Deafweekly September 17, 2014

deafweekly

September 17, 2014
Vol. 10, No. 44

Editor: Tom Willard

Deafweekly is an independent news report for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that is mailed to subscribers on Wednesdays and available to read at www.deafweekly.com. These are the actual headlines and portions of recent deaf-related news articles, with links to the full story. Minor editing is done when necessary. Deafweekly is copyrighted 2014 and any unauthorized use is prohibited.

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NATIONAL
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Frederick, MD
MSD TEACHER MARCHES TO ALLOW THE DEAF IN THE MILITARY
A Maryland School for the Deaf teacher and member of the Frederick County Commission on Disabilities is set to lead a rally in Washington supporting legislation that could allow the deaf to serve in the military. Keith Nolan participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, but as a deaf cadet, he could not rise through the ranks of the military. Now, he is supporting bills that would permit the deaf to enlist and become Air Force officers. / The Frederick News-Post

See Also NCSD TEACHERS, STUDENTS FIGHT FOR RIGHT TO ENLIST IN AIR FORCE / WXII

Mt. Dora, FL
FBI PROBING ALLEGED ABUSE OF DEAF, AUSTISTIC KIDS
The FBI is investigating the alleged abuse and neglect of vulnerable deaf and autistic children at a residential treatment center in Florida, NBC News has learned. An exclusive NBC News investigation found that 10 different patients at NDA Behavioral Health System in Mt. Dora, Florida, also known as the National Deaf Academy, have alleged physical abuse to a government-funded advocacy group for the disabled in 2013. Three families, including the family of one of those ten patients, have filed suits alleging abuse. / NBC News

Tiffin, OH
FOSTORIA WOMAN, 32, GETS LIFE FOR FATAL FIRE
A Fostoria woman pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday to life in prison for setting a fire that killed two people and injured a third. Shey Weiker, 32, entered guilty pleas to aggravated arson, aggravated murder, murder, and attempted murder. Judge Michael Kelbley ordered her to serve a life sentence with parole eligibility after 25 years. Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine said Weiker used a flare to start a fire in the early morning of May 26 at the home of Daniel Marker, Jr., 48. Mr. Marker and Tara Vance, 44, were killed in the blaze and Dana Weatherall, 49, was injured. All three victims were hearing impaired. / Toledo Blade

Indianapolis, IN
POLICE STALLED IN SOLVING MURDER OF DEAF INDIANAPOLIS MAN
Metro homicide detectives are having a hard time talking to witnesses and friends of a murdered east side man nearly one month after his body was found. Timothy Lenges was deaf and so are most of his friends. “The challenge is with him being hearing impaired, most of his friends are hearing impaired,” said Detective Roger Feuquay, “and the deaf community is very close-knit, however, we don’t have very many interpreters on the police department that we can use.” / Fox 59

Brattleboro, VT
SUPPORTERS RALLYING TO SAVE VCDHH
The Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing closed Friday but supporters and alumni are holding out hope that there still might be time to save the historic school and deaf and hard-of-hearing support center. A group called Save Austine School will hold a rally in Montpelier on Saturday, Sept. 27. James Tucker, an Austine School alum and superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf, said the group is going to ask Gov. Peter Shumlin and legislators to have the state take over the Austine School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. / Brattleboro Reformer

Sioux Falls, SD
INJURED NORWEGIAN CYCLIST UNDERGOING REHABILITATION
Harald Vik, the deaf-and-blind Norwegian cyclist who was struck last month in Sioux Falls, continues to recover now that he is back home. Well, not home exactly. He could not return to his hometown but instead is in Kysthospitalet Stavern "where should I build myself strong again," reads a Norwegian-to-English on his Facebook page. When he first arrived, after being transported by ambulance to Minneapolis, then by plane to Norway, he admitted to being "a bit sad for a few days." His spirits have lifted since then as he realized he must be patient, Vik said. / Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Washington, DC
LAWSUIT: COURT REASSIGNED DEAF JUROR
Michelle Koplitz, a deaf District of Columbia resident, was summoned for grand jury service earlier this year. The court wouldn't let her serve, she claims, because administrators wouldn't pay for a sign-language interpreter. Koplitz says she was reassigned to petit jury service despite telling the D.C. Superior Court juror office she didn't want to switch. She filed suit in late August in Washington federal district court, alleging violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and other local and federal laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. / National Law Journal

Lockport, NY
HOMELESS AND DEAF MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SENTENCE
Louis W. Darling, 56, a homeless and deaf man facing child pornography charges in Niagara County Court on Monday was allowed to remove his handcuffs to communicate with the judge, but they went back on as he was sentenced to four years in prison and 10 years post-release supervision by Niagara County Court Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas. Darling pleaded guilty on July 7 to downloading child pornography on his laptop during a stay at the Niagara Falls YMCA between September 2012 and February 2013. / The Buffalo News

Colorado Springs, CO
WITNESS CLAIMS HE WATCHED MACY JANUARY STEAL FROM HOME
Testifying with the aid of a sign language interpreter, Frankie Meyers needed no translation when asked who emerged from his neighbors' ransacked and bloodied house. "Macyo January," he said in a hoarse-sounding voice. Meyers, who is hearing impaired, said he watched January flee the burglarized house only to return five minutes later as cops sped to the scene. His testimony highlighted Wednesday's proceedings in January's first-degree murder trial, which focused heavily on the moment neighbors and police realized something went wrong at 222 Bassett Drive. / Colorado Springs Gazette

Pierre, SD
FINANCIAL LIMITS SET FOR RECIPIENTS OF FREE ASSISTIVE DEVICES
State government is stopping its decades-old practice of giving away communication devices to any citizen who is deaf or hard of hearing. The state Division of Rehabilitation Services, instead, will impose financial limits. The division will provide free assistive devices, such as iPads and iPhones, to those households that fall at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s about $35,000 for a one-person household in South Dakota. The Legislature’s rules review committee voted 5-0 to allow the change Tuesday, despite opposition from Patty Kuglitsch, president of the South Dakota Association of the Deaf. / Aberdeen News

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INTERNATIONAL
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Leicester, England
MAN TO SPEND 28 YEARS BEHIND BARS FOR MURDER OF LOVE RIVAL
A murderer who stabbed his love rival to death in a “savage and merciless execution” will have to serve 28 years behind bars. Awat Akram, 25, was convicted unanimously by a jury of murdering granddad of five, Christopher Penman, on February 22. The 58-year-old victim was knifed 23 times as he slept in his bed. During the four week trial the court heard that both men were in a “triangular” relationship with a woman, Elaine Bourke, in her 40’s. All three were deaf and communicated by sign language. / Leicester Mercury

London, England
DEAF COUPLE 'USED MONEY MEANT FOR INTERPRETERS TO FUND LUXURY LIFESTYLE'
A deaf couple and his family falsely claimed £900,000 ($147,000 US) meant for sign language interpreters to fund a luxury lifestyle and diamond jewelry, a court heard Monday. Shahab Reza submitted fake invoices to the Department of Work and Pensions but used the money to fund holidays, jewelry and university fees, prosecutors say. The 51-year-old and his wife, Shehnaz Reza, 53, both of whom are deaf, also involved their children, Zainab Reza, 22, and Abbas Reza, 26, it is claimed. / Daily Mail

London, England
SHOULD THERE BE A TV CHANNEL JUST FOR SIGN LANGUAGE USERS?
This week a consultation by media industry regulator Ofcom comes to an end. It could lead to more funding for television programmes made in British Sign Language (BSL), if there is enough support. But should there be a dedicated sign language channel? / BBC News

Durban, South Africa
HONORS STUDENTS GIVE BACK TO BLIND AND DEAF COMMUNITY
In a bid to “give back” to the blind and deaf community in an active way, the Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences at UKZN, together with the Biokinetics Humanitarian Project, embarked this year on an outreach program for the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society. As part of its aim to foster physical activity and patient education in underprivileged communities, fundamental exercise testing and screenings were conducted by the Biokinetics Honors students. / UKZN News

South Korea
KIM YE-JIN WINS MISS DEAF INTERNATIONAL 2014
Kim Ye-Jin, 28, was crowned as the female winner of Miss & Mister Deaf International 2014 held in London after battling 35 contestants from 25 countries. The beauty queen shared that she originally had no intentions of entering the competition, let alone winning it. She had in fact set up the non-profit Miss & Mister Deaf Korea a few months ago in order to encourage others to compete in the event. When she couldn’t find the right candidate to represent Korea, she decided to enter herself. / KoreAm Journal

Shaanxi Province, China
'SILENT' RESTAURANT WINS CUSTOMERS' HEARTS IN SHAANXI
A "silent restaurant" owned by a deaf woman in Shaanxi has received an overwhelmingly positive response from diners for its great service. The restaurant appears similar to other hotpot restaurants at first sight. Upon entering, however, patrons will notice that the waiters and waitresses working there use body language and sign language to communicate with customers. Among the 30 staff members there, 22 are deaf or hard of hearing. / Shanghaiist

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LIFE & LEISURE
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New York, NY
A WOMAN FACES THE TRUTH AS SHE SLOWLY GOES BLIND AND DEAF
From the time she was a little girl, Rebecca Alexander had trouble seeing, but no one in her life thought it was a big deal. When Alexander turned 13, she would no longer respond when someone called her name from another room, and her mother, alarmed, took her to a specialist. Her mother wanted to tell her what they suspected was happening. Her father believed it was better to do it later — let her enjoy her childhood. Alexander opens her new memoir, “Not Fade Away,” with an epigraph by Helen Keller: “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” / New York Post

See Also PETER ALEXANDER'S SISTER REBECCA WON'T LET GOING BLIND, DEAF HOLD HER BACK / Today.com

Internet
LIPREADING IS STILL TOO HARD FOR COMPUTERS
Reading lips is a skill usually reserved for fictional spies or the hearing impaired, but researchers have spent years trying to gift the talent to computers, too. A device capable of automated lip-reading would certainly be a game changer, raising questions of personal privacy while simultaneously creating new opportunities in the accessibility and security industries. Don't get too nervous (or excited) though -- Ahmad Hassanat, a researcher in Jordan, says we have a long way to go before machine eyes can tell what we're saying. / Engadget

Frederick, MD
MSD GRAD SPEAKS OUT FOR BLACK DEAF AS PAGEANT WINNER
Chenae Laldee is the reigning queen of a world where pageants have little to do with physical beauty. The 2009 graduate of the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick is halfway through her tenure as Miss Black Deaf America, fighting for equality in a small population often overlooked in the greater deaf community. National Black Deaf Advocates, an organization that works to improve quality of life for black deaf and hard-of-hearing people, chose Laldee over three others to serve as ambassador in August 2013. / The Frederick News-Post

Vernon Hills, IL
MOM STARTS GIRL SCOUTS TROOP FOR HER TWO DEAF DAUGHTERS
A Vernon Hills mom started a Girl Scouts troop for her two deaf daughters and their friends, which now includes girls from all over the Chicago area. Tiffany DeYoung wanted her daughters to have the Girl Scouts experience, but she had to figure out how to make it work. DeYoung started Troop 40735 last fall. "We have grown as what started as three girls now to 23," DeYoung said. The majority of the scouts are deaf and hard of hearing. / abc7chicago.com

Lake Placid, FL
FORMER TEACHER HOSTS CLASS TO TEACH KIDS SIGN LANGUAGE
Gisela Soto is a retired teacher. But that hasn’t stopped her from starting up a four-week course in ASL targeting the children of Highlands County. Held each Friday at the Lake Placid Memorial Library, Soto said the classes are intended to spread knowledge of sign language to children ages 6-12, who she said would benefit from being able to interact with deaf people. Deaf people, Soto said, are everywhere. / News-Sun

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WORKING WORLD
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St. Louis, MO
CID CELEBRATES 100 YEARS HELPING CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF
Crammed into his first-grade classroom with 25 other students last school year, the normally bright Nolan Howard began to struggle academically. Like many others in that situation, Nolan’s parents started to worry about his academic performance. Their response was to quit their jobs, put their home up for sale and then move from Seattle to St. Louis. Nolan’s mother, Mairead Iverson, concedes that the step was drastic but necessary. “St. Louis has the Central Institute for the Deaf,” she said. / The St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tulsa, OK
HEARING-IMPAIRED PATIENTS REQUIRE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION DURING A DISASTER
It’s the duty of emergency personnel, government agencies and the individual citizen to ensure they’re prepared for both natural and man-made disasters. However, some jurisdictions are better prepared than others when it comes to handicap-friendly responses in the wake of an imminent catastrophe. Special needs populations and individuals with disabilities are infrequently thought about or mentioned when someone refers to emergency preparedness. / JEMS

Great Falls, MT
MONTANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND RECEIVES $23,000 DONATION
Today Cheers and excitement came from students at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. The students and staff were presented with a $23,000 check from the First Interstate Bank of Great Falls. The money is being used for renovations of the on campus cottages where students live. / KFBB

Syracuse, NY
NEW YORK RELAY SERVICE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
For thousands of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals living in the state of New York, a specialized call center located in Syracuse represents the epicenter of their ability to communicate via telephone with others around the world. On Monday, the center celebrated the 25th anniversary of New York Relay services and in part to recognize National Deaf Awareness Week. / MarketWatch

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Los Angeles, CA
NEW PROMO FOR DEAF WEST'S 'SPRING AWAKENING'
The multiple Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of Spring Awakening, with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, is set to receive an innovative, immersive production performed simultaneously in ASL and spoken English. Presented by Deaf West Theatre in association with The Forest of Arden, Spring Awakening opened September 13 at Inner-City Arts in downtown L.A. / Broadway World

New York, NY
SUPERHEROES WHO ARE DEAF AND THE POWER OF DIVERSITY
There are many types of superpower -- ranging from super strength to mind control. With such a wealth of fictional capabilities available, why should superheroes be limited by their ability to hear? Deaf people can do everything hearing people can do, they just might do it in a different way. This includes fighting super-villains! Recently, Marvel Comic writer Matt Fraction decided to incorporate deafness into his panels by using illustrated sign language. / The Huffington Post

Rochester, NY
DEAF ADVOCATES ASK FOR CAPTIONING ON DEMAND
Local advocates for the deaf want the Regal Entertainment Group to provide on-demand open captioning. "I want to go into a theater and sit down like anyone else, and walk out with the same experience," said Dean DeRusso, who is deaf. He and others say the current technology is too bulky and distracting to enjoy a movie. However, “The overwhelming population of the deaf community loves the technology... loves the current access,” said Randy Smith, Senior Vice President of Regal Entertainment Group. / 13WHAM

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SPORTS
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Seattle, WA
SEAHAWK IN SILENCE
The Seattle Seahawks play in arguably the loudest stadium in the world. Yet one Seahawk can't hear the crowd. Running back Derrick Colemanscored a key touchdown in the Seahawks' season-opening win against the Packers. The fans went crazy. But Derrick only saw the cheers. "I could feel it in my body, but my ears didn't really catch it all. My body did though." He lost most of his hearing from a childhood disease at age 3. "When people tell me I can't do something, it just makes me want to do." / king5.com

Phoenix, AZ
BORN DEAF AND ADOPTED, TINA DURESKY REFUSES TO STAY SILENT
In 2012, Tina Reed Duresky, a basketball referee, was honored by Governor Janet Brewer with the AZ Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award. Duresky was only deaf person nominated out of 30 people. Standing before the camera flashes made her feel like she was on a red carpet in Hollywood. Since 2002, Duresky, 44, has worked as a basketball referee and softball umpire for the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA), as well as a middle school and high school volleyball referee. / The Korea Times

Fresno, CA
JARED WOLPERT BIDS FOR SPOT ON USA DEAF SOCCER TEAM
Jared Wolpert says he'll never turn down an invitation to play soccer. "It's my passion," he says. "I just love to play." So when the 20-year-old Fresnan was invited to USA Deaf Soccer's training camp in July in Pittsburgh, his answer was an instant yes. From July 26-29, Wolpert was among 26 players vying for a spot on the 18-deep men's national team roster. / The Fresno Bee

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MILESTONES
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West Salem, WI
CLARA B. JOHNSON
Clara B. Johnson, 98, of West Salem died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at Mulder Health Care Facility, West Salem. Clara Johnson graduated from Gale College in Galesville in 1934 and graduated from Milwaukee State Teachers College with a B.S. in education for the deaf in 1938. She was hired as an oral teacher in the day school program for the hearing impaired in Eau Claire, Wis., and she retired from teaching in 1979, from the La Crosse Program for the Education of the Hearing Impaired. / Coulee News

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EMPLOYMENT
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You can advertise your job openings here for just $20 a week (up to 100 words, 10 cents each add'l word). To place your ad, send the announcement to mail@deafweekly.com.

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Nexus Inland NW – Spokane, WA Seeking Executive Director

Nexus is seeking a new Executive Director to replace a long time Executive Director who is retiring. Skills and knowledge valuable to the center’s future success include: Leadership and Management, Communication, Budget and Finance and Personnel. A Master’s degree preferred. Bachelors’ or equivalent with 5 years’ experience will be considered. Traveling is required. Salary will be based on experience and qualifications.

Please send a letter of interest with your resume and references to:
Executive Director Search Committee
Nexus
1206 North Howard
Spokane, WA 99201

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Come Work With The Best!

Northeast Arc has full and part-time positions in our Deaf Services programs available in Lynn, Peabody, Swampscott and Beverly, MA. You'll be working with deaf individuals using various communication skills including gestural, written and signed English. Do you know ASL? If so, I'd like to speak with you about our direct care positions. We offer an excellent benefits package and competitive pay. For additional information or to send your resume, please email Kathy Tracy Ktracy@ne-arc.org

Compensation: $14-$15 an hour for full-time $12-$13 an hour for part-time

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The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB), located in Colorado Springs at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, invites you to consider our employment opportunities for School Counselor (School for the Deaf) for the 2014-2015 school year.

Interested persons are invited to visit the CSDB website http://www.csdb.org/ to view the official job announcement; follow the instructions to submit a complete on-line application. Contact information:

Chelle Lutz, Human Resources Office
Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
33 North Institute Street; Colorado Springs, CO 80903
E-mail: clutz@csdb.org; (719) 578-2114 (phone); (719) 578-2239 (fax)

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PAHrtners Deaf Services
www.pahrtners.com/careers

www.facebook.com/deafjobs

NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN PITTSBURGH AND GLENSIDE

PAHrtners Deaf Services is a dynamic team of behavioral health professionals serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and adults. Located outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PAHrtners provides residential and out-patient services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) children, adolescents and adults. Over 85% of our staff members are Deaf or Hard of Hearing!

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

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

Residential Counselors for Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disabilities – Full Time, Part Time, On Call; Glenside and Pittsburgh locations

Assistant Program Director for Residential Services for Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Behavioral Health needs - Full Time; Glenside location

Case Managers for Residential Program for Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Behavioral Health needs - Full Time; Glenside location

Residential Counselors for Residential Treatment Facility for Adolescents- Full Time; Glenside location

Therapist/Psychiatric Rehabilitation Worker- Full Time; Glenside location

Staff Interpreter- Full Time; Glenside location

Go to our Website at: www.PAHrtners.com to learn more about each position.

Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/deafjobs

Send your letter of intent and resume to:
Elizabeth Williams, Office Manager
PAHrtners Deaf Services, 614 N. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038
Email: ewilliams@pahrtners.com
Fax: 215-884-6301

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