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Last issue's most-read story: DEAF CHICAGO MAN RETURNS TO COURT ON NEW RAPE CHARGE / Medill Reports
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Washington, DC
THE FCC IS ACCUSING THIS COMPANY OF CHEATING THE DEAF
The Federal Communications Commission announced Friday that it will issue a $11.9 million fine against Purple Communications, for allegedly improperly billing a government fund dedicated to providing assistive communication services. In its statement, the FCC said that Purple was reimbursed for providing some of its services to "customers with names that were so clearly false that they could not have been the actual names of eligible users." These names included “sdfsdf cicwcicw,” “ Myname Yourname,” and “Lot$a Money," according to the release. / The Washington Post
See Also FCC NEWS RELEASE / FCC.gov
See Also PURPLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. REFUTES FCC ALLEGATIONS / Digital Journal
Oakland, CA
ASL INTERPRETERS STAGE ONE-DAY STRIKE AT PURPLE COMMUNICATIONS
ASL interpreters at Purple Communications sites in California, Colorado and Arizona will be off the job and on picket lines today [May 5], in a one-day unfair labor practice strike called to protest unilateral changes the company made in its health care plan, the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521, announced Monday. / Business Wire
Brattleboro, VT
BRATTLEBORO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SET TO CLOSE
Since 1908 the Austine School has been working with students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Now that tradition is slated to come to an end -- but students and staff hope it's not for good. After more than 100 years in business the school will close this spring. "I know I feel very badly for the staff, the students -- everyone has to move away, look for new jobs," said Sirena Caputi, a seventh-grader at the school. / WCAX
Honolulu, HI
DEAF STUDENT HOPES TO BREAK MILITARY BARRIER
“Cadet Ferdinand Bermudez reporting for duty, sir.” Fingers fly and a woman shouts. Bermudez stands at attention. “At ease,” the sergeant orders. Bermudez, a Honolulu Community College student, is in the Reserve Officer Training program at UH-Manoa. But current rules won’t allow him to ever join the military when he graduates. Bermudez is Deaf. / Ka La
Los Angeles, CA
MAN WHO SWINDLED DEAF AND BLIND WIDOW GETS SEVEN-YEAR PRISON TERM
A Vermont parolee was sentenced to state prison Monday for stealing more than $280,000 from a widow with dementia to buy a classic record collection, a Tiffany & Co. engagement ring and a "sex swing." John Thomas Windsor, 44, of Costa Mesa was sentenced to seven years and four months for stealing thousands from the woman, who was also blind, deaf and confined to her home, the Orange County district attorney’s office said in a statement. / Los Angeles Times
Aurora, IL
BOND UPHELD FOR MAN ACCUSED OF ABUSING DEAF AURORA TEEN
A 30-year-old Aurora man accused of sex abuse remains held in Kane County Jail on $100,000 bail after a judge denied a bond-reduction request Wednesday. Travis A. Armstrong was arrested April 18 and charged with aggravated criminal sex abuse and solicitation to meet a child. The arrest followed a sheriff’s office investigation that began in March involving a teenager who said she met Armstrong at Jaycee Park in Aurora where they engaged in sex acts on “several occasions,” according to court documents. / Aurora Beacon News
Denver, CO
CUED SPEECH HELPS COLORADO BOY 'SEE' WHAT OTHER SAY; MAX ONLY DEAF CHILD IN STATE USING METHOD
A rap video is raising awareness about a little-used form of communication for the deaf called Cued Speech. One Colorado mother says her middle school son is the only deaf child in the state using the method. "We found out Max was deaf when he was 3 years old," said Lisa Weiss. "So he had already lost three years of acquiring spoken language." Her son, Max Tucker, 11, now has bilateral cochlear implants and can hear in quiet situations, but has trouble when there is background noise. / 7NEWS
Barrington, IL
BARRINGTON NATIVE ON GLOBAL QUEST TO PROMOTE DEAF RIGHTS
Marissa Polvere is on a mission to travel the world — and she has a lot to accomplish on that mission. Polvere, who was born deaf, wants to use her travels to enhance rights and accessibility for deaf people all over the globe. A current student at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., Polvere recently traveled to South America with 13 other RIT students to study the sign languages of Chile and other countries and to examine how rights for deaf people differ in that part of the world. / Lake County News-Sun