strong analytical, numerical and reasoning abilities.
7. Ability to execute a variety of decision-making models.
8. Ability to communicate effectively in writing, and ability to use good judgment.
9. Ability to read English and communicate effectively in the primary language of the programs as assigned ( ASL and English).
10. Must hold a valid drivers’ license. Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport clients.

Deaf candidate strongly preferred and candidates that are ASL (American Sign Language) fluent.

Advocates' philosophy is based on common values and principles that guide the delivery of all of the services we provide. We believe that all individuals have the right to pursue their personal goals and to contribute to the community. We believe they are entitled to receive accessible services; to live in decent and affordable housing; to be treated with dignity and respect; and to live in inclusive and diverse communities. The employees of Advocates and the recipients of the services we provide work together with the community to ensure that these universal rights are promoted and protected.

Advocates offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and life insurance, tuition reimbursement, 410(k) plan and a six-week holiday/vacation package.

Advocates is an EOE committed to employing a diverse workforce.

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