Friends,
Once again our communication system is under attack. Yesterday I got
an email from yahoogroups stating that I been violating he TOS
meaning Terms Of Service. This is a common practice by the
illiterate trolls in our communities. They cant understand what I'm
talking about and they think what I'm typing up violates the TOS and
they send their complaints to the yahoogroups system.
1) Our booth at the Children Festival Volunteer Day was an astounding
success and we've been given the invite for the Children Festival
this September in which about 60 community organizations including
ours entertain about 2 million people in a single day event. This is
one grand event!
2) Our O-C Fair materals are starting to flow in. The Oberkotter
Foundation sent us samples of their freebie handouts including pretty
purple bags, a brain shaped stress buster, and a nice DVD about their
program and those who benefitted from it. And the California Avocado
Commission has sent us materials to help us design our booth.
3) We are still getting new clients from as far as Texas and
Tenneesee which is a good mark that our marketing system is working.
3) Our first board president G. Jack Digaetano is doing much much
better in the hospital, hes had to suffered a broken neck and he is
slowly regaining the use of his arms and legs. Yesterday's visit was
a positive experience for both of us.
4) The Santa Ana shakedown project is producing positive results.
We've identified 574 businesses in the city of Santa Ana that are not
disability accessible. We've communicated with these business that
we are offering refresher courses on the Americans with Disabilities
Act. Some have responded with interest in taking our class.
5) Our lawsuit with the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Irvine is still rolling
on with our firm need for TTY's at their pay phones.
6) We have been invited to a meeting in Texas and plan to make
presentations on community activism.
7) The House Ear Institute has invited us to make a presentation on
safety devices at a camp off the Ventura hills.
8) The Call Box Access Project meeting was a positive one with us
being able to re-channel our advocacy resources to places that need
our help.
9) Please check our agency's website as it has a new look. We are
continuing to make our website more accesible and attractive.
And for our advocacy brickbat;
The blast of this month goes to the psychologists and psychiatrists
who oftentimes misdiagnose Deaf people. Most psychologists and
psychiatrists are still like old dogs that are not willing to learn
new tricks (like ASL). They are usually with a 19th
century mindset. They are continually taking advantage of not only
the Deaf, but the entire disability community. Some psychiatrists
have recently labeled disability plaintiffs as 'dangerous'
or 'threatening' and so forth to help companies defeat their ADA
cases. The best way we can handle these defaming
instances is to educate the Deaf community of where to get help in
dealing with such 'shrinks'. There are a few
agencies to turn to for help. Today, there are many many Deaf
people languishing in the mental health system that are controlled by
19th century mindset psychologists and we need to identify those Deaf
people and help get them out so they can lead normal lives.
Our advocacy and activism is still in full swing in spite of the
challenges earlier this month. We are proud of our ability to
sustain the good battleship in spite of a lot of elements being
active at chipping away at us.
Always at your service!
Richard Roehm
CEO, OCDAC
Http://www.deafadvocacy.org
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Deaf activists are a valuable asset to the Deaf community.
Deaf activists are a valuable asset to the Deaf community. The more
activists we have the better we are able to defend our rights. Yes,
we need more Deaf activists than there are at this time. If you have
the time and resources to spare you can become a valuable asset to
your community. ONLY the ones that are truly sympathetic to the Deaf
community should consider becoming Deaf activists. Victims of
disability related discrimination are STRONGLY encouraged to become
activists. Take your time, get a little this now and a little that
later. You will function better if you absorb these items on a
gradual basis. The editor gave himself 18 months to accumulate these
resources. REMEMBER You are to serve the Deaf community and not
expect anything back.
Here is one way to start yourself as a Deaf activist.
1) Join local Deaf associations AND attend their meetings. (NOT
RECREATION/SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS).
2) Obtain Deaf news from Deaf newsletters or newspapers.
3) Gather the names and addresses of as many U.S. senators and as
many representatives in your state. Communicating with them is one
important part of being an activist. You will ask them to support or
reject bills that are introduced that affect the disability
community. Make sure you get the official position on the bills
preferably from the National Association for the Deaf before you
communicate with the lawmakers. When you write to lawmakers, just
send to the ones that directly represent your state.
4) Gather resources on SSI, SSDI, SSA, Workers Compensation, EEOC,
and Fair Employment and Housing authorities. Make sure that the
information comes from the government agency. It will be helpful if
you were familiar with the procedures for these programs.
5) Gather information and business cards from at least 5 attorneys
who specializes in cases involving disabled people for referrals. In
most cases, you will need to refer someone to an attorney. Keep their
problems confidential if they spill it on you before you get the
chance to refer them to an attorney.
6) Start a community newsletter if you have resources to spare.
7) Obtain a copy of the entire ADA law and all the technical manuals
CD from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission It is a good
source of information.
8) Obtain a copy of your local Social Services Resource Directory.
With this you will able to provide Deaf people with information on
how to get free food, rent, transportation, and legal assistance as
well as referrals to free specialized help. The resource directory is
very valuable.
9) Participate in any civil rights demonstration if you have the time
to spare. Try not to restrict yourself to Deaf demonstrations, go to
other disability demonstrations and civil rights demonstrations.
(This will help you form alliances!)
10) Contact other Deaf or Disability activists and ask them to help
you get started. They know how to go about things and will be a
valuable source of information. Volunteer your time helping them
out. Most activists can use a lot of help.
Hope you find this helpful!
Always at your service!
Richard Roehm
activists we have the better we are able to defend our rights. Yes,
we need more Deaf activists than there are at this time. If you have
the time and resources to spare you can become a valuable asset to
your community. ONLY the ones that are truly sympathetic to the Deaf
community should consider becoming Deaf activists. Victims of
disability related discrimination are STRONGLY encouraged to become
activists. Take your time, get a little this now and a little that
later. You will function better if you absorb these items on a
gradual basis. The editor gave himself 18 months to accumulate these
resources. REMEMBER You are to serve the Deaf community and not
expect anything back.
Here is one way to start yourself as a Deaf activist.
1) Join local Deaf associations AND attend their meetings. (NOT
RECREATION/SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS).
2) Obtain Deaf news from Deaf newsletters or newspapers.
3) Gather the names and addresses of as many U.S. senators and as
many representatives in your state. Communicating with them is one
important part of being an activist. You will ask them to support or
reject bills that are introduced that affect the disability
community. Make sure you get the official position on the bills
preferably from the National Association for the Deaf before you
communicate with the lawmakers. When you write to lawmakers, just
send to the ones that directly represent your state.
4) Gather resources on SSI, SSDI, SSA, Workers Compensation, EEOC,
and Fair Employment and Housing authorities. Make sure that the
information comes from the government agency. It will be helpful if
you were familiar with the procedures for these programs.
5) Gather information and business cards from at least 5 attorneys
who specializes in cases involving disabled people for referrals. In
most cases, you will need to refer someone to an attorney. Keep their
problems confidential if they spill it on you before you get the
chance to refer them to an attorney.
6) Start a community newsletter if you have resources to spare.
7) Obtain a copy of the entire ADA law and all the technical manuals
CD from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission It is a good
source of information.
8) Obtain a copy of your local Social Services Resource Directory.
With this you will able to provide Deaf people with information on
how to get free food, rent, transportation, and legal assistance as
well as referrals to free specialized help. The resource directory is
very valuable.
9) Participate in any civil rights demonstration if you have the time
to spare. Try not to restrict yourself to Deaf demonstrations, go to
other disability demonstrations and civil rights demonstrations.
(This will help you form alliances!)
10) Contact other Deaf or Disability activists and ask them to help
you get started. They know how to go about things and will be a
valuable source of information. Volunteer your time helping them
out. Most activists can use a lot of help.
Hope you find this helpful!
Always at your service!
Richard Roehm
OCDAC News
Folks,
Given this letter overdue from our original plans to make this
a 'weekly' letter. We had to delay a bit because of the recent
developments.
1) I have become the News Administrator at Deafcities.com website.
2) Our agency had to handle some staffing changes. One of our trusty
volunteers decided to quit due to personal reasons and it has been a
task shuffling responsibilities around to fill the void.
Now for the 'news' !
1) We have begun the big website makeover. You will see changes on our
key pages as well as our resource pages.
2) A number of our educational brochures are now available in Spanish,
Japanese, and Russian for the great diverse populations of the Southern
California areas.
3) Our OC Fair booth has been approved this year. We are getting a 20'
wide by 10' booth which is twice as big as it has been since our debut
in the year 2000. We will have a very inclusive educational program in
it's place.
4) We have added a classroom to our agency. Room 102 is our classroom
for teaching ASL, ADA, Literacy, and to be used as a safe, quiet, place
for our Youth Empowerment Program clients.
5) We have become a regional resource center of people with hearing and
vision impairments.
6) We have added a new online fundraiser program to supplement our
revenue. Http://www.igive.com/ocdac
Next week we will have more news for you.
Always at your service!
Richard Roehm
Given this letter overdue from our original plans to make this
a 'weekly' letter. We had to delay a bit because of the recent
developments.
1) I have become the News Administrator at Deafcities.com website.
2) Our agency had to handle some staffing changes. One of our trusty
volunteers decided to quit due to personal reasons and it has been a
task shuffling responsibilities around to fill the void.
Now for the 'news' !
1) We have begun the big website makeover. You will see changes on our
key pages as well as our resource pages.
2) A number of our educational brochures are now available in Spanish,
Japanese, and Russian for the great diverse populations of the Southern
California areas.
3) Our OC Fair booth has been approved this year. We are getting a 20'
wide by 10' booth which is twice as big as it has been since our debut
in the year 2000. We will have a very inclusive educational program in
it's place.
4) We have added a classroom to our agency. Room 102 is our classroom
for teaching ASL, ADA, Literacy, and to be used as a safe, quiet, place
for our Youth Empowerment Program clients.
5) We have become a regional resource center of people with hearing and
vision impairments.
6) We have added a new online fundraiser program to supplement our
revenue. Http://www.igive.com/ocdac
Next week we will have more news for you.
Always at your service!
Richard Roehm
Dealing with Discrimination
What you should do in the event you feel you have been
or about to be discriminated against.
--1) Make a journal or diary and note all the actions
of the people who are working against you. Note your
feelings to these actions and how they affect the way
you are living at home and how they affect your
social life. The journal will be valuable when you
want to claim psychological damages.
--2) Gather info on people who decided against you and
most importantly WITNESSES who will testify in your favor.
Get copies of your employee file, all papers you have
received from them and all information regarding the
position you wanted including ads on walls, newspaper.
You will have to do this secretly. And most importantly,
MAKE COPIES OF ALL THE PAPERS PERTAINING TO YOUR CASE
AND HIDE THEM IN A RELATIVE'S HOUSE.
--3) File a protest with your employer's human resources,
union, and Labor Department. Make sure you have all copies
of the protests in a secure place.
--4) Contact the Fair Employment and Housing Dept and
schedule an appt with them. Filing a complaint with
this agency will preserve your right to sue the
person(s) involved. Try to get the complaint in no later
than 6 months to ensure you are within the statute of
limitations.
--5) Contact your local deaf association for referrals
to an attorney. Be very patient with the attorney's
questions to you. Lawyer 'shopping' is HARD WORK that
PAY$ very well. This phase can get very frustrating.
Try to bear with their slow speed as they usually have
other cases to take care of before yours. Once you
have retained an attorney, HE/SHE is in charge of ALL
of the elements that goes into the case. The average
time a case is resolved is 4-8 years.
--6) BE READY TO LEAVE WORK. Update your resume and seek
employment elsewhere. Or have all information regarding
disability, SSI, Workman's Compensation ready for you
in the event you are discharged or become unable to work
for that company. Try to get on disability leave
immediately after their adversive actions against you.
Have a doctor/psychologist information ready as well.
--7) SILENCE UNTIL CASE IS SETTLED. Telling others of this
case could weaken your case as the people who you are
suing may find out from your friends and build up a
defense. The surprise element is very cruicial to your
case and has many advantages.
or about to be discriminated against.
--1) Make a journal or diary and note all the actions
of the people who are working against you. Note your
feelings to these actions and how they affect the way
you are living at home and how they affect your
social life. The journal will be valuable when you
want to claim psychological damages.
--2) Gather info on people who decided against you and
most importantly WITNESSES who will testify in your favor.
Get copies of your employee file, all papers you have
received from them and all information regarding the
position you wanted including ads on walls, newspaper.
You will have to do this secretly. And most importantly,
MAKE COPIES OF ALL THE PAPERS PERTAINING TO YOUR CASE
AND HIDE THEM IN A RELATIVE'S HOUSE.
--3) File a protest with your employer's human resources,
union, and Labor Department. Make sure you have all copies
of the protests in a secure place.
--4) Contact the Fair Employment and Housing Dept and
schedule an appt with them. Filing a complaint with
this agency will preserve your right to sue the
person(s) involved. Try to get the complaint in no later
than 6 months to ensure you are within the statute of
limitations.
--5) Contact your local deaf association for referrals
to an attorney. Be very patient with the attorney's
questions to you. Lawyer 'shopping' is HARD WORK that
PAY$ very well. This phase can get very frustrating.
Try to bear with their slow speed as they usually have
other cases to take care of before yours. Once you
have retained an attorney, HE/SHE is in charge of ALL
of the elements that goes into the case. The average
time a case is resolved is 4-8 years.
--6) BE READY TO LEAVE WORK. Update your resume and seek
employment elsewhere. Or have all information regarding
disability, SSI, Workman's Compensation ready for you
in the event you are discharged or become unable to work
for that company. Try to get on disability leave
immediately after their adversive actions against you.
Have a doctor/psychologist information ready as well.
--7) SILENCE UNTIL CASE IS SETTLED. Telling others of this
case could weaken your case as the people who you are
suing may find out from your friends and build up a
defense. The surprise element is very cruicial to your
case and has many advantages.
New poll for ocdacnewsletter
Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
ocdacnewsletter group:
Are the freeway emergency roadside callboxes in your area
accessible to callers with hearing and speech impairments?
o Yes they are!
o No they are not.
o No such call boxes in my area.
To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdacnewsletter/surveys?id=1820977
Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.
Thanks!
ocdacnewsletter group:
Are the freeway emergency roadside callboxes in your area
accessible to callers with hearing and speech impairments?
o Yes they are!
o No they are not.
o No such call boxes in my area.
To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdacnewsletter/surveys?id=1820977
Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.
Thanks!
Question
Are the freeway emergency roadside callboxes in your area accessible to callers with hearing and speech impairments?Responses
| Choices | Votes | % | of reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes they are! | 5 | 26 | |
| No they are not. | 11 | 57 | |
| No such call boxes in my area. | 3 | 15 |
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