Deafweekly May 5, 2010

deafweekly

May 5, 2010
Vol. 6, No. 27

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 2010 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: SCHOOL LEADER ARRESTED: ENCSD LEADER PLACED ON LEAVE AFTER ASSAULT CHARGE / The Wilson Daily Times
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NATIONAL
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REST IN PEACE, TODD SILVESTRI, GREAT FOOTBALL, ALL-AMERICAN WRESTLER STAR
Vincent Todd Silvestri, a former Gallaudet University football and wrestling star, a US Deaflympic wrestler, and coach, died suddenly yesterday [April 30] or last night. I’m informed by someone on Facebook that he committed suicide and was found by one of his brothers in the basement. Less than 2 years ago, he was admitted into Gallaudet University Hall of Fame. He had been coaching young wrestling and football players in various deaf schools across the country, most recently Indiana School for the Deaf. / Under The Hill

See Also IN LOVING MEMORY OF TODD SILVESTRI / Facebook

Sacramento, CA
CALIFORNIA'S AB2072: DISFRANCHISEMENT THE DEAF COMMUNITY
California Assembly passed AB2072 with 47 to 7 votes. 20 had abstained. It was voted early in this morning (April 29) in a closed meeting with repeated requests for captioning and ASL interpreter during the political process.The whole political process is simply…. disfranchising the Deaf Community, Deaf professionals, Linguistics knowledgeable of American Sign Language, Deaf Educators, and many people who wanted to be a part of the process. / Deaf World As Eye See It

Spokane, WA
SPOKANE FATHER WON'T FORCE DEAF DAUGHTER TO WEAR REQUIRED COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
A deaf Washington man faces a contempt charge for refusing to force his deaf daughter to wear cochlear implants in a case that has attracted national attention. Emma McLaughlin-Orton was born to Jennifer Orton Miller and Shaun McLaughlin in February 2002. The child had surgery to install a cochlear ear implant on the right side when she was 1 year old, and on the left side when she was 5. Although part of the device is implanted, users cannot hear without also wearing an external processor and transmitter. The girl’s parents, who are not married, share custody; when Emma is with her father, she wants to "be deaf like daddy," said Judy McLaughlin, Emma’s paternal grandmother. / The Spokesman-Review

Philadelphia, PA
DEPT. OF PUBLIC WELFARE DISCRIMINATES AGAINST DEAF PENNSYLVANIANS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania filed a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court last Thursday against the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) alleging multiple violations of federal law in how DPW provides services to deaf persons with intellectual disabilities. "Imagine living in a home where you cannot communicate with anyone - you can't tell someone what you like, or that you are sick or in pain. That's how hundreds of deaf people with intellectual disabilities are forced to live," says Rachel Mann, attorney at Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania. / PRNewswire

Phoenix, AZ
GROUNDBREAKING REVERSAL IN MOVIE THEATER DISABILITY CASE
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court's dismissal of a lawsuit in which the state of Arizona sought the installation of equipment needed to display captions and audio descriptions for people with sensory disabilities. "This is a groundbreaking legal decision because it is the first time that a Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled on whether the Americans with Disabilities Act requires captions or descriptions in movie theaters," said Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. / Consumer Affairs

Daytona Beach, FL
RAPE OF DEAF-MUTE GETS MAN 14 YEARS
A Daytona Beach man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 14 years in prison for raping a deaf-mute woman inside a stolen vehicle, according to the State Attorney's Office. Byron Bernard Powers, 19, pleaded no contest to sexual battery with a firearm and was sentenced by Circuit Judge Patrick Kennedy, said Assistant State Attorney Chris Kelly. Powers was also designated a sexual predator, Kelly said. / The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Sioux Falls, SD
HARRISBURG OFFERS TO TAKE DEAF STUDENTS
The Harrisburg School District is offering to take the handful of students left at the South Dakota School for the Deaf. The state's Board of Regents, which oversees the Sioux Falls school, has said that the school could close some day and the remaining students would need a place to continue their education. Only five students remain at the 14-acre Sioux Falls campus, and Harrisburg Superintendent Jim Holbeck said his district has the facilities and space. / Argus Leader

New York, NY
PUSH TO INSULATE DEAF STUDENTS FROM DISSIMILAR SCHOOL
The American Sign Language and English Lower School and its secondary school counterpart are New York City’s only public schools for the deaf, hard of hearing and children of deaf adults. They share a building on East 23rd Street with two other programs, but the building is almost entirely used for students with similar needs. Yet the Department of Education is proposing to move more than 250 students from the Clinton School for Artists and Writers, in Chelsea, into the building this fall. / The New York Times

Tallahassee, FL
COMMISSIONER MAKES REQUEST FOR MORE SECURITY AT NEXT MEETING
Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor is requesting more deputies to be at the county’s meeting next week. Last week’s meeting was a heated one that drew 80 speakers who offered support or opposition for changing the ordinance, which would give more rights and protection to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered residents in Leon County. Proctor wrote a letter April 30 stating he “suffered an uncivil reaction from an alleged deaf citizen who charged the dais toward me as I was speaking.” Terry Galloway, 59, said she felt Proctor's comments were "disrespectful" after she was escorted out of the meeting. / Tallahassee Democrat

Little Rock, AR
PRYOR WANTS IMPROVED INTERNET ACCESS FOR DEAF, BLIND
U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said today he plans to introduce a bill that would improve access to the Internet and other technology for the deaf and the blind. The bill would require that television programming be closed captioned and video described when posted on the Internet. Among other things, the bill also would require that smartphones be hearing-aid compatible and require that video programming devices such as DVRs be capable of closed captioning, video description and emergency alerts. / Arkansas News

Springfield, MO
OPINIONS: NO EXCUSE FOR BARRIER
Late last September, police took a 36-year-old St. Louis woman to a psychiatric hospital emergency room. She was depressed and suicidal. It took a while for doctors at the hospital to interview the woman. No one could speak her language. Several hours passed before an interpreter arrived. That delay might be understandable if the woman spoke an exotic language such as Urdu or Turkish. But Christine Comas is deaf; she communicates using American Sign Language. In a city that is home to two nationally known schools for the deaf and a slew of world-class hospitals, the inability to provide a sign language interpreter is unforgivable. / Springfield News-Leader

Green Bay, WI
ST. JOHN'S DEAF PARISHIONERS WANT THEIR MESSAGE SEEN
A Green Bay priest instrumental in working with the deaf community is being transferred, and Monday night parishioners wanted to send a message to the bishop. Last week the diocese announced the transfer of Father Guy Blair from St. John the Evangelist in downtown Green Bay to St. Paul's Church in Combined Locks -- one of a number of transfers to deal with a shortage of priests, the diocese said. The St. John parish council and deaf community met with a representative of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay Monday night. As that meeting was going on, about 200 parishioners gathered for a prayer vigil. / WBAY

Shreveport, LA
AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE RAFFLE TICKETS SCAM
A deaf woman posing as a representative of the Deaf Action Center of Louisiana is selling phony raffle tickets door to door for $5 each, Executive Director David Hylan said. He's alerted the Caddo sheriff's office of the scam and is passing along information to the agency's white collar crimes division. Deputies are working to determine how many tickets were sold. / Shreveport Times

Pomona, CA
DEAFNATION EXPO IS A TRADE SHOW AND SOCIAL EVENT -- IT'S JUST NOT LOUD
If excitement were measured in decibels, then Saturday's events in Building 7 of Pomona's Fairplex fell flat. Despite thousands of people in attendance, the only discernible noise in the giant warehouse was the steady hum of an air pump attached to the children's bounce house. But things are not as they sound at DeafNation Expo, a touring trade show. What may seem like a mild affair to those with hearing is blasting in full color for the hearing impaired. / Los Angeles Times

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INTERNATIONAL
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Welwyn, England
BROOKES CONTINUES FAMILY TRADITION AT 2010 NATIONAL DEAF TENNIS CHAMPS
Surrey’s Bethany Brookes has followed in her mother Fiona’s footsteps to win the Women’s Singles title at the 2010 National Deaf Tennis Championships at the Gosling Tennis International High Performance Centre, Welwyn. Bethany won all of her matches in a round robin competition, dropping only one game as she went on to claim the crown that her mother won 22 years ago in 1988. Bethany, 16, was also named ‘Most Improved Player’ at the British Deaf Tennis Association AGM. / LTA

Auckland, New Zealand
NOISY CLASSES MONITORED CLOSELY
A new device to monitor noise levels is being trialled at daycare centres after concerns that noisy classes are resulting in hearing problems. Known as a safe sound indicator, the device lights up to let children and staff know when noise levels are at a dangerous high. The amber light comes on at 85 decibels, the level where hearing loss becomes a threat. Louise Carroll from the National Foundation for the Deaf says children are at risk of long-term hearing damage. But the device is not just for the children. "The problem for the early childhood teachers is constant exposure over time," says Carroll. / TVNZ

Kigali, Rwanda
TEACHING THE DEAF REQUIRES EXTRA DEDICATION
To teach the deaf requires more love and patience says Eugenie Baziki, a teacher at Saint Gabriel Centre of the deaf and dumb located in Ngoma Sector, Huye district. In a room filled with ten deaf and dumb children, Madam Baziki does what she has been doing for the last four years-teaching pupils with hearing and speech disabilities how to read and write. There is an unusual communication between teacher and student's as they use sign language, a practice which Baziki admits is difficult to use in communication especially for young learners. / allAfrica.com

New Delhi, India
MATRIMONY, LOVE BREATHE LIFE INTO SOUNDS OF SILENCE
Suraj Talwar, a strapping youth in his twenties, lives in silent bliss with his petite wife Seema. Their world overflows with love and compassion despite being mute. Delhi-based Suraj, deaf since birth, met Seema at a Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women and Shaadi.com mass pre-marital screening and introduction event, "Pranay Milan Sammelan", for men and women with hearing impairment in the capital in April 2009 -- and they were married in October. "We are happy," said Suraj. / Little about

New Delhi, India
DIFFERENT THEMES WIN AT FILM FEST ON DISABILITY
Encouraging braille music, not giving up despite losing both limbs, a cerebral palsy patient eager to live life -- films dealing with such subjects were the prize winners at the Seventh International We Care Film Festival on Disability Issues 2010 here Monday. “Films can be a powerful tool to sensitise general public… these films do away with the confusion and prejudices in the mind,” said Satish Kapoor, the festival director. / Taragana

Perak, Malaysia
DEAF AND MUTE WINS SHOE DESIGN COMPETITION
In an evening of glamour and glitter, one man stood out among the VVIPs and guests of the 97th Perak Footwear Industry Association (PFIA) dinner and Malaysia Footwear Design Competition 2010 finale,last evening. Looking flamboyant yet smart, no one would have guessed Saiful Nizam Mohd Zakaria is deaf and mute. But win he did in the men’s fashion shoes design category, walking home with the champion’s prize of RM3,000 ($930 US). The 23-year old was a happy man indeed. / Perak News

Victoria, Australia
IMPLANT MAY HELP DEAF HEAR CONVERSATIONS
Researchers have been studying how tiny electrical pulses that pass along the nerves from the ear to the brain change when people are listening to others speaking. They found that the timing and rate of electrical pulses along the nerves are crucial for being able to distinguish speech from background noise. They are now developing a new kind of bionic ear that could restore hearing to deaf patients and allow them to tune into speech in noisy environments and even enjoy music. They have already tested devices in rats but hope to build new devices that can be used in humans. / Telegraph

Kyrgyzstan
SIGN LANGUAGE MAY BECOME OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN KYRGYZSTAN
The Kyrgyz Blind and Deaf society has proposed including in the country’s new constitution one more official language - sign language. The society claims this would secure human rights in Kyrgyzstan - as in other European countries, such as Finland, where the constitution contains this norm. According to the current constitution, the official languages of Kyrgyzstan are Kyrgyz and Russian. / RT

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Keith Wann's ASL Comedy Tour 2010

Keith Wann, renowned for his hilarious, sidesplitting comedy performances, is now producing and hosting the ASL Comedy Tour 2010, which will travel the U.S. this year. With American Sign Language (ASL) artists presenting solo performances incorporating comedy, skits, songs, improvisation, and stories, each show lasts two hours. Sponsored by www.CallVRS.org, the multi-city tour is designed to be affordable for each location - making it ideal as a fundraiser for participating organizations.

“We really want to reach out to all communities, so we are sharing in the costs and profits at each location. We will work closely with booking parties to maximize profits for their organization and to bring in as many people as possible for a night of laughter, socialization and fun,” Wann said. “We also offer workshops by some of our performers, which can be held the day of the performance. People can come to our workshops, and then unwind by attending the comedy show that evening.”

www.aslcomedytour.com
Contact KemiProductionsInc@gmail.com.

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LIFE & LEISURE
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Washington, DC
MSD CLAIMS NATIONAL ACADEMIC BOWL TITLE
At the rate the Maryland School for the Deaf is piling up national championships, it's going to need a new trophy case. One of the newest pieces in need of a place of honor is the silver cup won by the school's Academic Bowl team, which took the top prize in the 14th annual National High School Academic Bowl. With the most recent honor, MSD teams have claimed nine of 11 national athletic or academic titles this year. Sixteen teams competed in the two-day event held Sunday and Monday. The teams earned those berths by finishing in the top three teams in one of five regional competitions. A wild-card team rounds out the top 16, MSD coach Patrick Rosenburg said Friday. / The Frederick News-Post

Marion, IL
DEAF, HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENTS FIGHT FOR CAPTIONING
The 16 students enrolled at Marion High School's deaf/hard of hearing program want to go to the movies with their friends and families instead of having to rent or buy DVD's with captioning. So they wrote letters in the fall to Kerasotes Theatres, which owns movie houses in Carbondale and Marion, requesting special technology be installed for them to watch and enjoy the movies by way of captioning capabilities. Their request is more than a plea for social engagement. It's a lesson in self-advocacy that can help benefit them as they get older and develop skills to become more self-sufficient, their teachers said. / The Southern

Rochester, NY
ESSAYIST CAUTIONS PARENTS OF DEAF CHILDREN ON USE OF COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
I was born sensoneurologically prelingustically deaf, which defined me in laymen terms as someone who couldn't hear a rocket go into space. Auditory aids of all kinds were tried and failed when hearing tests were run. I always thought that meant a pass, as it meant more silence to my world. In 1988, that perspective changed for my mother with the introduction of the Cochlear Implant by my Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. The next eight years consisted of fighting with my mom, tampering with the device so it wouldn't work, telling the doctor I wanted it out of my head, and coming to a pleasant ending when I ran over the device with my newly bought car at age 16. / Democrat and Chronicle

Charlotte, NC
WYCLIFFE, DOOR TO TRANSLATE BIBLE FOR DEAF PEOPLE
Wycliffe Associates and a ministry to the deaf have announced a new partnership to translate the Bible into sign language for the millions of people who do not have access to the Scriptures. Deaf Opportunity Outreach International (DOOR) will work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and teams of deaf translators from various nations to bring the Scripture to video format. / Clerical Whispers

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WORKING WORLD
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Albuquerque, NM
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF COMING TO ALBUQUERQUE
A new school for the deaf is coming to the Duke City. The county commission voted this week to lease a county building to the ABQ Sign Language Academy. The new school will be the only school for the deaf in the Duke City. The school will be more convenient for hearing-impaired students, who currently have to go to Santa Fe to attend a school for the deaf. The charter school will be in downtown Albuquerque. The cost to renovate the building is $500,000. / KOAT

New York, NY
DRF TO BENEFIT FROM BTIG'S EIGHTH COMMISSIONS FOR CHARITY DAY
BTIG LLC, an institutional broker dealer specializing in trading and related brokerage services, announced that it will donate its equity, fixed income and derivative trading commission profits earned on Thursday, May 6, 2010 to a designated group of children's charities. This year, Deafness Research Foundation is thrilled to be participating in BTIG's Eighth Commissions for Charity Day on May 6. The firm's last Commissions for Charity Day raised more than $3 million, and over the past five years BTIG has donated more than $10 million to various organizations across the country. / Advance

Long Beach, CA
SIGN LANGUAGE, INTERPRETING AGENCY CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
If it takes months or even years for most new businesses to turn a profit, then LiNKS Sign Language and Interpreting Services is a bit of an anomaly. According to LiNKS Director Chuck Scarpaci, the agency has been lucrative since its inception. “Our business has gone all over the place,” Scarpaci said. “But it’s been profitable from day one… Even with the economy the way it is, we’ve held our own very well.” / Gazettes Town-News

Orange, NY
NEW YORK CITY STUDENTS LEARNS ABOUT LIFE ON THE FARM
Fifteen high school students from a school in New York City saw goats, sheep and cows for the first time this week at Farm Sanctuary. The students at Lexington School for the Deaf decided to come to the sanctuary's shelter for rescued farm animals in Schuyler County. "I thought especially for deaf ... inner-city kids, who've never seen the stars or a farm or don't know where their food comes from, (who) don't interact with farm animals, this is a very unique experience for many of them," said Alyssa Banner, a teacher at the school as the students took turns brushing cows. / Star-Gazette

Bethesda, MD
NCSA AWARDS 2010 CORNETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP TO MICHAEL MCALLISTER
The National Cued Speech Association (NCSA) announces the award of the R. Orin Cornett Memorial Scholarship to Michael McAllister (North Carolina). The R. Orin Cornett Scholarship Fund, which supports qualified individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing in their post-secondary endeavors, makes this award possible. / NCSA [PDF]

Rochester, NY
JAMES DECARO INDUCTED INTO RIT'S INNOVATION HALL OF FAME
NTID Interim President James J. DeCaro was one of 10 prominent men and women inducted into the inaugural class of Rochester Institute of Technology's Innovation Hall of Fame Friday. DeCaro served as dean of NTID for 14 years prior to his one-year commitment as interim president this year. / NTID News

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Sorenson Video Relay Service® (SVRS®) is an industry leading communication tool for the deaf community provided by Sorenson Communications. Created with high-quality video technology, SVRS brings life into the conversations of our customers as they call family, friends, and business associates at no cost through a professional SVRS sign language interpreter and a cutting-edge videophone. SVRS is provided 24-hours a day, and 365 days a year, connecting the deaf and hard-of-hearing to anyone at their convenience. For more information, visit the SVRS Web site at www.sorensonvrs.com.

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ASL/ITP Faculty Across the U.S. Are Using the Sony Virtuoso™ and Soloist® ASL Software Suite.

One ASL/ITP Lead Faculty in TX comments: “With the Sony Soloist software I now have the ability to record video and audio for multiple students at one time as opposed to the old way --- one at a time with a camcorder. It’s really nice for my students to have digital recordings of their voiced and signed interpretations to help them build resume portfolios.” Contact SANS Inc. at sales@sansinc.com for a product preview CD or to arrange a demo or visit at www.sansinc.com.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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St. Charles, MO
DEAF STORYTELLERS PERFORM FOR STUDENTS
For the past five years, deaf storytellers have visited the Becky-David Elementary School as part of the annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival. It's an event deaf and hard-of-hearing students look forward to each year. It's more than a chance for them to see stories, Brewer said, it's an opportunity for the students from different schools to meet one another and to meet adults who are like them. Storytellers Nina Wilson, 55, of St. Louis, and Peter Cook, 48, of Chicago, told tales Thursday afternoon to about 25 deaf and hard-of-hearing students from throughout the school district. / Suburban Journals

Chicago, IL
COMPANY OFFERS CHILDREN'S STORIES IN SIGN LANGUAGE
For the first time, several traditional children's stories have been translated into sign language. ASL Tales is a company that has reworked some of the most famous children books into ASL, or American Sign Language, so both young deaf and hearing readers can experience the true meaning and beauty of each story. At Chicago's Whitney Young high school, deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing students were watching ASL Tales: The Princess and the Pea. Janis Cole, president of ASL Tales, was born and raised in Chicago. / WLS-TV

Rock Hill, SC
ROCK HILL STUDENTS TO PERFORM IN FIRST ALL-DISTRICT PLAY
For two nights a week since January, students from Rock Hill's high schools have been studying sign language. The kids are not deaf, and they're not getting class credit for it -- but they plan to use what they've learned to inspire and entertain others. The students have come together to produce the schools' first all-district honors play, and their first production is "Children of a Lesser God" -- the play (and movie) that has brought a lot of understanding of deaf culture to mainstream America. / The Herald

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Do you wear an Advanced Bionics HiRes90k or Clarion II Cochlear Implant?

Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., a leading plaintiffs’ litigation law firm, is expanding litigation against Advanced Bionics related to defective cochlear implants. If you believe that you may have received an “Important Notification” letter from Advanced Bionics about your HiRes90k or Clarion II cochlear implant in either 2004 or 2006, we urge you to contact us to receive important legal information - even if you CI is working. Many of our clients’ cochlear implants stopped working prematurely as described in the letter. We have a Deaf attorney and VP available. To find out more, please click here and follow instructions on the screen or go to www.weitzlux.com/failed-cochlear-implants_1937570.html.

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SPORTS
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Toledo, OH
PITCHER DOESN'T LET DISABILITY STOP HIS DREAMS
His chances diminish a bit with every turn of the calendar. His hopes and dreams do not. Ryan Ketchner is 28 years old and that probably disqualifies him from being a prospect. Of course, prospects aren't the only ones who make it to the big leagues. It helps, but it's not mandatory. And Ketchner, who will pitch for the Mud Hens tonight against Syracuse, is back in Triple-A, just a step away. If he should make it, he would become the first deaf pitcher in the majors in 102 years. / Toledo Blade

Toronto, ON, Canada
BASEBALL PRODIGY'S ACUTE AWARENESS MAKES UP FOR HIS DEAFNESS
When he’s standing on the field, wind is often the only thing that Jalen Harris can hear. The 17-year-old baseball prodigy, who was born deaf and hears through a cochlear implant, tracks the ball with his eyes and relies almost entirely on his vision to follow the game. It’s a system that works well - scouts from major American colleges and multiple major-league teams came to watch Jalen play last week in Orlando. / The Globe and Mail

St. Augustine, FL
ASHLEY FIOLEK IS KICKING UP DIRT
At nineteen, Ashley Fiolek is already the top female competitor in a tough men’s sport: motocross, a form of off-road motorcycle racing that is one of the most competitive and dangerous extreme sports in the world. Since going pro in late 2007, Fiolek has taken gold at the X Games, won the American Women’s Motocross Championship twice, and become the first woman in American motocross history to be signed to a factory team -- the highest echelon of industry backing. But Fiolek’s rise has not come without obstacles. Fiolek was born profoundly deaf, a handicap that makes everyday life difficult -- and competition on the track downright dangerous. / Youritlist.com

Greensboro, NC
GREENSBORO HOSTS NATIONAL DEAF BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
About a dozen teams from across the country were in Greensboro April 24 to compete in the National Deaf Basketball Tournament. The teams came from as far away as California and as close as Greensboro and Charlotte. When on the court, the players use hand signs to communicate during play. Organizers said it's a real experience to see. “There's a lot of deaf people that are really good players they can do everything, they just can't hear, said Joseph Brafford with the National Deaf Basketball Organization. / News14

Charlotte, NC
DISABILITY CAN'T STRIKE HIM OUT
Michael Hagwood, right fielder on the Northwest Cabarrus High baseball team, ... doesn't hear their shouts of celebration. He didn't hear "The Star Spangled Banner" before the game. Or his coach's send-off: "Have fun while you're out there." Or the occasional heckling from opponents. Or the crack of the bat. Like old-time baseball player "Dummy" Hoy, who is credited with introducing hand signals to the major leagues, Michael is deaf. Like Hoy, he refuses to let his inability to hear affect his ability to play. / Charlotte Observer

Mays Landing, NJ
DEAF ROWER HELPS OAKCREST GIRLS CREW TEAM CONNECT USING SIGN LANGUAGE
Katelyn Poley feels the wind on her face, the vibration of the boat and the spray of water against her skin as she rows for the Oakcrest High School girls crew team. She hears nothing. Poley was born deaf but she is able to row competitively because Casey Rowlinson, the coxswain on her boat, uses sign language to signal race tactics and practice drills. “Crew makes me feel like a normal person,” Poley said. / The Press of Atlantic City

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callVRS is exercising the freedom of choice! How about you?

We choose to answer to the Deaf community. We choose to treat our interpreters with honor and respect. We choose to be ethical and fiscally accountable. We choose to be the VRS Company that focuses on the interpreter along with the callers to make the VRS experience better for everyone. Find the interpreter to meet your many needs. Skilled, Ethical, Professional, and Friendly are all a part of your choice. Experience the freedom! www.callvrs.org. dial callVRS.info on your video phone today! Hearing callers dial 877-241-1411 (VRS 2 411 411)

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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). Start spreading the news! To place your ad, send the announcement to mail@deafweekly.com.

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EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT GLAD, INC.

* Community Advocate - Bakersfield, CA
* Community Advocate - Riverside, CA
* Community Interpreter - Los Angeles, CA
* Job Developer/Interpreter - Crenshaw, CA

To learn more about these positions, please visit our website, www.gladinc.org.

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POSITION AVAILABLE

St. Rita School for the Deaf is an academic 10-month program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing impaired children from birth through 20 years of age. St. Rita School is an equal opportunity employer/educational private institution. Skills in Total Communication are required of all personnel.

TITLE: RESIDENT ADVISOR - WEEK / FOR 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR

AREA: GIRLS DORMITORY

NATURE OF WORK: This is a live-in position.

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Special Education or related Field.
2. Proficiency in Sign Language.
3. Knowledge of child growth, development and behavior.
4. Physical stamina, emotional maturity and patience needed for residential living.

REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LIFE

SUPERVISES: Students in the dormitory and students in the after school programs.

JOB GOAL:
To assist the student in group living, personal hygiene, interpersonal relationships, social graces, and spiritual and moral development.
To create a healthful living situation in which the student can mature and develop as an individual with unique needs and personality.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
To care for the student at all times outside of class time.
To maintain a neat, clean and pleasant dormitory and social area.
To provide a good health care program including: appropriate diet, rest and exercise, personal hygiene, care of sick student.
To assign and monitor student duties.
To assist the students in caring for and managing their money.
To guide and assist the students with planning of recreational activities and the utilization of their leisure time.
To discipline inappropriate behavior according to school policy.
To advise and counsel both the student and the parents.
To provide an area and time for studies and intellectual pursuits.
To support the philosophy and objectives of the school.

Submit cover letter and resume to:
Peter Keller
Director of Student Life
St. Rita School for the Deaf
1720 Glendale Milford Road
Cincinnati, OH 45215-1258
E-mail pkeller@srsdeaf.org

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JOB OPENING

OUTREACH COORDINATOR/District of Columbia
&
PENNSYLVANIA CAPTIONED TELEPHONE

Hamilton Relay, Inc. currently has a Full -Time position open for “District of Columbia Outreach Coordinator and Pennsylvania Captioned Telephone”.

Position summary: This full-time position is responsible for coordinating and implementing outreach activities designed to promote District of Columbia Relay Services and Pennsylvania Captioned Telephone

Individual will be required to travel as need. For Pennsylvania Captioned Telephone, the individual will be required to be in Pennsylvania for a full 40 hours each month.

The individual will be required to reside in District of Columbia metropolitan area, not limited only to District of Columbia.

Preferred education, experience and skills:
Excellent presentations skills
Knowledge of Deaf Culture
Demonstrate Knowledge of the users who would benefit from relay and captioned telephone services
Senior Citizens Communities
Hard of Hearing Communities
Deaf Communities
Ability to promote all services and to educate/train users of the services
Knowledge of American Sign Language is preferred
Knowledge of and ability to understand various communication modes used by current and potential relay users
Direct work experience with or knowledge of Telecommunication Relay Service and Captioned Telephone Relay Services is preferred
Experience in public relations activities
Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines
Strong written, analytical and interpersonal skills
Hold a valid driver’s license

Interested individuals may send inquiries and/or resumes to www.hamilton.net/careers to the attention of Cindy Blase in the Human Resource Department by May 17, 2010

Hamilton Relay is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability.

Hamilton Relay, Inc. is a division of Hamilton Telecommunications based in Aurora, NE. Hamilton offers a competitive wage. Contact our HR Dept. at: 800.821.1831 or at: www.hamilton.net/employment.html.

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Title: Director of Sales Operations (Full Time)
Location: Clearwater, Florida

Description:
Director of Sales Operations individual will help plan, build and manage a world-class operations
organization in support of our direct US Sales organization with strong business analytics and process
management capabilities. The individual will design reports, policies, processes, strategies and approaches
for the sales operations function. The position takes responsibility of, and manages sales operations on a
day-to-day basis including the design and successful adoption of CRM tools, automated quoting, proposals,
pricing exception approval tracking and commissions. Additionally, the position provides sales metrics
information and business analytics such as customer contact, call frequency, call points, product data, and
progress against Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). This position will interact extensively at both a
senior management, field management, and the sales team. A Director with cross-functional departmental
interactions teams including sales, finance, legal, customer service, Technical support, IT and marketing.

Responsibilities:
• Help manage CRM reporting; provide training on “Best Practices” to effectively utilize CRM and develop
process documentation, training and continuous process improvement
• Ensure account information is up-to-date and relevant in helping drive account strategies
• Ensure account assignment process is effectively managed, tracked and reviewed to ensure resources are
aligned, assigned and communicated to optimize sales effectiveness.
• Assist the VP in the establishment and management key financial and non-financial performance metrics,
targets, and tracking processes to be used for performance measurement
• Build and run sales reports, including pipeline reporting
• Assist in the identification and resolution of most significant operating bottlenecks impeding revenue
delivery and recognition
• Establish and maintain sales quotas and compensation plans
• Develop, maintain and report progress against the operating budget for the Sales department

Qualifications:
• Degree preferred in Business
• Minimum 2 years experience in a business setting

Requirements:
• Experience in assisting with CRM design, deployment and operation
• Strong work ethic and flexibility with ability to put in the extra hours during peak times (especially end of
quarters)
• Experience working in a fast-paced, constantly-evolving team environment. Strong project management,
problem solving, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills essential
• Previous experience and strong aptitude for working with numbers and profitability analysis
• Experience in design and implementation of sales compensation programs
• Experience time management and organizational skills to juggle competing priorities with limited
resources
• Excellent strategic, analytic, communications, and presentation skills

Salary:
Commensurate with experience and qualifications. Please send salary requirements to be considered.

Benefits:
Group Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, Paid Time Off, Short/Long Term
Disability, 401K, Paid Holidays and Employee Assistance Program

Application Deadline:
Open until filled.

Send Resume and Cover Letter to:
jobs@zvrs.com

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TEACHER OF THE DEAF
Time Base: FT
Location: St Albans
Responsibilities:
* Prepare lesson plans to meet IEP goals and objectives, for elementary level.
* Prepare IEPs & serve as Case Manager.
Requirements:
* Degree in Deaf Ed.
* ASL fluency & English proficiency
* Vermont teaching License in Special Ed. &/or area of teaching assignment.

COORD. OF NO. VT REG. PROGRAM
Time Base: PT
Location: No. Vermont
Qualifications:
* Degree in Deaf Ed.
* Knowledge of Special Ed. laws & procedures
* Proficiency in ASL
* Knowledge of curriculum and assessment
Responsibilities:
* Oversee operation & Supervise staff
* Develop & implement school budgets

Send letter of interest & resume to Jen Bostwick at jbostwick@vcdhh.org or
Jen Bostwick
147 Knight Lane
Williston, VT 05495

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Two new DS therapist- Adults & Children at BJC Behavioral Health in St. Louis, MO.

Therapists will work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental & emotional disorders. Flexibly to work within various structures in the community mental health system.

Job duties includes, therapy, intakes, clinical case management, triage/crisis intervention and EAP therapy. Must have a Masters or Doctorate in Social Work, Counseling, or Psychology. Need a LCSW or LPC, 2-4 years experienced required. Fluent in sign language

Please forward resumes to Mark Stansberry, Executive Director, BJC Behavioral Heath, 1430 Olive, Suite 400, St. Louis MO 63103

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