Deafweekly September 23, 2009

deafweekly

September 23, 2009
Vol. 5, No. 15

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 2009 and any unauthorized use is prohibited. Please support our advertisers; they make it possible for you to receive Deafweekly.

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NATIONAL
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Westland, MI
DEAF MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO KILLING GIRLFRIEND
Under a plea agreement, Timothy Catalano pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will serve a minimum 22 years in prison for killing Tammy Susalla. “Love was the motive. She was leaving him, she had a new boyfriend,” Westland police Sgt. Steve Borisch said. “They were still living together. That was a bad mistake.” Susalla, 44, was shot once in the head as she lay in bed around 1 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007. She and Catalano, both deaf, had been a couple for 24 years. / The Observer

Augusta, ME
RIGHTS PANEL SIDES WITH DEAF MAN IN POLICE CASE
City police discriminated against a deaf Augusta man when officers failed to fulfill his request for an interpreter. That was the conclusion of the Maine Human Rights Commission, which voted 3-0 Monday to find reasonable grounds to believe that Wayne Draper was a victim of unlawful discrimination in access to public accommodation. Draper had filed a complaint with the commission charging that the city and the police discriminated against him when it failed to accommodate his requests for an interpreter on two separate occasions. Commission findings are not law but may become grounds for lawsuits. / Morning Sentinel

Frederick, MD
CARETAKER LOCKED 3 BLIND, DEAF ADULTS IN CAR WHILE HE ATE, POLICE SAID
Frederick police arrested a man on suspicion of leaving three blind and deaf adults locked in a car while he ate at the Mountain View Diner on Sunday. Officers arrested Brian T. Fleming, 47, of Fairfield, Pa., after they arrived at the diner on West Patrick Street. Patrons at the diner called police to report three mentally challenged people were left locked in a parked vehicle with the windows almost rolled up and in direct sunlight, police said. / Frederick News Post

Cave Spring, GA
GEORGIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF STUDENTS SENT HOME DUE TO ILLNESS
The Georgia School for the Deaf has sent all students home after several of them developed flu-like symptoms and other illnesses over the last few days. Administrators made the call last Friday after a number of student-athletes, including those living in the dormitories, became sick. GSD head football coach Erik Whitworth said that while varying diagnoses have been relayed to the school, no cases of the H1N1 virus have been reported. / Rome News-Tribune

Huntsville, AL
HEARING IMPAIRED MAN HAS HOME INVADED
Huntsville Police have two men in custody after a home invasion and robbery Monday morning. Around 8:30 a.m., officers responded to a home invasion call at 2914 9th Avenue. Huntsville Police and the SWAT Team created a perimeter around the home after finding the suspects still inside. When SWAT team entered the house, they found a hearing impaired man inside beaten up by two armed men. / WAFF 48 News

Shreveport, LA
POLICE ARREST DEAF MAN FOLLOWING SHORT CHASE
A dispute between two Shreveport women ended with a fiery car crash early last Thursday. Shreveport Police say it all started after the women got into some sort of disagreement at a house on College St. in Shreveport. According to police, one woman reportedly stole the other woman's purse and gave her car keys to a man who was inside the home. The man, who police say is deaf, took the woman's car. When police spotted the car a short time later, the man sped off and crashed into a building at the Centenary Gardens Apartment Complex. / KSLA-TV

Clark County, Wisc.
DEPUTIES TRACK DEAF 911 CALLER WITH WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
Law enforcement credits wireless technology with possibly saving a life Monday morning. A phone call came into the Clark County 911 center Monday morning at about 3:00 a.m. When the dispatcher took that call, they didn't know the following: that the woman on the other end of the line was hearing impaired and was trapped in her car. What she did know was where the woman was, thanks to wireless mapping. / WQOW

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YOUR BRAIN OVERLOADED on what to give as GIFTS to your loved ones, friends and family?

SOLUTION! Two online stores offer unique art and designs on t-shirts, hoodies, tote and messenger bags, mousepad and etc. Check them out by clicking the links below . . .

www.cafepress.com/rappazzo_peace

www.cafepress.com/rappazzo_asl

Mary A. Rappazzo, a deaf artist, created her online stores and is listed in an art book: "Deaf Artists in America: Colonial to Contemporary" by Deborah Sonnenstrahl.

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INTERNATIONAL
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New Delhi, India
HEARING IMPAIRED YOUTH DRIVES FORWARD IN NEW LANE
Early this year, 25-year-old Rajat Sachdeva applied for a learner’s driving licence. It was rejected outright -- simply because he is hard of hearing. Sachdeva did not give up. He moved the Delhi High Court to take up the cause for others like him. Almost one in every ten people in India suffers from hearing impairment. Last Wednesday, a Division Bench led by Chief Justice A P Shah garnered an assurance from the Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General A S Chandiok, to “make appropriate recommendations for issuance of driving licence to the deaf” within four weeks. / Express India

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
HEARING IMPAIRED GIRL WINS LEGAL BATTLE
A 17-year-old girl with hearing impairment, Rachna Shah, heaved a sigh of relief when she was allowed to take her diploma exams last Friday after a prolonged legal battle for justice. The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) had to permit her to appear for the test after a Gujarat High Court order in her favour last Thursday. The decision came after irregularities were detected in the evaluation of her answer sheets of remedial tests. / The Times of India

Mumbai, India
COCHLEAR TO LAUNCH TECHNOLOGIES FOR HEARING IMPAIRED
A higher generation of implantable hearing technology is slated to be soon released in India by Cochlear Limited, engaged in cochlear and bone conduction implant technology. The company is releasing three new technologies - Cochlear Hybrid, Cochlear Nucleus 5, and Cochlear Baha BP100 - designed for hearing impaired people across a wide spectrum. / Business Standard

Roxas City, Visayas, Philippines
DEAF-MUTE WITNESS HELPS NAB SUSPECTS IN CAPIZ ROB-SLAY CASE
A deaf-mute witness has turned out to be the key in solving the robbing and murder of a 64-year-old businesswoman in Capiz province. Using sign language, the witness helped police identify and pin down three of at least four suspects in the crime, according to a report on The News Today. Police arrested the three last Thursday, nearly a week after the killing of Noeme Sunsona, 64, in Purok 1, Brgy. Libas in Roxas City on September 11. / GMA News

Bristol, England
PROFOUNDLY DEAF GRANDDAUGHTER OF KEN LOACH CONFOUNDS MEDICAL WORLD TO REVEAL MUSICAL TALENT
A 10-year-old girl who was left profoundly deaf after suffering meningitis as a baby has defied the odds -- to become a talented pianist. Holly Loach, granddaughter of film director Ken Loach, was left brain damaged after she was diagnosed with life-threatening pneumococcal meningitis as a 13-month-old toddler. Her devastated parents Hannah and Mike --both talented musicians -- were told she would never be able to hear or fully appreciate music. But in February 2001, Hannah was fitted with a cochlear implant in her right ear -- a surgically inserted electronic device that provides a sense of sound for the profoundly deaf. / Daily Mail

Cardiff, Wales
CARDIFF COUNCIL LAUNCHES COMMUNICATION POLICY FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING DISABILITIES
Cardiff Council's Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Cllr Judith Woodman officially launched the Communication Support Policy for residents who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing at Cardiff Central Library last Thursday. The policy is a milestone for Cardiff Council in providing communication support for deaf customers. The communication support provided includes, BSL interpretation, deaf blind interpretation, lipspeaking and palantypists. / eGov monitor

Drugyel Dzong, Bhutan
WHEN FINGERS DO THE TALKING
If you see a teacher with her thumb on her nose and the spread fingers moving, don’t think that she is making faces at her students. She isn’t. She is teaching them the word ‘dirty’ and that’s the only way her hearing impaired students understand the word ‘dirty.’ ‘Dirty’ is among the 1800 words the hearing impaired unit at the Drugyel lower secondary school, Paro, has developed since it first opened in 2003, the only learning centre for the hearing impaired in the country. / Kuensel Newspaper

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Keith Wann's ASL Comedy Tour 2009-2010

Keith Wann, renowned for his hilarious, sidesplitting comedy performances, is now producing and hosting the ASL Comedy Tour 2009, which will travel the U.S. this year. With American Sign Language (ASL) artists presenting solo performances incorporating comedy, skits, songs, improvisation, and stories, each show lasts two hours. Sponsored by www.CallVRS.org, the multi-city tour is designed to be affordable for each location - making it ideal as a fundraiser for participating organizations.

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

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

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LIFE & LEISURE
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Mason, OH
CHURCH FOR DEAF CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN MASON
When they couldn't find words to express their faith, the small group turned to their hands. It was all part of a culture created at Deaf Missionary Baptist Church years ago to help the deaf feel welcome at a church of their own. Members celebrated the 20th anniversary this weekend, and its place as one of only a handful of churches to serve the deaf community in the region. "They come to a place where they can feel comfortable," said the Rev. Andrew Gregory. / Cincinnati Enquirer

Oklahoma City, OK
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR TO FOCUS ON HEARING-IMPAIRED
The Oklahoma State Fair will mark a day-long observance Thursday of the language of Oklahoma’s deaf community and offer a glimpse of the unique needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing people. In honor of National Deaf Awareness Week, which runs through Saturday, members of the state Rehabilitation Services Department will be in the Carriage Hall Building from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. providing information about support offered through the department’s programs. Agency staff members will perform songs and skits in American Sign Language. / The Oklahoman

Webster City, IA
TIRED OF SAYING 'HUH' ALL THE TIME?
The story is told of a 92-year-old man who went to his doctor for a physical. Several days later the doctor saw his patient walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm and an ear-to-ear smile on his face. The physician approached his elderly patient and said, "You seem to be doing well!" "Sure enough, Doc," the old man said, "I'm just doing what you said: 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.'" "I didn't say that," the doctor replied. "I said, 'You have a heart murmur. Be careful!'" / The Daily Freeman-Journal

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

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Heading Back to School special
All simplicity products 10% off!

Save 10% on all Simplicity Signalers during the month of September! That means every sound, telephone and doorbell signaler or receiver is on sale. Call 1-800-233-9130 (V/TTY) or visit our website for more details. (Use code WCID909 to order). For a copy of our NEW catalog, email your request to: sales@weitbrecht.com.

WCI. Your Single Source for Assistive Technology

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WORKING WORLD
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Washington, DC
AG BELL ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) Academy for Listening and Spoken Language announced September 1 Cheryl L. Dickson as its president-elect for the 2010-2012 term. Dickson, a resident of New South Wales, Australia, was the first professional in Southeast Asia to be certified as an Auditory-Verbal Therapist. Dickson runs a private practice in listening and spoken language therapy in Sydney, Australia, and serves as clinical director for The Hearing House in Auckland, New Zealand. / Healthy Hearing

Lakewood, CO
COLORADO TEACHER OF THE YEAR TO SPEAK ABOUT DEAF ED
In honor of Disability Awareness Month, area community members are cordially invited to hear Susan J. Elliott, Colorado 2009 Teacher of the Year, speak about the challenges of educating deaf students. Elliott, one of four finalists for 2009 National Teacher of the Year, has special insight into deaf education because she herself became profoundly deaf as an adolescent due to a progressive congenital hearing loss. / YourHub.com

Danvers, MA
HOMES FOR THE DEAF ADDS MORE BEDS, TREATMENTS
Without putting a shovel in the ground, the New England Homes for the Deaf has increased its rest-home capacity from 30 to 51 beds by doubling up many who once lived alone. The Danvers facility is feeling the grip of the recession, especially when it can cost more to care for the deaf and the deaf-blind than it does for those who can hear. A 2007 audit for the nonprofit, the latest year available online from the attorney general's office, shows an operating loss of nearly $470,000. / Salem News

Framingham, MA
FRAMINGHAM SCHOOL FOR DEAF LOOKS TO EXPAND
The Learning Center for the Deaf needs to expand to meet the mission of the school and properly serve its students. That's what Mike Bello, the school's president, told the Planning Board last Thursday night. The school wants to build a 20,000-square-foot building to serve the school's pre-kindergarten to kindergarten students. The project would free up more space at the center's elementary school buildings. / The MetroWest Daily News

Council Bluff, IA
SCHOOL FOR DEAF GETTING SCIENCE CENTER
Iowa School for the Deaf has announced plans for a new science center. Officials of the Council Bluff school serving school-aged students from Iowa and Nebraska say a $1.5 million fundraising campaign has been launched for the science center. They say more than $1 million is already pledged and donated for the center. / Chicago Tribune

Hickory, NC
ALBEMARLE RESIDENT IN LARGEST CLASS OF INCOMING DEAF, HARD-OF-HEARING STUDENTS AT LENOIR-RHYNE
This year, Lenoir-Rhyne University welcomed its largest class of incoming deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The university, with a total enrollment of 1,682 students, has 14 new deaf or hard-of-hearing students. The previous record was set in 1996 with 11 incoming DHH students. There are a total of 26 DHH students on campus this year, compared to 28 in 1996. Lenoir-Rhyne has had support services for DHH students for 32 years, establishing the program long before the Americans with Disabilities Act required such services in 1990. / The Stanley News and Press

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New Books on Deaf Experience on Sale Now

Harris Communications is known for their large selection of sign language, deaf history, and deaf culture books. We currently have four new books on sale at special introductory pricing. These books bring perspective to the deaf experience from noteworthy scholars:

1) The Deaf History Reader (B1147), on sale for $21.95, save $3.00!
2) Signs & Voices (B1149), on sale for $64.00, save $16.00!
3) Access: Multiple Avenues for Deaf People (B1150), on sale for $48.00, save $12.00!
4) Open Your Eyes (B1141), on sale for $19.95, save $5.00!

This sale ends October 1, 2009. For more information, visit our website or contact us at: mailto:info@harriscomm.com.

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callVRS has a new facelift and continues to give you the "freedom of choice"! callVRS allows you to find your favorite interpreter for your many needs. Keith Wann is now showing his serious side by bringing us a VRS company that his parents would be proud of...and one where interpreters want to work. You have seen him do silly commercials for other VRS companies, but he is also a Nationally Certified Interpreter, NIC Master and CI CT and calls himself a profesional Coda interpreter. "For the other VRS companies, I was a paid actor, with callVRS my true voice can be heard... It's time we have a VRS provider focus on the interpreters along with the callers to make the VRS experience better for everyone!" www.callVRS.org - dial callVRS.info on your video phone.

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SPORTS
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St. Augustine, FL
SNOW, ALABAMA DEAF RUN WILD, HAMMER FSDB, 42-0
Stepping into the quarterback's shoes for the first time in two years was challenging enough Saturday afternoon for Ryan Santana of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind's football team. Even more difficult, for more than half of the opening quarter, Santana never had the ball. By the time the Dragons finally got the ball on offense, they were already trailing unbeaten Alabama Deaf, 14-0. It grew worse from there. / The St. Augustine Record

Council Bluffs, IA
ISD ROLLS BY KANSAS DEAF IN ONE HALF
To fully comprehend Iowa School for the Deaf’s dominance over Kansas School for the Deaf Saturday, don’t look at the 54-0 final score or the fact that the Bobcats scored touchdowns on all seven first-half possessions at their homecoming game. Instead, consider that the game was over after just two quarters - not because of the final score, but because Kansas’ coaches and players said they simply weren’t mentally prepared to match the Bobcats’ intense play. “My jaw dropped when (Kansas) said they didn’t want to play anymore. This never happens,” Iowa Deaf coach Mark Murray said. / The Daily Nonpareil

Little Rock, AR
ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF BREAKING STEREOTYPES
Football season is in full swing for schools all over Arkansas, but one school is making sure no one is left out. The Leopards took the field Saturday, but they couldn't hear the roar of the crowd. That's because the players are deaf. These teens play hard, practice hard and they're just normal kids that don't hear. The small football team is pretty tough, no one sits on the side lines, everyone plays offense and defense and they all stay in the game all four quarters. / KTHV-DT

Columbia, KY
ADAIR PLAYER OVERCOMING HEARING IMPAIRMENT
By the time Alec Beard was 2, April and Chris Beard moved their family from Adair County to Danville so their son could be educated at the Kentucky School for the Deaf. At that time, the odds would have seemed one gazillion-to-one against Alec Beard growing up to be a member of the football team at a regular public high school. The beauty of a football season is that it yields an array of unseen, individual triumphs. Alec Beard is one. / Lexington Herald-Leader

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Nassau and Suffolk County NY
EXPERT TUTORING FOR HEARING IMPAIRED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Darlene Schaefer, Certified Teacher of the Deaf, with over 20 years of ORAL, SIGN and TOTAL COMMUNICATION teaching experience, has switched from full-time classroom teaching to providing the one-on-one extra help that can make your child more successful. Language development, academic and social life-skills can now be provided at your home, Mrs. Schaefer’s office in Melville, NY, or other venues. References upon request. Reasonable rates. FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION. Call or email today to give your child the boost they need.

Contact:
Darlene Schaefer
631 643-2065
516 330-3997
iHelpDeafKids@aol.com

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A new local web site called www.healthbridges.info was created by people who are Deaf.

The site is for people who are Deaf and for health providers and insurers too. This newly developed website seeks to provide reliable health and advocacy related information in a format that is accessible to all. Each month the topics discussed will change.

Please visit the site www.healthbridges.info today and let us know about topics that you want to learn more about.

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READER MAIL
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'A FIRST IN THE OUTDOORS INDUSTRY'
I am the editor of Trail Testers Online Outdoors Magazine. All our video reviews carry a subtitle track which is a mirror of the commentary, so readers who are deaf or hard of hearing can enjoy our reviews as if they were listening to the reviewer. This is a first in the outdoors industry. Our home page can be found at http://www.trailtesters.co.uk. Please tell your readers about this service and I hope they will visit the magazine and enjoy watching our videos. As we have been producing these special videos for some months we are currently conducting a reader poll asking for opinion on the subtitles. Please ask your readers to vote in the poll and let us know what they think?
Many thanks.
Dawn Smith, Editor
Trail Testers Online Outdoors Magazine
www.trailtesters.co.uk

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

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Northwestern Connecticut Community College - "The small college that does great things" is anticipating the following openings:

Director of Collegiate Education for Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Instructor in Interpreter Preparation - American Sign Language/English

To learn more about us and for a copy of the vacancy announcement, including minimum qualifications, application process and deadline, please visit our Website at www.nwcc.commnet.edu.

EOE/AA/M/F

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Account Services Supervisor

Reports to: Director- Customer Care
Location: Purple Communications
595 Menlo Drive
Rocklin, CA 95765

Brief summary of duties:

Under the supervision of the Director - Customer Care, the Account Services Supervisor will be responsible for scheduling the hours for all the Purple Account Services Agents (PAS Team) monitoring attendance and call activity. The supervisor must also assist and support in the teams sales activity and questions. In addition, the Account Services Supervisor will help train the team on the company’s products and services. The supervisor must also run metric reports and use the results to provide feedback of the agent’s performance.

Areas of Responsibility:

* Utilize the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to develop and maintain customers, and to continually update relevant customer information as required
* Communicate company value proposition to build loyalty, and maintain customer base
* Understanding of call center metrics to conduct performance reviews
* Train the members of the team to handle customers issues on their accounts and orders
* Schedule the team’s hours to provide call coverage.
* Track agent attendance and product sales data for incentive and performance measurements.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

* Must be familiar with communication devices for the deaf and hard of hearing
* Understanding of Call Center Metrics (AHT, ASA, Queues)
* Familiarity and proficiently to navigate through various sales and customer databases for obtain quick results to support the agents on calls.
* Understanding of call volumes to schedule personnel to obtain optimal call coverage.

Experience with the following is a plus:

* Knowledge of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture preferred.
* Basic knowledge of MS Excel and MS Outlook
* Extremely organized and highly motivated
* Excellent written communication skills, and ability to communicate effectively through email
* Attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy in data entry
* Ability to work a flexible shift between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. PST

To apply for this position, please go to www.purple.us and click on the “career” and “search listings” tabs.

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JOB TITLE: Customer Recruiting Representative
DEPARTMENT: Inside Sales/Outreach
REPORTS TO: Inside Sales Manager

Please note: This is a 90 day Temporary position - work is performed in a business office environment

Brief summary of duties:

Under the supervision of the Customer Recruiting Manager, the Customer Recruiting Representative will be responsible for qualifying leads by cold calling and teaching customers how to use VRS services.
In addition, the Customer Recruiting Representative will call prospective deaf customers and convert them to become customers of Purple Communications. The representative will also be required to maintain accounts through follow up and customer retention surveys.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Make outbound calls & qualify leads provided by Marketing or referrals
2. Market and provide support for VRS & Text Relay Services
3. Convert original equipment to use Purple communications / Hands On VRS
4. Communicate company value proposition to build loyalty, and maintain customer base
5. Provide follow up support for all accounts ( inactive and active )
6. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

- Friendly and engaging
- Organized, a self-starter and a quick learner
- Connected to your local deaf community
- A highly motivated salesperson with a good amount of energy
- Capable of thinking in technical terms
- Capable of devoted daily time
- Knowledge of ASL and Deaf Culture

Experience with the following is a plus:

· Troubleshooting any issue that may arise
· Computer and Software literacy
· Experience with D-Link or any other video phone devices
· Welcoming and enthusiastic personality

Physical Requirements:

Employees may experience the following physical demands for extended periods of time:

· Sitting, standing and walking (95-100%)
· Keyboarding (40-60%)
· Viewing computer monitor, videophone, and pager requiring close vision (40-60%)

Work Environment:

Work is performed in a business office environment, or at home, depending on work status (see above). Some travel to company, customer and vendor sites, including some that are out of state may be required.

To apply for this position, please go to www.purple.us and click on the “career” and “search listings” tabs.

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