Monday, September 26, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter September 26, 2005

Dear Friends,

Last Saturday at Woodley Park in Van Nuys we had our local Deaf
Awareness event. It was attended by approximately 500 people and we
have uploaded photos of this event to our newsletter's website. It was
a complete success! Everyone who had a booth there was invited to be
a part of a health fair on Oct 22 at another park close by. We have
plans to be a part of this new event.

"Crazy October" starts just this weekend. We call it crazy October
because of the high number of boothing activities planned. Were doing
many education and fundraising booths in many fairs and festivals with
some days we will be having several booths in different locations at
the same time. That is Crazy October!

Late October when all the the 'Crazy October' boothing activities are
over, we shall begin our move into the new office facilities on
Orange. Benefits of the move is going from a hybrid storage/business
center into a professional building that is very close to the Block at
Orange, cheaper access to T-1 internet, reception services, posh
waiting rooms and break rooms, location to support businesses like
audiologists, restaurants, and finally better location for community
members to find us.

We also made some small changes to the newsletter format as many of
our announcements were not getting the attention we expected.

If you're in the Southern California area, please consider going to
Tustin Tiller Days and visit our food stand between September 30 and
October 2 this coming weekend. We will be one of the 20 non-profit
food stands feeding approximately 55,000 people in an upscale area
park. For more information on this event, please visit
http://www.tustintillerdays.org/ and we hope to have your support
either as a volunteer or as a patron.

OCDAC Communications

-------------< INSIDE NEWS >

We are almost ready for our educational booth at 'Mata Expo'
(Mata.tv's version of Deaf Expo)

We badly need a volunteer coordinator who will help us keep in touch
with volunteers and to contact them and make sure they are given the
opportunities to participate in our activities. Our volunteer list has
grown dramatically during the fair. We really need help managing them.

We have decided to eliminate our Rose parade fundraiser and replace it
with an illumination booth at a bigger times square like New Year's
event at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

We also need committees for the Pirate's festival, Silverado Festival,
and Winter Festival fundraisers as well.

We have started on our Valentine's day dance event next February.

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENT >

Our new ASL class start September 28th! For more info and to download
a copy of
the registration form go to http://asl.deafadvocacy.org

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS >

CMU DEAF AWARENESS WEEK OFFERS INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING ACTIVITIES
http://www.news.cmich.edu/news/index.asp?id=821

KPN trials mobile phone for deaf and hearing impaired people
http://www.telecom.paper.nl/news/article.aspx?id=96955&nr=

Unique Poster for the Deaf
http://allafrica.com/stories/200509220674.html

Deaf Oscars Showcase Outstanding Talent
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0509/S00176.htm

Expert 'talks' deaf-mute man down from ledge
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=qw1127279161387B\
252


VSDB's future in Staunton could become clearer today
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050921/NEWS01/509210306/1\
002


Teacher dismissed over alleged incident with 15-year-old girl
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny-brf--teacherarrest0920se\
p20,0,7774801.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork


Headphones Linked to Hearing Loss
http://technicianonline.com/story.php?id=012213

City hosts world congress for the deaf
http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/metro/userobject1ai1471038.htm\
l


Deaf man's plea helps court avoid difficult process
http://www.observer-reporter.com/284284581547307.bsp

Deaf group targets abuse
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_3042148

Student finds mission, beauty in sign language
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/12682036.htm

Court settlement opens school doors for Pa. disabled children
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05264/575118.stm

Disabled to appeal after judge refuses to block Medicaid cuts
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/12696948.htm

FDC to Protect Rights of Disabled
http://allafrica.com/stories/200509200203.html

Central Indiana Businesses Asked to Hire Developmentally Disabled
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=15183

Parents of hearing-impaired children form lobby group
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050918T200000-0500_88682_OBS_PARENTS_\
OF_HEARING_IMPAIRED_CHILDREN_FORM_LOBBY_GROUP.asp


-------------< CALIFORNIA DEAFIE HAPPENINGS >

COME TO OUR MEETUPS!
The Orange County American Sign Language Meetup Group -
http://asl.meetup.com/37
/ - meets each 3rd Wednesdays of the
month.
The Orange County Deaf & Hearing Impaired Meetup Group -
http://deaf.meetup.com/
38/ - meets each 1st Saturdays of the month.

===============================

Julie Rems-Smario, CSUN/NCOD Alumni President, and Roberto Solorzano,
CSUN/NCOD Alumni Vice President, invite you to the exciting NCOD
Reunion on October 7-9th!!

NCOD Reunion October 7-9th! Share the news with your friends!

Deadline to pay is September 23rd!! Hurry!!!

Don't miss the fabulous event!!!!

ONLY $60 dollars per person for three days worth of FUN!

FREE CHILDCARE SERVICES for Saturday night

To purchase the tickets go to this link:

http://www.csun.onlinecommunity.com/cgi-any/activities.dll/show?sitename=CA
LSN&id=168&bid=&template=event_register.htm


The NCOD Committee is busy making plans for upcoming NCOD/CSUN Alumni
Reunion for October 7-9, 2005.

Be sure to block off this weekend and come prepared to reunite with
your former classmates, share stories of what has happened since your
departure from CSUN, and create ongoing memories.

Friday, October 7, 2005
We will kick off the weekend with a Wine and Cheese gathering at the
Woodland Hills Hilton Hotel beginning at 7 PM. Enjoy an evening of
renewal that will allow you to reconnect with friends and
acquaintances, and to meet alumni you have never known. The relaxing
environment of Hilton gives us the opportunity to unwind with hors
d'oeuvres and drinks.

Saturday, October 8, 2005
The Reunion Banquet will be held at the Woodland Hills Hilton Hotel at
6 PM. Entertainment from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and this
Millennium will be provided along with EMCEES for each era! A silent
auction will be available for spontaneous shopping with your dollars
going toward the Alumni Chapter for future events! Several
individuals will be honored ... you do NOT want to miss out on this!

CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED! YOUR BABYSITTING WORRIES ARE OVER!

Sunday, October 9, 2005
Bring the family to a Picnic/BBQ at the National Center on Deafness at
CSUN from 11 AM to 3 PM. Join us for campus tours (yes, the campus has
dramatically changed for many of you), children's activities (face
painting and a jumping house), and a casual, kick-back environment
before going home. There is no cost to attend the picnic, food and
beverages will be on sale at the event.

Parking is $4.00 per car in campus lots or free on the adjacent streets.

To attend, sign up on-line with a credit card on our secured server:
http://www.csun.onlinecommunity.com/cgi-any/activities.dll/show?sitename=CAL
SN&id=168&bid=&template=event_register.htm or contact Scott Selna to
pay by check at [email protected]

So, what are you waiting for???
Submit your reservation immediately!! Get FREE REMEMBRANCE BOOK!! If
you are not a CSUN/NCOD alumni Member, now is the time to become one.
In doing so, you will receive a free Remembrance book of the Reunion
- similar to a yearbook with photos and alumni contact information to
carry on your friendships and networking opportunities. If you'd like
more information, please contact Lauren Kinast at
[email protected] the hotel where the Reunion takes place‹

Woodland Hills Hilton Hotel
6360 Canoga Avenue
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

For reservations contact Dave Dent at 818 596-4569 or [email protected]

It is $89.00/night without breakfast and $99.00/night with full hot
breakfast
Check in 3:00 PM
Check out 11:00 AM

California State University, Northridge/ National Center on Deafness
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330
===============================

Sign Language for Everyone!
A one-time event on the mainstage of the Pasadena Playhouse ~ State
Theatre of California
39 S. El Molino, Pasadena, California 91101

Saturday, September 24th, 2005 ~ 10 am-12 noon only $5 a person ~ just
show up! pay at the door!

This is a FUN class for all ages of hearing people to learn to Sign.

Presented by "The Sign Language Angels" Christie Jenkins and Anthony
Natale

Please point your browser to
http://www.signlanguagevideo.com/events.htm for more detailed
information and pictures.
===============================

SALK INSTITUTE NEEDS YOUR HELP!

We are looking for volunteers, age 45-85 years, to help us improve our
sign language ability assessment tools using our newest technology,
the videophone.

Participation is easy!

You get a Target or Starbucks card for 30 Minutes on Videophone!

Participation involves two tests. One is producing the ASL signs for a
set of pictured objects. Another is repeating sets of words. All of
this will be done on the videophone.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
*A Videophone through which we will conduct our two tests;
*A FAX number where we can fax you release forms and you return the signed
forms; or we can mail you the forms.
*Fluency in American Sign Language

WHO WE ARE:
At the Salk Institute in San Diego, we are a team of researchers
dedicated to understanding how stroke and other forms of brain damage
affect sign language use. Our researchers are Marla Hatrak, Bert
Pickell, and Dr. Ursula Bellugi.

HOW TO CONTACT US:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 am to 2 pm (Pacific Time)
VPHONE: 858-453-4100
TTY: 858-453-5470
FAX: 858-452-7052
EMAIL: [email protected]
PAGER: [email protected]
Or MAIL:
Marla Hatrak
The Salk Institute
Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience
10010 North Torrey Pines Road
LaJolla, CA 92037
===============================

School Community, Families, Other Schools, CSD Alumni, ASL Students,
Deaf Community members & the General Public,

The 145 years old school, California School for the Deaf relocated
from Berkeley to Fremont in 1980 and it has been 25 years!

CSD invites YOU

to join us all day or just the evening on Friday, November 11, 2005

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Open House Events
Registration at Administration Building
Scholastic Book Fair
Classroom Visitations
Student Organization Sales & Food Sales by FEAST and APTC
Deaf Services Faire in the Small Gym

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Afternoon Program and Student Skits in the Big Gym for the Public

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Teacher-Parent Conferences
Deaf Services Faire In the Small Gym
Social Hour for the Alumni

TICKETED EVENT
Early-bird tickets: $15 for each adult and $10 for each child for the
evening events.
At-door tickets: $20 each. Tickets for sale at the homecoming game,
online at www.csdf.k12.ca.us <http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us>, or send
payment to Outreach Davison, California School for the Deaf, 39350
Gallaudet Drive, Fremont, CA 94538

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Reception in the Cafeteria - catered hors d'oeuvre

6:00 PM
Evening Performance by Alumnus Rita Corey in the Big Gym

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENT >

Please visit our iGive store http://www.igive.com/ocdac

-------------< DEAF GRAPEVINE >

Free Gentex plug-in strobe smoke detectors available to the low income
deaf and hard of hearing from the National Association of Certified
Home Inspectors (NACHI) and you can apply for one through their
website http://www.safehousecampaign.com/

-------------< BULLETIN >

104 Arrested as ADAPT Occupies House and Senate Leadership Offices

Washington, D.C.---Fed up with being the targets of Congressional
Medicaid cuts, and being pitted against Katrina survivors for
essential services, 500 ADAPT activists occupied the offices of
Congressional leaders for 5 hours Monday, resulting in 104 arrests.
"Low income people with
disabilities are hemorrhaging as a result of the continual cuts to
Medicaid by the states and Congress," said Barb Toomer, ADAPT
Organizer from Utah. "The leaders of the House and Senate are
obviously in a position to stop the bleeding, so we came directly to
them. We feel these cuts very personally, and we wanted the Senators
and Representatives to feel it personally, too."

Entering the offices of Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN), Sen. Chuck Grassley
(R-IA), Sen. Harry Reid ( D-NV), and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. J.
Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Rep. Tom Delay (R-TX), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX),
ADAPT presented each with the following demands;

1. Support restoration of the proposed $10 billion Medicaid cuts.

2. No arbitrary caps on Medicaid, or block granting of Medicaid
funds.

3. Eliminate the institutional bias in Medicaid by supporting
MiCASSA
(S .401, H.R. 910 ) and Money Follows the Person (S. 528,
H.R. 3063)

4. Fund HUD housing vouchers for all people transitioning from
nursing
homes and other institutions to integrated community living.

5. Sponsor an initiative to address long term care services, durable
medical equipment, assistive technology, support services,
service
animals and community housing for Katrina evacuees with
disabilities.

The occupation of the offices in the Hart, Cannon, and Rayburn
buildings followed a morning press conference held next to FEMA
Headquarters, and attended by FEMA staff. ADAPT Organizers from
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama called into the press conference
from their home states to inform the crowd by speakerphone about the
state of affairs for Katrina survivors with disabilities in their
respective areas. They spoke of people with disabilities being the
last people evacuated, being actually turned away from shelters
because of their disabilities or because they had no attendants with
them, being separated from family, caregivers and necessary equipment
and service animals, and now languishing in nursing homes and other
institutions unconnected to the official resources being made
available to the majority of Katrina survivors.

"This really is a matter of our life and death," said Randy Alexander,
Tennessee ADAPT Organizer. "A few months ago, Tennessee Gov. Bredesen
drastically cut back TennCare, including home care services for people
who use ventilators. He openly admitted that he was forcing these
people into nursing homes. Just today we got word that we have
suffered the first death of a ventilator user, the first casualty of
Gov. Bredesen's heartless cuts. Unless Congress acts, the deaths will
continue."

ADAPT is in Washington through Thursday of this week to demand
legislation and policy from any corner of the federal government with
the power to assure that people with disabilities of all ages have
what they need to live lives of dignity and choice in their communities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on ADAPT visit our website at http://www.adapt.org/
-------------< ANNOUNCEMENT >

Please visit our bookstore that has related books and different kinds of
assistive living devices at http://store.deafadvocacy.org

-------------< ADVOCACY NEWS >

Let's educate employers the benefits of employing the deaf and disabled.

By recruiting and hiring deaf and disabled, companies will not only
help this underemployed demographic become an active part of today's
workforce, it will also benefit from several government incentives.

Among them are:

* Tax Deduction to Remove Architectural and Transportation Barriers to
People with Disabilities and Elderly Individuals (Title 26, Internal
Revenue Code, Section 190)

* Disabled Access Tax Credit (Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, section 44)

* Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, section
51). Employers are eligible to receive a tax credit in the amount of
40 percent of the first $6,000 of first-year wages of a new employee
who has a disability. For an employer to qualify for the credit, a
worker must have been employed for at least 90 days or have completed
at least 120 hours of work for the employer.

* To encourage small businesses to comply with the Americans with
Disabilities Act, legislation was signed into law in 1990 that
provides a credit for 50 percent of eligible expenses related to
assistive technologies (up to $5,000 a year)
From the DeafWatch Newsletter archives.
-------------< DEAF QUOTES >

"I understand the desire to be around people like ourselves, and I
don't have a problem with that, but I don't think it's very wise. This
is a little bit of circling-the-wagons mentality, if you ask me. We
think there is a greater benefit for people to be part of the whole
world" Todd Houston, executive director of Alexander Graham Bell
Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Washington on Laurent
South Dakota town for the deaf.

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENT >

Do you shop at Albertsons or Sav-on stores? You can get a free
community partners card at those stores and then add it to our list of
supporters. A percent of what you buy will go to helping our Deaf
youth program. If you already have a school or other program that you
are supporting, don't worry, you can add your card to support our
program too! There are two ways to add your card. You can email your
First and Last name with your phone number and community partners card
number to [email protected] or you can download and print our
Albertsons / Sav-on Community Partners signup forms at
http://www.deafadvocacy.org/AlbertsonsSignup.pdf and have your
friends, neighbors, associates, and relatives sign up as supporters
and then mail the form to the address on the
form. To reach our funding goal we need 25,000 supporters who shop at
Albertsons / Sav-on. And remember to use your community partners card
when you shop at Albertsons or Sav-on.

-------------< COMMUNITY BULLHORN >

National Black Deaf Advocates Establishes Fund for Deaf / Hard of
Hearing and Sign Language Interpreter Hurricane Katrina Survivors

Like the rest of the nation, we the members of National Black Deaf
Advocates (NBDA) are expressing our sorrow and grief over the
devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina along the Alabama, Louisiana
and Mississippi Gulf coasts. NBDA in particular, has a personal
fondness for this region since we have many NBDA members and their
families living in the area.

In an effort to help ease the plight of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
victims of the storm, NBDA will be collecting and distributing funds
to aid in the Hurricane Relief efforts. These funds are specifically
earmarked for members of the deaf, hard of hearing, and Sign Language
interpreting community.

We are calling upon members of NBDA, the Deaf Community, and members
of our extended hearing communities to participate in this effort.
With your contributions you will have an opportunity to help the
recovery efforts of DEAF Community members in the Gulf. All donations
are tax deductible. NBDA is a properly documented 5013C Charity. One
hundred percent (100%) of the donations will go to victims of this
nation's most horrific national disaster.
Sheryl Emery and Reggie Redding will be heading the NBDA crisis
response team on behalf of NBDA and will work with other national
disability organizations to ensure needs of deaf community are not
over looked.

NBDA President Tom Samuels and Vice President Richard Mccowin
encourage you all to provide assistance at this time. Please give
generously.

Please make your check or money order to:

NBDA - Disaster Relief Funds
Attn: Gerald Miller
1105 Waterford Place
Herndon, VA 20170
Note: Please do not put Mr. Millers name on your donation. Use his
name only on envelope.


-------------< DEAF FRIENDLY JOB OPPORTUNITIES >

2 deaf or hard of hearing mortgage consultants needed for a Riverside,
California mortgage company.

All candidates interested in any of the job opportunities are required
to apply for our job placement services. Our intake form is at
http://www.deafadvocacy.org/intake.htm

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENT >

We recycle used cell phones, empty printer and toner cartridges! If
you have any of these to unload from your hands, please send or drop
them at our agency at 2960 Main Street, A100, Irvine, California 92614

-------------< DEAF FRIENDLY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES >

Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by becoming a .WS domain
reseller! Become an owner of a _________.WS website for only $10 a
month! Includes hosting, email, and easy to use website design tools
to create a professional looking website. And all _________.WS owners
automatically become .WS website resellers and itcomes with an
automatic selling program. All you have to do is lead people to your
reseller website! The WS stands for 'website'! This is an excellent
self-sufficiency opportunity for people who want to be on the top of
the .WS cyber real estate market. Take a look at the ASL video at
http://www.deafadvocacy.org/cbep/website05.wmv and if you're
interested in this self-sufficiency program please go to
http://website.ws/ocdac for an easy sign
up. Or if you do not know American Sign Language, go straight to the
reseller page at http://website.ws/ocdac for a video of the program.

-------------< LETTERS >

We need your feedback on how we can improve this newsletter without
sacrificing it's designation as a medium to share advocacy information.

-------------< EPILOG >

If you wish to contribute to this newsletter, feel free to send in
news, stories, and opinions relating to the disability community. Your
support in this effort to move the disability community forward will
be greatly appreciated. We will continue to aggressively pursue
justice, fairness, and equality for the disability community as it has
been doing since November 1996. We have chosen
that EDUCATION is the best way to accomplish this objective.

The Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center is a community based
organization that puts people with disabilities first in their
advocacy for equal opportunities in safety, health, and productive living.

The Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center provides services for disabled
individuals and their families in our community who need help in
navigating the social services maze. Every day people go without
proper food, shelter, and essential medical care every day due to a
variety of factors including low wages, job loss, injuries, illness,
age, domestic violence, or divorce. While all of us are susceptible to
hard times, disabled individuals are at the most risk. With the
generous support of people like you, we are able to help many of these
families and individuals not only to meet essential daily needs, but
to work toward a brighter future with programs in job training,
education, counseling, elderly assistance, and temporary housing.

Feel free to forward this email message to anyone and any of your
personal mailing lists so we can get the important messages out far
and wide and encourage them to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

To subscribe to this newsletter go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdacnewsletter/ or send a blank email
to [email protected]

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