Wednesday, November 30, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter November 30, 2005

Dear Friends,

The "Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act" currently has 81
cosponsors. The legislation would provide a tax credit of up to $500
per hearing aid, once every five years. The tax credit would be
available either for persons age 55 and older, or for parents
purchasing a hearing aid for a dependent child. This legislation is
important given the costly nature of most hearing aids (averaging
$1,800 per aid in 2004), and the fact that there is almost no 3rd
party insurance coverage. Many individuals simply defer having their
hearing loss treated because they cannot afford hearing aids.

We are pleased and excited to have partnered with a local Labor Ready
branch to offer employment to deaf and disabled in the warehousing,
hospitality, landscaping, construction, light manufacturing, retail,
wholesale, facilities and sanitation industries.

One of the letters below introduces us to a new Deaf California blog
and highlights an interesting and serious issue that involves deaf
people and law enforcement. We have partnered with New Vision
Environmental Services to develop solutions that will lead to safer
interactions between deaf community members and the law enforcement.

Remember us as the holidays are coming up! Don't forget to use the
Albertsons, Ralph, and Food4Less Cards this coming Holidays as you
will help us with our mission and vision statements. Our iGive
program is there to help you with your holiday shopping too.

OCDAC Communications
[email protected]

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

Our Winterfest fundraiser is this coming Saturday and we are ready
with a good line up of volunteers and donations of food for the operation.

We have started fundraising activities to build up the stock for The
New Year's event.

Materials for the Deaf Latino Health Fiesta event has been developed
and ordered.

We have started on the planning our free Valentine's day dance event
next February. This will be supported by vendors who purchased booths
and we already have 2 vendors lined up for this.

We are having a Bowl-A-Thon next February 18, 2005 at the Westminster
Lanes and we are working this out with the lane management. We are
seeking sponsors for this event th help us cover the cost of the lanes
which is estimated from $800 to $1,300.

Drastic Social Security rule changes for Title II Old Age, Survivors,
and Disability Insurance and SSI programs such as outlined in
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/200\
5/pdf/05-14845.pdf

renews our calls for self-reliance ideas for organizations who serve
the deaf and disabled and our very own idea, our California Disability
Gaming Initiative idea and that can be found at
http://www.deafadvocacy.com/cdgicinfo.pdf is an idea that works for
Native Americans. Why shouldn't it work for the Disability
communities? The proposed Social Security rules will limit appeals
and create a new process that is less about truth-seeking and more
hostile to applicants.

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

Take a look at our new magazine fundraiser and this is one of the ways
you can help us do the good work for the deaf and disabled communities.

The URL is http://www.magfundraising.com/GroupPage.aspx?e=788159

Our blue van which we use to transport deaf-blind people to events and
we also use to conduct numerous fundraiser and education activities is
showing signs it will need to be replaced soon. We use it to transport
over 15 deaf and deaf-blind people to various events each month.
These deaf and deaf-blind clients who are unable to use the bus cant
qualify for our local ACCESS program since their system's rules make
it extremely difficult to do so. Therefore our deaf and deaf-blind
friends are relying on us to help them participate in our society's
offerings and that is done through our blue van. The wipers have
ceased working making it inoperable on rainy days, the transmission is
bad limiting our travel to local areas. Last week the sliding door on
the side fell off because the metal cracked at the top. The van has
been heavily used in assisting us with our mission and vision
statements. We would appreciate your help in getting us a new van
soon so we can continue helping these deaf and deaf-blind people and
our education and fundraising activities. If you're interested in
helping us out, please contact us at [email protected]

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 1/3 >

Deaf woman frustrated by hospital experience
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2005/11/25/deaf_woman_fr\
ustrated_by_hospital_experience/


Deaf town rezoning application not filed yet
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/13256440.htm

Chopper ride for Miss Deaf
http://www.observer.org.sz/main.asp?id=14646&Section=entertain

Football fundraiser aids disabled troops, families
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20051127-9999-2m27buddy.html

Hospital reaches out to hearing-impaired patients
http://www.northernlife.ca/localnewsarticle.asp?view=99831

New hope for hearing impaired
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=New+hope+f\
or+hearing+impaired&id=80951


-------------< 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.

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

We are planning a Deaf Latino Health Fiesta for the public at Tacos
Mexico Restaurant in Santa Ana that has been good to hold our
outreach events toward deaf Latinos. The event is on December 9, 2005.
6pm till 11 pm. This will go on at the same time as the Block at
Orange social events. We're just inviting them over to see our
outreach program as part of the 2nd Friday experience at the Block at
Orange.

Map link to location of Tacos Mexico
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1227+E+17th+St%2C+Santa+Ana%2C+CA%2C+92701&hl=en

The purpose of the Deaf Latino Health Fiesta is to connect deaf and
non-deaf latinos of positive co-existence opportunities in the health
area. We will have material in Spanish of the various health
opportunities our society offers. Across the street from Tacos Mexico
is another Starbucks Cafe, next to it are Denny's and Popeye's, and
near to Subway's, and Taco Bell.

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

"Mamma Mia" The SMASH HIT MUSICAL!

Mamma Mia! is the ultimate feel-good show. Now it's your turn to fall
for this smash-hit musical that combines the storytelling magic of
ABBA with an enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship. A
mother confronts her past as three men return to the Greek Island
they've not visited for 21 years... just as her 20-year old daughter
is about to be married!

To date, over 20 million people have had the time of their lives at
Mamma Mia! Isn't it time you joined them?

WHEN:
Sunday, December 4, 2005

TIME:
Two Performances:
1:00 PM Matinee
6:30 PM Evening

WHERE:
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
255 Almaden Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95113
http://www.amtsj.org/

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

New Years Party

Happy Holidays, Everyone!! Let's celebrate our new year of 2006!

Last year was a huge success! Be seeing you all there to celebrate
with us!

When? December 31st, 2005 Saturday nite

Where? Niles Hall 37270 Niles Blvd, Fremont, CA (cross street- G St.)

Time? 7:00pm - 1:00am

Cost? $20.00 per person ~ Early Bird before December 10th, Saturday

$25.00 before December 30th, Friday ~~ $30.00 at the door

How? order online tixs: www.dcara.org OR Email: [email protected]

Proceed? All admissons goes toward to Deaf Community Center (DCC)

~~Great Entertaiment by VIKEE & comedians ~~ DJ/Dancing by Steve Longo
~~ Irish Chef Catered (appitizers) ~~No Host Bar (beer/wine) ~~
Raffle$$ ~~ midnight champange ~~

Contact Stacey K. Hughes/NYE 2005 Chairperson: [email protected]
<http://us.f500.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[email protected]>

check www.deaffundraiser.org for Map & more infos

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

Even though most of us working on computers only work on one, the
average American depends on more than 264 computers per day—from the
tiniest microprocessor to the largest mainframe! That is a lot of
people depending on a lot of computers! Think of how much money could
go to the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center if 264 supporters bought
one computer each at www.iGive.com/ocdac, where up to 26% of every
purchase is donated to the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center! At
www.iGive.com/ocdac, membership is free! So hurry up and visit the
Mall at www.iGive.com/ocdac, where you can shop at 600+ stores for all
your favorite electronics and computers from Dell, HP Shopping, Buy,
Computers4SURE, The Apple Store, SONY, and Gateway!

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

According to court documents, Steve (James) Kittell, has filed Chapter
7 bankruptcy and recently a court hearing has taken place and at least
2 deaf people who lost money through Kittell's business gimmicks
showed up in court to object the filing. The sad thing is that we've
been warning people since the late 1990's not to support Kittell's
business gimmicks. Kittell has very poor business leadership and no
one listens to us until it's too late, until they realize the hard
way, through loss of money in the tens of thousands of dollars, that
we were right all along. Kittell took part a number of business
gimmicks including deafcaution.com, targetdeaf.com, Deaf Success
Magazine , Lazoona, Deaf Fiesta ,Deaf Carnival ,Target Deaf, Deaf
Training, Cyberwood. Steve recently won a settlement from UPS worth
almost a million dollars and appears to be working very hard to keep
every penny than returning the money to those who loaned out for his
business gimmicks.

http://www.deafadvocacy.com/wai/skmm.htm

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

November 29, 2005

Dear Mr. Jean Bourquin, IOC Manager for Sports

Thank you for your last week's November 22 e-mail letter.

I must now state that I was surprised to read the contents of your
last e-mail letter, in which you said that the IOC will remain neutral
or do nothing against the CISS, including the voting fraud committed
by certain persons in the CISS.

On October 10, 2005, I wrote to you by asking you such a question,

"Is it a logical, justified and appropriate manner for the IOC to
provide financial assistance to an international sports organization
such as the Deaflympics ( now it is called as the ICSD or CISS ) while
the leaders of that same Deaflympics organization are engaged in their
acts of anarchism, election fraud, manipulation and deception before
the whole world?"

To my much regret, you have not specifically answered to that
important question yet.

If you are still unable to personally answer that very important
question, then please refer the above-described and specific question
directly to the IOC President Dr. Rogge or IOC Executive Board for his
or their respective answer.

Also, recently you advised me to get in touch with the International
Court of Arbitration for Sport ( CAS ) in Lausanne, Switzerland,
which, as you believe, could help us to act as a mediator.

Do tell me how can one expect the deaf sports anarchists like
Dr.Ammons and Mr. Jordan to voluntarily agree to accept to the full
jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to solve the
outstanding global sports issue like the 2005 CISS Congress election
fraud?

I must tell you now in advance that the most likely scenario will be
that if I or anyone else will file a Statement of Claim against Dr.
Ammons and Mr. Jordan - the alleged 2005 Congress election cheaters -
before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, then Dr. Ammons and Mr.
Jordan, as potential defendants, WILL NOT voluntarily and willingly
agree to submit to the full jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration
for Sport!

So, at which court or place can the deaf sports anarchists - Dr.
Ammons and Mr. Jordan - be brought to justice?

Or, you twice suggested me to liaise with Dr. Ammons, but Dr. Ammons
still continues to refuse to cooperate with me or Mr. Roehm ( to this
day, Dr. Ammons has not, for example, answered to the October 26, 2005
10 QUESTIONS Letter by Mr. Roehm to Dr. Ammons yet ), then what action
shall, in the best interests of deaf sports world, be taken upon
further? Strictly speaking, if Dr. Ammons still refuses to answer the
10 questions is an opened indication that she is ducking the said
negative issues which encompasses the CISS. Furthermore, I, as well as
others, are strongly determined for Dr. Ammons and Mr. Jordan be
brought to justice...count on it.

Please advise.

I hope you will not remain indifferent to my request and concerns. And
I hope you will do something that will benefit our Deaf Sports
Movement a great deal now and in the future.

Looking forward to hear from you again.

William Schyman
Deaf Sports Advocate
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, USA

cc: Dr. Ammons
Dr. Lawrence Fleischer, newly-elected USADSF President
Mr. Richard Roehm, Deaf Civil Rights Advocate

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

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

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 2/3 >

Deaf need to have use of interpreters
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_T\
ype1&c=Article&cid=1132786212183&call_pageid=970599119419


Thalidomide musical opens deaf and disability arts festival
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=1506

Pupils prove that deaf does not equal stupid
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20051122061025\
232C624031


Disabled mom tries to keep dreams alive
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05331/612553.stm

Hearing-impaired golfers have fun at unique clinic
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/sports/youth/112205c_youth_golf_deaf

Thesis could aid hearing-impaired
http://www2.townonline.com/chelmsford/artsLifestyle/view.bg?articleid=373779

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

NEWS RELEASE
NCD #05-503
November 30, 2005

Contact: Mark S. Quigley
202-272-2004
202-272-2074 TTY

National Council on Disability Calls for Immediate Changes to Get
People with Disabilities Who Receive Federal Benefits Back to Work

WASHINGTON-The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released its
report The Social Security Administration's Efforts to Promote
Employment for People with Disabilities: New Solutions for Old
Problems
(http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/ssa-promoteemployment.htm
), calling on Congress and the Social Security Administration to make
immediate changes that will get more people with disabilities who
receive Social Security benefits back to gainful employment.

According to NCD chairperson Lex Frieden, "Our nation's current
disability benefit programs are based on a policy principle that
assumes that the presence of a significant disability and lack of
substantial earnings equate with a complete inability to work.
Americans with disabilities remain underemployed, despite the fact
that many are willing and able to work. This scenario is alarming.
Although the Social Security Administration (SSA) has instituted a
number of incentives to reduce the numerous obstacles to employment
faced by its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security
Disability Insurance (DI) beneficiaries, such efforts have had little
impact because few beneficiaries are aware of these incentives and how
they affect benefits and access to health care."

"In recent times there has not been a comprehensive, research-based
examination of the practices that are most likely to support the
employment of SSI and DI beneficiaries. NCD undertook this study to
address that absence and found that the complex obstacles to
employment faced by SSA beneficiaries require a comprehensive set of
solutions. New approaches must be identified that emphasize
beneficiary control of career planning and the ability to access
self-selected services and supports. Public and private health care
providers must develop new collaborations and new approaches to
combining coverage from multiple sources to improve program
efficiencies. SSA must continue to work with the Rehabilitation
Services Administration and the Department of Labor to improve
implementation of the Ticket to Work program and identify new
approaches that will overcome the traditional inability of SSA
beneficiaries to benefit from services provided by the nation's
employment and training programs. Secondary and postsecondary
educational institutions must emphasize benefits counseling and
financial management training as the foundation for beneficiary
self-direction and economic self-sufficiency. Federal agencies and the
business community must realize that collaborative approaches to
incorporating beneficiaries into the workforce are needed as a way to
reduce dependence on federal benefits while simultaneously enhancing
the productivity and competitiveness of large and small business,"
Frieden concluded.

The recommendations discussed in this report need to be addressed in
policy and procedural modifications by both Congress and the Social
Security Administration to significantly address the continuing number
of SSA beneficiaries who never leave the SSI and DI rolls, and to
increase the number of beneficiaries who enter, or reenter, the U.S.
workforce.

For more information, contact Mark Quigley at 202-272-2004 or
202-272-2074 TTY.

# # #

Mark S. Quigley

Director of Communications
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
202-272-2008

-------------< DEAF QUOTES >

"They told me an interpreter would come, but they never showed up,"
said Joan Case of the Concord Hospital emergency room workers.

-------------< 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 >

PRESS RELEASE - November 27, 2005

To translate this material in your language, please visit
www.babelfish.altavista.com

From: www.deafsportlawsuit.com

2 GALLAUDET EMPLOYEES AND CISS LEADER TO APPEAR AT WASHINGTON, D.C.,
COURT ON JANUARY 18, 2006

By RAFAEL PINKHASOV PINCHAS, CISS Ombudsman

SUMMARIES:

* JANUARY 18, 2006 COURT DATE FOR 3 DEAF LITIGANTS

* DID SLAVA KLIMOV AND DONALDA AMMONS STEAL THE 2001 CISS CONGRESS AND
DEAFLYMPIC GAMES VIDEOTAPE?

* 3 DEAF FAMILY MEMBERS OF SLAVA KLIMOV DUMPED AS RUSSIA'S TOP SPORTS
OFFICIALS

* QUESTIONABLE LEGAL TACTICS BY DEAF LAWYER KELBY BRICK

* N.A.D. EMPLOYEE BRICK ACTS AS A LAWYER FOR AMMONS

* ANOTHER EXCUSE BY AMMONS TO ATTEND DECEMBER 15, 2005 HEARING

New York, USA - The Superior Court of the District of Columbia in
Washington, D.C., has finally set January 18, 2006 as a hearing date
for the case involving the three deaf litigants: Mr. Felix Shlimovich,
a plaintiff, and Mr. Slava Klimov and Dr. Donalda Ammons, the defendants.

Mr. Shlimovich is a citizen of the Russian Federation, while Mr.
Klimov and Dr. Ammons are employees of the Gallaudet University. Dr.
Ammons is also the President of the International Committee of Sports
for the Deaf ( CISS ).

Magistrate Judge Ronald A. Goodbread is in charge of the case, whose
main count is the property theft allegedly committed by the two
defendants.

Mr. Slava Klimov, by acting as an accomplice and informant for Dr.
Ammons and with the aid of Mr. Nikolay Klimov ( his deaf father ) and
Mr. Jakov Frenkel ( his deaf brother-in-law ), was the person, as Mr.
Shlimovich alleges in his lawsuit papers, to secretly hand out the
original of Mr.Shlimovich-produced videotape of the 2001 CISS Congress
and Deaflympic Summer Games activities to Dr. Ammons. To date, neither
Mr. Slava Klimov nor Dr. Ammons have returned such an original
videotape to its sole and rightful owner - Mr. Shlimovich.

For additional details, please visit

www.deafsportlawsuit.com/update39.htm
www.deafsportlawsuit.com/update40.htm
www.deafsportlawsuit.com/update42.htm

By the way, after filing the lawsuit against Mr. Slava Klimov and
Dr.Ammons on February 17, 2004, the Executive Board of the Russian
Committee of Deaf Sports ( "RCDS" ) in Moscow, Russia, held several
meetings in which all three family members of Mr. Slava Klimov were in
stages ousted from the high level positions in the RCDS: Mr. Nikolay
Klimov as its President, Mr. Jakov Frenkel as its Vice President and
Ms. Ekaterina Klimova, deaf sister of Mr. Slava Klimov and spouse of
Mr. Jakov Frenkel, as its secretary.

In addition, at the start of this month the Executive Committee of
RCDS held another meeting, in which it unanimously voted to remove the
name of Mr. Jakov Frenkel as an European Deaf Sports Organization's (
EDSO ) Technical Director in Indoor Football.

On the eve of the coming hearing, Mr. Shlimovich made the following
comment to this website,

"I am still trying to bring these 2 uncooperative defendants to
justice. An attorney for defendant Ammons, Mr. Kelby Brick, under his
questionable legal tactics ( to my knowledge, Mr. Brick, who is also a
NAD Home Office worker, does not have a Washington, D.C.-license to
do business in this Washington, D.C.-based Court ) managed to
convince the Court to close this case without a trial. Mr. Brick had
done so without my prior knowledge and consultation. When I found out
about this unexpected case's closure recently, I strongly objected to
the Clerk of the Court and asked for its reinstatement. As a result,
this past October 31st and November 1st the Court twice sent letters
to parties by informing each party that the case would be heard on
December 15, 2005. But, again, the Court postponed it to a new date -
now it is set for January 18, 2006. I do not know why there was such a
new postponement but I have just received information that Dr. Ammons
will not be available for the December 15 hearing date because on that
day she will be attending the Asia-Pacific Deaf Sports Leadership Camp
Seminar in Singapore."


-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 3/3 >

Instant messaging reaches out and touches deaf people
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/11/instant_messagi.html

Special Masses help church's deaf parishioners feel at home
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/11/special_masses.html

South Africa gears up for International Day of Disabled
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn200511260929071\
16C681173


Putnam Office for Disabled moves
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/PC_Disability-27Nov05.htm

Helping hearing impaired be independent
http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051121/MAN0101/51121\
0343/1358


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

1) Temporary warehousing, hospitality, landscaping, construction,
light manufacturing, retail, wholesale, facilities and sanitation
through various employers.

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 it comes 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.

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

Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by becoming a Discovery
Toys consultant! Discovery Toys focuses on learning through play,
with products specifically designed to maximize learning moments, has
proven to be a success as the company has now witnessed an entire
generation grow up with Discovery Toys. Many parents and their adult
children credit DISCOVERY TOYS® products with helping them to develop
core skills and self-esteem, which contributed to their later life
accomplishments and success as adults. Beth Koenig is your Discovery
Toys consultant. Her Discovery Toys website is at
Http://www.discoverthetoys.net and this is a great business
opportunity for people disabilities. Discovery Toys is one of our
supported activities through our Community Business Enterprise Program.

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

I don't know if you can spread this forum to other deaf ppl. This is
my first new deaf Californians forum but deaf people from other states
are welcome as well. Even interpreters can join, adult children of
deaf parents or relatives can join as well. No kids under 18 are
allowed. Because usually when I study, so many forums use fun "sexy"
or "flirt" talks so children shouldn't be in the forums that way.
It's not a good idea for young deaf children/hearing children. They
need to wait until they'll be 18. :-) It's at:
http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/memberlist.php?mforum=californiadeaf
It's very slow. I have two moderators on the forum, nope, they're
both hearing. But they're my friends for many times from one forum to
another. Roses is interesting in learning more about deaf ppl. Star
who is an officer has ASL experience. ;-) She can help some deaf
people who receive tickets from officers. To help them understand why
they got a ticket. It isn't a mean to get OUT of the ticket as some
wants people to believe since it's a no-winning ticket. Maybe one
charge can be dropped (or two if proved an officer is wrong) but still
other charges a person has to face up the responsibility as an ADULT.
There's no trick of "how to get out of ticket."

I was once told a deaf person tried to get out of the traffic citation
as, "I'm deaf and I deserve my right. An officer lied." Later on,
this same person paid the ticket after he was found guilty and also
guilty of being contempt of the court (he was arrested). He made a
big mistake. After some tickets and some years, he was revoked
permanently becuz of his frequent arguments in the court and at DMV
hearing. Shame on him. He tried to beat the system as being a "deaf"
but he has to realize deaf and hearing people are same people
regardless of being disabled or not, whether; working, driving,
cooking, cleaning, taking care of kids, etc. Star is useful in her
ways helping some deaf people if she can. She has her own forums
which I attend regularly. Maybe in both forums, deaf can join in and
ask questions relating the traffic laws. Guests cannot post, so they
need to register in order to post or reply the post. I hope I receive
many good deaf people coming to the forums. But as any rule apply, if
a deaf person acting up in the forum or was being rude or harrass,
threats, etc..then I might have to ban him/her temporary or
permanently depend on how severe it is.

Cynthia

-------------< 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]

Monday, November 21, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter November 21, 2005

Dear Friends,

At this time of the year, as we reflect upon our own lives, lets stop
and think about the deaf and disabled neighbors who are less
fortunate. Some of our deaf and disabled neighbors cannot afford to
feed their families. Some of them live in cars, in parks, or in
alleys. For a few, its by choice, for most it's by chance.

This shopping list will be a good gift to a family of 4.

3 cans meat (6.5 oz, tuna, pork, chicken, or beef)
3 cans vegetables (15 oz.) 3 cans fruit (16 oz)
3 cans soup (11 oz.) 3 boxes of macaroni and cheese
2 boxes of dry soup 2 boxes of hot cereal
2 lbs. dry beans 2 lbs rice
2 boxes powdered milk (2 qt.) 2 cans of evaporated milk
2 boxes crackers 1 jar peanut butter (18 oz.)

Optional items: dish detergent, toothpaste, soap bars.
Also add : Information on local food banks, food assistance
programs, and local soup kitchens.

So please, if you can afford it, grab some extra groceries for the
deaf and disabled neighbors. An ideal holiday gift to a needy deaf
and disabled neighbor's family would be groceries that lasts about a
week. Contact your local deaf/disability association for information
on connecting to a needy deaf and disabled neighbor's family. If you
do not know of anyone to help, you're more than welcome to deliver the
food items to our office and we will distribute them to people that
need them. This giving time goes from now until January 1, 2006.

Our SSP training class last Saturday was a success. We trained 5
people to be SSP's. Let's give Beth Koenig a big round of applause for
her contributions to meeting the needs of our deaf-blind community
members!

Kudos to Tom Willard for raising the big stink over his recently
acquired barrier to his freedom of art at the Rochester Institute of
Technology. Also Kudos to Rafael Pinchas in his latest discoveries
with the Deaflympics. Both stories are in this issue. Interesting
news on the side, is that the term "Deaflympics" has appeared to have
lost its international recognition as it was recently referred to as
the "International Committee of Sports for the Deaf" or "CISS" by the
International Olympics Committee.

We also wish to extend a congratulatory note to Morton Warnow from
Modern Deaf Communication at Danbury Connecticut for achieving the
501(c)(3) non-profit status. He will soon be able to preach out a
good plan to eliminate literacy take a big bite out of dependency in
the deaf communities. He has a website at
www.danbury.org/moderndeafcommunication that includes this; "Modern
Deaf Communication, Inc. is a non-profit organization with IRS
501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with a vision of promise and triumph over
the problems of the deaf, but a vision based on hope and faith as much
as on science and common sense. The worst problems of the deaf are
terrible deaf illiteracy and unemployment which we believe can be
wiped out in our time. We believe that the isolation and debilitating
dependency on society suffered by the deaf can be vanquished and
replaced with a new, strong sense of participation and belonging to
the country and society of which they are citizens."

Remember us as the holidays are coming up! Don't forget to use the
Albertsons, Ralph, and Food4Less Cards this coming Thanksgiving as you
will help us with our mission and vision statements. Our iGive
program is there to help you with your holiday shopping too.

This newsletter is a feast of wholesome information tidbits and it's a
very suitable issue for a holiday week like this.

OCDAC Communications
[email protected]

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

Our Winterfest fundraiser is almost ready to roll with a good line up
of volunteers and donations of food and funds for the operating costs.

Our Mint Meltaways candy packages by Worlds Finest Chocolate has been
the newest rave among the community supporters since the button blinky
lights were introduced to the deaf community at the Ontario Deaf Expo
years ago.

We have started fundraising activities to build up the stock for The
New Year's event.

Materials for the Deaf Latino Health Fiesta event has been developed
and ordered.

We have started on the planning our free Valentine's day dance event
next February. This will be supported by vendors who purchased booths
and we already have 2 vendors lined up for this.

We are having a Bowl-A-Thon next February 18, 2005 at the Westminster
Lanes and we are working this out with the lane management. We are
seeking sponsors for this event th help us cover the cost of the lanes
which is estimated from $800 to $1,300.

Drastic Social Security rule changes for Title II Old Age, Survivors,
and Disability Insurance and SSI programs such as outlined in
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/200\
5/pdf/05-14845.pdf

renews our calls for self-reliance ideas for organizations who serve
the deaf and disabled and our very own idea, our California Disability
Gaming Initiative idea and that can be found at
http://www.deafadvocacy.com/cdgicinfo.pdf is an idea that works for
Native Americans. Why shouldn't it work for the Disability
communities? The proposed Social Security rules will limit appeals
and create a new process that is less about truth-seeking and more
hostile to applicants.

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

Take a look at our new magazine fundraiser and this is one of the ways
you can help us do the good work for the deaf and disabled communities.

The URL is http://www.magfundraising.com/GroupPage.aspx?e=788159

Our blue van which we use to transport deaf-blind people to events and
we also use to conduct numerous fundraiser and education activities is
showing signs it will need to be replaced soon. We use it to transport
over 15 deaf and deaf-blind people to various events each month.
These deaf and deaf-blind clients who are unable to use the bus cant
qualify for our local ACCESS program since their system's rules make
it extremely difficult to do so. Therefore our deaf and deaf-blind
friends are relying on us to help them participate in our society's
offerings and that is done through our blue van. The wipers have
ceased working making it inoperable on rainy days, the transmission is
bad limiting our travel to local areas. Last week the sliding door on
the side fell off because the metal cracked at the top. The van has
been heavily used in assisting us with our mission and vision
statements. We would appreciate your help in getting us a new van
soon so we can continue helping these deaf and deaf-blind people and
our education and fundraising activities. If you're interested in
helping us out, please contact us at [email protected]

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 1/3 >

COLLEGE BANS DEAF PHOTOGRAPHER FOR OFFERING BUSINESS CARD
http://www.bannedfromrit.com/newsrelease.htm

ASD offers deaf children new ways to learn
http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15610060&BRD=1641&PAG=461&d\
ept_id=10110&rfi=6


Deaf relay fraud must be halted
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051119/NEWS/511190315/10\
01


Southern Indiana Center For Disabled Children To Close
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=4145073&nav=0RZF

Starkey Laboratories Debuts Bluetooth(R) Device for the Hearing Impaired
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2005/nov/1205104.htm

New hope for hearing impaired
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/11/new_hope_for_he.html

CRIMINALS AT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?
http://www.danbury.org/moderndeafcommunication/viewpoint.htm#criminals


-------------< 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.

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

Beach Blanket Babylon - San Francisco's longest running Musical will
have an interpreted performance on: Sunday November 20th at 4pm -
Interpreters - Sherry Hicks and Michael Velez
$25 - $75 Ask for Deaf Seating (415) 421-4222
Steve Silver's - Beach Blanket Babylon
http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/home.html

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

We are planning a Deaf Latino Health Fiesta for the public at Tacos
Mexico Restaurant in Santa Ana that has been good to hold our
outreach events toward deaf Latinos. The event is on December 9, 2005.
6pm till 11 pm. This will go on at the same time as the Block at
Orange social events. We're just inviting them over to see our
outreach program as part of the 2nd Friday experience at the Block at
Orange.

The address is 1227 E 17th St, Santa Ana, CA, 92701

Map link to location of Tacos Mexicos
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1227+E+17th+St%2C+Santa+Ana%2C+CA%2C+92701&hl=en

The purpose of the Deaf Latino Health Fiesta is to introduce deaf and
non-deaf latinos of positive co-existence opportunities in the health
area. We will have material in Spanish of the various health
opportunities our society offers. Across the street from Tacos Mexico
is another Starbucks Cafe, next to it are Denny's and Popeye's, and
Tacos Mexico is between a Subway's and Taco Bell. Basically this
location would be a safer place to hang out than the Block at Orange.

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

DEAF Media at Museum Winter Festival

Join DEAF Media at the Oakland Museum's Winter Festival

Celebrate the diverse winter traditions of Bay Area families,
including Las Posadas, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and Chanukah with a day of
family activities, entertainment and a special World Craft Market.

Saturday, December 10, 2005 Noon - 4:00 pm

Deaf Events:
12-4 Deaf artist craft activity: Ron Trumble and DEAF Media
volunteers -- making wood snowflake ornaments
1-1:30 Deaf storytelling: Martha Aguilar

plus, Interpreted Events and, Other hands-on Christmas, Chanukah, and
Kwanzaa activities

World Craft Market featuring jewelry, glass, and clothing by local artists

Where: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., (1 blk Lake Merritt
BART)

Admission: Free with RSVP*
(without RSVP--$8.00 Adults; $5.00 Children/Seniors (children under 6
free)

*RSVP: [email protected], (510) 841-0163 Voice * 841-0165 TTY
www.deafmedia.org

ASL and Voice Interpretation provided.

DEAF Media participation sponsored by the Oakland Museum of
California, George F. Sandy Foundation, DEAF Media donors and volunteers

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

New Years Party

Happy Holidays, Everyone!! Let's celebrate our new year of 2006!

Last year was a huge success! Be seeing you all there to celebrate
with us!

When? December 31st, 2005 Saturday nite

Where? Niles Hall 37270 Niles Blvd, Fremont, CA (cross street- G St.)

Time? 7:00pm - 1:00am

Cost? $20.00 per person ~ Early Bird before December 10th, Saturday

$25.00 before December 30th, Friday ~~ $30.00 at the door

How? order online tixs: www.dcara.org OR Email: [email protected]

Proceed? All admissons goes toward to Deaf Community Center (DCC)

~~Great Entertaiment by VIKEE & comedians ~~ DJ/Dancing by Steve Longo
~~ Irish Chef Catered (appitizers) ~~No Host Bar (beer/wine) ~~
Raffle$$ ~~ midnight champange ~~

Contact Stacey K. Hughes/NYE 2005 Chairperson: [email protected]
<http://us.f500.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[email protected]>

check www.deaffundraiser.org for Map & more infos

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

Please visit our iGive store http://www.igive.com/ocdac for your
holiday shopping needs.

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

Final NAD Holiday Open House at Halex House

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) will host a holiday party
at its headquarters in Halex House on Thursday, December 1, 2005. Mark
your calendars and plan to attend this annual event to mark the
beginning of the season of giving and overeating.

Join us on December 1 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at NAD Headquarters to
"Celebrate 125 Years of NAD Advocacy."

The NAD plans to move to leased office space this spring. Later in
2006, the NAD will begin a Capital Campaign fundraising for a future
headquarters building in the Washington, DC area.
Come one! Come all! Enjoy your last visit to Halex House!

Spread the word about the NAD Holiday Open House:
http://www.nad.org/siteapps/email/spreadWord.aspx?c=foINKQMBF&b=1187141
NAD Headquarters address: 814 Thayer Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910-4500

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

Consumer Guide Available to Assist People with Disabilities in
Navigating Medicare Part D Drug Coverage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2005

Contacts:
Bob Williams: [email protected]
Jeffrey S. Crowley: 202-687-0652 ([email protected])

Understanding Changes in Prescription Drug Coverage for People with
Disabilities on Medicare

(Prepared by Jeffrey S. Crowley, Health Policy Institute, Georgetown
University, with Bob Williams, Advancing Independence)
www.aapd.com/News/medicaredrugcoverage/downloads/disRxGuide.pdf

Washington, DC - Advancing Independence, a disability-focused policy
organization, released today a new guide, Understanding Changes in
Prescription Drug Coverage for People with Disabilities on Medicare: A
Guide for People with Disabilities, Benefits Counselors, Disability
Organizations and Others On Transitioning to the Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Benefit. While many organizations are developing
helpful materials to assist Medicare beneficiaries through this
transition, this guide was written specifically to address special
concerns of people with disabilities. The guide was written in a
question and answer format and includes worksheets that individuals
can use in consulting their physicians about current pharmaceutical
use and in comparing and selecting a plan that meets their needs.

Medicare plays a critical role in enhancing the health and
independence of nearly 15 million people with disabilities of all ages
most of whom rely extensively on prescription medications. It is
essential that they be able to make the best use of the new Medicare
prescription drug benefit, said Bob Williams, Principal of Advancing
Independence and a co-author of the report.

Given all of the recent media coverage of fear and confusion on the
part of Medicare beneficiaries trying to make sense of the complex
details of this program and the extraordinary number of plan choices,
we hope that this guide can be a useful tool for people with
disabilities, their family members, and others who will assist them in
enrolling in a Medicare drug plan, added Jeffrey Crowley, Senior
Research Scholar at the Georgetown Health Policy Institute and a
co-author of the report.

The report was a collaborative effort between Advancing Independence
and the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University. Free copies
of the guide can be obtained in PDF and HTML formats at
http://hpi.georgetown.edu/rxchanges.html. Financial support for the
guide was provided to Advancing Independence by the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

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

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

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 2/3 >

Lakeland Teens Feel at Home At School For Deaf
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051120/NEWS/511200315/1021

At deaf happy hour, all share language of fun
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051119/NEWS01/5\
11190325/1002/NEWS


Making theatre accessible to deaf audiences and actors
http://tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3000698&fSectionId=409&fSetId=251

Disabled workers, employers win kudos
http://news.gov.hk/en/category/atschool/051121/html/051121en02001.htm

Quota Club raises funds for hearing-impaired
http://www.journalstandard.com/articles/2005/11/20/opinion/letters_to_the_editor\
/letter02.txt


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

DHHCAN & NVRC Announce National Campaign to Solicit Input on Disaster
Experiences

TDI Extends Support for Campaign, Deems It Essential To Providing
Quality Training & Services To Consumers and First Responders

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jenny Witteborg, Interim Public Relations Officer Email:
[email protected]

Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI) was
asked by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Action Network (DHHCAN) and
Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons
(NVRC) to disseminate information to members, subscribers, and the
general public about their campaign to solicit input from consumers,
first responders, service professionals, families, friends, and other
community contacts. The campaign seeks to collect first-person
account experiences from consumers and professionals related to
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma that inflicted unprecedented chaos
and property damage to the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas. They
also welcome experiences with other man-made or natural disasters in
past several months.

Your stories are very important in helping us to improve preparing,
responding and recovering in emergencies. We will keep your name
confidential if you wish.

Some examples of information we want to have:

- What emergency did you experience? (2005 disaster emergency
examples: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma; tornadoes; floods;
wildfires.)
- How did you learn about the emergency?
- What problems you did you have getting information before the
emergency?
- Were you able to get information during the emergency? How?
- What were your biggest problems or concerns during the emergency?
- Where did you stay during and after the emergency? What problems
did you have with finding a place to stay because of your deafness or
hearing loss?
- Did you need help after the emergency? What problems did you
have getting help because of your deafness or hearing loss?
- Who helped you the most before, during and after the emergency?
(For example: your family, a neighbor, a friend, an organization, a
business, a church, or a government agency.) How did they help you?
- What do you want to see changed or different to help you feel
better before, during, or after in a future emergency?

We recognize that many of the people hit hardest by the disasters may
not have the time or resources to tell us about their experiences. It
is very important to us that we hear their stories, so we ask that
others who know these individuals write about them or record them by
video. We want learn from deaf and hard of hearing individuals, their
families, friends, and people who have worked with them.

Please send your disaster emergency stories by mail, email or video to:

Cheryl A. Heppner
Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Person
3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130
Fairfax, VA 22030
[email protected]


-------------< DEAF QUOTES >

"The NAD appreciates the thoughtful response by the Gallaudet
Presidential Search Committee. The next Gallaudet President will face
monumental challenges that will have an impact on our entire
community. Without question, the next President of Gallaudet needs to
be ready to take on this vitally significant role," stated NAD Chief
Executive Officer Nancy J. Bloch.

-------------< 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 >

PRESS RELEASE - NOVEMBER 20, 2005

From: www.deafsportlawsuit.com

ANOTHER POORLY-PREPARED PUBLICATION RELEASE BY CISS ANARCHISTS.
OVER 662 ERRORS SPOTTED IN NEW BOOK.

By RAFAEL PINKHASOV PINCHAS, CISS OMBUDSMAN

New York, USA - These days the offices of the National Sports
Associations - Nation-Members of the CISS - are receiving copies of
the new publication book titled MELBOURNE 2005 DEAFLYMPIC GAMES
RESULTS, in which a very brief message is mentioned by Mr. Bill
Scales, Chairman of the Melbourne 2005 Deaflympic Games Ltd.
Organizing Committee.

Once again, the preparation and release of such a book is being done
inappropriately, negligently and unprofessionally.

And again, the CISS led by its illegally-elected President and
administrator-anarchist - Donalda Ammons - failed to do its
supervisory job in a responsible and diligent manner!

The 306-page book features many inconsistencies, errors and
questionable facts.

Randomly, the book published many incorrect first and last names of
competitors from various countries in different sports.

For example, the book incorrectly spelled the name of a 3-time gold
medal winner of the Games in the women's 400 meter, 400 meter hurdles
and 4x100 meter relay from the Ukraine - Zyerinsky ( the accurate
surname of that athlete, however, is Zverynskaya ).

In the women's volleyball, men's and women's beach volleyball, the
book mentions the name of the nation of Uzbekistan as the Games
entrant and competitor. However, the fact remains that there was not a
single athlete from this nation participating in any sports at the
Melbourne Games.

In wrestling, in some weight class categories, it is impossible to
determine or guess for any reader as to who placed first through ninth
in the specific weight class event.

The book also failed to produce the list the of the nations that won
gold, silver and bronze medals at the Games.

Overall, this Ombudsman spotted a record total of over 622
inconsistencies, errors and omissions in this 306-paged statistical book.

In retrospect, in 2002 the CISS very belatedly released to the world
its 19th Deaflympic Games 2001 Rome Official Results Book, in which
556 inconsistencies and errors were made in the book pages

www.deafsportlawsuit.com/update9.html

Thus, Ammons and her followers have not learned any lesson yet, that
is, how to prepare and supervise the book publication in a proper way.

In addition, the past two months of this outgoing year of 2005 -
October and November - have vividly demonstrated Ammons' continued
incompetence to lead the organization of the CISS or now-called
International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.

Last month, it was learned that the Ammons-advertised and
"americanized" name of the organization such as "Deaflympics" was
removed from its official use. Now, the organization is, instead,
being called as the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (
not Deaflympics ). Then, this month of November is witnessing another
immensely disastrous project handled by Ammons - the publication of
this historical document called MELBOURNE 2005 DEAFLYMPIC GAMES
RESULTS book!

Thus, Ammons and her followers have not learned any lesson yet, that
is, how to prepare and supervise the book publication in a proper way.

In addition, the past two months of this outgoing year of 2005 -
October and November - have vividly demonstrated Ammons' continued
incompetence to lead the organization of the CISS or now-called
International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.

Last month, it was learned that the Ammons-advertised and
"americanized" name of the organization such as "Deaflympics" was
removed from its official use. Now, the organization is, instead,
being called as the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (
not Deaflympics ). Then, this month of November is witnessing another
immensely disastrous project handled by Ammons - the publication of
this historical document called MELBOURNE 2005 DEAFLYMPIC GAMES
RESULTS book!

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

Dear Mr.. Jean Laurent Bourquin, IOC Sports Manager

In retrospect, you strongly suggested that we should communicate
directly with CISS President Donalda Ammons to answer 10 questions
proposed by Deaf Civil Rights Advocate, Mr. Richard Roehm. At this
time, Dr Ammons has made no concrete effort even to acknowledge the
recipient of these 10 questions and , top of it all, no forthcoming
answers. Such omission as part of her responsibilities as president
of the CISS (Deaflympic)to answer queries or information from the
interested individual is clearly an indication that she is being
uncooperative.

As a Deaf Sports Advocate, I am getting fed up with Dr. Ammons and her
associates, especially Gerald Jordan, playing cat and mouse game with
us. Again, I do urge you and your Board to do something with the CISS
(Deaflympic) of their 2005 CISS Elections frauds; failure to respond
to the 10 questions and their publication book of 2005 Deaflympic
Games Results filled of over 600 errors as CISS Obudsman, Rafael
Pinchas, stated in his aforementioned message.

It is my understanding that the CISS is under the surveillance of the
IOC in view of the fact the CISS receives funds from IOC. Correct me
if I am wrong on this matter.

Sincerely yours,
Bill Schyman , USA Deaf Sports Advocate

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 3/3 >

Rethink ban on deaf blood donors
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_T\
ype1&c=Article&cid=1132354212801&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795


Improving fire safety for the deaf
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/112005/11182005/141248

Disabled boy gets firefighters' help
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBr\
and=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED20%20Nov%202005%2013%3A43%3A54%3A123


Videophones make calls easier for the hearing impaired
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MTAmZmdiZWw3Zjd2\
cWVlRUV5eTY4MDEyNTQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1


College Fair Focuses On The Hearing Impaired
http://www.wcsh6.com/home/article.asp?id=28243

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

1) Assistant Professor at a California State University
2) HIV/AIDS HEALTH EDUCATOR WANTED FOR DEAF POPULATIONS IN KENYA
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 it comes 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.

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

Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by becoming a Discovery
Toys consultant! Discovery Toys focuses on learning through play,
with products specifically designed to maximize learning moments, has
proven to be a success as the company has now witnessed an entire
generation grow up with Discovery Toys. Many parents and their adult
children credit DISCOVERY TOYS® products with helping them to develop
core skills and self-esteem, which contributed to their later life
accomplishments and success as adults. Beth Koenig is your Discovery
Toys consultant. Her Discovery Toys website is at
Http://www.discoverthetoys.net and this is a great business
opportunity for people disabilities. Discovery Toys is one of our
supported activities through our Community Business Enterprise Program.

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

Please join me in giving congratulations to the Riverside Football
team on qualifying for the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The
commitment by the entire school to produce a team that is able to
advance to the next level of athletic competition is a gratifying
accomplishment. You and the entire community should share a sense of
satisfaction and achievement.

Come and root the football team as we take on Campbell Hall!

We will be playing at CSDR home field under the lights once again on
Friday, November 18, 2005. The kickoff will be at 7:30 pm.

Please distribute this information to the general public.

Be seeing you there!

GO CUBS GO!

John Castrese
Athletic Director
California School for the Deaf, Riverside
HOME of the CUBS!
951-782-6551
[email protected]
=============================

As most of you probably know by now, the House, last week after
defeating the budget bill with major Medicaid cuts and cuts in other
important programs (food stamps, etc.), then reversed itself in the
wee small hours of the night. So in the end the House PASSED the cuts.

The bill, passed 217-215. See how your representative voted at
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll601.xml

Also, during the night, the Senate passed a bill that extends the tax
CUTS.

So we need to keep emailing and calling both Senators and
Representatives and ask them to be sure Money Follows the Person is in
the final budget bill, and that Medicaid cuts are taken out of the
final budget.

NATIONAL ADAPT
http://www.adapt.org

-------------< 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]

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

OCDAC Newsletter November 15, 2005

Dear Friends,

Last Friday at the Block at Orange deaf social event approximately 200
people attended and we passed out copies of our HUD packets to people
along with our Deaf Latino Health Fiesta, and our monthly Meetup flyers.

The new updates on the popular Sidekick II communicators have a lot of
enhancements and this newsletter becomes very accessible to the
Sidekick devices with the latest update.

In this issue you will see a story in 3 different news websites that
deaf students plan to sue Utah State for lack of interpreters. School
says interpreter shortage. Let's see who is responsible for creating
the interpreter shortages at Utah and many other places throughout the
United States. It's time that the larger deaf organizations start
looking into the issues that created the interpreter shortages and
take corrective action before it gets worse.

We will be holding a Support Service Provider for the Deaf Blind on
Saturday Nov. 19th from 12pm to 5pm. This is a free 5 hour training
workshop open to anyone interested in working with the Deaf Blind.
Training will take place at our offices in Irvine. If you can come to
the training workshop please RSVP. If you have any questions please
email Beth Koenig [email protected]

We are making a difference. Thanks to the huge support and the flood
of calls to the Member(s) of the House of Representatives, urging them
to oppose the House Budget Reconciliation bill that contains over $50
plus billion in cuts to health and human services, including $12
billion in cuts to Medicaid are working. Last Saturday the House
Republican leaders pulled the bill from the floor, they don't have
enough votes to pass it as is. They'll try again this week so keep
up the calls/e-mails to your House Members. Even if you've contacted
them before, contact ( 800-426-8073 or http://www.house.gov/ ) them
again. Tell them cuts to Medicaid, etc. are bad policy. Tell them
that the 'Stop the Raid on Social Security Act of 2005' and the
'Social Security Guarantee Act of 2005' has a lot of things that would
do a lot of harm to the disability communities. They think they can
wear us down, they think we'll lose our focus. We must keep the
pressure on and OCDAC Newsletter will always be on the guard for all
of us for these nasty stealth bills that are being brought up in Congress.

Begin your journey toward self-sufficiency by becoming a Discovery
Toys consultant! Discovery Toys focuses on learning through play,
with products specifically designed to maximize learning moments, has
proven to be a success as the company has now witnessed an entire
generation grow up with Discovery Toys. Many parents and their adult
children credit DISCOVERY TOYS® products with helping them to develop
core skills and self-esteem, which contributed to their later life
accomplishments and success as adults. Beth Koenig is your Discovery
Toys consultant. Her Discovery Toys website is at
Http://www.discoverthetoys.net and this is a great business
opportunity for people disabilities. Discovery Toys is one of our
supported activities through our Community Business Enterprise Program.

We are planning a Deaf Latino Health Fiesta for the public at Tacos
Mexico Restaurant in Santa Ana that has been good to hold our
outreach events toward deaf Latinos. The event is on December 9, 2005.
6pm till 11 pm. This will go on at the same time as the Block at
Orange social events. We're just inviting them over to see our
outreach program as part of the 2nd Friday experience at the Block at
Orange. The purpose of the Deaf Latino Health Fiesta is to introduce
to deaf and non-deaf latinos of positive co-existence opportunities in
the health area. We will have material in Spanish of the various
health opportunities our society offers. Across the street from Tacos
Mexico is another Starbucks Cafe, next to it are Denny's and Popeye's,
and near to Subway's, and Taco Bell.

Please update your mailboxes to permit our newsletters as were getting
a lot of bounces in the past week.

Remember us as the holidays are coming up! Don't forget to use the
Albertsons, Ralph, and Food4Less Cards this coming Thanksgiving as you
will help us with our mission and vision statements. Our iGive
program is there to help you with your holiday shopping too.

OCDAC Communications
[email protected]

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

We have started fundraising activities to build up the stock for The
New Year's event.

We have started on the planning our free Valentine's day dance event
next February. This will be supported by vendors who purchased booths
and we already have 2 vendors lined up for this.

We are having a Bowl-A-Thon next February and a committee is being
formed for that.

Drastic Social Security rule changes for Title II Old Age, Survivors,
and Disability Insurance and SSI programs such as outlined in
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/200\
5/pdf/05-14845.pdf

renews our calls for self-reliance ideas for organizations who serve
the deaf and disabled and our very own idea, our California Disability
Gaming Initiative idea and that can be found at
http://www.deafadvocacy.com/cdgicinfo.pdf is an idea that works for
Native Americans. Why shouldn't it work for the Disability
communities? The proposed Social Security rules will limit appeals
and create a new process that is less about truth-seeking and more
hostile to applicants.

Our online magazine fundraiser is doing well.

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

Take a look at our new magazine fundraiser and this is one of the ways
you can help us do the good work for the deaf and disabled communities.

The URL is http://www.magfundraising.com/GroupPage.aspx?e=788159

Our blue van which we use to transport deaf-blind people to events and
we also use to conduct numerous fundraiser and education activities is
showing signs it will need to be replaced soon. We use it to transport
over 15 deaf and deaf-blind people to various events each month.
These deaf and deaf-blind clients who are unable to use the bus cant
qualify for our local ACCESS program since their system's rules make
it extremely difficult to do so. Therefore our deaf and deaf-blind
friends are relying on us to help them participate in our society's
offerings and that is done through our blue van. The wipers have
ceased working making it inoperable on rainy days, the transmission is
bad limiting our travel to local areas. Last week the sliding door on
the side fell off because the metal cracked at the top. The van has
been heavily used in assisting us with our mission and vision
statements. We would appreciate your help in getting us a new van
soon so we can continue helping these deaf and deaf-blind people and
our education and fundraising activities. If you're interested in
helping us out, please contact us at [email protected]

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 1/3 >

Deaf students threaten to sue Utah State for more interpreters
http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6\
8797


Scam artists prosper by exploiting service for the deaf
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2005-11-13-trs-scam_x.htm

Govt to work on rehabilitation of disabled persons in rural
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=52879

Woman honored for work with disabled
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=61604&ntpid=5

New hope for hearing impaired
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=New+hope+f\
or+hearing+impaired&id=80951


-------------< 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.

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

Beach Blanket Babylon - San Francisco's longest running Musical will
have an interpreted performance on: Sunday November 20th at 4pm -
Interpreters - Sherry Hicks and Michael Velez
$25 - $75 Ask for Deaf Seating (415) 421-4222
Steve Silver's - Beach Blanket Babylon
http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/home.html

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

The Orange County American Sign Language November Meetup

When:
Wednesday, November 16, 7:00 PM


Where:
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
17595 Harvard Ave #B
Irvine, CA
(949) 660-1332

What:
Let's meet and sign!

Free Raffle Ticket to each participant, $1.00 for extra raffle tickets.

Prizes include, ASL Placemats, ASL Jewelry, Firestarters, and ASL pin.

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

Please visit our iGive store http://www.igive.com/ocdac for your
holiday shopping needs.

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

CSD teams up With Deaf Seniors of America

Members of Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) voted to collaborate with
CSD, a national non-profit organization, to provide increased services
to seniors who are deaf and hard of hearing. The decision came during
DSA's 8th biennial conference in San Francisco, Calif. on Aug. 31
through Sept. 5.

"The decision for DSA and CSD to work together represents an
investment to enhance our efforts and maximize our available
resources," said Bob D. Cook, DSA president.

The collaboration will make it possible for DSA and CSD to capitalize
on each organization's strengths in locating funds for programming
targeted at deaf and hard of hearing senior citizens on local, state
and national levels. These projects could include outreach, education
and wellness programming.

"Deaf senior citizens have shaped today's Deaf America," said Benjamin
Soukup, CSD chief executive officer. "By providing services and
activities that meet their unique and particular needs, we are
recognizing and honoring their important contributions to the community."

CSD currently provides deaf senior citizen services in San Antonio,
Texas; Sioux Falls, S.D. and Frederick, Md. The programs provide
support in reducing isolation through education on coping skills,
providing transportation and independent living services, and by
offering recreational activities and skills training.

Over 2,200 people registered for the DSA conference. In addition to
sponsoring the conference, CSD staff participated in and presented
workshops, including "Volunteerism in Retirement," "Giving Back to the
Community" and "Philanthropy." Staff also demonstrated CSD's video
relay service, CSDVRS, and shared other information on CSD's programs
and services.

For more information about CSD's services or collaboration with DSA,
contact Lori Breslow, chief program officer for CSD's National
Programs division, at (800) 642-6410 (Voice) or (866) 273-3323 (TTY).

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

The California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR) was selected to
host the sixth annual Clerc Classic on January 12 - 14, 2006. The
Clerc Classic VI consists of boys' basketball tournament, girls'
basketball tournament and cheerleading competition all combined into a
sports extravaganza for schools/programs for the deaf and hard of
hearing throughout the nation.

Background information:

This national classic was named after Laurent Clerc, a Deaf man who
pioneered the education of Deaf people in the United States. After
moving to the United States from France in 1817, Clerc went on to
complete 50 years of teaching. Many of his students became leaders in
the community spearheading the establishment of schools for the deaf
throughout the country. Many states around the nation adopted Clerc's
method of teaching Deaf students including schools in California,
Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona, Tennessee and Virginia. In all, more
than thirty residential schools for the deaf were established all over
the nation during Clerc's lifetime.

The gathering of Deaf and Hard of Hearing basketball high school
players and cheerleaders from eight schools for the deaf fulfills the
vision of Laurent Clerc. The Clerc Classic participants will not only
showcase their talents on the basketball floor but also have the
opportunity to grow intellectually, socially and emotionally through
fellowship with one another.

Teams participating in the Clerc Classic include:

Host: California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR)

• California School for the Deaf, Fremont
• Indiana School for the Deaf
• Marlton High School
• Maryland School for the Deaf
• Model Secondary School for the Deaf
• Phoenix Day School for the Deaf (Arizona)
• North Star Academy (Minnesota)

There will be approximately 330 players, coaches and volunteers at the
Classic and we will provide lodging and meals for them. We expect to
draw over 1,000 spectators to the Classic this year. We plan to have
all basketball games and cheerleader competition officiated by deaf
referees/judges from all over the country this year. We continue to
take pride in exposing deaf children to various deaf adult role models.

Game results and pictures will be posted to the Clerc Classic VI
webpage on the CSDR website frequently during the day. We also will
have Live Score for all games throughout the weekend. The Clerc
Classic VI website is continuously under construction keeping our
visitors updated.

The website address is http://www.csdr-cde.ca.gov/clerc.

To ensure you have the ultimate experience when you visit Clerc's
website, please download the latest Quicktime player
(http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download) and upgrade your Internet
browser to the latest version.

Clerc's website also provides a RSS feed. Go grab it at
http://feeds.feedburner.com/clercclassicvi

We also sell combo tickets online. 3 full days of games for only $25
dollars!

To order tickets, go to http://www.csdr-cde.ca.gov/clerc/?page_id=24

We are looking forward to see you all in Clerc Classic VI tournament!

John Castrese
Athletic Director
California School for the Deaf, Riverside
HOME of the CUBS!
951-782-6551
[email protected]

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

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

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 2/3 >

Deaf Students Threaten to Sue USU Over Claimed Lack of Interpreters
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=128387

Indian deaf cricketers score win in run up to World Cup
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=156925

Field for disabled kids coming to KC
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051114&content_id=1268350&v\
key=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb


Court Rules Parents of Disabled Children Have Burden of Proof
http://www-tech.mit.edu/V125/N54/54long2.html

For hearing-impaired Kayleigh Toombs, nothing seems to slow her down
http://www.mlive.com/preps/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1129733183122300.xml\
&coll=6


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

CSDVRS Goes 24/7, Introduces New Services

(Sioux Falls, S.D.) CSDVRS announced today that its national video
relay service is now operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CSD
chose to implement around the clock service effective Nov. 1, even
though the regulatory requirement to do so is not until Jan. 1, 2006.

As part of the "Switch to CSDVRS" plan, CSDVRS also unveiled
additional new features, enhanced voice carry-over (CSDVRS VCO) and
sign language to Spanish services.

Sign language users and hearing people can now use CSDVRS at any time
to communicate with each other via telephone and a video interpreter.
A sign language user communicates through a videophone with a TV or a
Web cam with a computer and high-speed Internet. This service,
provided at no charge, is funded through the National Exchange
Carriers Association (NECA)..

Switch To CSDVRS: CSDVRS VOICE CARRY-OVER
CSDVRS VCO is an innovative way for a deaf or hard of hearing caller
to use a standard telephone to speak directly to the hearing person
while viewing a video interpreter (VI) who signs when the hearing
person speaks. Following trials conducted during the Association of
Late-Deafened Adults' 2005 conference (ALDAcon) in Salt Lake City,
Utah, CSDVRS VCO has been expanded with three communication options to
meet the needs of hard of hearing and late-deafened users..

Hard of hearing or late-deafened users can now specify one of three
communication preferences in their profile: a VI communicating in
American Sign Language, a VI using English-based sign language alone
or the VI signing in English and moving closer to the video screen to
allow lip reading. A demonstration of each of these three
communication preferences can be seen at www.csdvrs.com/vcosample.htm.

Switch To CSDVRS: SPANISH CSDVRS
The 41.3 million people who make up the growing Hispanic population
have become the country's largest ethnic minority. For that reason,
CSD also launched Spanish CSDVRS to meet the needs of deaf and hard of
hearing sign language users who wish to communicate with hearing
persons that speak Spanish. Through Spanish CSDVRS, video interpreters
can now translate sign language to spoken Spanish and vice versa. .

Sign language users can use Spanish CSDVRS by connecting through
Spanish.csdvrs.tv or go to http://call.csdvrs.com. Hearing Hispanic
callers should call toll-free 1-866-WANT-VRS (866-926-8877) and select
the Spanish option. Operating hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Mondays
through Fridays..

About CSDVRS
With 30 years of experience in providing sign language interpreting,
telecommunications and video relay services, and call center
operations, CSD launched CSDVRS in March 2005. CSDVRS is the first
deaf-operated service in the country and offers professional,
certified sign language interpreters and seamless conversations, where
facial expressions and nuances can be portrayed spontaneously. CSDVRS
users appreciate the quicker pace and more natural flow of VRS
conversations. For information on CSD's "Switch to CSDVRS" plan, go to
www.csdvrs.com.

About CSD CSD is a private, nonprofit telecommunications and human
services organization based in Sioux Falls, S.D.

-------------< DEAF QUOTES >

"represent a major technological advance for the civil rights and
economic opportunities of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals," said
Kelby Brick on Video Relay Services

-------------< 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 >

The NAD Needs Your Opinions!

The NAD Fulton III Committee wants input, ideas, and suggestions from
you.

Ways You Can Share Your Opinions:

* Talk with Committee members at events around the country. Find out
where Fulton III Committee presentations will be held at:
http://www.nad.org/f3presentations

* Complete a short survey at: http://www.nad.org/f3survey

* Send an email to: [email protected]

-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 3/3 >

Not enough to sign
http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2005/11/13/news/news02.txt

NATION CELEBRATES 'DEAF AWARENESS WEEK'
http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl103180.htm


The Wales Deaf International Rugby Takes Place At Sardis Road
http://www.ponty.net/news/article_zoom.php?article_id=1181011

Readjustment pay now hurts disabled veteran
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20051114-014004-3125r.htm

Free bus travel for OAPS and disabled
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=301609


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

1) Assistant Professor at a California State University
2) HIV/AIDS HEALTH EDUCATOR WANTED FOR DEAF POPULATIONS IN KENYA
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 it comes 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 >

The PA Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), is requesting
input from people with disabilities in PA on current housing
arrangements, needs, and compliance issues.

To that end, the following link provides a survey form which can be
completed and submitted to SILC in order for them to formulate policy
and promote it to State Agencies and offices.

Please complete, share the link, or print for others to complete who
might have input to provide on the current status of housing for
people with disabilities in PA.

http://www.pasilc.org/advocacy/HousingSurvey.aspx

John Lorence Tri County Patriots for Independent Living
Civil Rights Specialist 69 East Beau Street

[email protected] Washington, PA 15301
Voice: 724-223-5115 Fax: 724-223-5119
Dimenet BBS # 724-223-0160 TTY/TDD: 724-228-402
=============================

Hi,

Okay I am still waiting receive e-mail from you soon smile bye. I
am deaf I can use signing languages and orals.I have hard time looking
for dating deaf women around cincinnati. I need deaf women dating with
someone. I am 31. I am single. I not smoking. I am aloney. I am from
cincinnati grewup mylife. can you help me a idea find for me. I will
go out with her evening. Let me know all information e-mail
me [email protected] Hope have nice day takecare smile bye.

Gary Michel

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

First, it was a great letter that I read submitted by you to the news
enterprise. Second, yes this city often turns it back on the disabled
individuals. I fought to get a new building's parking lot to meet the
code for handicapped individuals and provide a safe entry point for
those with disabilities. Our city council did not care that they have
to struggle with a down hil slope in an alley (busy alley) to get to
the structure which just happens to be a new dental office. This new
structure is located on Florista, east of Los Alamitos Blvd and west
of the thrift store for precious life. While I wish no harm to the
dentist who just wanted to build a new office for her practice, I am
not pleased with the lack of concern for others by this city council.
I will be happy to talk to you but I must not allow my name used. I
live here and I know what will happen to me. My phone number is
562-716-9591 (cell). I encourage you to please do a very close
inspection of our city. It is about time someone starts speaking up
those who do not know how or can not. I can also provide you with
information on another structure that has no handicapp spaces. In
fact, I heard there are many complaints about that problem too. But
nothing has changed. Please have the ADA do a through inspection.

Best Wishes,
Anonymous


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

November 7, 2005

Dear Supporters of Disability Rights and Services:

We are asking you today for your financial support for a Disability
Activist Legal Defense and Education Fund (DALDEF) for ADAPT activists
who have been or will be arrested advocating for the rights of people
with disabilities and older Americans to live and receive services in
their homes and communities.

The battles to reform the institutionally biased long term care system
must continue if we are to protect people from being needlessly
warehoused in nursing homes and other institutions. 104 people were
recently arrested in DC occupying the offices of the Congressional
leadership of both parties. Their crime was advocating for the passage
of MiCASSA and Money Follows the Person, two pieces of legislation
that when passed, will move us a long way down the road to ending the
institutional bias.

Through hard work by a local DC lawyer a good deal was negotiated.
Even so the fines and legal fees totaled over $6,000.

We need your financial assistance!

Next March ADAPT will be hold its next National Gathering in
Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee has one of the worst records in the country for providing
home and community services. In fact Tennessee is in the process of
slashing Medicaid funding for health and long term services for
thousands of disabled and older Tennesseans.

We anticipate over 500 disabled activists will converge on Nashville,
Tennessee to support the struggle of local activists who have been
battling a Governor intent on throwing people off services and send a
message to Senator Frist that Congress must act to end the
institutional battle.

All contributions to ADAPT are tax deductible.

Your contribution will be used solely for legal defense and education
activities.

So please send your $50, $100, $500, $1000 or whatever you can afford to:

The ADAPT Community - DALDEF
1339 Lamar Sq Drive Suite 101
Austin, Texas 78704

For an Institution Free America,

Steve Gold Diane Coleman Marjorie Rifkin
Gayle Hafner

-------------< 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]