Deafweekly July 18, 2007

deafweekly

July 18, 2007
Vol. 3 No. 19

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 2007 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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GALLAUDET PLACED ON PROBATION

Gallaudet University was put on probation June 29 by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, reported the Washington Post. Gallaudet, racked by protests last year, was given until November 2008 to regain compliance in eight categories. Without accreditation, Gallaudet’s students would not be able to receive federally funded loans, said the report, while the school itself would suffer a symbolic impact. “We will be in compliance by November 2008,” said Gallaudet President Robert Davila, “because we have no other choice.” A Gallaudet website offers further details.

WEINER MARKS FIRST DAY AS GALLAUDET PROVOST

July 1 was Stephen Weiner’s first official day as Gallaudet University’s new provost, said an Inside Gallaudet report. Weiner, a Class of 1977 alumnus, was named as the school’s chief academic officer May 7 by President Robert Davila, a choice that “has been widely praised on and off campus.” Weiner said his three major objectives are community building, full accreditation and academic rigor. He plans to move the provost’s office from the fourth floor to the first floor of Hall Memorial Building and will designate certain days and hours for people to meet with him. “I feel humbled and honored to be named provost of such a wonderful national treasure,” he said.

PROTEST PLANNED OUTSIDE AG BELL CONFERENCE

A new organization called the Deaf Bilingual Coalition plans to protest outside the Talk for a Lifetime Summer Conference of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Arlington, Va. July 27-28. “It’s time for the organization to recognize American Sign Language as the only genuine cognitive language for the deaf,” said coalition founder John F. Egbert. AG Bell, founded in 1887, has always promoted Bell’s belief that deaf children should not learn to sign and in fact would lose its funding if it promoted sign language, said Egbert. His vlog about the protest can be seen here.

ASL TEACHER KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

Ralph Sedano, an American Sign Language instructor at Santa Fe (N.M.) Community College, was killed in a motorcycle accident, said a Gallaudet University Daily Digest item. A 1974 Gallaudet alumnus, Sedano was the ASL Program coordinator and teacher at Santa Fe Community College. An email said Sedano was with a group of deaf motorcyclists on a trip to Baja California when he hit a cow in the road. Sedano was killed instantly. (The cow died, too.) Sedano’s wife, Valerie, suffered broken bones in her shoulder, arm and wrist. He is survived by two children.

DEAF MOTHER LOSES SON IN IRAQ

A deaf woman from Harrisonburg, Va. learned earlier this month that her son had died in Iraq, reported WHSV-TV News. “I hate to see it happen ... I hate to see anybody die,” said Donna Hobbs. Her son, Jeremy Tinnel, was killed in a boating accident during combat operations July 1. “I wish my son had not joined the Marines now,” said Hobbs, “but my daughter and I are very proud of him.” She added that she hoped Jeremy’s friends and family will “keep him in their memories.”

CALIFORNIA TEACHER CHARGED WITH MOLESTING GIRLS

A California School for the Deaf, Riverside teacher was arrested June 30 and charged with molesting two young girls, reported The Press-Enterprise. Daniel Ray Metroka, 51, faces four counts of lewd and lascivious acts on girls under 14 years old and is being held in a detention center with bail set at $1 million. The alleged victims were not CSDR students and the incidents did not occur at the school, said police. Metroka has been a full-time CSDR teacher since 1997 and “we’re concerned there may be additional victims,” said Riverside police Lt. Steve Johnson.

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MISSING WORKER FOUND AFTER 16 HOURS IN ELEVATOR

LSU Hospital workers in Shreveport, La. searched for a missing deaf employee and put up flyers around the hospital before the man was found trapped in an elevator, said KTBS. The man, whom hospital officials refused to identify, entered the elevator late Sunday afternoon and spent 16 hours without food, water or toilet facility before he was found Monday morning by a crew doing routine work. The elevator had a non-working emergency call button, said hospital spokeswoman Elaine King, and “apparently there was some mis-wiring of the elevator.” The man was given the next day off and the hospital offered its formal apologies.

HOT DOG CHOKING DEATH LEADS TO LAWSUIT

A South Charleston, W.V. agency was sued for negligence last week by the parents of a disabled man who choked to death on a hot dog. Craig Allen Payne, 22, of Sissonville, died February 12 at a day shelter operated by Deaf Education and Advocacy Focus (DEAF), reported WHSV. His parents, Gregory and Betty Jo Payne, filed the lawsuit last Tuesday in Kanawha County Circuit Court. They allege that DEAF assigned their son an inadequately trained worker who did not know that Payne, who had cerebral palsy, could not eat solid food.

FLORIDA MOM COMMITTED AGAINST WILL

Florida advocates are outraged at the state Department of Children and Families after a deaf woman was handcuffed and involuntarily committed, said the Orlando Sentinel. Linda Farrell was committed June 7 after allegedly threatening to kill herself if DCF took her children. “But I didn’t say that,” said Farrell. DCF planned its visit days in advance but ignored rules to provide a qualified interpreter, instead relying on a neighbor with two hearing aids to interpret. Attorney Matthew Dietz said DCF’s failings are chronic. “They either refuse to learn the rules or they don’t care,” he said.

GOVERNORS SIGN DEAF-RELATED LEGISLATION

Governors in three states recently signed legislation affecting the deaf community. In New York, Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed the Interagency Council for Services to Persons Who Are Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard-of-Hearing after the bill passed unanimously in the Senate and the Assembly. In Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt signed HB 181, which requires all electronic video instructional materials used or sold in the state to have either open or closed captions - the first such law to be adopted by any state. And in Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation that requires the use of qualified sign language interpreters with state or national certification in all settings required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

HAWAII DEAF AGENCY ENDS OPERATIONS

Hawaii Services on Deafness ended operations June 30, reported the Honolulu Advertiser. No reason was given for what Susan Au Doyle, president of Aloha United Way, called “a significant loss to our community.” The deaf agency had been partners since 1980 with Aloha United Way, which made the announcement of the closing. Deaf residents will continue to have access to communication services through Hawaii Interpreting Services. The Hawaii Services on Deafness website gives no indication of the closing and contains “flash news” dated September 2006.

TWO FINALISTS SELECTED FOR SOUTH DAKOTA POST

The search for the next South Dakota School for the Deaf superintendent has been narrowed down to two finalists. Terry Gregersen, 57, who is deaf, and Raymond Olson, 65, who can hear, will be on the school’s Sioux Falls campus next week for interviews, said the Argus Leader. Gregersen, of Riverside, Calif., worked 27 years in the Tacoma, Wash. school district and is former director of instruction at the California School for the Deaf. Olson worked at SDSD from 1964 to 1977 as a math and science teacher and principal for eight years. He also worked at St. Paul College and Iowa Western Community College in ASL and interpreter training programs.

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INTERNATIONAL
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MAN WHO DROWNED SON SENT TO MENTAL HOSPITAL

A deaf man in England who drowned his 14-month-old disabled son was ordered to be detained at a mental hospital, said the Guardian Unlimited. Andreas Milakovic was sentenced at a two-hour hearing last Friday in the February 5 death of his son, Yacob, who struggled with painful epileptic fits and suffered 40 fits the day before he died. Milakovic confessed to giving the boy medicine and red wine before drowning him in a bathtub at the family’s Sheffield home. He then drank a liter of vodka and sat in a bath, expecting to drown himself, but was later found alive on a bed by his partner, Sharon Hirschman, who is also deaf.

CHINESE DANCER NAMED MISS DEAF WORLD 2007

A 25-year-old dancer from China was crowned Miss Deaf World 2007 last Saturday in Prague Czech Republic. Bao Qing Ling told the official Xinhua news agency in sign language that she had “dreamed of a Miss Deaf World title for so long.” Nineteen young women from 19 countries competed in the annual pageant. (The United States did not send a representative.) Bao won the title with an interpretation of the classic Chinese love story, “Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.”

JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT ALLEGING SEXUAL ABUSE

A lawsuit against a former Nova Scotia, Canada school for the deaf was dismissed last week, reported The Amherst Daily News. Jane Suttis filed the lawsuit in October 2005 on behalf of her deaf daughter, Jennifer Cooper, 33. She claims officials with the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority failed to protect Cooper from sexual abuse by a male employee between 1979 and 1985. The school’s lawyer, Noella Martin, said the women filed their suit too late, but Cooper’s lawyer, Richard Bureau, said his client was not emotionally prepared to pursue the case until now.

CHARITY MANAGER ORDERED TO PAY FOR DISCRIMINATION

The manager of a deaf charity in England has been ordered to pay L2,310 ($4,744 US) to a deaf former employee who argued she had been discriminated against. Colin Sanders, manager of the Walsall Deaf People’s Centre, was accused of “constructive dismissal” by sign language teacher Jayne Fletcher, 23, who said Sanders was unsympathetic when she needed time off for hospital care. She also said there was a general failure by staff to use sign language. “I was excluded and isolated with I worked at WDPC,” Fletcher said in a statement to a Birmingham industrial tribune. “It made me sad and feel as if something was wrong with me.”

JAPAN OFFERS NUDE NEWS IN SIGN LANGUAGE

A Japanese TV program that combines nudity and sign language made headlines this month when it was revealed that the program is subsidized by the government. Paradise Television Inc. was given about 150,000 yen ($1,231 US) to help pay for sign-language translations of “Hadaka no News Station” (Naked News Station), said The Mainichi Newspapers. The money funds a five-minute segment in which Miyabe Fujino gradually sheds her clothing while presenting the news in sign language. “I generally welcome sign-language translations for TV programs,” said Japanese Federation of the Deaf official Mitsuji Hisamatsu, “but it’s questionable to provide a subsidy for this particular program.”

NEW ZEALAND MAN WINS FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP

A New Zealand college student with an “82 percent hearing loss” has been awarded a $25,000 ($21,942 US) Fulbright Scholarship and a $15,000 ($13,165 US) Quest for Excellence Scholarship by the National Foundation for the Deaf. Phillip Hall, 24, of Wellington, plans to earn a Ph.D. in psychology at Arizona University, said Fairfax New Zealand. Hall, who has worn hearing aids in both ears since age 9, already has a double degree in psychology and economics from Otago University. He plans to map the neurological processes behind everyday decision making and look at “why people choose to do what they do.”

INDIAN GROUP WANTS COMMON SIGN LANGUAGE

Members of India’s National Association of the Deaf met in Chennai recently and called on the country to adopt a common sign language. Schools for the deaf presently follow their own sign language, association president Arun Rao told The Hindu, making it hard for students from different schools to interact. NAD members also asked that six colleges for the deaf be set up in different regions and stressed the need for interpreters in hospitals, police stations, courtrooms and government offices. General Secretary A.S. Narayanan called for captioning of television programs and noted that “only one percent of the deaf go to school.”

NEWSPAPER REPORTS ON NINE DEAF SIBLINGS

“Nine siblings born deaf and dumb,” was the headline in a recent edition of Sahara Samay in Noida, India. The article told of a couple named Antul and Bashar, who found that their first-born child was deaf and “went for second child hoping that perhaps be able to hear and speak.” The second child was also born deaf. “Later, a total of nine children were born to the couple and all had the same problem,” said the report. Doctors believe the cause of the physical deficiency is that Antul and Bashar are blood relatives.

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SAN FRANCISCO EVENT FITS 100+ WITH HEARING AIDS

The Starkey Hearing Foundation presented free hearing aids to more than 100 adults and children at a special event in San Francisco last Monday. The foundation, which has given away nearly 200,000 hearing aids worldwide since 2000, contacted local audiologists for recommendations of patients in need of assistance, reported CBS-5. Bill Austin, president and founder of the foundation, was on hand to personally fit the new hearing aids. Recipients also had the chance to meet baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller and other players who attended the event.

AGENCY SEEKS BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

The Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD) is creating a DVD on breast cancer for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and is seeking survivors to share their stories. “We wish to provide experiences of what living with breast cancer - during and after having the disease - is like for deaf/hard-of-hearing women,” said GLAD’s Alicia Wolfson. To learn more, contact her at awolfson@gladinc.org.

IMPLANT SHOWS PROMISE AFTER TESTS ON CATS

Researchers are developing an ultra-thin electrode implanted in the auditory nerve that could prove to be superior to cochlear implants, reported UPI. Studies at the University of Michigan’s Kresge Hearing Research Institute showed that a tiny array placed in the auditory nerve of cats transmitted a wide range of sounds to the brain. “In nearly every measure, these work better than cochlear implants,” said UM researcher John C. Middlebrooks. It will be five or 10 years before the electrode is studied on humans, he said.

FORMER JHS 47 GRADUATES SIX HEARING STUDENTS

The New York Daily News reported recently on the June 26 graduation ceremony at Manhattan’s American Sign Language & English Dual Language High School, formerly known as JHS 47 School for the Deaf. Fourteen deaf and six hearing graduates received diplomas from the 99-year-old school, which began admitting hearing students in 2003 to counter a drop in enrollment. Principal Martin Florsheim made the school bilingual to keep it afloat, said the report, but the change was controversial. “I had two different cultures basically clashing with each other,” said Florsheim. Today, of 210 students in the middle and high school sections, 140 are hearing.

OREGON STUDENTS DONATE BIODIESEL FUEL

High school students from the Oregon School for the Deaf last month donated 47 gallons of biodiesel fuel to the Marion-Polk Food Share, reported the Salem Statesman Journal. The students used recycled restaurant cooking oil to create the biodiesel, which the food share will use to help fuel its delivery trucks. The biodiesel project was launched four years ago by vocational instructor Greg Perinne, who wanted to provide job skills and give students a chance to perform community service.

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WEBSITE LETS YOU SEND TEXTS TO MOBILE PHONES

A new website that allows two-way text messaging from the Internet to any U.S. or Canadian mobile phone launched last month. Text4Deaf.com is powered by MobileSphere’s Joopz web texting technology and features two-way web texting, mobile chat, group broadcast, text reminders, scheduled texting, SMS forwarding and voice mail greeting. The free basic service allows up to 10 messages to be sent each month; premium service costs $2.95 per month (or $19.95 per year) and allows unlimited text messages to be sent while providing access to all Text4Deaf features.

$100,000 GRANT AWARDED TO PROMOTE CUED SPEECH

The Ronald and Mary Ann Lachman Foundation has awarded a $100,000 five-year grant to Illinois State University to promote Cued Speech. The university’s Department of Special Education will use the grant to bring Cued Speech teachers, users and transliterators to campus and provide financial support to students who pursue additional training in the subject. Cued Speech uses hand shapes and positions around the lips to denote speech sounds that look alike to lip readers. The Lachman’s deaf son, Ben, was taught with Cued Speech at a Montesorri school; he went on to graduate from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and is now a Chicago real estate developer.

MINNESOTA MAN STARTS MASSAGE BUSINESS

The St. Cloud (Minn.) Times last week profiled Nik Dillman, a deaf entrepreneur who in January opened Silent Hands Massage Therapy. Dillman, a graduate of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault, tried other careers before enrolling in Sister Rosalind Schools & Clinics of Massage in 2003, using interpreters to master the work. After completing his certification, Dillman worked for an area spa before grabbing an opportunity to lease a massage office property last year. “I believe my massage was a gift ... something that I was meant to do,” he said.

DEAF ENGINEER FEATURED IN NEW BOOK

Ruben Martinez of Whittier, Calif., a deaf Vietnam War veteran and logistics engineer for Northrop Grumman Corporation, is among 12 engineers featured in the new book, “¡Ay Mijo! Why do you want to be an engineer?” Written by Edna Campos Gravenhorst and targeted to teens, the book profiles 12 Hispanic men "who overcame challenges to become successful engineers today,” said a news release. A portion of each book sale will go toward a scholarship program at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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CONSUMER GROUP SENDS LETTERS TO FOUR STORES

An advocacy group has sent letters to Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart and Sears about the “major frustrations” deaf consumers experience when buying a high-definition TV. Stores use an non-captioned master DVD on their display TVs, said a news release, and salespeople often do not know how to access the captioning through antenna, cable or satellite systems. Denied the opportunity to compare the captions in the store, consumers must take a chance and later may encounter restocking fees if they return the TV. The letter was sent by the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN), a group of 16 national consumer and professional organizations.

DEAF, AUTISTIC MICHIGAN BOY CALLED ‘MUSIC PRODIGY’

The Flint (Mich.) Journal called Quinn Swor a “music prodigy” in a report last Monday. Quinn, a Fenton Township resident whose age was not given, was born with his skull fused and no room for his brain to grow. Following an operation at 10 months old, he was found to be deaf and autistic. Quinn is now a part of the music therapy program at the Linden Academy of Dance & Music, which was started by Jody Wilfong last September. “He really clicks with Jody because she is a very positive person,” said his mother, Shannon Swor. “He has a feeling of pride now,” said his father, Bill Swor. Quinn can’t hear the sounds he is making, said the report, but “he can feel the music.”

ARTIST UNVEILS VIDEO PIECE IN BALTIMORE

Deaf artist Joseph Grigely’s new video installation at Baltimore’s Contemporary Museum was reviewed in last Saturday’s Washington Post. Grigely’s piece, titled “St. Cecilia” after the patron saint of music, consists of two screens, side by side, that show the Baltimore Choral Arts Society singing in a church. Viewers hear the correct lyrics when they stand in front of one screen, but in front of the other they hear a lip reader’s interpretation. Thus, Silent Night’s “sleep in heavenly peace” becomes “tell me everything please.” Even a Christmas song “can underline the rift between [society’s] hearing majority and the deaf minority,” wrote the reviewer.

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SPORTS
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MARYLAND WRESTLER AIMS TO COMPETE IN OLYMPICS

Maryland School for the Deaf wrestler Mark Cross hopes one day to take part in the Olympics and plans to begin his journey this weekend when he competes against the top young wrestlers in the country at the Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D. “This will help me get experience and develop my skills,” the 16-year-old told the Frederick News-Post. Middletown High School wrestling coach Jim Schartner, head coach of the Maryland team that will compete at Fargo and former MSD coach for 18 years, feels Cross has the ability to reach his goals. “Right now he’s a diamond in the rough,” said Schartner.

OHIO SWIMMER TO COMPETE IN TAIWAN

Kristoffer Lauderbaugh will represent the United States at the World Deaf Swimming Championships August 9-18 in Taipei, Taiwan, racing against the world’s best deaf swimmers. The 19-year-old from Concord Township, Ohio swam on his varsity high school team and is on the swim team at Gallaudet University, reported the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Lauderbaugh, training at home for the summer, gets emails with daily goals from his coach, Bill Snape, and swims about four hours every day. He hopes to work at NASA, but if that doesn’t work out he would like to teach at Gallaudet “and maybe even coach the swim team there.”

USA DEAF SPORTS FEDERATION REVEALS AWARDEES

The USA Deaf Sports Federation announced its 2006 award winners last month. The Art Kruger Award for leadership and longtime participation went to Shirley H. Platt, who “has not stopped giving her time” since she joined the organization in the 1980s. The President Award for outstanding service was given to Nathaniel Robin Horwitz, who staged the successful 2006 World Deaf Cycling Championships in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Executive Board Award for significant contributions went to Sorenson Communications, which provided funding and manpower for the recent Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. And the Jerald M. Jordan Award, given for leadership and participation in the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, was given to Albert Dwight Benedict, CEO and chair of the 2007 Winter Deaflympics Games Organizing Committee.

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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) and reach nearly 7,000 Deafweekly subscribers. Our website gets an additional 3,000+ page views each week. Start spreading the news! To place your ad, send the announcement to mail@deafweekly.com.

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LEXINGTON CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
Lexington School for the Deaf / Center for the Deaf
30th Avenue and 75th Street, Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370

POSITION AVAILABLE

Overview:
The Lexington Center for Mental Health Services, NYC, NYS certified outpatient clinic, provides mental health and social services to deaf and hard-of-hearing people in a linguistically and culturally accessible manner recognizing the importance of utilizing every means of communication. Excellent opportunity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Therapists/clinicians serve individuals from children to adults from crisis intervention to ongoing treatment. Individual, family, group and couple counseling, psychotherapy and case management services are provided.

Qualifications:
- (L)MSW, (L)CSW or MA in psychology or counseling
- American Sign Language fluency

Responsibilities:
- Behavioral health treatment for a wide range of Deaf and hard-of-hearing adults and children (individual, family, group)
- Intake evaluations, including psychosocial and mental status assessments.
- Record keeping
- Discharge planning
- Inter-agency coordination

This position is full-time and benefits eligible.

For Information: Please send resume as a Word attachment to jobopportunities@lexnyc.org
and to apply: or fax to (718) 350-3332. Please enter MH Therapist in the Subject line.

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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION: Coordinator, Signs for All Program (SFA)
(40-hour week, 12-month position)

DATE POSITION TO BE FILLED: As soon as possible

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Coordinator will assume and perform duties and responsibilities related to the provision, management, and evaluation of American Sign Language (ASL) classes and services throughout the greater Rochester area. The Coordinator will manage a virtual staff of ASL teachers and sign language evaluation interviewers and raters.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's Degree
Eligibility for appropriate New York State ASL teacher certification
One to three years of successful teaching experience
Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks, planning, and organizational needs
Effective written, verbal, interpersonal, and computer skills
Advanced Plus to Superior Plus Rating on SCPI

FILE APPLICATION WITH:
Harold Mowl, Jr., Superintendent/CEO
Rochester School for the Deaf
1545 St. Paul Street
Rochester, New York 14621

Applications received will be screened and the most highly qualified will be asked to interview.

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

RSD is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of non-qualifying disability, race, religion, color, sex, marital status, age, national origin, and veteran status.

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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION: Teacher, Mathematics

DATE POSITION TO BE FILLED: September 1, 2007

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Teach a variety of courses to Deaf students. Primary focus is in the area of High School Mathematics. Participate in weekly team meetings with other staff members to plan programs, behavior management techniques, and strategies for student success. Follow required NYS curriculum standards and prepare students for required NYS assessment tests. Write and implement student IEPs.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Education of the Deaf or Mathematics. New York State certification as a Mathematics teacher or the ability to obtain same. Previous experience working with Deaf students and classroom integration of technology. Advanced Rating on the SCPI.

FILE APPLICATION WITH:
Harold Mowl, Jr., Superintendent/CEO
Rochester School for the Deaf
1545 St. Paul Street
Rochester, New York 14621
www.rsdeaf.org

Applications received will be screened and the most highly qualified will be asked to interview.

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

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Clinical Director of Deaf Services

Excellent opportunity to oversee clinical services provided by highly professional multidisciplinary team, strongly rooted in the Deaf community.

FEGS is one of the largest health and human services organizations in the county with a budget in excess of $250 million, and staff of 3,500+ individuals providing diverse services throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Clinical Director will oversee services provided to Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and Deaf-blind clients served in the FEGS/NYSD Mental Health Clinic, OASAS (Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services) Clinic, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Case Management programs. In addition, the Clinical Director develops and initiates new services as required, and advocates for the needs of Deaf consumers on all governmental and community service levels.
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Qualifying credentials include Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related Human Service field. Licensure and certification preferred. Requires 5 years of direct post-Master’s clinical and administrative experience treating Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, including 3 years of related supervisory experience. Fluency in American Sign Language required.

Position is located in lower Manhattan (West Village area) and is accessible by public transportation. Highly competitive salary and generous benefits.

Send resume to our HR Consultants: HR Dynamics, Inc. (Dept. EK/ASL), 345 Hudson Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10014. E-mail: ekatz@hr-dynamics.com EOE

Visit our website: www.fegs.org

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JOB OPENING
TRS OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Staffed in Baltimore, MD

Hamilton Relay Services Division in Maryland currently has a full time position open for “TRS Outreach Coordinator”.

This position will be staffed in Baltimore, MD.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability.

Position summary: Position is responsible for providing and gathering information which will help improve the quality of the relay service and the number of customers served by Maryland Relay. Individual will devote 100% of their time to Maryland Relay specific business and will be required to travel throughout the state of Maryland as needed.

Applicants with the ability to communicate through the use of American Sign Language are preferred. An Associate or Bachelor's Degree or comparable work experience along with a minimum of three years public relations experience is preferred. Strong written, analytical and interpersonal skills as well as a driver's license and ability to travel alone are required. Direct work experience with a Telecommunications Relay Service is also preferred. Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are encouraged to apply.

Interested individuals may send all inquiries and/or resumes to www.hamilton.net/employment.html to the attention of Cindy Blase in Human Resource Department by July 25, 2007.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do 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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Sign Language
New York Society for the Deaf Services

Job Description:

Assistant Residence Manager will assist the Residence Manager in supervising staff and overseeing daily operations of residential facility for emotionally disabled and deaf individuals. Acts as the first line Supervisor in the absence of senior manager to ensures the safe operation of the facility and maximize the functioning of emotionally disabled adults in order to prevent hospitalization . Responsible for coordinating staff schedules to ensure adequate coverage at all times consistent with budgetary constraints. Provides case management services and functions as part of the inter-disciplinary team.

Skills and/or Experience Required:

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology or related human service field from an accredited college or university. An equivalent combination of education and experience and experience will be considered in lieu of degree.

A minimum of 2 years experience in social service setting, preferably related to homelessness, and in a residential facility.

Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Fluency in American Sign Language required.

To Apply:

To apply for this position, please visit our FEGS Career page at http://www.fegs.org/careers or go to http://www.fegs.org/ and click on Career Services and enter PO3631 or the title Assistant Residence Manager in the Text Search field.

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Teaching Positions Available
The Charter School at National Deaf Academy
Mount Dora, FL

* Elementary/Middle School (all subjects)
* K-12 Physical Education
* K-12 Special Needs/Autism

Qualifications:
* Degree in Deaf Education. Content area degree a plus
* Proficiency in American Sign Language
* Willingness to become highly qualified

Closing Date for applications: July 1, 2007

Send letter of interest, resume, official transcripts and 3 letters of reference to:

Rebecca Hilding, Director
The Charter School at National Deaf Academy
19650 US Highway 441
Mount Dora, FL 32757

352-385-3019

For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.csnda.com

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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.

- Regional Director - Riverside
- Director of LIFESIGNS - Los Angeles
- Community Interpreter 1 - Riverside
- Community Interpreter 2 (3 positions open) - Riverside
- Placement Coordinator - Crenshaw
- Lead Dispatcher - Los Angeles
- Hard of Hearing Specialist - Riverside
- Hard of Hearing Specialist (Temporary) - Los Angeles
- Community Advocate (Part-time) - Riverside
- Community Health Educator - 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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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Product Manager, Relay Services
Location: Hackensack, NJ

This position is responsible for managing the company’s product portfolio of new and existing Internet-based relay products, services, features and platforms, in timely response to customer, market, competitive, and operational requirements.

This position includes the following responsibilities: (i) manage new and existing relay product/service offerings for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers; (ii) drive product/service development/management process within the company and with outside vendors, producing and iterating specifications throughout; (iii) develop and implement customer research and cultivate first-hand understanding of customers; (iv) monitor product/service performance and drive product/service lifecycle changes as required; (v) participate in development and management of overall customer communications strategy and customer/trade promotion strategy; (vi) develop pricing/offers and pursue initiatives for new business development. This position reports to the Vice President of Product Management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Technical or marketing degree with 4-6 years of product management experience; telecommunications or hearing/speech industry experience desirable
Ideal candidate must enjoy technology and its use in building bridges among the Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing communities
PC literate for analyses and forecasts/budgets
Able to juggle multiple projects & changing priorities with enthusiasm; be able to give clear direction to ensure deadlines are met and quality results are achieved
Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
Attention to detail and accuracy
Work with minimal supervision to coordinate activities with internal departmental staff and contractors
Knowledge of or interest in people with hearing loss; American Sign Language conversational abilities very desirable, or willingness to learn required
Ability to travel, especially on weekends, required

Application deadline: Until filled

Please submit your resume or application to: hr@goamerica.com

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Product Manager, Hard of Hearing Products & Services
Location: Hackensack, NJ

This position is responsible for managing the company’s portfolio of new and existing products and services geared to, but not limited to, the Hard of Hearing market (e.g., hearing-aid compatible mobile phones, Internet-based captioned telephone service, voice carry over services), in timely response to customer, market, competitive, and operational requirements.

This position includes the following responsibilities: (i) develop, recommend, and implement strategic/tactical product/service offerings primarily targeting (but not limited to) the Hard of Hearing Market; (ii) manage new and existing product/service offerings for hard-of-hearing customers; (iii) drive Hard of Hearing product/service development/management process within the company and with outside vendors, producing and iterating specifications throughout; (iv) develop and implement customer research and cultivate first-hand understanding of customers; (v) monitor Hard of Hearing product/service performance and drive product/service lifecycle changes as required; (vi) participate in development and management of overall customer communications strategy and customer/trade promotion strategy; (vii) develop pricing/offers and pursue initiatives for new business development. This position reports to the Vice President of Product Management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Application deadline: Until filled

Please submit your resume or application to: hr@goamerica.com

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INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS NEEDED

Position: i711 Relay Specialist
Location: Hackensack, NJ

We are seeking independent contractors to help drive i711 relay services revenue by assisting customers with installing required hardware and/or software and by providing remote and/or onsite customer training to ensure positive, sustained, and increasing customer usage of i711 relay services.

i711 Relay Specialists have the following responsibilities, among others: (1) complete an assigned number of remote installations of i711 VRS per month; (2) review and approve customer applications for webcams, and conduct follow up interactions with customers until installation and usage is confirmed; (3) provide technical assistance to customers requiring help in setting up webcams, updating their videophone directories, and placing VRS calls; (4) participate in trade shows and community events, with an emphasis on qualifying prospects, capturing installation leads, and arranging for fulfillment; (5) provide remote and/or onsite customer education and training on using i711 relay services; and (6) provide, on an escalation basis, second-tier customer support and/or technical assistance to relay users, in collaboration with the Customer Support team.

QUALIFICATIONS:

4-year college degree or equivalent experience in a sales-, technical-, or community-related field
Self-starter with firsthand experience and knowledge of what it takes to “sell” relay services in a highly-competitive marketplace
Able to work effectively both in a team environment and independently, with minimal supervision
Demonstrates strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation/teaching skills
Able to multi-task effectively in a fast paced environment, with strong follow-through on a wide variety of details
Demonstrates strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Able to travel to and from customer premises by private car and/or public transit
Able to work on a flexible schedule in order to meet sales and customer needs (some weekend and evening work time required)
Able to read and write large volumes of email and instant messages (IM)
Knowledge of or interest in people with hearing loss and communication challenges
Conversational fluency in American Sign Language (ASL)
3 years experience with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office applications, and with using the Internet
Troubleshooting experience on PC and Macintosh; desktop support certification a plus
Technical experience with videophones, webcams, videoconferencing software, residential firewalls/routers, and wireless devices, or willingness and aptitude to learn
Experience presenting product information directly to end-user customers
Experience working in a customer service role preferred

Application deadline: Until filled

Please submit your resume or application to: hr@goamerica.com

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