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NATIONAL
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Edgewood, PA
SMALL GROUP OF PROTESTERS CRITICIZES DEAF SCHOOL'S PROGRAM
A small group of protesters rallied outside the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Edgewood on Tuesday morning because of what they called “the proscription” of American Sign Language at the school and its disrespect of deaf culture. But the school said that parents choose what kind of communication they want their children to learn. Four protesters held signs and told passersby that the school administration does not enforce the use of ASL by non-deaf people in the school, which they took as a slight and said was disrespectful and problematic for deaf students and teachers. / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Riverside, CA
'POKING' INCIDENT AT SCHOOL FOR DEAF UNDER INVESTIGATION
An incident between two male students at California School for the Deaf/Riverside that a state official characterized as "playing around" is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol. The investigation comes at a time when the school is under scrutiny for its supervision of its students after the mother of a male student sued the school and the state in 2014, alleging that they did little to prevent another boy from running a "sex club" that involved assaults. / The Press-Enterprise
Washington, DC
A DEAF MAN'S JAIL ORDEAL IN ARLINGTON: 'I FELT STUCK. I WAS STUCK'
The way Abreham Zemedagegehu tells it, the six weeks he spent in the Arlington County, Va., jail nearly amounted to torture. A deaf Ethiopian immigrant with limited ability to speak or write English, Zemedagegehu says he missed two or three meals a week because he could not hear the announcement that it was time to eat. He says he went his entire stay without medication for back pain, struggled to communicate with jailers and was unable to make phone calls to friends outside. / The Washington Post
Rockville, MD
MAN ARRESTED, ACCUSED OF REPEATEDLY ASSAULTING DEAF WOMAN AT A GROUP HOME
It's supposed to be a safe place for adults that are hard of hearing, but a group home served as the backdrop of a longstanding abuse case, police say. David Robertson, 41, is accused of physically assaulting a deaf woman at the group home he was hired to manage. Investigators say the abuse spanned the course of two years. In one case, Robertson allegedly shoved the hearing-impaired woman down a flight of stairs because she did not do her laundry. / WJLA
Internet
AT&T CALLS OUT T-MOBILE, SPRINT FOR DODGING REQUIRED SUPPORT FOR DEAF USERS
AT&T has called out T-Mobile and Sprint for jumping the gun on rolling out Wi-Fi calling , which lets you make calls over an internet connection rather than a traditional wireless connection. The company sent a complaint to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler stating that its two competitors had released those features without receiving a waiver to exclude support for teletypewriters (TTYs). The crux of AT&T’s argument was that the wireless networks had to either adapt to relatively old tech (TTY doesn’t function reliably over Wi-Fi connections), innovate so that it does function well over an IP network, or request a waiver. / Motherboard
Kendall County, IL
SHERIFF'S OFFICE PARTNERS WITH AIM CENTER TO COMMUNICATE WITH DEAF INDIVIDUALS
The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living (AIM Center) to enable deputies to effectively communicate with deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals during traffic contacts. A visor card was created for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals to present to a deputy during a traffic contact. The yellow, double-sided visor card provides a warning on the front of the card that the driver has special communication needs. / Kendall County Now
Columbia, MO
COLUMBIA AGENCY IMPROVES ACCESS TO CRISIS CARE FOR DEAF VICTIMS
When a woman is trying to leave an abusive relationship or unsafe domestic situation, shelters offer a safe space for her to stay and get back on her feet. But leaving an abusive relationship can be difficult for any woman. According to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, a woman seeking help will be in and out of a shelter seven times on average, before leaving the relationship. For deaf individuals, that number doubles. In Missouri, the Leadership through Education and Advocacy for the Deaf Institute is working to change that. / KBIA
Lansing, MI
DEAF COMMUNITY LACKS INTERPRETERS AND SUPPORT, ADVOCATES SAY
Continued shortages of qualified interpreters and funding mean Michigan’s deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing residents lack access to proper communication and education, and many are unclear of their rights under state law, advocates say. Michigan has a shortage of accessible mental health services, education, employment and legal services for these residents, said Todd Morrison, director of the Michigan Deaf Association. About a million Michigan residents experience hearing loss, and about 90,000 identify as deaf. / Grand Rapids Business Journal
San Antonio, TX
EMMA FAYE RUDKIN: DEAF MINISTRY ADVOCATE AND MORE
Emma Faye Rudkin, 19, is the first deaf/HoH person to win the title of Miss San Antonio. She is the founder of Aid the Silent, a deaf ministry and advocacy non-profit organization and currently works as the Social and Digital Media Coordinator for Rudkin Productions Full Service Advertising. Rudkin is currently earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications/Graphic Arts at UTSA Honors College. In her spare time, she enjoys singing and performing on the piano, guitar and ukulele and posting on her fashion, lifestyle and travel blog. / Canyon News
Council Bluffs, IA
DEAF MISSIONS FILM PROJECT BRINGS CAMEL TO COUNCIL BLUFFS
Less than a week after a historic deluge in Council Bluffs, the courtyard at Deaf Missions east of the city became a desert. At least, for the purpose of filming a scene from the Old Testament Book of Job. The organization rented a camel for the day from A-Z Exotic Animal Adventures in Peculiar, Missouri, to depict Job’s friends riding to visit him in his time of grief and suffering. / Omaha World-Herald
Mattoon, IL
MATTOON SCHOOLS HOST DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM
This year, Mattoon schools have taken in The Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education’s (EIASE) deaf and hard of hearing program. It has been hosted at Charleston schools for the past 35 years, but an increase of Mattoon students in the program prompted its move. “It makes more sense to consolidate resources,” Principal Michele Sinclair said. EIASE encompasses 28 school districts and eight counties, hosting students from preschool to age 21. At the high school, making room was no problem. / JG-TC.com
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INTERNATIONAL
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New Delhi, India
SPECIAL ATHLETES SLEEP ON PAVEMENTS AFTER SPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA MESSES UP ACCOMMODATIONS
In yet another case of apathy towards athletes, members of the Indian team for the Asia Pacific Deaf Games (APDG) were forced to sleep on pavement here on Thursday. They were waiting for visa ahead of the competition beginning in Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei on Saturday. The athletes, part of a 40-member squad, were left to fend for themselves ahead of the tournament with some of them spending Thursday night outside a Gurudwara as authorities failed to provide accommodation. / NDTVSports.com
Bradford, England
CCTV SHOWS ARSONIST SET FIRE TO DEAF FAMILY'S HOME WHILE HIGH ON COCAINE
A drug-fuelled arsonist has been caught on camera as he launched a shocking petrol attack on the house of a deaf family while they slept in bed. Michael Douglas was seen on the family's CCTV cameras as he poured a gallon of petrol on the driveway before his accomplice set the fuel alight. It appears Douglas was paid to carry out the attack, which took place in Allerton, Bradford, at 5am on May 26. / Mirror
London, England
BDA APPLAUDS DEAF CHARACTER STARRING IN 'DOCTOR WHO'
The British Deaf Association (BDA) applauds Toby Whithouse, the writer of BBC TV series Doctor Who, for including a Deaf character in the latest episodes of the current Doctor Who series, “Under the Lake”. This is the first time a Deaf character has appeared in the history of Doctor Who and is a huge step in helping to break down the negative barrier faced by Deaf actors in the media industry. / BDA
Crowborough, England
DEAF MUSICIAN TALKS ABOUT ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH MUSIC
The founder of the charity ‘Music and the Deaf’ comes to Crowborough on Saturday to talk about his life and work as a profoundly deaf person. Paul Whittaker was in born in Yorkshire in 1964 with a hearing loss and has been profoundly deaf since the age of 8. Music was always around in the house so at the age of 5 he started playing the piano, singing in choirs at 7 and learning the organ at 12. / Crowborough Life
New Zealand
DEAF GIRL GIVEN THE CHANCE TO HEAR UNDER WATER
Katya Gardiner used to have to swim with big bags billowing around her ears. Now the deaf 8-year-old looks just the same as other children in the water. The Khandallah School pupil was born with no hearing and has cochlear Implants. Until last week the implants weren't able to be used under water without bags to keep them dry. That all changed when Katya received funding from the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation's allsports activity fund for an aqua + accessory - a device that protects her cochlear Implants. / Stuff.co.nz
New Zealand
DEAF AOTEAROA FLOODED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT JEHOVAH'S WITNESS CHURCH
New Zealand's deaf community is fed up with unsolicited house calls, claiming the Jehovah's Witness church is targeting deaf households. Deaf Aotearoa has received multiple complaints from around the country and says church members visited certain homes because they were aware a deaf person lived there. The organisation released a statement on Monday, saying it was looking into the possibility the church holds a database listing the details of members of the deaf community. / Stuff.co.nz
Durham Region, ON, Canada
NEW 911 TEXT SERVICE FOR DEAF, HARD OF HEARING IN DURHAM REGION
A local advocate for the deaf and hearing impaired is welcoming news that Durham police have introduced a texting service for 911 emergency calls. The new texting service replaces a cumbersome process that required people with hearing or speech issues to contact an operator via land line and have that person relay their messages to 911 dispatchers, said Yvonne Brown, executive director of Durham Deaf Services. The old system required users to make TTY calls through land lines, Ms. Brown said. / durhamregion.com
Ghana
DEAF ASSOCIATION WANTS EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE
The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) at this year’s International day of the Deaf has advocated for equal access to justice for its members across the country. GNAD President Sampana Robert, who lamented the marginalization of the deaf when it came to accessing justice, employment and health, among other rights, called on policy makers and the government to take measures to reverse the negative trend. / GhanaWeb
Russia
CHURCH OPENS NEW CENTER FOR WORK WITH DEAF PEOPLE IN MOSCOW
On October 4, 2015, a new social and missionary center for work with deaf and hearing-impaired people was opened at the Church of All Saints of Russia in the Novokosino district of eastern Moscow, reports Patriarchia.ru. A Divine Liturgy with sign language interpretation was celebrated at the church in Novokosino on that day. The service was headed by Bishop Panteleimon (Shatov) of Orekhovo-Zuyevo, chairman of the Synodal Department for the Church Charity and Social Ministry. From that day on every Saturday Divine Liturgies at this church will be accompanied with sign language interpretation. / OrthoChristian.com
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LIFE & LEISURE
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Internet
DEAF COUPLE DISCUSSES SEX, KIDS AND FALLING IN LOVE IN INTIMATE VIDEO
"I want you to be with me forever, okay?" signed Cecilio to his wife, Norma. "You make me the happiest person because you are with me." The deaf Filipino couple has been married for 46 years. In a video created as part of The Skin Deep’s ongoing "The And" series, watch as the lovestruck pair hold a conversation about their lives together -- from their first meeting in school decades ago to falling in love and having kids -- and the challenges they’ve faced along the way. / The Huffington Post
Sheboygan, WI
DEAF SHEBOYGAN FALLS STUDENT MENTORS OTHERS
School life wasn't always easy for Caitlin Trumm. You maybe wouldn't know it now — the congenial Sheboygan Falls High School freshman has a core group of friends, participates in multiple school sports and maintains good grades. At one time, however, Caitlin was the target of classmates' teasing and ignorance. Born with profound hearing loss, Caitlin said some of her classmates labeled her "the deaf girl" and poked fun at the cochlear implants she wore to be able to hear. / Sheboygan Press
Faribault, MN
STATE ACADEMIES FOR THE BLIND AND DEAF BRING OUTREACH INTO GREATER COMMUNITY
If you drive past Bernie’s Grill in downtown Faribault and see a scarecrow on the corner, do not be alarmed. It’s all part of the outreach efforts of the Minnesota State Academies for the Blind and Deaf. Both campuses are connecting with the greater Faribault community to create awareness of two events slated for Oct. 14 — the Academy for the Blind’s “White Cane Day” luncheon and the Academy for the Deaf’s annual Scarecrow Festival. / Faribault Daily News
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WORKING WORLD
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Houston, TX
MEET THE FRANCHISEE WHO'S PAVING THE WAY FOR DEAF BUSINESS OWNERS
Being a business owner in one of the largest cities in the nation is guaranteed to present its own set of unique challenges. Being a business owner with a hearing impairment, however, would surely compound the difficulties faced in a tough economic environment, some would say. Alex Trukhin disagrees. The deaf franchisee of Coverall cleaning services, a subsidiary company of Tru-Globe LLC, has hired a staff of six employees who are all also deaf. Trukhin corresponded with the HBJ to discuss the biggest obstacles he’s faced in business and what advice he’d give to a prospective owner. / Houston Business Journal
Johnston, IA
HAYES HELPS DEAF CLIENTS WITH MEDICAL VISITS, MORE
While living in Hawaii, bike racing enthusiast Ellen Hayes was hit by a car. This event led her to return to the Mainland and ultimately return to college where she earned a degree in sign language interpreting. In 1999 she opened Hayes Interpreting Services in Johnston. She helps deaf clients during medical visits, business meetings and other interactions. “I just love it,” she said. / The Des Moines Register
Odessa, TX
EDUCATORS ACT AS 'EARS' FOR THEIR STUDENTS
For teachers of auditory impaired children in the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, seeing the lightbulb come on and watching their students’ progress is their reward. Coordinator Rakia Musa said the program serves 18 districts with Ector County Independent School District as the fiscal agent. Children from birth to 22 with a hearing impairment that significantly impacts language development and/or performance in school are covered, according to the program website. “We are the hub,” Musa said. / Odessa American
Roseville, MN
ROLE MODELS HELP DEAF STUDENTS EXPLORE FUTURE CAREERS
Students at Northern Voics, a non-profit school for hearing impaired children in Minnesota, are given the unique opportunity to spend time with adults in the deaf community living successful professional lives. Northern Voices is the only non-profit in Minnesota that prepares hearing impaired toddlers to mainstream into kindergarten with children who can hear. On Friday, the students spent the day learning from role models with hearing impairments who lead successful lives. Among the professions included in the day were police officers, counselors and social workers. / KMSP
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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New York, NY
DEAF WEST'S 'SPRING AWAKENING' STRUGGLING AT BROADWAY BOX OFFICE
The new Broadway revival of "Spring Awakening" from Los Angeles' Deaf West Theatre has received nearly unanimous praise from critics, but the raves have so far failed to ignite ticket sales at the box office. "Spring Awakening" officially opened last week. Though a glowing review in The New York Times can often boost the fortunes of a Broadway show, "Spring Awakening" actually saw attendance decline for the week ending Sunday, with the number of seats sold dropping 25% from the week before, to 5,425, according to data from the Broadway League. / LA Times
See Also LIGHTS, GESTURES, ACTION! HOW TO STAGE A BROADWAY MUSICAL WITH DEAF ACTORS / The New York Times
Colorado Springs, CO
WWII PERSECUTION OF DEAF PEOPLE IN 'SILENT SALZBURG' BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEAF THEATRE
Six million Jewish people were killed by the Nazis in World War II. But there were other, lesser-known factions of people also targeted. "I didn't realize that the Nazis had also taken deaf people to be sterilized - to fix them - to make sure deafness didn't become hereditary," says Nicki Runge, artistic director of the Rocky Mountain Deaf Theatre. Runge will direct RMDT's presentation of "Silent Salzburg," a play by Richard Medugno about the persecution of deaf people during the war. It opens Friday at Funky Little Theater Company. / Colorado Springs Gazette
Austin, TX
ASL INTERPRETERS BRING ACL FEST'S MUSIC ALIVE FOR DEAF COMMUNITY
Jo Rose Benfield's love of music has made ACL Fest a must see event, even though her experience is unique. "At home I listen to music, and of course, I enjoy it. But here, it's incredible -- it's an A to Z experience," Benfield signed, as an ACL interpreter relayed aloud. "I'm deaf myself and I love music. I get to feel the vibrations. Also the interpreters ther, they facilitate what's being sung to us." At music festivals such as ACL, American Sign Language interpreters like Amber Galloway Gallego, have taken interpretation and turned it into performance art. / TWC News
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SPORTS
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Aurora, CO
OVER 800 DEAF STUDENTS GATHER FOR TRACK AND FIELD DAY
The largest gathering of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the state took place on Tuesday at the Aurora Public Stadium. The Annual Deaf and Hard of Hearing Track and Field day drew more than 800 deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across the Front Range, according to event organizers. Students ranged in age from preschool to seniors in high school. / 9news.com
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MILESTONES
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