deafweekly

 

April 20, 2016
Vol. 12, No. 26

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 2016 and any unauthorized use is prohibited.

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Last issue's most-read story: MY LETTER TO PARENTS OF DEAF CHILDREN / The Huffington Post
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NATIONAL
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Washington, DC
SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE LEARNED SIGN LANGUAGE TO SWEAR IN DEAF LAWYERS
When a dozen lawyers rose together to be sworn into the Supreme Court bar Tuesday morning, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. made a sweeping motion with his hands. It translated in ASL to: “Your motion is granted.” Roberts learned to sign the phrase just for that occasion, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said. That moving gesture alone made the admittance of 12 deaf and hard of hearing lawyers to the highest court in the land an historic moment. / The Washington Post

Coeur d'Alene, ID
ACTRESS PATTY DUKE HONORED AT IDAHO MEMORIAL SERVICE
The world mourned Patty Duke when the Oscar-winning actress died on March 29 at age 69. But it was Anna that was remembered during a public memorial service in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Saturday. The actress' family and friends shared stories at Lake City Church in a ceremony streamed live on local news stations. And fittingly for the star of The Miracle Worker, the event featured a sign-language interpreter. / USA Today

Orlando, FL
SON OF DEAF MOM SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
Nearly three years after a 15-year-old and his friends terrorized Osceola County with random shootings that left two innocent bystanders dead, a judge on Friday sentenced the youngest triggerman, Konrad Schafer, now 18, to two consecutive life terms in prison. Through an ASL interpreter, his mother, who is deaf, testified that Schafer was bullied at school because of how he appeared after losing hair and gaining weight for cancer treatments starting at age 8. She said she begged the school for counseling but Schafer never got any. / Orlando Sentinel

Houston, TX
HOUSTON'S SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER STEALS THE SHOW
During Mayor Sylvester Turner's press conference to address Houston's disastrous flooding on Tuesday there was one person who stood out among the city's officials. But it wasn't a politician, member of an emergency agency, or a press officer. It was the sign language interpreter the city hired. Ashley Henderson is an energetic interpreter who was there during last year's flooding and again this year. She's employed by the Nightingale Interpreting firm in Houston. Her signing style became the subject of a Reddit.com post on Wednesday. / Houston Chronicle

New York, NY
LEXINGTON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF WORRIES BUDGET FREEZE MAY THREATEN SERVICES
A prominent Queens educational institution that serves the hearing impaired is finding it hard to continue to give services due to an ongoing budget freeze. Lexington School For The Deaf, one of 11 schools in the state that are funded as “4021 schools” has seen its budget frozen for seven years. “All of our students here are profoundly deaf, many of them have secondary disabilities, cognitive issues [and] cognitive disabilities,” said Beatriz Gavin, a bilingual speech pathologist for 18 years at the Lexington School for the Deaf. / Queens Tribune

Fremont, CA
WORKERS AT DEAF AND BLIND SCHOOLS SEEK PAY RAISES
About 20 employees from the California School for the Deaf and the California School for the Blind held a lunch break protest Monday. The short protest took place in front of the School for the Blind campus on Walnut Avenue in Fremont. Service Employees International Union Local 1000 employees said they are among the lowest paid in the Bay Area and are seeking a wage increase to keep up with the high cost of living in the region. / San Jose Mercury News

Washington, DC
UBER AIMS TO PUT MORE DEAF DRIVERS ON THE ROADS
Wendell Pratt can’t hear what his Uber passengers say about him, but he is used to reading their reactions when they learn he is deaf. Some stare at him through his rearview mirror; others check their phones to make sure they have the correct driver, or pull up their own set of directions to follow. And one man who climbed into Pratt’s 2012 Toyota Prius a few months ago couldn’t hide what Pratt took as apprehension. “He kept looking at me,” said Pratt, 45, of Frederick, Md. A new initiative would put many more like Pratt on the roads. / The Washington Post

Tulalip, WA
DEAF MAN AMONG THOSE HELPED AT JOB FAIR
Jacob Simmons, 30, boasts a significant amount of experience in the warehouse and manufacturing sectors, but job-hunting is complicated because he's deaf. Simmons came from Langley to check out the Snohomish County Career Fair at the Tulalip Resort Casino April 12. Accompanied by his father, Roger, as well as an interpreter, Simmons submitted his resume to employer booths including Pacific Seafood. "Obviously, the need to communicate in sign language would present challenges," said production supervisor Fermin Lopez, "but if he's a qualified candidate, we can figure it out." / Arlington Times

Longmeadow, MA
WILLIE ROSS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF STUDENT WINS ESSAY CONTEST WITH VIDEO
Submitting a video to a contest at which written essays are typically the norm, a teenager at Longmeadow's Willie Ross School for the Deaf won a contest soliciting essays about "What My School Means to Me." Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools chose 16-year-old Antonino Melchionne's video as the best of 70 submissions across 18 schools. / MassLive.com

Anniston, AL
'GOOD SAMARITAN' COP RECOGNIZED FOR HELPING A DEAF WOMAN GET GROCERIES
An Anniston police officer says he's on the job to serve his community. So he was surprised when one of his latest efforts to do so, inspired people all over the country. An Anniston Police Department Facebook post went viral after detailing how third-shift patrol officer Jonathan McMichael assisted a deaf woman in getting groceries, after a taxi failed to show up on a busy Friday night. / WBRC

Baton Rouge, LA
NATIONAL DEAF RIGHTS RALLY IS MAY 4
National Deaf Rights rallies will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 4 simultaneously at state capitols across the country, according to a Deaf Grassroots Movement news release. The Louisiana branch of the Deaf Grassroots Movement is hosting the rally at the state capitol in Baton Rouge. / StMaryNow.com

St. Augustine, FL
DEAF COMMUNITY PROTESTS LACK OF PROFICIENT ASL TEACHERS AT FSDB
Protesters crowded the sidewalk in front of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind for the second day in a row Thursday. The demonstration was led by a former school employee Debra Metzger, who said faculty at FSDB lacked the proficient ASL skills necessary to work with deaf students. Metzger said she started working in the FSDB dorm last fall after moving to St. Augustine to retire. She previously worked 25 years at the Rochester School for the Deaf in New York and wanted to continue helping deaf students in her new community. / The St. Augustine Record

See Also IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE FSDB PRESIDENT / FSDB


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INTERNATIONAL
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Melbourne, Australia
VIC DEAF MURDER ACCUSED HAS BAIL REVOKED
A deaf Melbourne man with profound disabilities is behind bars while his murder co-accused has had her bail continued, despite breaches including a recent trip to Dreamworld. Justice Mark Weinberg lamented that he could not bail Jake Royd Fairest, who has an IQ of 60, cannot speak and can barely write as a result of aggressive chemotherapy treatment as a child. "It seems harsh to lock this man up for another month in prison where he's undergoing severe privation in circumstances where everybody agrees that he's not fit to plead," Justice Weinberg said. / 9news.com.au

Gladstone, Australia
GLADSTONE 'DEAF' DOPE USER GETS A DOC FOR PROOF
Lortar Herrmann, who says he suffers industrial deafness and back pain, has been using cannabis for over 20 years to help with his health issues. The 64-year-old disability pensioner smokes the drug nightly and invites people over to his place to smoke, but was told by a Gladstone magistrate to bring in medical evidence from his doctor to support his claim that it helps with his health problems. Herrmann pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to possession of cannabis; possession of drug utensils; and permitting the use of his place by others for drug taking. / Gladstone Observer

Auckland, New Zealand
TOKOROA LADS SELECTED FOR DEAF BLACKS
Two Tokoroa rugby players have been selected to join the Deaf Blacks in a test against Argentina. Tama Albert, 26, and Kamau Wise, 27, were told the good news at a recent tournament held in Auckland and left with the rest of the team on Tuesday. Communicating with the help of a sign language interpreter Maria Albert, Wise and Albert said they had been selected for the Deaf Blacks before. But previous tours were cancelled so the pair never got the chance to represent their country. / Stuff.co.nz

Auckland, New Zealand
AN EXHIBITION CELEBRATING DEAF ART
Opening Saturday May 7 at 12 Noon and finishes Sunday May 15 at 4pm. Please join us for the opening. There will be a NZSL interpreter present. Curated by Debra Bathgate and Amy Blinkhorne. / The Big Idea

Dublin, Ireland
JAIL OVER ATTACK ON DEAF COUPLE
Evan Smith, 18, followed Michael and Helen Rush from a chipper into a nearby laneway where he knocked the woman to the ground and took her handbag. He also attacked Mr Rush leaving him with a cut above his eye. Smith pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and assaulting Michael Rush causing him harm in Clondalkin on November 10, 2014. / Irish Examiner

London, England
I'M DEAF BUT IT DOESN'T STOP ME CYCLING
I was about 12 years old when I was told I had a significant hearing loss. I have worn hearing aids since I was a teenager, and was profoundly deaf by 21. Around the time of my diagnosis, I watched my dad, who is hearing, take on incredible charity cycling challenges – cycling across America, Australia and Canada. I didn’t really understand the magnitude of his achievements back then but as I’ve matured, it makes me immensely proud and I feel cycling is something which is in my blood. / The Guardian

Peterhead, Scotland
PARTIALLY DEAF MAN WHO BLASTED COUNTRY MUSIC TO MOVE HOME
Partially deaf Michael O’Rourke, 57,has been in trouble with neighbors over music blaring from his property over the past seven years. In January the country and western fan was jailed for four months after admitting playing his music so loudly it work his neighbor up in the middle of the night. On Monday the Peterhead resident was back in court after admitting breaching his anti-social behavior order six times and slapping a police officer. / The Scotsman

Glasgow, Scotland
NEW SCHEME HELPS DEAF CHILDREN LEARN TO SWIM
Almost 100 swimming instructors have been trained to teach deaf children how to swim under a new scheme. The teachers learn to use cue cards and sign language, which help them enable deaf youngsters to become confident swimmers. After the first year of the two-year program, 97 teachers have given lessons to 48 children in Scotland. The lessons have been organized by the National Deaf Children's Society. / BBC News

Toronto, ON, Canada
PARENTS RALLY AT QUEEN'S PARK TO KEEP SCHOOLS FOR BLIND, DEAF AND SPECIAL NEEDS OPEN
Premier Kathleen Wynne refused Thursday to guarantee that residential schools for special needs students will stay open beyond next year, as hundreds of parents rallied outside the Ontario legislature to keep the institutions from closing. “I understand how important these programs are to the children and the families who are here today,” Wynne told the legislature. “But it is our responsibility to make sure that we don’t stand in the way of a change that could actually provide more service and more programming to children.” / Toronto Star

Oshawa, ON, Canada
DEAF ONTARIO SENIOR DEFRAUDED OF MORE THAN $5K IN FACEBOOK LOTTERY SCAM
Police are warning the public after a deaf Oshawa woman was defrauded of thousands of dollars in a Facebook lottery scam. Durham Regional police said the unnamed elderly woman received a friend request from someone she knew last month, who then allegedly directed her to contact a man from the “Facebook Powerball Lottery.” The woman was then told she had won a substantial lottery, but was required to pay fees to secure her winnings. / Globalnews.ca

Aylmer, QC, Canada
BOSTON MEMORIES: DEAF AND BLIND RUNNER CONQUERS MARATHON
On April 20, 2015, Aylmer, Que. resident Gaston Bédard completed what many runners consider the world’s most famous races, the Boston Marathon. Bédard, 63, is blind and deaf and ran the race with his two guides, Christopher Yule and Melany Gauvin, and had his son Marc cheer him on from the sidelines. The 63-year-old (62 at the time of the race) ran the race with Team with a Vision, which raises funds for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Bédard completed the race in 5:26:58. / Canadian Running Magazine

Milton, ON, Canada
E.C. DRURY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF STUDENT MISSING
Halton Regional Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing adult student from E.C. Drury School for the Deaf. Police say that at about 9:30 pm on Sunday, Carrie Hicks, 18, was discovered by school staff missing from her dorm room. Hicks, who is deaf, is described as five-foot-seven and 130 lbs. with an average build and blue eyes. / Inside Halton

Kimihurura, Rwanda
DESPITE HER DISABILITY, HIRWA USES HER TALENT TO MAKE A LIVING
Everybody is blessed with a talent. For Diane Hirwa, she has two, a creative mind and a disarming smile. She uses the first one to prodigiously earn her living while the second one is expended on charming people to see her the way she is. During a recent art exhibition specially organized for two deaf visual artists, Hirwa’s sublime paintings that adorned the walls of the art center revealed a person who has taken her artwork to the zenith of the creative industry. / The New Times


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LIFE & LEISURE
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Tulsa, OK
4 DEAF STUDENTS AT WRIGHT ELEMENTARY MAY BE HEADING TO DC FOR THE NATIONAL SPELLING BEE
Four students at Wright Elementary are hoping for a chance to win an all expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. for the National Spelling Bee. Their video has been recognized as one of the top 10 videos within the competition and the students have earned a Kindle Paperwhite for the classroom. Although they worked very hard to create the video, each student has had to overcome physical limitations as well. All of the students in Angela Smith's fifth grade class are deaf and learning to read has been a challenge for many in her class. / KJRH

Oak Brook, IL
DEAF CHURCH FOCUSES ON COMMUNICATION OVER INTERPRETATION
Ron and Wanda Ferris of Chicago found more than a church to feel completely comfortable at when they first attended services at the Oak Brook Community Deaf Church. Wanda first came to the 24-year-old service for the deaf in 2001 after a friend who had been attending said how much she loved the church. Ron came eight years later, after his wife died. After meeting at the Oak Brook church, Wanda and Ron began dating. They were married in 2011 and continue to attend church services together in Oak Brook. / Chicago Tribune

Bowling Green, KY
PRAISE HANDS: CHURCH OFFERS WORSHIP SERVICES FOR THE DEAF
Jeannie Taylor may not be a member of First Baptist Church in Bowling Green, but she attends the deaf ministry worship services there because of her mild to moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss she’s had since birth. First Baptist ministers to many deaf Christians in the Bowling Green area. The deaf congregation experiences opportunities for worship, prayer, fellowship, ministry and evangelism through ASL. / Bowling Green Daily News

St. Louis, MO
ST. LOUIS' DEAF-BLIND COMMUNITY IS HOPING FOR A CHANCE TO DO MORE
Robert Vaughn met his wife, Kim, when a friend called him to help fix her computer. “And the rest is history,” he says. In the nine years they’ve been together the Vaughns have gotten up to a lot; recently, they went to Hawai’i together and climbed a volcano. He’s the president of the local chapter of a national organization, an IT professional and a musician who “runs the gamut from bluegrass to hard rock,” while she fundraises and sells candles through Scentsy. They also both belong to St. Louis’s often-unseen community of deaf-blind people. / Riverfront Times

Placerville, CA
ICE CREAM BRINGS DEAF STUDENTS, FAMILIES TOGETHER
The El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE) Special Services team hosted a lively ice cream social for families with deaf or hard of hearing students on April 4. Children and families networked with each other, met with members of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing EDCOE team, and were provided with information regarding community resources. Various craft activities were also provided for the students, according to a press release from EDCOE. / Folsom Telegraph

New York, NY
ASL UNLOCKING COMMUNICATION
What is American Sign Language? Is it a culture? Is it an identity? Is it a foreign language? Is it an art form? Is it for Deaf people only? ASL fills a variety of roles in different people’s lives, but most importantly: it is a communication tool. ASL is emotional expression, it is connection; it is a way for humans to build meaningful relationships. / The Huffington Post


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WORKING WORLD
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Riverside, CA
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF GETS NEW LEADER
A new site superintendent has been named for the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, state schools chief Tom Torlakson announced Wednesday, April 13. Nancy Hlibok Amann starts July 1 at the campus, one of two state-operated schools for the deaf in California. The other school for the deaf is in Fremont. Amann now works as director of special projects and development at Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Inc. She previously worked as assistant superintendent of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind. / Riverside Press Enterprise

Frederick, MD
IDEA FOR INTERPRETER APP WINS SHARK TANK-LIKE COMPETITION
Three students from Walkersville High School walked away with a combined $2,000 for their college educations after winning Frederick County Public Schools’ first-ever business plan competition. Jarvis Cain, Keanu Rosa and Rayel Wright, all high school seniors, received the competition’s top prize for their business idea to create an app that allows users to request interpreters with the tap of a button. / The Frederick News-Post

Hixson, TN
SOUTHEAST INTERPRETERS WORKS TO SERVE DEAF COMMUNITY
Federal law mandates that Americans with disabilities be given full access to businesses services to accommodate their condition. Whether that's access ramps and elevators for those in wheelchairs, Braille on door signs at schools or businesses allowing service dogs on their premises, law dictates that we strive to fully serve those with disabilities. But what happens when we can't? That issue is what James Bowman is trying to rectify with his new business, Southeast Interpreters / Chattanooga Times Free Press

Greensboro, NC
TEACHING AND TECH: DEAF EDUCATION STUDENTS CREATE LESSONS IN SELF DESIGN STUDIO
The instructions were simple. Claudia Pagliaro’s students had to create a language-based project for their future deaf and hard-of-hearing students using the UNCG School of Education’s SELF Design Studio.The students didn’t receive much direction, but that was the point. “I want them to go into the SELF Design Studio and try things. I want them to see what it has to offer,” Pagliaro said. The results were stunning. / UNCG

Elizabeth City, NC
HEARING AID SPECIALIST RESEARCHES WAY TO HELP DEAF DOGS
Kathyrn Henderson was in college when her pug started losing its hearing, but the pet owner’s search for solutions hit a dead end. The pug’s hearing was normal, but when Brady turned 8 or 9 years old, Henderson noticed he started responding to her voice less and less. “I knew he was starting to lose his hearing when he stopped cocking his head when I said his favorite word,” she said. Henderson found no quick cure, but the problem did get her thinking as she began her career as a hearing instrument specialist for Albemarle Audiology in Camden. / Daily Advance

Albuquerque, NM
DEAF BIBLE SOCIETY USES MODERN TECHNOLOGY
The Holy Bible is for everyone, including the differently abled. Having this in mind, a non-profit organisation is leading efforts to break the barriers of disability to bring God's Word to those who cannot hear. The New Mexico-based group Deaf Bible Society is tapping modern technology to enable the estimated 58 million deaf individuals around the world to also appreciate the Holy Bible. / Christian News


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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Staten Island, NY
NYLE DIMARCO'S SHOCKING 'DWTS' REVEAL: 'I CAN ACTUALLY HEAR'
In case you missed it: Nyle DiMarco spoke on Monday's episode of "Dancing with the Stars." His words: "I can actually hear." OK, relax, it was just a joke. But a well-played one in our opinion. (Full disclosure: It was actually his translator's voice as part of a tongue-in-cheek "reveal a secret" segment.) Damn. And he flatout killed it in his waltz performance. That was some precision stuff right there, folks./ SILive.com

Yakima, WA
LOCAL DEAF COMMUNITY MEETS ACTOR FOR FILM EVENT
Deaf actor John Maucere screened his film "No Ordinary Hero: The Super Deafy Movie" to an audience of local families with deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Young adults and kids of all ages were at Whitman Elementary Saturday morning for a meet-and-greet with the actor. The event not only brought the deaf community together for a movie directed and produced by deaf people, but it was also a chance to encourage independence, success, and build connections. / KIMA

East Peoria, IL
TALENT IS APPARENT AT 'DEAF IDOL' COMPETITION
Whether through dance or by imitating the spasms of a fish on a hook, the power of expression was on display Saturday during “Deaf Idol.” Held at Illinois Central College, the event showcased the talents of 10 contestants from the deaf community — each of whom performed their acts entirely in ASL. ICC’s Sign Language Interpreters Growth and Networking Club has sponsored “Deaf Idol” for the past four years. / Peoria Journal Star

Millcreek, UT
MUSIC THERAPY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE BOTH DEAF AND BLIND TRULY WORKS, TEACHER SAYS
Rachel Lighty, a licensed music therapist, has seen steady progress in each of her students, including Emory, who wears a large bow on her long, blond ponytail. "Before she just wouldn't really say what she wanted to do or give an opinion, but now she's really come out of that shell," she said. At the Millcreek campus of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, they celebrate each accomplishment and reach high for new goals. / Deseret News

Camp Verde, AZ
DEAF, PARTIALLY-BLIND 7TH GRADER IN PRODUCTION OF 'BYE BYE BIRDIE'
Included in Camp Verde High School's "Bye Bye Birdie" is a teen chorus which was cast with five students from Camp Verde Middle School. One of those students is Gracie Payne, a seventh grader born with Charge Syndrome, a genetic disorder that is a congenital set of symptoms in children. Gracie is totally deaf, as well as blind in her left eye. But she is full of energy and "thought it would be fun" to perform in the musical, she said through her interpreter. / Camp Verde Bugle


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SPORTS
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Lincoln, NE
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM ADDS HEARING IMPAIRED WIDE RECEIVER
A hearing-impaired high school football player has gotten the attention of the University of Nebraska. Todd Honas has about 80 percent hearing loss and depends on hearing aids to function in everyday life, but that hasn't stopped his prowess on the football field. The wide receiver from Aurora, Nebraska will walk-on with The Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2016 season. / ABC News

Fraser, MI
HEARING IMPAIRMENT NO FACTOR FOR TEEN PLAYER
Hannah Garcia’s take on hockey sounds like typical advice for any budding young player. “Make sure you know where the puck is, and your head is up, and you know what’s going on around you,” she said. “Just make sure you’re in a good spot where you can hear and see what’s going on. The main idea is just to make sure you know what’s happening.” Garcia isn’t a coach — not yet, anyway — she’s a teenage hockey player with a hearing impairment. And by following those solid words of wisdom, she has been able to fare very well on the ice. / USA Hockey

New Orleans, LA
PHOTO FEATURE: DEAF TRACK AND FIELD DAY HELD
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades K-12 were invited to take part in the 34th annual Deaf Track and Field Day, held April 9 at Wally Pontiff Jr. Playground in Metairie. The Deaf Heritage Month Committee and the Metairie Rotary Club sponsored the event. / The New Orleans Advocate

Jackson, MS
VIDEO: CHAMPIONS OF DEAF SCHOOL HONORED
A football team and girls basketball team from the Mississippi School for the Deaf were honored by lawmakers. / WAPT


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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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The Northeast Arc, an established Human Service agency recognized for its creative approach and state of the art services for persons with disabilities is seeking candidates for the position of Residential House Director. Ideal candidates will have fluency in ASL and deep understanding of deaf culture. The Residential House Director will be overseeing a five person home for adults with Intellectual Disabilities and are deaf.

Job Responsibilities:
Excellent managerial skills as the director will be overseeing direct support professionals, relief staff and other support professionals.
Be a creative person with strong organizational skills that can assist individuals in achieving their personal goals.
Provide supportive assistance in a caring environment focusing on maintaining health and along with community and social networks.
Experience with working with families, DDS and other outside agencies is also required.

Requirements:
BA/BS in a related field.
At least 2 years supervisory experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as fluency in American Sign Language.
Strong commitment to providing excellent quality of care.
Strongly prefer someone with First Aid, CPR and MAPS but willing to train

Benefits:
Excellent health and dental benefits offered as well as a 403b, tuition reimbursement, career development/ seminars, short term disability, life insurance, generous time off and competitive pay!!!

For immediate consideration, please send a cover letter and your resume.

Visit us at www.ne-arc.org
Like us on Facebook at Northeast Arc Recruiting.

The Northeast Arc is one of the oldest and most innovative agencies in the state serving children and adults with disabilities.

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Deaf Counseling Advocacy & Referral Agency
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Director of Program Services

DCARA has an opening for the exempt position of Director of Program Services. Opportunities in this position include developing programs specific to the needs of deaf community, as well as creating innovative programs. The position is located in San Leandro, California, in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area.

This position directs and supervises programs that support deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind and deaf plus clients (deaf with one or more additional disabilities), including adults and children, and their families. Current DCARA services supervised by this position include staff that provide services to deaf and hearing parents of deaf, hard of hearing deaf-blind and deaf plus children, and provide individual and systems advocacy, communication access, peer counseling, community education, employment, independent living skills, and information & referral services.

RESPONSIBILITIES
-- Supervises and evaluates Program Services staff and offices
-- Monitors departmental budget and coordinates program development and evaluation
-- Assists the Executive Director in representing the agency in educational, advocacy, and legislative contexts
-- Ensures compliance of grants and contracts for services, collect data and report relevant statistics
-- Analyzes short and long term trends in client service provision, internally and externally
-- Manages and provides public awareness and community education to diverse groups within the deaf community, and to organizations and hearing audiences to improve understanding and sensitivity to Deaf Culture
-- Develops collaborations and working relationships with other agencies serving the deaf community
-- Supervises the development of workshops, seminars, forums, support groups and classes that foster empowerment to members of deaf community, focusing on health, relationships, self-esteem, and others
-- Performs direct services to clients if needed
-- Represents DCARA and/or the deaf community at meetings and community events
-- Works evenings and weekends when necessary
-- Coordinates special projects as delegated by the Executive Director

QUALIFICATIONS:
-- BA degree in counseling, social services, deaf services or related areas. MA degree preferred.
-- At least two years’ experience in program service delivery; with at least one year supervisory experience
-- Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to work well with others
-- Experience in presentations and community relations
-- Fluency in American Sign Language
-- Demonstrated analytical and writing skills
-- Knowledge of Deaf Culture, diverse groups within the deaf community, and culturally appropriate service delivery
-- Strong organizational management skills
-- Knowledge of MS Office Suite 2013
-- Able to travel to appointments within the work week

SALARY: Negotiable, depending on experience and education. Benefits package included.

DEADLINE: Until Filled

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Send DCARA application (available at www.dcara.org under “Contact” > ”Jobs”), cover letter, resume, and three professional references via mail, email or fax to: DCARA Executive Director; 14895 East 14th Street, Suite 200; San Leandro, CA. 94578 Email: ed@dcara.org; Fax: 510-483-7054 DCARA is an At-Will and Equal Opportunity Employer.

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NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN PITTSBURGH, PHILADELPHIA, AND GLENSIDE

PAHrtners Deaf Services is a dynamic team of behavioral health professionals serving deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. Located outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PAHrtners provides residential and outpatient services to deaf and hard of hearing children, adolescents, and adults. Over 85% of our staff members are deaf or hard of hearing!

PAHrtners is rapidly growing and expanding. Whether you are a high school graduate, recent college graduate, or a professional with many years of experience in the field of human services, we have a career-building position waiting for you! E.O.E.

PAHrtners is looking for dedicated, motivated, and energetic individuals who are fluent in American Sign Language and knowledgeable about Deaf culture to fill the following positions:

Residential Counselors for Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disabilities – Full time, part time, on call; Glenside and Pittsburgh locations. Minimum HS diploma required.

Case Managers for Residential or Community Program for Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Behavioral Health needs - Full time; Glenside location. Minimum HS diploma with 12 credits in social sciences required.

Residential Program Director – Full time; Glenside location. Minimum AA degree OR 60 college credits with 4 years’ work experience with individuals with behavioral health needs and/or ID required.

Residential Counselors for Residential Treatment Facility for Adolescents - Full Time; Glenside location. Minimum of one years’ related experience required.

Therapist/Psychosocial Rehabilitation Counselor - Full Time; Glenside location. Minimum BA/BS in human services required.

Educational / Staff Interpreter- Full Time; Philadelphia location. Minimum AA with minimum 3 years’ experience required.

Staff Nurse – Full time; Glenside location. Minimum BSN/RN required.

Visit our Web page at http://www.pahrtners.com/careers/ to learn more about each position. 

Send your letter of intent and resume to:
Joel Skelton, Assistant Office Manager
PAHrtners Deaf Services, 614 N. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038
Email: jskelton@pahrtners.com Fax: 215.392.6065

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Superintendent -- Tennessee School for the Deaf

There is a vacancy for a Superintendent position at The Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD) along with its sister school, West Tennessee School for the Deaf. To obtain more information, please see: www.tsdeaf.org.

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Come Work With The Best!

Northeast Arc
has full and part-time positions, working with adult individuals who are deaf, available in Lynn, Salem, Swampscott and Beverly, MA. You'll be working with deaf individuals using various communication skills including gestural, written and Signed English. Do you know ASL? If so, I'd like to speak with you about our direct care positions. We offer an excellent benefits package, paid trainings and the support you will need to become a successful part of our experienced, long-term team of professionals. For additional information or to send your resume, please email Kathy Tracy Ktracy@ne-arc.org.

Compensation: $12 for per diem shifts and $14 for PT/FT shifts.

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Advocates in Framingham, MA is Hiring!

Advocates is seeking talented professionals to join our team, providing health services within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.

Assistant Director of Clinical Services
:  Manage clinical, budgetary and business operations of residential services, provide support and supervision to employees.
Qualifications: MA and 2 years’ supervisory experience; or BA/BS and 6 years’ experience and/or training, including 2 years’ supervisory experience.

Community Crisis Stabilization Clinician
:  Provide mental health and substance abuse services.
Qualifications: MA and 2 years’ experience. 

Direct Care Counselor: Supervise daily activities, provide support/guidance/role modeling. All shifts available!
Qualifications: BA/BS; or HS diploma/GED and 1 year experience.

Mobile Clinician
: Provide clinical supervision and rehabilitative direction to individuals who carry a diagnosis of mental illness, assist in the coordination of services, provide clinical leadership.
Qualifications: MA and 1 year experience; or BA/BS and 3 years’ experience.

Outpatient Clinician
: Provide comprehensive outpatient counseling/therapy to children, adults and families in need of services.
Qualifications: MSW or MA in related field and 1 year experience in outpatient setting.

Minimum Qualifications Include:
• ASL fluency.
• Valid driver's license/reliable transportation.
• Related education (as applicable).

Visit www.advocates.org/careers to apply today!
Advocates is an EOE/D/F/M/V.

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