Tuesday, July 26, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter July 26, 2005

Dear Friends,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT! TODAY IS THE 15TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

We celebrate this day everyday by helping people enforce it. We're
not going to be just saying pretty words about the law. We're going
to say the law is the sword in our hands and we've used it many times
already and we will continue to use it to help people with
disabilities get the same opportunities to safety, good health, and
productivity.

The fair is winding down to it's final week. The education operation
has already been declared a complete sucess. We are now getting
invitations by people who visited our booths to have educational
booths at health fairs, job fairs, and make presentations at
airports, Boy Scouts Camporee, Leisure World. We really need help
with booth staffing for the final 7 days as our core volunteer staff
has already been showing plenty signs of fatigue.

The Federal Communications Commission has published a notice of
proposed rulemaking in the matter of Closed Captioning of Video
Programming. We intend to file comments on behalf of the deaf
community. Richard Roehm has already been contacting community
members with this issues and has received a number of suggestons on
how to improve captioning. Our focus will be on next generation
televisions like plasma and liquid crystal displays, webcast videos,
and making captioning readable by peple with low vision.

OCDAC Communications

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

We 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 lineup
has grown to over 100 people. This is one of the many great results
of our booth at the Orange County Fair.

We need to develop a program to teach young people sign language.
There has been a considerable number of requests for youth sign
language classes at the OC Fair booth. We intend to meet this need
as soon as possible.

Our Festival of Children education booth planning has already begun.
We need donations of bright colored paper to print our deaf awareness
materials on. This event is in September and was attended by 2
million people last year. A lot of the materials for this event has
already arrived at our office. We will have booths each weekend of
September at the festival.

We need to start a committee for our Tiller Days Festival, our 2nd
largest fundraising event of the year. Tiller Days is in October and
in Tustin, California. Also we have decided to elimninate our Rose
parade fundraiser and replace it with a bigger times square like
event at the Orange County Fairgrounds. We also need committees for
the Pirate's festival, Silverado Festival, and Winter Festval
fundraisers as well. Were going to be starting our nightly
fundraising activities at the bowling centers soon to help us raise
funds for the expenses of the bigger fundraising operations. We have
some new products that hold good promise in our fundraising.

We also started on our Deaf festival awareness booth planning that's
taking place in Van Nuys this coming September.

We have also started on our Deaf Expo (Mata.tv) planning for the
event in November in Long Beach.

We have begun our internal discussions on getting a grant to build a
six unit apartment building for the deaf and disabled in Salton City,
California. They recently built a casino and a major travel center
in the area and its becoming a boomtown after decades of slow
growth. Plans are on the way to re-open the airport, start a
fairground in the area too. We need to establish a committee who
will help us get the funding reservations.

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

Child no longer deaf to the world
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_2888451

ADA legislation has opened many doors for the disabled
http://www.scsun-news.com/artman/publish/article_6661.shtml

Deaf kids tune in to celebrity
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050723/NEWS01/507230321/1002/NEWS

Event lauds Disability Act's spirit
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050723/NEWS01/507230313/1006/NEWS

Implant could restore hearing to the deaf
http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?
story=BZ2515730T&news_headline=implant_could_restore_hearing_to_the_de
af

Law eases path for the disabled
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050725/OPINION01/507250301/1004/NEWS

Deaf golfer Kevin Hall makes PGA Tour debut
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/golf/07/23/bc.glf.deafgolfer.ap/
index.html

Deaf charity wants high fashion hearing aids
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/25/hearing_aids_fashion/

U-Mass professor connects deaf students with geology
http://www.wrgb.com/news/regional/regional.asp?selection=article_37571

Agency that aids disabled probed for funds
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/12215984.htm

Camp helps area hearing-impaired children
http://www.edmondsun.com/articles/2005/07/24/news/news03.txt

Disability Activists Blast PBS for ADA Anniversary Promotion of
Better Dead than Disabled Film
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prwebxml265191.php

Disabled Kids Play T-Ball at White House
http://news.yahoo.com/news?
tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050724/ap_on_go_pr_wh/white_house_t_ball_1

Radios Available for Hearing-Impaired Fans
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3196808

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

Next month, we will be helping a deaf client pursue a possible class
action case against the City of San Diego, their police department,
and the San Diego courts for permitting an orchestration of
communication barriers that prevented the client from having any say
in the police situation and preventing the client from having it's
day in court. This will be one of our key cases. Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act didnt seem to exist through the eyes
of the City of San Diego, their police department, and the courts
down there. We intend to use litigation to make Title II very
visible to them.

We are seeking more deaf people with similar situations in the San
Diego Area and we're exploring the possibility of making a class
action case out of this. If you have or know someone with a similar
experience, please let us know about it. Send it to the
[email protected] email address.

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

ATTENTION DEAF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MYSTERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DISNEY
COMPANY.

We are looking for DEAF People and others who have problems with the
Disney Company:

--apply, and no call back?
--apply, but no interview because deaf/ interpreter issue?
--apply, interview, but no interpreter or captions?
--got job, but then no interpreter for staff meetings?
--you feel punished because after being hired youre excluded from
training's, staff meetings, or other staff events?

(1) NEED YOUR NAME AND (2) ADDRESS (3) and E-mail (4) explanation of
your problem with The Disney Company.

We work with Morse Mehrban who is a rising star in the field of
disability access litigation. Morse needs to know about this no later
than September 4, 2005. Please email [email protected] and
please use 'Disney Problems' in the subject line.

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

Justin's "ADA Ten" message: even more true now in 2005.

July 26, 2000

Dear Colleagues:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADA!

Congratulations to all the magnificent patriots who have fought to
pass and to implement the worlds first comprehensive civil rights law
for people with disabilities.

This is the tenth anniversary of the ADA. Has it been a success?

Yes. Relative to civil rights laws of the past considering the
millennia- deep roots of prejudice against people with disabilities,
the viciousness of the opposition by interest groups and that
compliance sometimes requires actual physical changes I believe that
the ADA has been more successful than anyone had a right to
expect.

Presidents Bush and Clinton have supported the ADA publicly and
through reasonable enforcement by their (understaffed) Justice
Departments. Many state and local governments followed suit. The
disability rights
movement has celebrated, advocated and enforced the law in most
communities.

Uncountable millions of substantial accommodations ramps, lifts on
buses, parking places, Braille signs, wide and automatic doors,
modified working places and bathrooms, assistive technology,
listening devices,
captions, telephone relays, interpreters have been provided, mostly
voluntarily. More importantly, millions of decision makers have been
forced to recognize people with disabilities as full members of the
human race, as citizens with the power to advocate and to sue for
their rights. In spite of initial business association opposition
to the law, a Harris Poll of a few years ago revealed that 83% of
business CEOs favored the ADA. All this has been accomplished
without the avalanche of lawsuits predicted by early opponents of the
Act.

It is often stated that the ADA has not been successful because there
are still 70% of people with disabilities unemployed. This criticism
does not impress me. Employment is determined by numerous physical,
psychological, educational and economic factors, many of which are
not directly regulated by the ADA.

Furthermore, I sense that the measured population of job seekers with
disabilities is changing. Far more people with severe disabilities
are training for, applying for, getting and not getting jobs. This
is a slow process, because we are just now beginning to stop paying
people not to work (WIIA, welfare reform, etc), and to lead them down
the long road from the attitudes of dependency to the attitudes and
skills of competitive work. But progress is being made, and a solid
foundation for more progress is being laid, even though uperficial
percentages have not changed much.

Finally, it is totally irrational to judge the ADA in isolation from
history. Our democracy was founded more than 200 years ago and we
still have a monstrous poverty gap. The Ten Commandments were
written more than 3000 years ago and none of them are totally
obeyed. Should we judge democracy and the Ten Commandments
unsuccessful?

It may take centuries for ADA to reach all of its goals. On its
tenth anniversary, it is a substantial success. This is not to say
that long term success is assured. Democracy is a fragile thing.
The forces of retreat are powerful, massively funded and dogmatically
determined. They may prevail. We must remain vigilant, passionate
and unified in our advocacy for a just society.

Solidarity forever. Together, we shall overcome.

Justin Dart

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENTS >

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.

Our new ASL class schedules have been released. Please consult the
deaf center's website for the ASL class schedules.

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

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.

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

If you shop at Albertsons and have a community partners card, please
consider adding your card to our list of supporters. You can now
download and print our Albertsons Community Partners signup forms at
Http://www.deafadvocacy.com/AlbertsonsSignup.pdf and have your
friends, neighbors, associates, and relatives sign up as supporters
and then mail it to the address on the form. Our goal is 25,000
supporters who shop at Albertsons. And when you shop at Albertsons,
please dont forget to use the community partners card.

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 QUOTES >

"We use this almost every night, and we feel like we're close to
them. It's like they're in the house with us, but they're not" said
Louise Osborne of CSDVRS' D-Link system.

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

MEDIA ADVISORY

Department of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson,
Secretary Office of Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20410 2:00 P.M.
Monday, July 25, 2005

HUD STUDY SHOWS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DISCRIMINATED AGAINST MORE
THAN ANY OTHER GROUP WHEN SEEKING RENTALS

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is
releasing a groundbreaking, Chicago-based study, Discrimination
Against Persons With Disabilities Barriers at Every Step, that shows
people with disabilities are often discriminated against when trying
to rent apartments. The agency plans to use the comprehensive study
to provide fair housing advocates nationwide with a standardized tool
that will
allow them to investigate and detect discrimination against people
with disabilities.

##############

How do feel about Jerry Lewis and the telethon? Do you think his
portrayal of people with disabilities is degrading and despicable?
If you're getting a sour taste in your mouth and you feel like
throwing up
just thinking about another telethon approaching fast, then here's an
opportunity to take action.

We're asking Independent Living Centers and activists throughout the
country to organize free public screenings some time around Labor Day
of the documentary THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, a half-hour video about a
renegade Jerry's Kid named Mike Ervin.

A Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) poster child in the 1960s,
today Mike is a disability rights activist who challenges the use of
pity to raise money in the MDA's annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day
telethon. The documentary follows Mike and his group Jerry's Orphans
as they organize protests against the telethon in Chicago. The video
includes intense footage of protests from three consecutive years
paired with an interview in which Mike explains the history of
Jerry's Orphans and the reasons he confounded the group.

Our goal is to use this documentary as an anti-telethon organizing
tool within the disability community. We hope activists like you will
be interested in using the film to stir discussions in your area
about pity, charity and the perception of disability. If you wish,
you can also use the screening to generate media coverage and
protests to counteract the damage of the telethon.

We are also in the process of creating viewer discussion guides to
help facilitate your post show
discussion. We'll be glad to send free copies of the guides and the
video to anyone interested in organizing a screening.

If you would like to participate, please give me a call or send me an
email. My telephone number in Chicago is 773-929-6362, email address
[email protected]. Please check out our Web site for more information
at http://www.thekidsareallright.org

I look forward to hearing from ALL OF YOU. Take care and FREE OUR
PEOPLE.

Sincerely,

Barb Wesolek
Outreach Campaign Coordinator
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

##############

Senator Tom Harkin is planning to introduce a Senate Resolution to
commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities
Act next week, and is hoping that the Resolution will be considered
by the
U.S. Senate next Monday, July 25, 2005. On that afternoon, between
3:30 and 5:30 p.m. (EST), Senator Harkin plans to be on the Senate
floor speaking about the impact the ADA has had on the lives of
individuals with disabilities over the past 15 years. He would like
to be able to share your experiences, about how the ADA has impacted
your life. If you would like to share your story (which could be
cited by Senator Harkin or
included in the Congressional Record), please send your story to
[email protected] ([email protected]).
( Editor : Why dont you write to Senator Harkin that the deaf
communities need more than 4 days to submit their comments. )

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

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

5 deaf or hard of hearing students needed at a store in Irvine for
work experience credit.

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.com/intake.htm

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

Become an owner of a _________.WS website for only $10 a month! All
_________.WS owners automatically become .WS website resellers and it
comes with an automatic selling program and all you have to do is
lead people to your .WS reseller website. The WS stands
for 'website'! Link has video of the program in American Sign
Language and is a excellent self-sufficiency opportunity for people
who want to be on the top of the .WS cyber real estate market.
Hearing people can participate as the reseller link also has a video
for them. Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by sending a
blank email to [email protected] and it will auto-reply back to you
with information about this fantastic program. And you will get
another email message a few days later with the full explanation of
the program.

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

I would like to know why almost everything on the internet, and
practically everywhere else goes on about ASL as though it's the only
sign language, and nobody / very few help you learn it.

Personally, I come from Great Britain. I use BSL. I was born with a
hearing loss, and what hearing I do have relies upon being in a near-
silent room to understand the speech, not just the tones of the
voice. If I go out publicly, the reliability of what I believe I am
hearing is very poor. I am losing my hearing, and assuming it stays
on the same decline I am likely to be severely / profoundly deaf in
5 - 10 years, and I will rely completely on Sign.

I think that the internet gives the impression to newcomers to the
deaf community that ASL is exclusive, and no other Sign Languages
exist, or those that do are cheap imitations of ASL. I do not feel
that ASL should be elevated to this status, and the other Signs
belittled.

This 'gripe' has grown since I wish to move to the States some time
in the next few years to be with a girl I've met on the internet. She
is profoundly deaf and lives in the States. I am making every effort
to learn ASL before I arrive as obviously I wish to communicate with
her when we meet. I have seen the Deaf World Web pages, and what used
to be the fabulous Deafnewspaper.com site. I have very few words I
can use to communicate in ASL. I still have to base the structure of
my signs on the structure of BSL.

Can anyone help me? I have had regular postings on Alldeaf.com, I
have an appeal on my own site, and nobody seems to be able to offer
any assistance.

If anyone can help me, please reply to this newsletter.

Many thanks...

Steve

-------------< 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 for 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 accomplish this objective.

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 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 any one 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.


Monday, July 18, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter July 18, 2005

Dear Friends,

The judges have spoken. We got a red ribbon for our largest deaf
education program. Many thanks to everyone who helped us from last
January at the planning stages through now at the booth. Many thanks
to our sponsors for making this a wholesome and fully inclusive
educational project. Our key sponsors are; Oberkotter Foundation,
Animated Speech Corporation, Family Empowerment Center, Crestar Bank,
California Silent Studios, Radio Shack, Trader Joes, Oneill Wetsuits,
Albertsons Supermarket, California Avocado Commission, Law Offices of
Morse Mehrban, Prestige Catering, Westminster Ice Arena, Law Offices
of Jim Carver, Westminster Lanes, and finally a big big thanks to our
favorite fundraising supplier Gosa Toys!

Our free Sign Language booklets are a big hit at our booth. We have
been passing out an average of 3,000 copies a weekday and 20,000
copies a weekend day. Our poor copying machine is being put to the
real test and the copier's drum is already showing signs of wear. We
even have school teachers grabbing as many as 50 copies off our
booth. That's a lot of people being introduced to American Sign
Language and this makes our whole education project a complete
success and makes Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center a leader in deaf
awareness education. There is an animated photo of the traffic at
our booth at the front of our website.

Thanks to Sprint VRS for their patience in letting us demonstrate the
Video Relay Services. It has grabbed a lot of interest among the
crowds.

We're getting more volunteers and newsletter signups through our
booth at the Orange County Fair.

We remain the record holder of the most ribbons won by a non-profit
at a single fair event.

Our very own Deaf-Blind services director, Beth Koenig, met
Congresswoman Loreta Sanchez at the fairgrounds and discussed with
her the importance and need of deaf blind services in Orange County.
Kudos to Beth for standing up for the Deaf-Blind! A photo of this
encounter is at the front of our website.

If you live in the Southern California area, come on over to the
Orange County Fair ( www.ocfair.com ) and visit our booth at the
Orange County Building.

If you shop at Albertsons and have a community partners card, please
consider adding your card to our list of supporters. You can now
download and print our Albertsons Community Partners signup forms at
Http://www.deafadvocacy.com/AlbertsonsSignup.pdf and have your
friends, neighbors, associates, and relatives sign up as supporters
and then mail it to the address on the form. Our goal is 25,000
supporters who shop at Albertsons. And when you shop at Albertsons,
please dont forget to use the community partners card.

OCDAC Communications

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

Our Festival of Children education booth planning has already begun.
We need donations of bright colored paper to print our deaf awareness
materials on. This event is in September and was attended by 2
million people last year. A lot of the materials for this event has
already arrived at our office.

We need to start a committee for our Tiller Days Festival, our 2nd
largest fundraising event of the year. Tiller Days is in October and
in Tustin, California. Also we have decided to elimninate our Rose
parade fundraiser and replace it with a bigger times square like
event at the Orange County Fairgrounds. We also need committees for
the Pirate's festival, Silverado Festival, and Winter Festval
fundraisers as well. Were going to be starting our nightly
fundraising activities at the bowling centers soon to help us raise
funds for the expenses of the bigger fundraising operations. We have
some new products that hold good promise in our fundraising.

We also started on our Deaf festival awareness booth planning that's
taking place in Van Nuys this coming September.

We have also started on our Deaf Expo (Mata.tv) planning for the
event in November in Long Beach.

We have begun our internal discussions on getting a grant to build a
six unit apartment building for the deaf and disabled in Salton City,
California. They recently built a casino and a major travel center
in the area and its becoming a boomtown after decades of slow
growth. Plans are on the way to re-open the airport, start a
fairground in the area too. We need to establish a committee who
will help us get the funding reservations.

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

Positive sign at deaf restaurant
http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2005-07-
17_775114.html

Oregon Deaf And Hard-of-Hearing Services Ensured; Disability
Commission Preserved
http://www.medfordnews.com/articles/index.cfm?artOID=306188&cp=10996

Center for the Deaf acquires West Allis building
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2005/07/18/story8.html?
from_rss=1

Samaritan Saves Deaf Girl From House Fire
http://www.nbc10.com/news/4734856/detail.html

Deaf-mute unfit for trial?
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-50321sy0jul18,0,1150430.story?
coll=dp-headlines-topnews

Americans With Disabilities Act: A job not done (yet)
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05196/538181.stm

Smoke detectors for deaf installed in home
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050715/NEWS0102/507150419

FCC Adopts New Rules Covering Video Relay Services
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/94986

2nd Deaf World Cup schedule formally announced
http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=112602

Baseball fantasy camp for deaf youths at Boysen Park
http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/07/16/sections/sports/other/article
_600032.php

Deaf school campers go missing for several hours
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20050715/NEWS/107150040/-1/rss01

Widely Used Alcohol Screening Instruments Confusing to Deaf Persons
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0%2C1854%
2C577716%2C00.html

$50,000 cost to comply with disabilities act
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/top/j15county.htm

Police: Coach paid kid to hurt disabled teammate
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/more/07/15/bc.bbo.youngplayerhur
t.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

Users of Assistance Dogs Leave a Trail of Lawsuits
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-dogs10jul10,1,96540.story?
coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

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

Rumors concerning the Sidekick III, a new version of a very popular
hand held mobile communicator, continues to dominate the deaf blogs.
Discussions have sometimes heated up to ad-homenum attacks on some of
the participants. The editor has decided to lighten up the
discussions up by 'finding out what the Sidekick III will look like"
and used a photo of the old teletype machine that was one of the
first communication machines used by the deaf communities.

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

ATTENTION DEAF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MYSTERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DISNEY
COMPANY.

We are looking for DEAF People and others who have problems with the
Disney Company:

--apply, and no call back?
--apply, but no interview because deaf/ interpreter issue?
--apply, interview, but no interpreter or captions?
--got job, but then no interpreter for staff meetings?
--you feel punished because after being hired youre excluded from
training's, staff meetings, or other staff events?

(1) NEED YOUR NAME AND (2) ADDRESS (3) and E-mail (4) explanation of
your problem with The Disney Company.

We work with Morse Mehrban who is a rising star in the field of
disability access litigation. Morse needs to know about this no later
than September 4, 2005. Please email [email protected] and
please use 'Disney Problems' in the subject line.

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

FCC LAUNCHES REVIEW OF CLOSED CAPTIONING RULES

The Commission has begun a proceeding to assess how its closed
captioning rules are succeeding in ensuring that video programming is
accessible to the millions of deaf and hard of hearing Americans and
whether any revisions should be made to enhance the effectiveness of
those rules. It asked for comments on several compliance and quality
issues relating to closed captioning that were raised in a Petition
for Rulemaking filed by Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. (TDI),
the National Association of the Deaf, Self Help for Hard of Hearing
People, Inc., the Association for Late Deafened Adults, and the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network.

The current closed captioning rules have been in place since January
1, 1998. At the time the rules were adopted, the Commission indicated
it would review them after closed captioning was implemented to
determine whether its expectations regarding closed captioning were
being met. The Commission initiated this review as a follow-up to the
Commission's prior assurances and in response to TDI's Petition. The
Commission also noted that, effective January 1, 2006, all non-exempt
new programming must be captioned, and this rulemaking proceeding
provides an opportunity to ensure that video programming distributors
are prepared to fulfill this requirement.

The Commission is interested in comments about various aspects of
closed captioning. It asked commenters to address the following types
of issues:

• Is there a need to adopt standards for non-technical quality of
closed captioning, such as, for example, accuracy of transcription?
What would be the costs of mandating such standards? Should any non-
technical quality standards be different for pre-produced programs
versus live programming?

• Is there a need for additional procedures to prevent and remedy
technical problems such as, for example, captions not being delivered
intact, or captions ending before the end of the programming? If so,
what form should they take?

• Should distributors have specific mechanisms in place for
monitoring and maintenance?

• Should the existing complaint procedure be changed?

• Should the Commission establish specific per violation forfeiture
amounts for noncompliance with the captioning rules?

• Should the Commission require video programming distributors to
file compliance reports as to the amount of closed captioning they
provide?

• Should the ban on counting electronic newsroom technique captioning
to meet captioning requirements be extended beyond the top 25 markets?

• What is the current status on the supply of available captioners?

• Should the Commission require electronic filing of requests for
exemption from the closed captioning requirements?

Action by the Commission July 14, 2005, by Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FCC 05-142). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Abernathy,
Copps, and Adelstein.

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENTS >

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.

Our new ASL class schedules have been released. Please consult the
deaf center's website for the ASL class schedules.

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

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.

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

If you shop at Albertsons and have a community partners card, please
consider adding your card to our list of supporters. Our goal is
25,000 supporters who shop a Albertsons. You can now download and
print our Albertsons signup forms at
Http://www.deafadvocacy.com/AlbertsonsSignup.pdf

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 QUOTES >

"Peter Owusu-Ansah is a symbol of courage and bravery for reporting
this incident of police brutality. It is not the first time deaf
people have experienced similar police harassment and unacceptable
practices. Police enforcement officials should be mandated to undergo
awareness training in anti-racism, anti-ableism, anti-audism and anti-
discrimination." Gary Malkowski, Vice-President, Consumer,
Government & Corporate Relations with The Canadian Hearing Society

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

NAD PROCLAIMS SUCCESS, APPLAUDS FCC ACTION

Silver Spring, MD - The National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
applauds the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for taking
action on a number of issues that the NAD has been working on.

The NAD, with other advocacy groups, petitioned the FCC to improve
the closed captioning rules. The FCC accepted the petition and will
start the rulemaking process for better quality and enforcement of
closed captioning.

The FCC also announced, for the first time, mandatory speed of answer
requirements for Video Relay Services (VRS); that VRS is to be
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7); that ASL- Spanish
Translation VRS is eligible for compensation; and VRS providers can
be compensated for providing VRS Mail. In addition, the NAD commends
the FCC clarification that two-line captioned telephone service is
eligible for compensation from the interstate Telecommunications
Relay Services fund.

"The NAD is thrilled to see this positive outcome on issues are
important to deaf and hard of hearing Americans," said Kelby Brick,
Director of the NAD Law and Advocacy Center. "This success would not
have been possible if not for the hard work of NAD members and the
collaboration of NAD with other key organizations and leaders."

Continued Brick, "The NAD applauds FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and the
other Commissioners for their leadership and commitment to making the
nations' communication network accessible to all Americans."

NAD has been working to make VRS a functional equivalent service by
asking the FCC to making VRS a mandated service, available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week and be immediately available to callers, ensuring
funds for research and development for VRS, and ensuring qualified
interpreters for VRS.

The NAD posted its goals on the Advocacy Issues section of the NAD
website at: http://www.nad.org/vrs. For information on NAD action to
improve the quality of relay services, please go to
http://www.nad.org/relay. Interested individuals can also see the
NAD's goals and FCC petitions on Captioning at
http://www.nad.org/captioning.

Despite these groundbreaking rules, Brick said, "The NAD will
continue to work with the FCC to take steps to enforce existing rules
against blocking so everyone can use any VRS provider without
interference. In addition, the NAD will encourage the FCC to consider
faster speed of answer in future rules."

The NAD urges consumers to take a moment to thank the FCC for
adopting VRS rules that will significantly improve VRS service at:
http://www.nad.org/thankfccjuly05

Anita B. Farb
Director, Outreach and Communications
National Association of the Deaf
Email: [email protected]
Voice: 301-587-1788
TTY: 301-587-1789
FAX: 301-587-1791

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

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

5 deaf students needed at a store in Irvine for work experience
credit.

3 openings at fairground in Costa mesa for temp work in July via
subcontractor.

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.com/intake.htm

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

Become an owner of a _________.WS website for only $10 a month! All
_________.WS owners automatically become .WS website resellers and it
comes with an automatic selling program and all you have to do is
lead people to your .WS reseller website. The WS stands
for 'website'! Link has video of the program in American Sign
Language and is a excellent self-sufficiency opportunity for people
who want to be on the top of the .WS cyber real estate market.
Hearing people can participate as the reseller link also has a video
for them. Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by sending a
blank email to [email protected] and it will auto-reply back to you
with information about this fantastic program. And you will get
another email message a few days later with the full explanation of
the program.

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

CALIFORNIA'S SENATOR BOXER WRITES TO OCDAC NEWSLETTER READERS

Thank you for the opportunity to share my views on programs of
concern to Americans living with disabilities. I appreciate this
chance to discuss the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the
reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) with the readers of the OCDAC Newsletter.

I strongly believe that programs that provide medical coverage,
housing assistance, job training, and income support play an
essential role in enhancing the lives of individuals with
disabilities. Continued federal funding for this continuum of
services is essential because these programs allow people to fulfill
their full potential and so often prove cost-effective by preventing
the need for institutionalized care.

The Americans With Disabilities Act is a landmark piece of
legislation that reinforces a core American value -- equality of
opportunity. While establishing this legal framework has
revolutionized the workplace for many individuals, proper enforcement
of ADA regulations is essential. I support the continued efforts of
the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division as well as the
Attorneys General at the state level to ensure that the ADA is
consistently implemented.

Additionally, I proudly support full funding for the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act so that children with disabilities have
access to education programs which enable them to realize the maximum
degree of independence and self-sufficiency possible. I am committed
to securing funding for programs that improve opportunity and quality
of life for America's disabled children.

Senator Barbara Boxer

-------------< 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 for 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 accomplish this objective.

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 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 any one 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.


Monday, July 11, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter July 11, 2005

Dear Friends,

Our largest deaf awareness education booth is roaring! Opening day
was a blast and we gave out approximately 4,000 copies of our new
American Sign Language booklets and we've ran out of them in the
first weekend. Today we will have more printed.

Blue Ribbon - Noun - 1) An emblem, badge, or rosette made of blue
ribbon that is awarded as the first prize in a competition. 2) An
award or honor given for excellence. In symbolism, blue ribbon is a
term used to describe something of high quality. The usage came from
The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the
Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners.

This Wednesday is when our booth is judged for interactivity,
education, resourcefulness, use of theme, and overall (the big blue
ribbon). Our fingers crossed for a blue ribbon. Photos of our booth
can be found at http://www.alldeaf.com/showpost.php?
p=347826&postcount=3 and we also are operating a webcam that snaps a
picture of our booth every 2 minutes from 12 noon until 7 pm Tuesdays
through Sundays at http://www.easyfreewebcam.com/cam/ocdac/ .

If you live in the Southern California area, come on over to the
Orange county fair ( www.ocdfair.com ) and visit our booth at the
Orange County Building.

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.

OCDAC Communications

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

Our Festival of Children education booth planning has already begun.
We need donations of bright colored paper to print our deaf awareness
materials on. This event is in September and was attended by 2
million people last year.

We also started on our Deaf festival awareness booth planning that's
taking place in Van Nuys this coming September.

We have also started on our Deaf Expo (Mata.tv) planning for the
event in November in Long Beach.

We have begun our discussion on getting a grant to build a six unit
apartment building for the deaf and disabled in Salton City,
California. They recently built a casino and a major travel center
in the area and its becoming a boomtown after decades of slow
growth. Plans are on the way to re-open the airport, start a
fairground in the area too. We need to establish a committee who
will help us get the funding reservations.

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

Louisville Deaf Oral School to receive $160,000 gift
http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2005/07/11/daily9.html?
from_rss=1

Camp to teach communication skills to hearing-impaired children
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20050707/NEWS/107070039/-1/rss02

Health and the disabled
http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=7847

Chili cookoff helps raise nearly $8,000 for disabled athletes
http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=3579508

Two Attempt To Rob Deaf Woman At Lubbock ATM
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=3568295

Deaf Man Shot and Killed
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=C2955D83-5425-
489B-9703-B36F6AA29DAA

Local (Athens, Ohio) help now available for the deaf
http://www.athensnews.com/issue/article.php3?story_id=21084

Jail changes could be expensive
http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/kentucky/8642275.htm

Kids embrace diversity at ADA birthday bash
http://www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205~12220~2959109,00.html

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

According to information on the www.cochlear.org website, the feds
have been probing Cochlear Americas for fraud and abuse. And on the
website hints a possible class action lawsuit against Cochlear
Americas.

Los Angeles Metropolitan Committee on Deafness has an interesting
website http://members.tripod.com/~lamcd/ even though some links on
it are outdated and the website serves a very interesting purpose.

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

ATTENTION DEAF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MYSTERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DISNEY
COMPANY.

We are looking for DEAF People and others who have problems with the
Disney Company:

--apply, and no call back?
--apply, but no interview because deaf/ interpreter issue?
--apply, interview, but no interpreter or captions?
--got job, but then no interpreter for staff meetings?
--you feel punished because after being hired youre excluded from
training's, staff meetings, or other staff events?

(1) NEED YOUR NAME AND (2) ADDRESS (3) and E-mail (4) explanation of
your problem with The Disney Company.

We work with Morse Mehrban who is a rising star in the field of
disability access litigation. Morse needs to know about this no later
than September 4, 2005. Please email [email protected] and
please use 'Disney Problems' in the subject line.

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

Let's define "LEADERSHIP"

L - LEADERSHIP

lead·er·ship n 1: the activity of leading; 2: the body of people who
lead a group; 3: the status of a leader; 4: the ability to lead.

E - EMPOWERMENT

em·pow·er·ment n. 1: Investing with power, especially legal power or
official authority.

A - ADVOCACY

ad·vo·ca·cy n. 1: The act of pleading or arguing in favor of
something, such as a cause, an idea, or a policy; active support.

D - DIGNITY

dig·ni·ty n 1: the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect; 2:
formality in bearing and appearance; 3: high office or rank or
station.

E - EDUCATION

ed·u·ca·tion n 1: activities that impart knowledge; 2: knowledge
acquired by learning and instruction; 3: the gradual process of
acquiring knowledge; 4: the profession of teaching 5: the result of
good upbringing;

R - REPRESENTATION

rep·res·ent·at·ion n 1: a presentation to the mind in the form of an
idea or image; 2: a visual or tangible rendering of someone or
something 3: the act of representing; 4: the state of serving as an
official and authorized delegate or agent; 5: a statement of facts
and reasons made in appealing or protesting; 6: an activity that
stands as an equivalent of something or results in an equivalent

S - SALVATION

sal·vat·ion n 1: a means of preserving from harm or unpleasantness;
2: saving someone or something from harm of from an unpleasant
situation;

H - HIERARCHY

hier·ar·chy n 1: a series of ordered groupings of people or things
within a system; 2: the organization of people at different ranks in
an administrative body.

I - ISSUES

is·sue n 1 : the action of going, coming, or flowing out 2 : a means
or place of going out : EXIT, OUTLET 3 : OFFSPRING, PROGENY 4 : final
outcome : RESULT 5 : a point of debate or controversy.

P - PROACTIVITY

pro·ac·tiv·i·ty n : taking initiative: taking the initiative by
acting rather than reacting to events.

......

Now leadership has been defind. What we need is good deaf and
disability leadership that puts the needs of the deaf and
disabilities first. In the recent years positive deaf and disability
leadership appeared to be lacking at many organizations serving the
deaf and disabled.

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENTS >

Our new ASL class schedules have been released. Please consult the
deaf center's website for the ASL class schedules.

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

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.

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

If you shop at Albertsons and have a community partners card, please
consider adding your card to our list of supporters. Our goal is
25,000 supporters who shop a Albertsons.

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 QUOTES >

"The National Association of the Deaf urges President Bush to take
advantage of this opportunity to bring the country together, by
working closely with both parties in Congress and to nominate someone
who has a demonstrated commitment to human and civil rights and to
the independence of the judiciary." Andy Lange, Prtesident of
National Association of the Deaf on Supreme Court nominations.

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

Urge The Senate To Restore Employment Program Funding

http://capwiz.com/thearc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7802766

BACKGROUND:

The President's Budget Request eliminated funding for the Vocational
Rehabilitation Supported Employment State Grant program, the Projects
with Industry (PWI) program and significantly cut the funding (40
percent) for the Office of Disability Employment Programs (ODEP) at
the Department of Labor.

The Supported Employment State Grant program is contained in the
Rehabilitation Act and assists those individuals with the most severe
disabilities obtain and retain employment. For hundreds of thousands
of individuals with severe disabilities, supported employment is the
only avenue to a job. The PWI programs work in close cooperation
with the business community to provide employment and training
opportunities to people with disabilities. ODEP, established five
years ago, funds innovative pilot programs and other projects to
assist employers, disability service providers and youth and adults
with disabilities in fostering new and expanded employment
initiatives.

In its FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services Education and Related
Agencies appropriations bill, the House of Representatives rejected
the Bush Administrations proposal to eliminate the program. Instead,
the House cut the Supported Employment State Grant program by 20
percent, from $37.7 million to $30 million, and the PWI programs by
9.5 percent, from $21.8 million in FY 2005 to $19.7 million. ODEP
sustained a 40 percent cut from $47.5 million in FY 2005 to $28
million proposed for FY 2006.

STATUS:

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related
Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to consider its bill
on July 12, 2005, followed by the full Appropriations Committee
consideration on July 14, 2005.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

Use the sample e-mail in the website to send your Senators a message
urging them to restore funding for the Office of Disability
Employment Programs, and the Supported Employment State Grant program
and the PWI programs under the Rehabilitation Act.

Richard Price
[email protected]
Disability Policy Collaboration

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

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

Many openings at fairground in Costa mesa for temp work in July.

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.com/intake.htm

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

Become an owner of a _________.WS website for only $10 a month! All
_________.WS owners automatically become .WS website resellers and it
comes with an automatic selling program and all you have to do is
lead people to your .WS reseller website. The WS stands
for 'website'! Link has video of the program in American Sign
Language and is a excellent self-sufficiency opportunity for people
who want to be on the top of the .WS cyber real estate market.
Hearing people can participate as the reseller link also has a video
for them. Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by sending a
blank email to [email protected] and it will auto-reply back to you
with information about this fantastic program. And you will get
another email message a few days later with the full explanation of
the program.

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

Airport Security Survey

From: Maureen McCloskey [mailto:[email protected]]

Please distribute as widely as possible.

If you have a disability and have recently taken an airplane trip,
the TSA would like to know about your experience with airport
security. They are trying to reach as broad a sector as possible.
Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. You may have to
cut and paste if the link doesn't work. Thanks for your help.

Transportation Security Administration

In order to assist persons with disabilities or medical conditions,
TSA has developed guidelines with input from various disability-
related groups and organizations. We then trained our airport
screeners in the methodology needed to ensure effective, safe,
comfortable, dignified, and respectful screening at all TSA security
checkpoints.

From May 23 through August 23, 2005, TSA will be conducting a Persons
with Disabilities and Medical Conditions Customer Satisfaction
Survey. If you would like to participate in the survey, please click
on link below:

http://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/29926/pwd.htm

Maureen McCloskey
National Advocacy Director
Paralyzed Veterans of America
801 18th St. NW
Washington, D.C.
202-416-7696
202-416-7706 (fax)
[email protected]

-------------< 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 for 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 accomplish this objective.

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 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 any one 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.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter July 6, 2005

Dear Friends,

Our 20' by 10' deaf awareness booth at Orange County Fair has finally
has been constructed. It is going to be an educational goldmine in
the name of deaf awareness education. We are fine tuning our
presentation items, the computers, the monitors. We have a good
number of volunteers already lined up to help us out and we have
plenty more tickets for extra volunteers. Our deaf awareness booth
could create as much as 2-3,000 new signups to this newsletter. Some
of our education materials will be offered in Japanese, Russian, and
in Spanish. The Oberkotter foundation has given us some freebies to
hand out. We commend and thank all of our 35+ volunteers for their
time in prepping our booth for this event. This is the positive
result of volunteerism. Now we wait for the judges to decide on the
booth qualities and we have high hopes for at least a small blue
ribbon or at least a large red ribbon for our efforts.

If you happen to live in the Southern California area, come on over
to the Orange County Fair ( www.ocdfair.com ) and visit our booth at
the Orange County Building.

The 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities is coming
up. The best way to celebrate this is to check at least 20
businesses in your area for ADA violations and report them to your
local deaf/disability service agencies.

OCDAC Communications

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

Our Festival of Children education booth planning has already begun.
We need donations of bright colored paper to print our deaf awareness
materials on. This event is in September and was attended by 2
million people last year.

We also started on our Deaf festival awareness booth planning that's
taking place in Van Nuys this coming September.

We have also started on our Deaf Expo (Mata.tv) planning for the
event in November in Long Beach, California.

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

Brand X Could Impact Hearing Impaired
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA623822.html?
display=Breaking+News

Planners schedule first reading of zoning ordinance for deaf town
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/12060091.htm

Gates: Get ready for chip implants
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/07/04/gates.implants.ap/

More classes for deaf children
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=7922

Shattering the silence: Sign language interpreter Cathy Copeland
empowers the deaf
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?
ts=1&display=rednews/2005/07/04/build/workweek/30-shattering-the-
silence.inc

State moving toward consolidation of schools for deaf, blind
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--
deafandblindschoo0704jul04,0,3045991.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia

Deaf 'missing out' on health care
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4654807.stm

Judge rules deaf-mute man to stand trial with training
http://north.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=deaf-mute-
ruling05072005&ref=rss

City for deaf residents possible near Salem
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/12064635.htm

Lawyers with disabilities speak up about large firms' hiring practices
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2005/07/04/focus3.html?
from_rss=1

ADA education, events on tap
http://www.thereporter.com/editorials/ci_2838523

Conference to focus on jobs for disabled
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?
id=1&display=rednews/2005/07/06/build/local/28-conference.inc

ADA problem at ballot boxes alleged
http://www.gilmermirror.com/index.php?ArtID=10100

ADA's legacy lauded as anniversary nears
http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050705/NEWS01/507050309/1002

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

Hands On Video Relay Services (HOVRS) is possibly merging with
GoAmerica. This is strong wind from a number of reliable sources.
If true, then HOVRS will have a leading video relay service (VRS)
market share since GoAmerica has excellent marketing capabilities as
i711.com is heavily advertised in many deaf portal websites.

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

ATTENTION DEAF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MYSTERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DISNEY
COMPANY.

We are looking for DEAF People and others who have problems with the
Disney Company:

--apply, and no call back?
--apply, but no interview because deaf/ interpreter issue?
--apply, interview, but no interpreter or captions?
--got job, but then no interpreter for staff meetings?
--you feel punished because after being hired youre excluded from
training's, staff meetings, or other staff events?

(1) NEED YOUR NAME AND (2) ADDRESS (3) and E-mail (4) explanation of
your problem with The Disney Company.

We work with Morse Mehrban who is a rising star in the field of
disability access litigation. Morse needs to know about this no later
than September 4, 2005. Please email [email protected] and
please use 'Disney Problems' in the subject line.

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

Significance of O'Connor Resignation for Disability Rights

Thanks to Jennifer Mathis from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health
Law for drafting this report on the significance of O'Connor
resignation for disability rights

It is important that President Bush seek meaningful advice and
consent from Senators on both sides of the aisle when choosing a
nominee for the Supreme Court.

I. Justice OConnor was nominated by President Reagan with an eye
toward reaching consensus among all political parties, and was
confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 99-0. We hope that President
Bush will similarly choose a consensus nominee to replace Justice
OConnor.

II. Justice OConnor was frequently sided with business interests
against the interests of individuals with disabilities. For example,
in Sutton v. United Airlines, 527 U.S. 471 (1999), Justice OConnor
authored a decision greatly narrowing the class of people protected
by the ADA by holding that mitigating measures such as eyeglasses,
medications, and prosthetic devices must be considered in determining
whether a person has a disability. In Toyota Motor Mfg. v. Williams,
534 U.S. 184 (2002), OConnor authored an opinion expressing doubt
that an employee with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis
had a disability in performing manual tasks and holding that the ADA
contains a demanding standard for determining who is protected. In
Board of Trustees of Univ. of Alabama v. Garrett, she joined the
majority in a 5-4 states rights decision holding that Congress had
exceeded its authority in allowing damage suits against state
employers under Title I of the ADA.

Nonetheless, Justice OConnor sided with people with disabilities in a
number of important disability rights cases. In Olmstead v. L.C.,
527 U.S. 581 (1999), she concurred with the majoritys conclusion that
unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities is a
form of discrimination prohibited by the ADA. In Tennessee v. Lane,
541 U.S. 509 (2004), Justice OConnor joined the majority in a 5-4
decision rejecting a states rights argument and concluding that
Congress had the power to authorize damage suits against states for
claims under Title II of the ADA relating to access to courts. In
U.S. Airways, Inc. v. Barnett, 535 U.S. 391 (2002), Justice OConnor
concurred with the majority ruling that the ADA requires reasonable
accommodations to disability-neutral rules that have the effect of
excluding people with disabilities, and that seniority systems may,
under certain circumstances, have to give way to allow reassignment
of an individual with a disability as an accommodation required by
the ADA.

III. It is critical to disability rights that landmark decisions such
as Olmstead v. L.C. and Tennessee v. Lane not be overturned when
Justice OConnor leaves the Court.

We call on President Bush to honor the promises made in the New
Freedom Initiative and ensure that whoever is nominated to replace
Justice OConnor is committed to protecting the important rights that
people with disabilities fought hard to secure.

-------------< ANNOUNCEMENTS >

Our new ASL class schedules have been released. Please consult the
deaf center's website for the ASL class schedules.

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

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

If you shop at Albertsons and have a community partners card, please
consider adding your card to our list of supporters. Our goal is
25,000 supporters who shop a Albertsons.

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 QUOTES >

"I like it here because I get to meet more new friends and see all of
my old friends and we get to learn about the Gospel," Heather Turner
said of Camp Shocco for the Deaf. "My parents are deaf and were
councilors for Ricky, so that's how I fell in love with this place."

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

Mark Johnson of the shepard center has ideas of ways to Celebrate the
15th anniversary of ADA

--sign the Statement of Solidarity at http://www.aapd-dc.org/

-July 26th, participate in a local event, go to http://www.aapd-
dc.org/ADAcelebration/adacel05/stateadacel.html

-July 23rd, support the National Fun Run, http://www.adaptfunrun.org/

-support the protesters in TN, Day 11, http://www.mcil.org/mcil/ ,

http://www.familiesusa.org/site/Survey?
SURVEY_ID=2160&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&autologin=true
&JServSessionIdr006=ac0z1w7mn1.app25a

FOR information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), go
to http://www.sedbtac.org/ .

TO resolve a complaint, go to http://www.napas.org/

Looking back, 10th anniversary of ADA

- http://www.aapd-dc.org/torchrelay/torchrelayindex.html

-http://www.icanonline.net/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=24F0AB10-54DA-
4EE3-92DB6E211B5183E5&cx=news.special_reports

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

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

Many openings at fairground in Costa mesa for temp work in July.

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.com/intake.htm

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

Become an owner of a _________.WS website for only $10 a month! All
_________.WS owners automatically become .WS website resellers and it
comes with an automatic selling program and all you have to do is
lead people to your .WS reseller website. The WS stands
for 'website'! Link has video of the program in American Sign
Language and is a excellent self-sufficiency opportunity for people
who want to be on the top of the .WS cyber real estate market.
Hearing people can participate as the reseller link also has a video
for them. Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by sending a
blank email to [email protected] and it will auto-reply back to you
with information about this fantastic program. And you will get
another email message a few days later with the full explanation of
the program.

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

Hello,

I am a research assistant with the American Family Association Center
for Law and Policy. We have recently been contacted by Congressman
Trent Franks. Congressman Franks' number one issue is judicial
misconduct. He is preparing to have a hearing regarding the process
by which federal judges police themselves in situations of
misconduct. Congressman Franks has asked us to compile instances of
federal judicial misconduct that he can present at a hearing before
his sub-committee in the House of Representatives. As you are
probably aware, cases of judicial misconduct and judicial sanctions
usually go unreported, so we are trying to reach out to other
organizations who actively oppose judicial misconduct, like the Equal
Justice Foundation, in order to try to compile examples of misconduct
that Congressman Franks can use in his hearing. Any information that
you can provide regarding instances of judicial misconduct in federal
courts would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,
Andy Richmond

AFA Center for Law and Policy
100 Parkgate Dr.
Ste. 2B
P.O. Drawer 2440
Tupelo, MS 38801
Tele: 662.680.3886

-------------< 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 for 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 accomplish this objective.

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 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 any one 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.