Deafweekly November 30, 2011

deafweekly

November 30, 2011
Vol. 8, No. 7

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 2011 and any unauthorized use is prohibited. Please support our advertisers; they make it possible for you to receive Deafweekly.

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Last issue's most-read story: MAN FOUND INNOCENT OF KILLING DEAF 15-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND IN 1981 / Chicago Sun-Times
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ADVERTISE IN DEAFWEEKLY FOR $20 OR LESS PER WEEK

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FLASH NEWS!
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FOUNDER OF ROCKVILLE DEAF SERVICES COMPANY GETS NINE YEARS FOR FRAUD
A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced John T.C. Yeh, former CEO of Rockville deaf services business Viable, to nine years in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $20 million for his role in a multimillion-dollar government fraud case. His brother, former Viable vice president Joseph Yeh, received a prison sentence of 55 months on Wednesday and also was ordered by Judge Joel A. Pisano to pay $20 million in restitution. Two other former Viable executives, Anthony Mowl and Donald Tropp, are among those who have pleaded guilty in the case. They are scheduled to be sentenced by Pisano on Dec. 14 in New Jersey, according to court documents. / Gazette

See Also JOHN T.C. YEH'S STATEMENT AT THE COURT / YouTube

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NATIONAL
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Scotland Neck, SC
POLICE 'KILLED DEAF CYCLIST WITH STUN GUN AFTER HE FAILED TO OBEY INSTRUCTIONS TO STOP'
A police officer killed an elderly, deaf and mentally disabled man riding his bicycle by shooting him with a Taser stun gun after he failed to obey instructions to stop. Roger Anthony, 61, was killed as he made his way home in Scotland Neck, South Carolina, after officers responded to a 911 call about a man who had fallen off his bicycle in a car park. Officers said they repeatedly told Mr Anthony to get off his bike, but when he didn't respond, they shocked him. / Daily Mail

See Also DEAF, DISABLED SENIOR CITIZEN ON BICYCLE DEEMED THREAT BY POLICE, TASED TO DEATH / Gawker

Brighton, CO
ADAMS COUNTY SUED OVER DEAF MAN HELD 25 DAYS
A lawsuit claims Adams County authorities detained a deaf man for 25 days in jail without providing a sign-language interpreter before domestic assault charges were eventually dropped. Timothy Siaki’s lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court seeks unspecified damages and a finding that Adams County officials violated the Americans With Disabilities Act over his May 14, 2010, arrest and detention. / Associated Press

See Also IT SEEMS LIKE COPS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF DEAF PEOPLE / Reason Magazine

New York, NY
DEAF WOMAN IN BROOKLYN SEX KIDNAP, POLICE SAY
A deaf woman who stormed out on her boyfriend after a fight was snatched off a Williamsburg street by two thugs who tried to pimp her out -- and beat her when she refused, police sources said yesterday. The 28-year-old upstate woman told cops she was walking back to her grandmother’s apartment at about 2 a.m. Monday when a man yanked her into his car and told her to “work” for him. / New York Post

Athens, AL
THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE
Brenda and Tim Smith didn’t hear the sound of a freight train when an EF5 tornado descended on their East Limestone home April 27. Even as the roof blew off and walls crumbled around them, they didn’t hear a sound. Brenda and Tim felt only the vibrations as chaos surrounded them because they are deaf. They have spent seven months displaced from their home and remain nervous about storms, but the Smiths are grateful this Thanksgiving they survived when many did not. / The News-Courier

Webster Groves, MO
EMPOWERING THE DEAF
Deaf people can usually find ways to respond to doorbells, phone calls or smoke alarms. What's not so easy to deal with is the insensitivity of those who inhabit the hearing world. Shirley Corbett said she learned about such insensitivity when her deaf father was in the hospital for a cancer operation in 2005. Corbett, who is deaf herself, requested a sign language interpreter at the hospital to no avail. She advised medical authorities that her father was deaf. "After the operation, I left the room for a time, and when I came back, my father had awakened and his hands were strapped down," said Corbett. / Webster Kirkwood Times

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Super Sale at the Superstore

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3-Bedroom Hearing/Visual Accessible House. Rent based on 30% of Household Income. Located in the heart of North Philadelphia, PA, this three-bedroom historic house is part of a tax credit subsidized project that has been certified LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council. The house has horns and strobes throughout. It is completely renovated with hardwood floors, brand new energy-efficient doors and windows, energy-efficient appliances and central heating/air conditioning unit. There is even a laundry facility on site. Qualified applicant or household member must have need for visual/hearing accessibility and must meet screening criteria for tax credit and housing authority regulations. If interested, please call Heidi Bohn at 215-557-8484 x3245.

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INTERNATIONAL
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West Papua, Indonesia
KIWI IN HORRIFIC INDONESIAN PLANE CRASH
A deaf person walking across a runway in Indonesia moments before a plane was about to land is believed to be responsible for a horrific crash involving a New Zealand pilot. Jesse Becker is understood to be in a serious condition in hospital after the plane he was piloting crashed in West Papua, Indonesia last Wednesday. Local media reported that, as the Cessna Grand Caravan approached the runway, a deaf person wandered across its path, causing the pilots to abort the landing. As the plane tried to climb, it crashed into Mt Wabu and exploded, police said. The accident killed the plane's co-pilot. / Stuff.co.nz

Moscow, Russia
MUSCOVITE KILLS WIFE, SELF IN FRONT OF DEAF-MUTE SON
A man has killed himself and his wife in the presence of their deaf-mute son in the south-west of Moscow, a police source told RIA Novosti on Friday. Police arrived at the apartment in the Tyoply Stan area of the city late on Thursday after neighbors raised the alarm. They “discovered the deaf-mute son of the deceased, who said that his father had told him his mother was dead before stabbing himself in the chest with a kitchen knife,” the source said. / RIA Novosti

Plymouth, England
WOMAN INTERCEPTED DEAF NEIGHBORS' POST AND BOUGHT HOLIDAY, GIN AND HAIR EXTENSIONS
A woman who intercepted her deaf neighbors' mail spent £15,000 ($23,575 US) of their money on a family holiday to Turkey, £400 ($630 US) -worth of gin and hair extensions among other luxuries, a court heard. Jacqueline Taylor took out loans and credit cards in their names and covered her tracks by intercepting letters and statements from banks and credit card companies. When caught, she tried to blame her victims - a couple who were neighbors and friends for 18 years. Last Friday, a judge jailed Taylor for three years following her guilty pleas to seven counts of theft and 12 of fraud. / This is Plymouth

Vancouver, BC, Canada
PILOT PROJECT FOR DEAF LOSES ITS FUNDING
Video Relay Services (VRS) have been helping deaf people communicate in the US for the last decade, but a pilot project which first brought the technology to BC in July 2010 will end January 15th. Money from a Telus deferral account being used to pay for the pilot project will run out in early 2012. It's then up to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to decide if a funding model should be developed to return the service. / News1130

Queensland, Australia
DNA SNARES DEAF WOMAN'S RAPIST
An Ipswich man who raped and bashed a deaf pensioner in a brutal home invasion more than 12 years ago was identified by his DNA when he was arrested for an unrelated crime last year. Ipswich District Court heard the 29-year-old man, who was almost 17 when the offence occurred and cannot be named, forced his way into the woman's Ipswich home on June 26, 1999. / Ipswich Queensland Times

Hagen, Germany
NEIGHBORS COMPLAIN DEAF COUPLE IS TOO LOUD
Mike Dumröse, 34, und Natascha Neitzel, 25, have lived together in the city of Hagen for about six months now. Deaf from birth, they communicate through sign language. They also enjoy music by turning songs up full blast in order to feel the vibrations in the walls and floor. But all the noise has annoyed neighbors. “They’re too loud. The other renters have constantly complained,” their landlord said. When the couple found out about the complaints, they were so upset that they decided to leave their apartment and set up a tent at a local park. / The Local

Christchurch, New Zealand
MOJO MATHERS STILL HOPES TO BE NZ'S FIRST DEAF MP
At number 14 on the Green Party list, Mojo Mathers is hoping the special votes will deliver the party another Member of Parliament. The Greens obtained their highest share of party votes ever on Saturday, with their 10.62 per cent giving the party 13 seats. However if enough special votes go the Greens' way, as has been the case in the past, Ms Mathers will become New Zealand's first profoundly deaf MP. / NZ Herald News

Auckland, New Zealand
BEING DEAF A HUGE CHALLENGE
Profound hearing loss in her late 20s led to depression and social isolation for Donna Quinn. That all changed when she received a cochlear implant, a surgically implanted electronic device that enables the wearer to hear. Four years later she has returned to her usual, happy self. / Stuff.co.nz

Tokyo, Japan
MODERN HOME DESIGN FOR DEAF PEOPLE
Takeshi Hosaka Architects have designed a modern house called the RoomRoom in Tokyo, Japan. This living space is designed for deaf parents and two children who are living there. The small main building which is built five years ago became so narrow for dwellers for three generations that they bought a piece of land neighbor to their house to build an annex. / Zeospot.com

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
'PLANET OF SNAIL' WINS AMSTERDAM'S INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
Seung-Jun Yi’s Planet of Snail, the story of a South Korean man blind and deaf since birth, has sped away with the best feature length documentary prize at the 24th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. The film, which traces the man's interactions with the world and his loving wife, had been an early favorite of audiences and industry-attendees alike. / The Hollywood Reporter

Kingston, Jamaica
'CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?'
The Jamaican deaf community is disgruntled with the non-implementation of programs to get them involved in matters of national development, as well as with the discrimination they encounter from the hearing public on a daily basis. At a presentation Friday on the grounds of the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), under the theme 'Can you hear me now?' members of the community spoke out against the lack of interpreters in public places like police stations, businessplaces and in the news media. / Jamaica Observer

Bahraich, India
DEAF WOMAN GANG RAPED
A girl and a deaf woman were gang raped under Dehat Kotwali and Boundi police station respectively on Tuesday. The police have registered the case in all three incidents but the accused have not been arrested so far. The rape victims have been sent to the district hospital for medical examination. / The Times of India

Coimbatore, India
BOY PRETENDS TO BE DEAF AND DUMB, HELD FOR THEFT
A 19-year-old boy, who decamped with eight sovereigns of gold ornaments from a residence in Rathinapuri on the pretext of being deaf and dumb was arrested on Monday. The police suspect that he could be involved in multiple cases of theft. The police are probing his involvement in two other cases. / The Times of India

Kampala, Uganda
DEAF AND DUMB BUT AN EFFICIENT RECEPTIONIST
Appy Namatovu Ssempala walks gracefully to her seat at the front desk of the offices of the National Union for Disabled Persons. She signals to visitors and asks how she may be of help and later gives directions to the right officers. She, however, does all these by writing. One only realises her disability when the phone rings. She walks to the back and signals one of her workmates to come and help. / Monitor

Mbabane, Swaziland
AN AVERAGE WORK DAY WITH MISS DEAF AT RGR SIGNS
Miss Deaf 2011 Nosipho Zwane is having an awesome time at RGR Signs. She is currently on internship. This is part of the prize package after she emerged as the winner of the contest a few months ago. Nosipho joined RGR Signs two months ago as she furthers her studies on graphic designing. / The Swazi Observer

George Town, Malaysia
TRAVEL COMPANY HEARS THE DEAF'S PLEA FOR VEHICLE
Penang Deaf Association's appeal for a secondhand vehicle has moved Discovery Overland Holidays Sdn Bhd to respond with a donation of an 11-seater passenger van. Executive director Henry Wong travelled from Kuala Lumpur to present the van key to association president Chung Kim Cheong at the Municipal Council Youth Park information office, recently. / New Straits Times

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Drum roll please .....

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LIFE & LEISURE
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White Plains, NY
SCARSDALE MOM, ADVOCATE FOR THE DEAF, LAUDED NATIONALLY
At age 11, Alexis Ander Kashar got to experience a whole new state when her family moved from New York to Texas. "For the first time I had access to everything," she said. Her awakening ignited a passion for civil rights that would lead Kashar to be one of the most high-profile advocates for the deaf in the country. Her tireless efforts will be recognized Dec. 5 by Jewish Women International, which has named her one of 10 "Women to Watch" in the United States. / The Journal News

Jackson, TN
$30K RAISED FOR NEW PLAY AREA AT SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
After many fundraising efforts, students at the West Tennessee School for the Deaf have a new and safe playground on campus. Principal Kristi Lindsey credits the Friends of WTSD for raising $30,000 for the renovation project. Once the funds were in place, Lindsey said it took only two weeks to install the new equipment and junk the old wood set. / The Jackson Sun

East Peoria, IL
CHURCH MARKS TWO YEARS OF SERVING AREA DEAF POPULATION
Gathered in a church rented weekly with their own money, members of On To Victory! Deaf Fellowship Church thanked God and their pastor for the ability to gather and pray in a place where those who can hear are the ones who need interpreters. Pastor Randy Sanders and his congregation on Sunday celebrated the two-year anniversary of their church, an event that resembled more of a family reunion than an actual church ceremony. / Journal Star

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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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WORKING WORLD
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San Francisco, CA
DEAF-OWNED MOZZERIA SHOWS SIGNS OF GREAT PIZZA COMING TO THE MISSION
In the vibrant neighborhood around 16th Street and Guerrero, a new Italian restaurant is taking shape. As opening day draws closer, construction continues around the clock. Come by and you may hear the squeal of the electric saw, the clattering of lumber, the whine of an electric drill. But, despite the fact that several people are conversing simultaneously, one noise that’s notably absent is the sound of voices. That’s because the conversations are all in sign language. The owners and operators of Mozzeria, Melody and Russell Stein, and many of their workers are deaf. / Bay Area Bites

Upland, CA
DENTIST IS NOW PROVIDING DENTAL TREATMENTS FOR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDREN
Dental visits are stressful, especially for kids. For kids who are deaf or hard of hearing, and their parents, these visits can be even more stressful due to the lack of the ability to effectively communicate with the dentist. With her deaf and hard of hearing project, Upland pediatric dentist, Dr. Martinez, is now offering the empathy, patience, and the experience necessary to make dental visits less stressful for children and their parents. / PRWeb

Rochester, NY
ROCHESTER RESEARCH IDENTIFIES HEALTH DISPARITIES WITH DEAF ASL USERS
Using communication tools that enabled deaf people to identify health priorities in their own community, a University of Rochester survey found higher rates of obesity, partner violence, and suicide but lower rates of smoking, than in the general population. The survey results, published in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health, are remarkable because they represent the first time a deaf community has used its own data to assess its health status. / UR Medical Center

Rochester, NY
NTID GETS $1.2 MILLION FOR TEACHER TRAINING
Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf has been awarded a $1.2 million federal grant to help recruit and train teachers for the deaf and hard of hearing. The Department of Education grant was announced today and will be awarded over five years. / Democrat and Chronicle

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Use Hamilton Web Relay® to make and receive calls over the Internet in a private environment, separate from buddy lists and potential disruptions. There’s nothing to download -- it’s all web-based making the service available wherever you can connect to the Internet!

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Don't have a HomeTown Number? Register today and share your number with friends and colleagues! Visit http://www.hamiltonrelay.com and click on the "Make & Receive Calls Now" icon to check it out.

Hamilton Relay. That’s what I’m talking about.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Pittsburgh, PA
DEAF JEWISH ARTIST MAKES EXQUISITE JUDAICA
Sharon Jo Serbin is a wood carver, sculptor, mosaic artist and muralist. She wrote a children’s book, entertains at birthday parties, models in the nude for art classes, is a trained masseuse, and teaches Pilates and drama. She teaches babies how to communicate by signing, as she just happens to be deaf. “I consider myself a creative specialist,” Serbin said in a clear voice, although she has not heard a sound since she was 18. / The Jewish Chronicle

Rockville, MD
DEAF TEEN FINDS UNSUSPECTING ALLY AT ROCKVILLE CINEMA
This Thanksgiving weekend, Lana Pavlovskaya is proud and grateful. She's proud that her 16-year-old daughter Vika, who is deaf, is able to advocate for herself and her friends. And she's grateful that a manager at a local movie theater stuck by his decision to make sure that technology for deaf and hearing-impaired customers should function as needed. / WTOP

Davidson, NC
AUDITIONS PLANNED FOR 'CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD'
Davidson Community Players will host auditions for its February production of Mark Medoff’s “Children of a Lesser God” on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 4-5, at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson. The production will be directed by Sam Parker, an accomplished director, actor, and author and a child of deaf parents. / The Guide

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Abused in Wisconsin? If you, or someone you know, were sexually abused as a child at St. John’s School for the Deaf in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we have an important message for you: Because the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has declared bankruptcy, you may now be able to bring a claim — even if previously you were told you could not. However, because there will be a limited amount of time the courts will allow for you to bring a claim, you must act now or you may be forever prohibited from doing so. Go to www.AbusedinWisconsin.com Today! Jeff Anderson & Associates

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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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Mental Health Specialist - Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services
$19.33 - $28.35 hourly / $40,361 - $59,195 annually

We are seeking a mental health professional to provide mental health services to deaf & hard of hearing consumers living in St. Cloud and Central Minnesota. The ideal candidate will have a master’s degree in a behavioral health field such as counseling, psychology, or social work; be licensed or licensed-eligible as a mental health professional in Minnesota (LPC, LPCC, LP, LICSW or LMFT); be fluent in ASL; and experience in mental health training and counseling including knowledge of clinical/crisis interventions and psychiatric medications. In addition to a rewarding career we offer an excellent benefit and compensation package. To learn more about how you can make a difference send your resume to John Gournaris at john.gournaris@state.mn.us.

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ASL Proficiency Evaluator, ASL Diagnostic and Evaluation Services, Gallaudet University
Job Number: HR-11096
Salary Range: $49,000-$87,900

Provides interviewing and rating in accordance with the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI); participates in the development, implementation, and administration of tools, protocol, and/or procedures used in a comprehensive multiple-measures evaluation system; conducts semi-annual re-ratings of taped interviews as part of a systematic reliability check; participates in periodic retraining in interview techniques and rating procedures; participates in other research activities to maintain the quality of the evaluation system; keeps abreast of trends and research in the field of first and second language teaching, learning, acquisition, and evaluation.

Requirements:
Master's degree in linguistics, ASL, 1st and/or 2nd language teaching and learning, bilingual education, or related field. A minimum three years experience in ASL instruction and/or evaluation. Experience with developing and/or using ASL assessment tests. Knowledge of the linguistic structure of ASL and English. Knowledge and experience working with individuals with diverse educational, language, and cultural backgrounds. Ability to use judgment and tact with regard to sensitive issues and confidential matter. Ability to work well as an active, contributing member of a team as well as ability to work independently and demonstrate self-reliance and self-initiative. Experience producing written reports, proposals, and other documents related to research, best practices, learning and evaluation. Ability to use various software programs for project and program efficiency. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Fluency in ASL and English. A proficiency level of 4+ or better on the ASLPI. As part of the interview process, applicants will be given one work related question and will answer that question in writing. This English writing sample will be provided to the Gallaudet University English Department for analysis and determination of skills level.

To apply, send cover letter, completed Gallaudet University application (located on this web site: http://www.gallaudet.edu/HRS/Employment_Opportunities.html) and resume to:
Gallaudet University, Human Resources Services, 800 Florida Avenue, NE,
College Hall, room 106, ATTN: Job #11096. Washington, DC 20002

Faxed documents (202-651-5344) or emailed documents (personnel.office@gallaudet.edu are accepted.

Thank you for your interest in this position. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Outreach Specialist (2 positions: Denver, CO and Michigan)

Purple Communications is one of the nation's largest providers of communication services for the deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-disabled communities. As a leading provider of onsite interpreting services, video relay and text relay services, and video remote interpreting, the Company delivers a wide array of options designed to meet the varied communication needs of its customers. Purple Communications’ vision is to improve the quality of life of its customers by being their premier provider of high quality, innovative communication services that break down communications barriers.

Brief summary of duties:
The Outreach Specialist will spend up to 80% of their time making contact in the community in order to obtain customers by educating about Purple Communications products and services. The Outreach Specialist will also be responsible for the installation of products and will ensure the follow up of superb customer service, to ensure customer loyalty.

Areas of Responsibility:
• Installation of endpoint devices
• Aggressively drive revenue growth through superior customer service and product knowledge
• Provide technical support in the field (home residence and large accounts)
• Provide and attend workshops and other local Purple events in the community
• Provide onsite customer service support to the community at call centers - a minimum of once a week
• Training and coaching the field reps
• Educate customers on our service
• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with customers and the community
• Will manage device inventory to sell to the customers
• Building relationships within the community and with our customers
• Listen to and evaluate customer needs and recommend/develop solutions for customer
• Follow up on new leads and referrals resulting from field activity
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
• Knowledge of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture is required
• Active in the community and energetic team player
• Highly motivated, honest and committed
• Knowledge of, and experience with, providing technology support
• Comfortable with teaching others
• Effective teaching and communication skills
• Able to produce reports regarding installation, feedback, etc
• Good time management skills
• Strong work ethic
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of customers
• Strong presentation skills
• Troubleshooting any issue that may arise
• Computer and Software literacy
• Experience with any other video phone devices
• Welcoming and enthusiastic personality
• Is self-assured and confident in a variety of settings. Has a strong belief in own capabilities.
• Able to work a variety of hours/shifts
• Able to travel up to 80% as needed

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%)
• May be required to set up at events, requiring balance and lifting up to (50 pounds), and may lift or move boxes (up to 10 pounds)

Work Environment:
Work is performed in a business office environment. Travel to company, customers and vendor sites, including some that are out of state is required.

To Apply:
Please go directly to:

Denver posting:
http://www.purple.us/job-search.aspx?jobid=214619

Michigan posting:
http://www.purple.us/job-search.aspx?jobid=214618

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