Deafweekly August 22, 2007

deafweekly

August 22, 2007
Vol. 3 No. 23

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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PROFESSOR, ACTIVIST FRANK BOWE DIES OF CANCER AT 60

Frank Bowe, 60, a longtime advocate for the rights of disabled Americans, died August 21 of cancer. Mr. Bowe was remembered in Newsday as a celebrated professor and activist who helped direct a 1977 sit-in that led to passage of Section 504, a pioneering civil rights law. He continued to keep pressure on lawmakers as a consultant to Congress for more than 20 years. He was a professor at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., where he trained special education teachers for 16 years. Mr. Bowe, who was deaf, encouraged everyone to look beyond his disability to see the person, said his wife, Phyllis Bowe. It was a message he passed on to their two daughters, she said. “They learned a lesson in the house on seeing beyond what people are.”

CHICAGO TEACHER DIES OF INJURIES FROM CAR CRASH

Tammy Lynn Moote, a teacher of the deaf from Chicago, died August 10 of injuries from a car accident while vacationing at her childhood vacation home in Canada. Ms. Moote, 35, struggled with hearing loss while growing up said the Chicago Tribune, and moved in her 20s from Fonthill, Ontario, to Chicago, where she earned a degree and taught in the Holy Trinity Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Children of Peace Catholic Grade School. She worked part-time as a Wal-Mart cashier to help pay for college and was president of a club for the deaf at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. “The word ‘quit’ just wasn’t in Tammy’s vocabulary,” said her father, Larry.

BOMB THREATS SEND MAN BACK TO PRISON

A deaf Illinois man was ordered back to prison August 20 for violating his parole in a case involving a 2004 bomb threat in Washington, D.C. America Yegile Haileselassie, 29, was accused of making 35 threatening or harassing TTY calls to the Bettendorf Police Department since July 4, said Quad-Cities Online. Haileselassie’s psychologist, Dr. William Nissen, testified that his client meant no harm and only wanted attention. Judge John Jarvey revoked Haileselassie’s parole and ordered him to serve two years in federal prison. Jarvey said the Bureau of Prisons would decide if Haileselassie is put in a mental health facility or a regular prison.

HOUSING COMMUNITY PLANNED IN TEMPE, ARIZONA

A $25 million housing community for deaf seniors in Tempe, Ariz. would be among the largest of its kind in the country, said The Arizona Republic. The development, called Apache ASL Trails, would offer 75 apartments and 50 condos for people 55 and older. Architects would work to eliminate sight barriers and add strobe lights and other technical devices worth about $8,000 to each unit, said an official. The Tempe City Council still needs to approve the project, which already has $150,000 in seed money from the Arizona Community Foundation. Project managers hope the first residents will move in as early as spring 2009.

JUDGE DOUBLES PAY FOR INTERPRETER FORCED TO WORK ALONE

A New York City judge awarded a sign language interpreter twice his daily pay rate “to spotlight the disturbing lack of skilled ASL interpreters in the courts,” said The New York Times. Judge Charles J. Markey of State Supreme Court in Queens gave interpreter Gabriel Grayson the higher rate after Grayson interpreted alone at a six-day trial because officials could not find anyone to relieve him. Markey explained his action in a 13-page memo that noted the long wait and costly fees for a court interpreter to be certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The $250 daily pay rate is not competitive, he said, and in one state 65 percent of court interpreting requests went unfilled. No one objected to awarding Grayson the higher rate.

MICHIGAN SCHOOL REJECTS ASL AS FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The University of Michigan-Flint has rejected a student’s request to allow American Sign Language to fulfill her foreign language requirement. Jill Maxwell, 30, can hear but she grew up with about 25 deaf relatives and plans a career in deaf education, said The Flint Journal (where the article is no longer available). UM-Flint’s Academic Standards Committee denied her request, saying the school’s Department of Foreign Language does not consider ASL “foreign.” Maxwell ended up taking French but continues to gather signatures on a petition. “I don’t think the visual language is getting the same respect as hearing languages,” she said. “It’s insulting.”

APPEALS COURT FINDS IN FAVOR OF DEAF WOMAN

An appeals court in McAllen, Texas has ruled in favor of a deaf woman in what some lawyers are calling a landmark decision. According to KRGV-TV in Weslaco, the 13th Court of Appeals ruled that the unidentified woman’s rights were violated because no interpreter was provided during a traffic stop, arrest and conviction for driving under the influence. The woman, who does not speak English or understand American Sign Language, saw her conviction overturned. Several other people are treated the same way, said civil rights lawyer Abner Burnett, but the recent ruling “should change things.”

TWO ARRESTED AFTER ARGUMENT DURING TRAFFIC STOP

An August 14 traffic stop involving a deaf driver and a self-appointed interpreter made the news in Rochester, N.Y. According to RNews, police stopped a deaf driver for running a stop light and then a second man stopped his own car after recognizing the deaf driver. The second man, who knew sign language and interpreted, was arrested for obstructing governmental administration after an argument broke out. The deaf man was charged with the same offense and also ticketed for failing to stop at the stop sign.

STILL NO RESOLUTION TO REDSKINS CAPTIONING SUIT

It’s been a year since three Washington Redskins fans filed a lawsuit to get FedEx Field to offer closed-captioning, said The Washington Post, and with another season set to begin, the two sides continue to battle. “We were not able to resolve all of the access issues,” said Marc Charmatz of the National Association of the Deaf’s Law and Advocacy Center, which represented the fans. “We expect to proceed with the litigation.” Putting captions on the JumboTron “is just not feasible,” said Redskins spokesman Karl Swanson, but team attorney David Donovan.says the team has hired a stenographer, set up hundreds of monitors and “gone above and beyond” to accommodate deaf fans. “At this point, we are scratching our heads,” he said.

FLORIDA SCHOOL CHIEF MAKES RETIREMENT PLANS

The president of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind announced August 15 that he plans to retire in January. “I want to take it easy and enjoy life,” said Elmer Dillingham, 62, who said he’s “been doing this for 40 years.” According to the St. Augustine Record, Dillingham plans to play some golf, do some reading and remain in the area. “I received the news with regret,” said Mary Jane Dillon, Board of Trustees chair. “Elmer is a dedicated professional.” Dillingham’s departure follows a state Auditor General’s report stating that the school mismanaged millions of dollars between 2002 and 2006.

POLICE TRY TO TRACE PRANK RELAY CALL

A prankster used the deaf relay service to report that someone was shot in San Diego August 9, said the Union-Tribune. About two dozen police officers, a helicopter crew and dog handlers responded to the call and spent almost an hour at a San Carlos neighborhood home making sure it was a false report. A 12-year-old boy at the house said he had been a victim of pranks by classmates who have ordered pizzas and taxis to his home. San Diego police are trying to trace the call, which was made through Internet relay, and may try to recover costs of their wasted time.

VERMONT BAR OWNER SUES POLICE OVER ARREST

A deaf bar owner in Vermont has filed a federal lawsuit against the Village of Bellows Falls, its police department and former police chief, and the Vermont State Police. Wayne Ryan, owner of Nick’s, says police retaliated against him for publicly criticizing them, said the Barre Montpelier Times Argus. The suit stems from a June incident in which a state trooper and local officer, working undercover, attempted to enter the bar to check for underage drinkers. Ryan refused to admit the trooper because he did not have an ID. The officer’s superior came and told Ryan he would close the bar if the trooper was not admitted. Ryan agreed, but five days later the police returned and arrested him for impeding a public officer. The arrest, which a judge threw out in May, “was made to intimidate and cause fear,” said the lawsuit. Ryan’s suit also claims that the officers failed to accommodate his two disabilities - deafness and a prosthetic leg.

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Attention: Film Lovers!

There is Show Me Deaf Film Festival in St. Louis, Missouri on September 27 - 30 2007. See the vlog about it. Go to http://deafadvocate.blogspot.com/. It is at our new clubhouse. Order Tickets Now! Limited Seating. Take advantage of special prices! Go to http://www.deafimages.tv for updates and list of movies. Get a free SMDFF poster from there! Gary Brooks is the keynote speaker. Keith Wann will perform on Saturday, September 29th. There are more than 30 films (shorts and features) to watch during the weekend. Come for fun and social! Any inquiries, email at SMDFF@deafimages.tv.

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INTERNATIONAL
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FILM ON SCOTTISH CYCLIST IN THE WORKS

The Scotsman reported August 19 that filmmaker Matt Hulse is set to direct “Dummy Jim,” a £800,000 ($1.6 million) project based on the life of a deaf man who rode his bicycle from Scotland to the Arctic Circle. Hulse learned about James Duthie through the factory worker’s 1951 journal, “I Cycled Into The Arctic Circle,” which Hulse’s mother found in a second-hand shop. Duthie’s trip covered about 3,000 miles through France, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. He died 15 years later in a traffic accident on a European tour. Six years ago, with help from a £30,000 ($60,000) Creative Scotland Award, Hulse traveled in Duthie’s footsteps. Said Hulse, “I’m particularly impressed when extreme effort has been made ... for no particular reason at all.”

FUNDING PULLED FOR ‘NAKED SIGNING NEWS’

The Japanese government has cut off the funding for a news show featuring naked broadcasters using sign language, said the South African Star. Japans’s Communications Ministry, under a storm of criticism, ended funding for Hadaka no Shuwa Nyusu (Naked Signing News) after earlier approving 400,000 yen ($3,450). Producer Paradise Television Inc. said the show would go on, bringing applause from the Tokyo Federation of the Deaf. Said Director Daisuke Ochi: “People with hearing impairment of course also have sexual desires.”

WOMAN APPEALS DISMISSAL OF CASE ALLEGING ABUSE

A deaf Canadian woman and her mother filed an appeal August 17 in Nova Scotia Supreme Court after their lawsuit alleging abuse at a now-defunct school for the deaf was dismissed. Jennifer Ann Cooper, 33, and her mother, Jane Suttis, claimed Cooper was physically and sexually abused at the Amherst School for the Deaf from 1979 to 1984 and were suing for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty, said the Halifax Chronicle Herald. Justice Gregory Warner dismissed the case July 10, saying there was no evidence that the school covered up allegations of abuse. At the same time, he said his ruling didn’t mean the woman wasn’t abused and he encouraged her to file an appeal.

MALAYSIAN WOMAN NOMINATED FOR AWARD

Jessica Mak Wei-E, a “smiling and bubbly 30-year-old [who] brims with confidence,” was featured in The New Straits Times as the eighth nominee for the 2007 AYA Dream Malaysia Most Outstanding Youth of the Year Award. Mak grew up in a traditional family with parents who refused to believe that she was deaf. “My parents kept sending me to the hospital, seeking second opinions and hoping for a cure,” she said. Finally, a brother was born who was also deaf, and her parents realized deafness was in the family genes. They sent her to a school for the deaf in Kuala Lumpur, where, for the first time, she met other deaf people. “I was so happy,” she said. Today she runs YMCA’s Deaf Work, which provides learning programs for deaf people and their families.

FIJI MAN PASSES DRIVING TEST

“Deaf man obtains license,” was the headline in the August 18th Fiji Times, on a story about a 30-year-old man who became the first deaf person in the Northern Division to successfully pass his driving test. Shiu Karan’s achievement has left authorities “baffled ... and still trying to understand how a deaf man manages to change gear on time.” Examiner Rakesh Jattan was amazed, since “drivers usually change gears by hearing the sound of the engine.” Karan only nodded when asked if he was happy to have a license, and driving instructor Shakuntla Singh, a teacher at the Labasa Handicapped School, said, “We are just so proud of him.”

SOUTH AFRICAN TEEN GETS STRANDED ON TRAIN RIDE

A 15-year-old deaf boy in South Africa has been stranded for two weeks because he can’t give police his family’s correct contact details, said Independent Online. Karabo Freedom Malope got on a train in Germiston in late July and ended up in Grahamston, where he was found holding a ticket to Port Elizabeth. The ticket was purchased by someone named Sibongile Bala, but Karabo couldn’t explain who she was. He gave phone numbers and addresses for various family members, but they turned out to be wrong. He also said he lived on Bethe Street in Tembisa, but police couldn’t find the house.

DEAF IN INDIA DECRY GOVERNMENT HIRING

The Assam Association of the Deaf in India complained August 21 that deaf people were short-changed when the government was handing out jobs. According to the association, only 32 posts were given to deaf candidates in a recent Education Department recruitment drive, while 103 blind and 166 physically handicapped candidates were successful. “The deaf have been subjected to a raw deal,” Tapan Kumar Sarma, the AAD’s general secretary, told the Assam Tribune. Sarma said the Persons with Disabilities Act requires equal opportunity and thus 100 of the 301 available posts should have been given to deaf candidates. The association, he said, “would not take such blatant injustice lying down.”

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY PROMOTES HAPPY MONDAYS EVENT

The National Children’s Deaf Society is getting promotional help for its Happy Mondays event from creative agency Feel. According to London’s Brand Republic, the September 10 event asks businesses around the country to have a fun day at work. More than 250 offices have already signed up, just one week after Feel sent out 33,000 direct mailings. Participants receive a kit with posters and stickers, and organizers encourage such activities as “a kid’s style party for the workers, party balloons, jokes and general silliness.” Said NCDS worker Niki Michael: “We are very excited about Happy Mondays as it’s a new way of raising awareness for our cause.”

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LIFE & LEISURE
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MISS AMERICA’S HEARING AIDS GET ATTENTION

Miss America 2005 Deidre Downs attended a Children’s Hospital-sponsored picnic in Cincinnati August 12, where she let children try on her crown and impressed attendees with her hearing aids. Some parents noted how inconspicuous the devices were, said The Enquirer, while others told their children that Miss America wears hearing aids just like them. “Her hearing aids are cool,” said Wini Robertson, 12. Downs, 27, lost some hearing in infancy and relies on the aids to follow conversations. She is now a medical student at the University of Alabama and travels the country as a paid spokesperson for hearing aid company ReSound.

FOUR GROUPS JOIN FORCES FOR ANNUAL PICNIC

Hundreds of children and adults gathered in a Darien, Wisc. park August 18, said the Janesville Gazette, yet the pavilion was “peaceful and nearly silent.” Four deaf associations joined forces for the second annual picnic, which drew close to 1,000 people from all over the country. Event chairman Dean Kelly pointed out that the word “deaf” was not on the event banner: “Picnic. That’s all it says. Everyone and anyone’s invited.” Kelly said he hopes more hearing people will participate and commended those who attended this year’s event. “They’re brave enough to come here and try to learn a new language,” he said.

CONTEST ASKS HOW BROADBAND HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE

“Broadband Changed My Life” is the theme of a contest sponsored by the Alliance for Public Technology. Top finalists will receive prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250. Did you use Video Relay Service to find a great job? Are you a disabled business owner who uses high-speed Internet to make money or get off public support? The APT wants to hear your story, and maybe you will make some money as a result. Go to www.apt.org to learn more.

BLIND-DEAF CAT, DOG MAKE HEADLINES

It’s been a busy time for deaf-blind animal news. In Big Flats, N.Y., someone left a 1-year-old blind and deaf cat in the parking lot of an SPCA animal shelter. Cathy Allison, a teacher of blind and deaf students, was asked to take the cat in. She told the Star-Gazette that she hopes the owners will get in touch with more information about the cat. And in Rye, N.H., a 15-year-old deaf and blind Husky mix named Fulton was found in the woods 24 hours after he wandered away during a walk. Volunteers joined in the search, said Seacoast Online, but it was Zamboni, the family’s 1-year-old Collie Mix, who sniffed out Fulton just before dark August 14.

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WORKING WORLD
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MAINE STUDENT TO INTERN AT DISNEY WORLD

Thomas College (Waterville, Maine) junior Ashley Pooler will be one of 7,000 to 8,000 students in this year’s annual Walt Disney World College Program. The 20-year-old business major will get experience, a paycheck and college credit during a five-month internship, said the Morning Sentinel. The “once-deaf girl” grew up with cued speech, using hand shapes near the mouth to represent sounds, and at 13 she received a cochlear implant. On her first journey outside, “she collapsed in New York City in the street,” said mom Paula Pooler. But ultimately, said the Journal, “the world started opening up for Ashley.” Today she plays soccer for her school and had all A’s last semester. “Her growth is unbelievable,” said former high school teacher Jeff Wickman.

BLAPNET.COM OFFERS MEETING PLACE FOR INTERPRETERS

Sign language interpreters who are looking for a place to gather on the Internet may want to check out BlapNET.com. The website “is the coming together of sign language interpreters to blog about their experience, post and review articles, participate in discussion groups and remain current on industry trends and events,” said a BlapNet.com announcement. The website is sponsored by Visual Language Interpreting (VLI) of Washington, D.C.

BEST BUY BOOSTS SERVICE FOR DEAF CUSTOMERS

Best Buy in Frederick, Md. is reaching out to its deaf customers thanks to the efforts of Assistant Manager Kathryn Cannon. According to the Frederick News-Post, Cannon learned basic sign language as an elementary student and still remembered some signs and fingerspelling when she got a job at Best Buy in 2000. Cannon suggested to managers that the store’s nationwide customer database include American Sign Language as a preferred language and add videophone and text relay services to methods of contact. Five people at the Frederick store know how to sign, so Cannon created a schedule so they can serve as shopping assistants for deaf customers. When signers aren’t working, deaf customers can trade text messages on a computer with workers at the customer service desk.

DEAF PHOTOGRAPHER, BLIND EDITOR TEAM UP ON NEWS

Editor and Publisher profiled a pair of coworkers at the Lancaster (Pa.) New Era who have “overcome the odds together.” Staff photographer Andy Blackburn, who is deaf, and Managing Editor Pete Mekeel, who is legally blind, say it is more important to have good instincts and quick responses than to have perfect hearing and vision. Blackburn attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (Rochester, N.Y.) and earned a degree in 1994 from Gallaudet University but did not land a photography job until 1999, with the Rutland (Vt.) Herald. A year later, he moved to Lancaster and began freelancing for the New Era, where he accepted a full-time post in 2006. Mekeel jokes that when he and Blackburn interact, “It can get like a really bad sitcom.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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SAN FRANCISCO LIBRARY TO HOST DEAF ART SHOW

Orkid Sassouni is curating an art exhibit representing deaf photographers this fall at the San Francisco Public Library’s Deaf Services Center. Film and digital photographers are invited to submit their work, from 8 x 10 inches to 20 x 24 inches, mounted on thick paper or framed in Plexiglas. The theme is “Our Views: Inside the Deaf World” and the show will run from early October to late November. September 22 is the deadline, and you can write to osassouni@sfpl.org for more information.

DOCUMENTARY RELEASED ON DEAF-BLIND TRIPLETS

Global Universal Film Group has released the film “Through Your Eyes,” which a news article says “chronicles the only known Deaf and Blind Triplets in the world.” According to the film’s website, Sophie, Zoe and Emma Dunn were born premature at 25 weeks and became blind as a result of complications. They completely lost their hearing from antibiotics, and it has taken them three years to recover and begin walking again. “Prepare to be inspired as these present day Helen Keller’s rise to national exposure just when all hope seems to be lost,” said the website. Another website, www.notbysightfund.org, has been set up to raise money to pay for teachers and help the girls “unlock their minds.”

GALLAUDET KICKS OFF ANNUAL ESSAY, ART, ASL CONTEST

“Yes, I Can!” is the theme of this year’s Gallaudet National Essay, Art, and ASL Contest. Deaf and hard-of-hearing students 9-19 years old are eligible for the contest, which offers prizes that include scholarships, cash awards, books and certificates of merit. Art entries will be displayed on the Gallaudet University campus and on the Clerc Center website. Winning work will also be recognized in “Celebrate!”, an annual showcase of student work. The entry deadline is February 7, 2008 and more information may be found here.

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America's funniest ASL comedian!

You have seen him all over the internet with short clips featuring - Ice Ice Baby, VRS comedy, Deaf Driver, and the most popular "Deaf Technology Ruined Pizza Night"...and now you can own the full 80 minute DVD. Keith Wann performs "Watching Two Worlds Collide" with a voice interpreter for deaf-impaired. Own this DVD and share the laughter with your Deaf and Hearing family and friends. Paypal payments through the website http://www.keithwann.com/ and also sign up for the newsletter. Email Keith@KeithWann.com for more information and performing requests. To see more clips www.myspace.com/keithwann. Future show dates - 9/15 Salt Lake City, 9/22 Kansas, Missouri and 9/29 St Louis Deaf Film Festival.

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SPORTS
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RECORDS FALL AS WORLD’S DEAF SWIMMERS COMPETE

Six deaf world records were broken at the 2007 World Deaf Swimming Championships last week in Taipei, Taiwan, said Swimming World Magazine. Ukraine’s Ganna Lytvynenko broke the record in the women’s 50 and 100 free and Belarus’ Natalia Deeva did the same in the women’s 50 breast and also helped Belarus teammates break the women’s 800 medley relay world record. Hometown swimmer Tseng Shu-Ning took the world record in the women’s 50 back, and a Russian quartet set a new world record in the women’s 400 free relay. Results, rankings and records can be seen here.

GALLAUDET UPGRADES ATHLETICS WEBSITE

Gallaudet University’s Athletics department has a completely revamped website - www.gallaudetathletics.com - that a news release said was “designed with the deaf consumer in mind.” The upgrade was sponsored by Viable, Inc., a Rockville, Md. communications company founded in 2005 by alumnus John Yeh. The site offers rotating game photos, live statistics features and video streaming capabilities along with pictures of each player and their class status and hometown. A commentary on each player will be added at the end of each season, resulting in a comprehensive career profile. Interactive features will allow fans to weigh in on polls and give feedback on the new design. It’s all part of an effort, said Sports Information Director Oscar Ocuto, “to include people who support Gallaudet Athletics and its student-athletes as much as possible.”

GOLF RAINED OUT, BUT TOURNAMENT RAISES $10,000

Justin Osmond, nephew of singer Donnie Osmond, was on hand for the first Joe Duffy Hearing Awareness Golf Tournament, held July 23 in Hawley, Pa. “Seven members of my family wear hearing aids,” said Osmond, 30. “Some of them were born with hearing problems and some of them lost their hearing from loud music.” The tournament was organized by Phil Comfort, president of three local Audibel Hearing Care Centers, and named for Joe Duffy, 26, an Audibel client. Duffy was diagnosed with bone cancer at 11 and became deaf as a result of an allergy to antibiotics and chemotherapy. Duffy wanted to organize a fundraiser, said the Stroudsburg Pocono Record, and Comforted suggested a golf tournament. Though the golf was rained out, the event still raised $10,000. Half will go to the Starkey Hearing Foundation and half will pay for hearing aids for Alicia Wilcox, a Masters in Education major at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

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Deaf Community Auction - win a trip to Australia!

Looking for amazing bargains on travel, sports memorabilia, housewares, and items made by members of the Deaf community?

Browse through a “sneak preview” of DCARA’s Community Auction to see some of the exciting items up for bid—including a football signed by Joe Montana and a trip for two to Australia and New Zealand!

More items will be added every week—sign up now to receive weekly email updates.

Bidding opens September 10th and closes October 12th.

Open to bidders nationwide—tell your friends and family! Registration open now at http://dcara.cmarket.com !

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COMING EVENTS
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TWO BIG EVENTS TO BE NOTED IN NEW JERSEY

The New Jersey School for the Deaf / Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf will celebrate two big milestones over Columbus Day weekend at the school’s Trenton campus. The October 10-12 event will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Alumni Association and the 125th anniversary of the school itself. Registration, an opening ceremony and entertainment will kick off events Friday. On Saturday, after all-day registration and events, a banquet will take place at Angeloni’s Cedar Gardens in Hamilton, N.J. (adults only). Sunday will be the Fall Festival. Hotel arrangements can be made at the Hyatt Regency Princeton, 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ. Thomas Sparks, Jr. is the event chairman and www.mksd.org is the school’s website, where more information will be available soon.

NATIONAL AQUARIUM PLANS DEAF DAY

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Md. will be celebrating Deaf Awareness Day on Saturday, September 22 from 9 to 3 p.m. Interpreters will be on hand for all scheduled programs, including sting ray and puffin exhibits and a dolphin show. For $3 discount coupons or more information, contact Justina Pollard, the Aquarium’s special needs coordinator, at jpollard@aqua.org.

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MILESTONES
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Recent news articles have reported on the passing of the following people. Please click the link to obtain more information.

SARA H. TOMLINSON, 95, was a teacher at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf from 1935 to 1941 who went back to work in 1960 to support her four children after her husband died. Described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a loyal Philadelphia sports fan, Mrs. Tomlinson died of cancer July 7 at a retirement community in Blue Bell, Pa.

LINDA VALERIE ANNALA, 59, passed away July 25 at Southwest Medical Center in Lafayette, La. A New York City native, Ms. Annala earned degrees from Gallaudet and Western Maryland College and “was an inspiring teacher, counselor, author and presenter,” said the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, where the obituary was no longer available. She founded the Louisiana Acadian Deaf-Blind Citizens in 1980, and her “tireless commitment to serving the deaf-blind community will be greatly missed.”

FRED PARKIS YATES JR., 80, who graduated from the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, Va. and went on to serve the school as an educator, coach and administrator, died August 7, said the Staunton News Leader. Mr. Yates became deaf after contracting meningitis at age 9. A year later, he had to leave his family and farm to attend VSDB, and later he attended Gallaudet College, earning a bachelor’s degree and meeting Anna Belle McClung, whom he married in 1951. Mr. Yates was a longtime advocate for VSDB who “never faced an obstacle he didn’t find a way to overcome.”

The death of TONY PAPALIA on August 17 after a short illness was announced by the California Center for Law & the Deaf, where he was an employee. Mr. Papalia was born in Utica, N.Y. and attended the New York School for the Deaf. He earned a B.A. degree from Gallaudet in 1955 and taught at Arizona and Washington Schools for the Deaf before settling in California in 1983 as executive director of NorCal in Sacramento . He was a “proud supporter of Deaf culture and community [who] loved Deaf gatherings of all kinds.”

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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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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
- Lead Dispatcher - Los Angeles
- Community Advocate - Los Angeles
- Community Advocate - Ventura
- Hard of Hearing Specialist - Riverside
- LIFESIGNS Dispatcher - Riverside
- 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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DEAF SERVICES CENTER
MILESTONES COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE, INC
614 N. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038
215-884-9770 TTY/V 215-884-9774 FAX/VP

Deaf Services Center (DSC) offers culturally competent, linguistically accessible treatment for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and in need of behavioral health services. This is an opportunity for a motivated individual to join a dedicated group of professionals who give new meaning to the term teamwork. E.O.E.

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (Full Time Position) MA, MS, MSW in field related to human services treatment and minimum of 5 years post masters experience in behavioral health treatment of Deaf individuals. Advanced ASL fluency required. Strong leadership, administrative and supervisory experience required to oversee three programs: Partial Hospital, Case Management and Outpatient Services. Strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills (both in person and in writing). Strong ability to manage and complete multiple tasks, priorities and projects. Familiarity with psychiatric treatment models and financial management. Ability to lead, teach, advise and motivate staff and consumers. Ability to establish program priorities, goals and outcome measures and conduct program evaluation and modification as necessary. Ability to develop program policies and procedures that promote consumers’ growth, independence and social relationships. Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with Deaf consumers and their family members, staff, supervisors and government, public and private entities.

Responsibilities include:

-- Regulatory Compliance -Insure compliance with the health, safety, and occupancy regulations and contract requirements of all relevant Governmental and professional accreditation entities. Assure the maintenance of DPW and other licensures as required.
-- Budget -Insures that program expenses are kept within budgetary limits. Work with Vice President/COO and other fiscal management personnel to develop yearly budgets. Work with Program Directors and Assistant Program Directors to ensure budgetary compliance.
-- Supervision -Maintain a supervisory process including both individual and group meetings of all program staff for direction, guidance and support. Communicate agency policies and procedures, client information, and all other relevant information to staff as needed.
-- Personnel -Oversee and recruit, hire and train qualified staff to provide sufficient supervision and support to meet client needs, agency standards, and contractual or regulatory requirements. Develop department/division standards in compliance with agency policies.
-- Liaison - Maintain effective working relationships with clients, officials, families and agency personnel. Insure full participation in an interagency planning process for individual clients as well as for service system development and problem solving. Provide ongoing communication with psychiatric service providers such as the psychiatrist, therapists and specialized consultants or practitioners as well as county and state governmental agencies

We are growing! Come be a part of our Professional TEAM!

Send your letter of intent and resumes to:
Linda Sivigny, Office Manager/HR
Milestones Community Healthcare, Inc. - Deaf Services Center
614 N. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038
Email: lsivigny@salisb.com or Fax: 215-884-9774

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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT:
CASE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

ORGANIZATION: Nevada Association of the Deaf (NVAD) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocacy Resource Center (DHHARC) is a statewide advocacy, resource, telecommunications distribution, and direct service center offering advocacy, referral and community education services throughout Nevada. The Headquarter is in Carson City with centers in Las Vegas and Reno.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Type of appointment: Full-Time
Location: Position available in Reno
Posting date: August 27, 2007
Closing date: September 12, 2007

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Individual will conduct advocacy activities that will ensure a higher quality of life for its clients and promote equitable access to Health/Medical, education, social, employment and legal services. Individual will also provide communication assistance/translation services as well as ensure that appropriate information pertaining to individual client’s needs are accurately met. Individual will provide accurate Identification/Assessment of individual Client’s telecommunication needs and will conduct appropriate equipment distribution tailored to the needs of the client. Will provide expertise in the field as needed. Will coordinate training/mentoring activities for general public and the client NVAD-DHHARC serves. Conducts developmental and implement program activities for DHHARC. Participate in Technology/equipment distribution responsibilities of the Center. Willingness to conduct Outreach/education responsibilities as assigned. Willingness to travel is essential as well as work evening and weekend hours when needed. Ability to work independently as well as a team is essential.

SALARY: $36,244 - $37,694 DOE, plus customary benefits.

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Knowledge of advocacy techniques
Knowledge of Civil Rights Laws
Maintain effective record keeping practices
Two years experience working with deaf and hard of hearing populations in a social service sector setting
Knowledgeable about diversity and needs within the Deaf and HOH populations
Knowledge of all telecommunication equipments, Relay systems and services
Familiar with evaluation and assessment methodologies
Familiar with (or willing to learn) Case-management practices.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s of Arts Degree Preferred, but will accept Associate of Arts Degree with 3 years of experience working with Deaf and HOH populations
Fluency in ASL

TO APPLY:
All applicants must submit a letter of interest, a resume and three letters of reference to DHHARC at: 1800 Highway 50 East Suite 205, Carson City, NV 89701

APPLICANTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00 PM ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE (September 12, 2007)

DHHARC selects applicants for employment based on job related knowledge, skills and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

For further information contact NVAD Board Chair David Daviton at 775-887-1060 V/TTY/VP.

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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT:
OFFICE AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORT SPECIALIST

TO APPLY:
All applicants must submit a letter of interest, a resume and three letters of reference to DHHARC at: 1800 Highway 50 East Suite 205, Carson City, NV 89701

APPLICANTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00 PM ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE (September 12, 2007)

DHHARC selects applicants for employment based on job related knowledge, skills and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

For further information contact NVAD Board Chair David Daviton at 775-887-1060 V/TTY/VP.

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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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