Deafweekly April 12, 2006

deafweekly

April 12, 2006
Vol. 2 No. 25

Editor: Tom Willard

Deafweekly is an independent news report for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that is mailed to subscribers every Wednesday and available to read at www.deafweekly.com. Please visit our website to read current and back issues, sign up for a subscription and advertise.

Deafweekly is copyrighted 2006 and any unauthorized use, including reprinting of news, is prohibited.

Please support our advertisers; they make it possible for you to receive Deafweekly at no charge.

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NATIONAL
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CSD LAYS OFF MORE THAN 50 EMPLOYEES

Communication Service for the Deaf announced last week that 54 executives in Sioux Falls, S.D. and across the country have been laid off. According to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the layoffs include CEO Benjamin Soukup, who founded the organization more than 30 years ago. Soukup, who in 2004 received more than $850,000 in salary and deferred compensation, will continue to work without pay. CSD reported over $87 million in revenue in 2004, but a downturn in relay service usage has left the company scrambling to trim $250,000 from its monthly budget. Soukup said he hopes most of the workers will be invited back next month but would not concede that the layoffs were temporary. “We want to make sure we run things as efficiently and as effectively as we possibly can,” he said.

MINNESOTA TEENS SUE FIVE DRIVING SCHOOLS

Five driving schools in Minnesota have been sued by a group of deaf teenagers who claim the schools refused to provide sign language interpreters. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, seeks a minimum of nearly $300,000 in punitive and compensatory damages. According to the Duluth News Tribune, driving schools charge around $250 to $300 for 36 hours of instruction and would have to pay $3,000 to provide an interpreter. “Since many public schools no longer offer driver’s education, convincing private driver’s education schools to provide interpreters has become a recurrent issue,” said Bruce Hodek, director of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services Division.

LACK OF INTERPRETER POSTPONES ARRAIGNMENT

The arraignment of a deaf New Jersey man charged with murder was postponed last Monday when officials were unable to locate a sign-language interpreter. Prosecutors spent all day trying to arrange an interpreter for Dontay Milbourne, 25, after Milbourne would not agree to use a TelePrompTer for the arraignment, reported the Bridgeton News. Police found the body of the victim, Jacquline Forman, 41, in Milbourne’s Millville apartment April 1, shortly after he went to the police station with an interpreter and confessed to killing her. Millville Police Chief Ron Harvey alleged that Milbourne stabbed the woman after an argument but didn’t know why they were arguing or what type of relationship they had.

SOUTH CAROLINA WOMAN STRUCK, KILLED BY TRAIN

An elderly woman who “basically never looked up” died instantly after walking into the path of an Amtrak train in Ridgeland, S.C., reported Bluffton Today. Aretha Scott appeared not to see the railroad crossing’s mechanical arm and flashing lights or hear the clanging signal and train horn, witnesses told police. “There was nothing the conductor could do,” said Capt. Chris Stevers of the Ridgeland Police Department. Stevers said police learned from Scott’s family that she was deaf or hard of hearing. The accident occurred February 24 but only recently came to the attention of Deafweekly, which has reported on at least 12 train accidents involving hearing-impaired people in the past 18 months.

HOUSE FIRE KILLS DEAF MAN’S MOTHER, BROTHER

A man described by police as being deaf-mute and unable to communicate in sign language was the only survivor of a Smithfield, Ohio house fire that killed his mother, brother and at least 11 dogs. Rose Young, 83, and her son, Lionel Young, believed to be in his 60s, died in the blaze. Difficulties communicating with the unidentified man, said to be in his 40s, have hindered the investigation, reported the Wheeling (W.V.) Intelligencer. By drawing pictures, the man was able to convey that his brother may have been pouring gasoline into a chain saw on top of a wood-burning stove. The man ran almost a mile to a house where his uncle once lived and managed to tell the current resident to call 911. Firefighters from four towns responded and later found 50 surviving dogs in boxes and on chains throughout the property.

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION MOVES CLOSER TO REALITY

The long debate over whether to consolidate Virginia’s two schools for the deaf and the blind moved closer to resolution Monday when Gov. Tim Kaine offered an amendment to a consolidation bill. The amendment removes language that would have given the Hampton campus to the New Horizons Regional Education Center, reported the Staunton News Leader. However, the part of the bill that would consolidate the schools in Staunton remains intact. The amendment is designed to give officials flexibility in developing a program in Hampton for students who do not wish to relocate. The General Assembly will meet next Wednesday to review the governor’s amendment.

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MURDER SUSPECT MAY NEVER BE COMPETENT TO FACE TRIAL

A deaf Virginia man may never gain the needed language skills to face trial in the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl, the Hampton Roads Daily Press reported. Oswaldo Martinez, 34, has learned some sign language but his communication skills are inadequate, clinical psychologist Barbara Haskins said in court last Wednesday. So far, he has learned 150 signs, said his defense attorney, Timothy Clancy. Martinez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, is charged with sexually assaulting and killing Brittany Binger in January 2005. The girl’s body, with Martinez’s DNA under her fingernails, was found near the tool shed where Martinez lived. He will return to court in October for an assessment of his progress.

MOTORIST’S ARREST LEADS TO VIOLENT PROTESTS

About 1,000 Hasidic Jews clashed with New York City police last Tuesday after a hard-of-hearing motorist was approached while double-parked and using a cell phone. According to UPI, the incident began around 6:30 p.m. when police stopped Alfred Schick, a 75-year-old Hasidic Jew, and asked to see his license. Because of his hearing impairment, Schick tried to get out of the car and witnesses say the police got rough and handcuffed him. Within minutes, a mob began throwing burning debris at police and smashing the windows of two police cars. The violent protests went on for three hours and resulted in the arrests of two people, including Schick, who was described by police as “argumentative” and charged with resisting arrest.

CHICKEN POX OUTBREAK SENDS STUDENTS HOME

Nine students from the Missouri School for the Deaf have been sent home to stifle the spread of chicken pox, reported the Fulton Sun last week. The viral outbreak began about three weeks ago, and officials decided to send infected students home for at least 10 days until they are no longer contagious. Key areas around the school are being disinfected, but the virus is airborne and thus difficult to completely remove from the campus. Most of the affected students are in elementary school, said school nurse Patty Atterberry. “There’s been nothing like this here before that I can remember,” she said, “and I’ve been here for 18 years.”

HEARING AID SUPPLIER TO REPAY STATE MEDICAID PROGRAM

Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly announced this week that HearUSA, Inc., a national hearing aid dispenser, has agreed to repay $352,873 to the state Medicaid program and other state agencies. It all started when HearUSA acquired the Thomas W. Fell Company, Inc. in 2002 and learned that the company had been submitting incorrect claims to MassHealth for hearing aids by not including bulk discounts it received from manufacturers, reported the Associated Press. HearUSA voluntarily disclosed the discrepancy to the state and a subsequent audit revealed additional billing errors by Thomas Fell, which HearUSA agreed to repay as well.

GEORGIA MAN ARRESTED IN ATTACK ON TEACHER

A Cave Spring, Ga. man was arrested Monday and jailed without bail after allegedly attacking a faculty member at the Georgia School for the Deaf. Aaron Todd Cromer, 31, was charged with battery, interference with a public school and terroristic threats and actions, reported the Rome News-Tribune. Cromer allegedly went to the school on March 23 and punched the unidentified teacher, pushed him down and said he “would be back to finish the job.” The school went into lockdown, with students and staff staying inside until Cromer left the campus.

SIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL BUS CRASH

A school bus collided with a pickup truck last Thursday in Austin, Texas, reported KXAN-TV. Students on the bus were returning home to Fort Bend, southwest of Houston, after visiting the Texas School for the Deaf for a sign language class. A teacher was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and students were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

DEAF DOG SPOTS INTRUDER, ANOTHER HELD FOR RANSOM

Two deaf dogs made headlines last week. In Fairfield, Maine, an aging cocker spaniel was credited with sniffing out a man who had entered a house and was hiding under clothing in a closet. “The dog was acting weird [and] went to a walk-in closet, barking,” Fairfield Police chief John Emery told the Waterville Morning Sentinel. The unidentified homeowner found the intruder, who fled but was later arrested. And in Buffalo, N.Y., a pit-bull mix named Parker was reportedly stolen and held for ransom. According to the Buffalo News, owner Robin Smith’s boyfriend got a call half an hour after the dog disappeared from their fenced-in yard, with the caller asking, “How much money will you give us for the dog?” Smith said she was flabbergasted that anyone would think her deaf and neutered dog is worth ransom money. “There’s no rhyme or reason to any of this,” said a worker at the city shelter where Smith adopted Parker last Christmas.

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INTERNATIONAL
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ITALIAN MAN KILLED BY FALLING TREE

A deaf man in Italy was killed Sunday when a tree fell on him in the town of L’Aquila. Giuseppe Giuliani, 47, part of a group of 52 tourists in town for the annual “Movement for the Deaf and Blind,” was killed instantly by the century-old horse chestnut tree, reported AGI. The tree fell on the group as they prepared to board a bus for the trip home to Rome. “The bus driver shouted to warn them, but they couldn’t hear,” a police officer told the Associated Press. Seven others were injured, including a 60-year-old woman whose life was originally in danger but who is now in stable condition. A prosecutor has been assigned to investigate the incident and officials are testing other plants in the vicinity to try and learn why the tree fell down.

NEPALESE SCHOOL SAID TO BE IN POOR CONDITION

A school for the deaf in Nepal is in dilapidated condition and needs immediate repairs, “but nobody is bothered about the condition of the school,” reported Gorkhapatra in Kathmandu. Six teachers offer education to 60 deaf children in “symbolic language,” said the report, but the 22-year-old school is a mess due to neglect from agencies, organizations and social workers. Principal Radha Sharma said the government’s “meager assistance” was not sufficient to keep the school in proper condition. Only one of six toilets is in working condition, and raw sewage gives off an odor in part of the building. In addition, the water supply to the school has been cut off and children must use a tube-well for water.

SIGN LANGUAGE GAINS RECOGNITION IN NEW ZEALAND

The deaf community in New Zealand is celebrating the passage of legislation making sign language the nation’s third official language after English and Te Reo Maori. According to the Waikato Times, hundreds of deaf people and supporters were in Wellington last Thursday to witness the final reading of the legislation in Parliament. Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright gave assent to the New Zealand Sign Language Bill on Monday. The law will give equal rights to deaf citizens, allowing interpreters in court and access to sign language in education, health, employment and public broadcasting. After a 20-year struggle, “the gate will finally be opened so we can have access to information,” said Waikato Deaf Association manager Brent Macpherson.

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BOY IN CHINA FALLS FROM SCHOOL WINDOW

A deaf boy fell from a second-floor window at his school in China last week, reported the Shanghai Daily. The 9-year-old boy, surnamed Fang, lost his balance after being jostled by other students. The group was watching a lion-dancing performance outside the building during a class break at No. 4 Dumb and Deaf School, witnesses said. The boy did not receive any major injuries and was being treated at a hospital.

PROJECT AIMS TO BRING AUDIENCES ‘IN THE LOOP’

A first-of-its-kind project in Northern Ireland aims to promote attendance at arts and cultural events among deaf and hard-of-hearing people, reported the Belfast News Letter. The project, called “In The Loop,” was launched by Audiences NI, an audience development agency, and is funded by Awards for All. It will focus on how an estimated 219,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing residents receive information about cultural events and what support they require. Several groups have lent their support, including the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, where Claire Mullan said, “I’ve been very impressed at the dedication and enthusiasm of the agency. A website has been launched to allow people to sign up for announcements: www.audiencesni.com/intheloop.

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LIFE & LEISURE
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WIN A DATE WITH A DEAF ATTORNEY

Would you like to win a date with a deaf attorney? John Stanton, 34, a Dartmouth and Georgetown Law graduate who practices with a large Washington, D.C. law firm, is making himself available in the name of charity. The winning bid will be donated to the Canine Working Companions Honorary Puppy Raiser Program. But hurry: the bidding deadline is this Friday at 5 pm EST. For more information, visit www.deafattorneys.com/WP/?p=33.

MISS AMERICA JOINS CAMPAIGN ON NOISE DANGER

Deidre Downs, Miss America 2005, has joined a campaign to educate young people about the growing problem of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Downs, an aspiring pediatrician who has been hearing-impaired since childhood, has agreed to work with GN ReSound N.A., a Minneapolis, Minn.-based hearing aid manufacturer, in its Sound Effects campaign announced last week at the American Academy of Audiology’s convention. “This is an important campaign,” said Downs. “Millions of kids have perfectly good hearing that is being permanently damaged by noise. The good news is that this type of hearing loss is completely preventable.” More than 28 million Americans suffer from hearing loss, said GN ReSound’s Richard Jackson, “and nearly a third of those cases can be linked to noise-induced damage that could have been prevented.”

NEW ‘HEARING-GLASSES’ SAID TO OFFER BETTER SOUND

A new hearing aid in the form of eyeglasses was unveiled last week. These “hearing-glasses” are called Varibel and offer people the chance to stay active “free from the aesthetically unpleasing and technologically limited traditional hearing aids,” said a press release. Developed by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, the Varibel contains a row of four tiny, interconnected microphones in each leg of the glass’ frame. The result is a directional sensitivity that is twice as sensitive as regular hearing aids, allowing users to separate desired sounds from background noise. “The natural sounds that people enjoy are retained,” said audio-technician Martin de Jong. “This works surprisingly well.” A website with more information (www.varibel.nl/site/home/) unfortunately does not provide an English translation.

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WORKING WORLD
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YWCA OF COLUMBUS HONORS OHIO SCHOOL LEADER

An Ohio School for the Deaf employee has been honored by the YWCA of Columbus with a 2006 Women of Achievement Award. Cheryl Prusinski, a 1981 OSD alumna, was recognized for her “commitment to the empowerment of women and eliminating discrimination among races, creeds, sexes and ethnicities.” As director of the school’s Student Life Department, Prusinski has assembled a diverse staff with many backgrounds to ensure students are exposed to many cultures. Prusinski is involved with Deaf Women of Ohio and the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio, and serves as board president of Deaf Women Against Violence Everywhere (DWAVE).

FIVE WOMEN TRAINED AS RAPE COUNSELORS

Five deaf women in Massachusetts have been trained as rape counselors, reported the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The program is a collaboration of three agencies: the Rape Crisis Center of Central Massachusetts, Our Deaf Sisters’ Center and the Center for Living and Working. It was funded with a $31,000 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and is believed to be the first of its kind in the state. The counselors received 45 hours of training and will work part time, providing direct assistance without the need for interpreters. The need is pressing: research predicts 60 percent of deaf and hard-of-hearing women will be physically abused at some point in their lives, said Marianne Winters, Rape Crisis Center executive director.

RED CROSS VOLUNTEER HELPS AGENCY REACH OUT

The Kern (Calif.) Chapter of the American Red Cross can now offer CPR and first aid classes in sign language, thanks to volunteer Charles Toste. The Bakersfield Californian reported last week that Toste joined the chapter in November and also helps around the office and represents the chapter at health events. “I have a big concern about the deaf community,” said Toste . “I want to teach them how to be prepared in an emergency.” A former lifeguard for deaf children who worked as a disaster assistant during the 1985 hurricane season, Toste adapts easily to everything, said Sandy Dralle, the chapter’s financial development director. “He is a whirlwind of activity, always helping in any way he can,” she said.

LAW PROFESSOR PROFILED IN SYRACUSE NEWSPAPER

Syracuse (N.Y.) University professor Michael Schwartz was profiled this week in the campus newspaper, The Daily Orange. Schwartz, who was born deaf, is an assistant law professor and director of the Public Interest Law Firm, a civil rights clinic in the university’s College of Law. A former actor with the National Theatre of the Deaf, Schwartz earned a degree in law from New York University and became an assistant district attorney in New York. Schwartz, who successfully completed his doctorate earlier this month, now supervises 10 third-year law students. He used to teach political science at the Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology, but eventually left. “I had four degrees, and RIT said I wasn’t qualified,” he said.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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‘MYSTERIOUS’ BUDGET CUT AFFECTS THEATERS NATIONWIDE

The New York Times reported this week that several deaf-theater groups around the country are struggling to deal with the mysterious loss of funds from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Education had been distributing around $2 million a year in grants, but the funding was discontinued in December 2004. Two senators - Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) - have been working to reinstate the funds but have no idea who pulled the plug or why. Among the affected groups are the National Theatre of the Deaf in Hartford, Conn., which lost $687,000; the International Center on Deafness and the Arts in Northbrook, Ill. ($100,000); and Deaf West Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. ($800,000). Said Deaf West’s managing director, Bill O’Brien: “I would bet that the person who struck through this priority had no idea what was being accomplished with that money.”

MATLIN TO STAR IN PITTSBURGH-BASED MOVIE

Marlee Matlin has agreed to play a leading role in “Silent Knights,” a film that will be shot in and around Pittsburgh, Pa. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Matlin will also executive-produce the film, along with her agent, Jack Jason. “It’s about a small college football team that overcomes adversity and beats the odds to claim their first winning season in decades,” said producer Robert Slane. “We hope to shoot in this fall, but fall 2007 is more likely.”

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10% off Coffee Mugs and Free Shipping!

April “showers” you with savings at Potomac Technology. All coffee mugs are 10% off! There are several to choose from like adorable Clancy, ASL or “ILY” mugs. You’ll definitely want more than one. Orders over $50.00 get free shipping the entire month! Get a TTY you’ve always wanted, new signalers or take your pick of a variety of fun items. The shipping cost is on us! Visit us online at http://www.potomactech.com or call 1-800-433-2838 (V/TTY). (Use code “PTEC406D” for free shipping)

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SPORTS
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WGD MEDALIST CHOSEN FOR ‘ULTIMATE FIGHTER 3'

A deaf New York man has been chosen as one of 12 contestants on the Spike TV reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter 3.” Matt Hamill, of New York Mills, was selected from more than 2,000 people who tried out for the show in Las Vegas. According to the Utica Observer-Dispatch, Hamill, 30, was the first fighter selected on last Thursday night’s premiere episode. Hamill, a former collegiate wrestler and gold-medal winner at the 1997 World Games for the Deaf, learned of the opportunity while working as a bouncer in a restaurant and tavern near Utica. One fighter is eliminated each week, said Hamill, and the finalist in each weight class will get a six-figure contract to fight in an Ultimate Fighting Championship event. His contract, however, prohibits him from revealing how he fared. More information can be found at www.theultimatefighter.tv/bios.php?group=fighter&fid=58.

KEVIN HALL TO PLAY IN THIRD PGA EVENT

Golfer Kevin Hall has received a sponsor’s exemption to play in the 2006 Memorial Tournament, reported the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal. It will be the third PGA event for Hall, a former Big Ten champion from Ohio state who became deaf at age 2. The Memorial Tournament is scheduled for June 1 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio. Hall told the Columbus Dispatch that he doesn’t grow tired of being known as “the deaf golfer.” “The more people talk about me and my quest to be successful, the more attention it brings to the deaf community,” he said.

DEAF CANADIAN ORGANIZING FIRST GAY SKYDIVING EVENT

Mark Rejhon, Canada’s first licensed deaf skydiver with 142 jumps under his belt, has taken on the task of organizing the first gay skydiving event. The “Rainbow Boogie,” to be held July 28-31 in Farnham, near Montreal, will coincide with Pride and Outgames, reported the Ottawa To Be. Many people have suggested holding a gay boogie - “boogie” is a skydiving party that combines camping, partying, bonfires and beer nights - but it was a difficult challenge. Sites in Chicago, San Francisco and Montreal were considered, but NouvelAir in Farnham was the only drop zone that enthusiastically sanctioned the event. Rejhon agreed to become the lead organizer and has set up a website (www.rainbowskydive.com) to get the event underway.

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EMPLOYMENT
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PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE MANAGER-C
(Telecommunications Assistance Program Manager)
$3,287 - $4,840 monthly

AS THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MANAGER for the Oregon Public Utility Commission, you will supervise the subordinate staff and provide direction to and monitoring of the three Residential Service Protection Fund programs that deliver telecommunications services to disabled and low income Oregonians, and represent the agency as a liaison between constituent groups, legislature and the programs

If hired, the state will pay your medical/dental premiums, and you will receive nine paid holidays per year, generous sick and vacation leave benefits and 24 hours personal business leave. You will also receive significant technical training opportunities at no cost to you. All this plus living in Salem in close proximity to Portland, Eugene, the Oregon Coast and the Cascade Mountains! To learn more about Oregon, check out the following web pages: http://bluebook.state.or.us and http://www.salemchamber.org/community/about.html.

For more information about this recruitment, visit the State website at www.oregonjobs.org and look for Announcement Number LE060150. This website also has the necessary application forms. Or you can call (503) 373-1368 (voice), or (800) 648-3458 (TDD/TTY) and ask for a copy of the announcement. Completed applications must be received by 5:00 PM on May 23, 2006. An EEO/AA employer.

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Maryland State Agency Job Announcement
Temporary Full-Time Contractual Position

Senior Staff Assistant, Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
This is a temporary full-time position with no benefits, to be hired immediately

Closing Date: April 21, 2006

This is a professional position within the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) responsible for statewide technical assistance, including planning, developing and coordinating activities and programs that enhance services and the independence of individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. The successful candidate will assist the Director and Assistant Director in overseeing the daily administrative functions of ODHH full time for two months starting on May 1, 2006 or earlier until June 30, 2006. This contractual position may be extended until June 30, 2007 on a part-time status.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to gathering information; (internet) research; providing assistance to customers in routine inquiries and providing direct assistance in answering requests for information; providing advanced administrative support to ODHH staff; creating letters and memos; and numerous other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Experience: Administrative experience, solid organizational, interpersonal, administrative and office skills required; proficiency in MS Office, Word, Excel, Power Point; must be able to do research and prepare reports, data entry, email, and phone communications; must possess strong communication skills, both written and oral; ability to handle multiple, changing priorities in a dead-line oriented environment.

Note: Knowledge of American Sign Language, Deaf Culture, and familiarity of basic sign language are preferred.

This position requires statewide travel and attendance at some evening and weekend meetings. Must have a valid Maryland driver’s license and access to reliable transportation for daily travel.

To Apply: Resumes will be evaluated based on the materials submitted in relation to the position requirements. Therefore, it is important to provide complete and accurate information to describe your prior training and experience. Please send your resume and cover letter to: Yvonne Dunkle, Director, Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 217 E. Redwood Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore, MD 21202. Application materials may be submitted to ydunkle@gov.state.md.us. Please call 410-767-6290 with any questions. Resume materials must be received by 5 PM EST on April 21, 2006. EOE

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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.

Community Advocate - Los Angeles
LIFESIGNS Clerk - Los Angeles
Job Developer/Interpreter - Norwalk
LIFESIGNS Director - 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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VICE-PRINCIPAL

The Ministry of Education, Provincial Schools Branch requires caring, innovative and experienced educator to perform the role of Vice-Principal at the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf. You will assist the Principal in the effective administration of the school including: coordinating curriculum/implementation; managing human/material resources; support change initiatives; maintaining student records; influence/persuade others; work with stakeholders; commitment to continuous learning. This position is available commencing September, 2006.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers.
Principal qualifications Part 1 & 2.
Specialist of the Deaf, Special Education qualifications and Fluency in American Sign Language, or willingness to obtain.
Excellent knowledge of: Ontario’s education system; the Education Act/associated regulations; the curriculum review/implementation process; education of deaf students and learning disabled students.
Well developed communication/interpersonal/supervisory/management skills.

LOCATION: Belleville, Ontario

AREA OF SEARCH: OPEN

Please submit your application package including your resume, a covering letter, proof of qualifications and any additional information quoting competition file EDU 05-282 , no later than, 5:00 p.m. on April 28, 2006

Beth Davies, Director
Provincial Schools Branch
255 Ontario Street South
Milton, Ontario, L9T 2M5
FAX # 905-878-5405

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Late applications will be declined.

NOTE: The successful candidate will be required to provide an original, satisfactory Criminal Reference Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening (dated within the last six months) as deemed suitable by the Employer, prior to the commencement of employment.

Posting Date: April 5, 2006
Closing Date: April 28, 2006
Clearance #: N/A

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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE
Director
National Center on Deafness (NCOD)
Recruitment ID: M0623

The Position:
The Director of National Center on Deafness provides leadership, vision, and management direction for a student-focused department that supports the transition and mainstream education of approximately 200 students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing each semester, by creating student-learning outcomes and assisting students with academic planning leading to timely degree completion. Supervises all department personnel. Directs the daily operation of a comprehensive support services program, which include Academic Advisement, Student Development, and Leadership Programs; coordination of direct communication courses (regular university courses taught in sign language) with colleges in the university; and tutoring, captioning, and note-taking services. Manages the operating budget, prioritizes and allocates departmental resources, and approves all departmental expenditures. Develops procedures, program design and assessment, and fiscal policies. Works closely with the Office of Human Resources to implement new policies, procedures, and job standards. Establishes working relationships across the university to enhance the academic and personal success of students within NCOD. Provides leadership in obtaining external funding through development of funding proposals and extensive networking with funding agencies. Maintains close relationships with federal and state sources, other education and rehabilitation programs for deaf or hard-of-hearing people, and with the deaf community locally and nationally. Interacts with the University Corporation to oversee the operation of cooperative agreements and grants awarded to NCOD from federal, state, and private sources. Acts as ambassador representing NCOD in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community locally and across the country. Shares in division leadership through the Student Affairs Management Council. Serves on university, CSU system-wide, and divisional committees, as appropriate. Assumes other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Master’s degree in education, administration, or related field from an accredited institution required. Equivalent to five years of responsible, related professional experience managing diverse and complex programs. Demonstrated ability in management within complex organizations, strategic planning, budgets, assessments, and evaluation practices. Familiarity with the concept of the learning-centered university model. Thorough knowledge of issues and trends in the field of deafness; demonstrated leadership ability; and a record of team building, problem solving, and organizational effectiveness. Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate staff; use sign language; communicate effectively with hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing individuals in a variety of settings; develop and maintain cooperative working relationships in a highly diverse community both on and off campus; and prepare clear and concise reports. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communications skills required. Successful record in obtaining external funds preferred.

Applications: Submit cover letter, current resume including names and contact information of three professional references, and salary history for the last five years. Review of applications begins March 27, 2006 and will continue until position is filled. Submit application to: California State University, Northridge; HR; 18111 Nordhoff Street; Northridge, CA 91330-8229.

See our website at: http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/Employment/index.html for complete details.

EOE

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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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