Dear Friends,
I begin this newsletter with a news alert that the Orange County
(California) HUD (Housing Urban Development) office is now accepting
applications for Section 8 rental assistance. If you or know anyone
who may need help paying the apartment rent, please contact us or have
them contact us ASAP because the application window is only in the
month of November 2005.
Mata Expo was great! A lot more people showed up than expected maybe
300% more than expected. Next year it will be held in the Ontario
Convention Center. Pictures of this have been uploaded to the
newsletter's website along with the pictures of the other events in
'crazy October'. We have distributed a lot of advocacy, health, and
education materials. Even our volunteers decided to sell Mint
Meltaways candies there and we sold all out. Deaf people mobbed the
T-Mobile booth all day. The Sidkick communication devices are still
very hot in the deaf market and we are considering making a
sidekick-friendly version of this newsletter.
The recent Forrest vs Buydig.com settlement through the U.S.
Department of Justice states businesses who hang up on relay assisted
calls could be liable for damages under Title III of the ADA. Deaf
people use relay the relay service to communicate with hearing people
through the telephone. Make sure you use a relay service that
utilizes the recording of conversations. Preferably using the Internet
Protocols (IP) relay services instead of video relay services (VRS) to
document businesses responses to relay calls would produce the
strongest evidence. Use the recorded conversations in your complaint
to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Some of you wonder why we're taking up Rafael's side on his fight with
CISS.org organization is that the editor has personally experienced
similar problems with the WRAD.org and California Association of the
Deaf organizations in the past. The two organizations have toyed
around with their leadership elections many years ago preventing the
editor from getting elected on several occasions and that's why we're
strongly connected to Rafael's situation with the CISS organization.
It's all about a war against indiscipline.
Today's going to be an interesting day in California's history when
California voters decide on several interesting initiatives. They
involve minor pregnancy termination, 2 prescription drug initiatives,
public funding allocations, teacher issues, and union dues management.
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.
We are partnering with a Silent Poker Club in Orange County for the
purpose of supporting our Disability Gaming Initiative. We welcome
Rocky Butler on board with us.
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 >
School for deaf marks 25 years
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/11/school_for_deaf_1.html
Teaching the deaf to hear
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/11/teaching_the_de.html
Listen: The Sound Of Hope
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_46/b3959101.htm
Elections Board says polling places have barriers to disabled
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/13098489.htm
College Fair Focuses On The Hearing Impaired
http://www.wcsh6.com/home/article.asp?id=28243
-------------< 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.
===============================
SCRID and Cypress College welcomes you to DEMYSTIFYING CLASSIFIERS on
November 12 from 9am to 4:30pm at Cypress College, 9200 Valley View
Street, Cypress, CA 90630 in the Food for Thought Cafe in the Fine
Arts Building.
What exactly are classifiers?
Learn all about how classifiers function in ASL.
Learn how classifiers are the mortar to the bricks of ASL vocabulary
and how the use of the classifiers lets you really tell the story.
Both receptive and expressive practice.
Open to all levels. Space limited. Pre-registration is encouraged.
For more information, contact [email protected] or
[email protected] or visit www.scrid.org.
===============================
COFFEE NIGHT AT THE BLOCK AT ORANGE
20 City Blvd. West,
Orange, CA 92868
Location is just where the 5 freeway meets the 22 freeway at The City
Drive Exit in the city of Orange. November 11 , 6pm till closing.
Always heavy turnout rain or 'moon shine'!
===============================
TRAFFIC SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING NOVEMBER 12, 2005
from 8am to 4pm at Citrus College, 1000 W. Foothill Bvld., Glendora,
CA 91741 in the Lifelong Learning Center.
8 hours of instruction in the fundamentals of the vehicle code, laws,
and better driving practices.
For more information, contact John Stockman at [email protected] or
[email protected].
===============================
DynaMingle invites you to ICE CREAM NIGHT social at Cold Stone
Creamery, 2950 Johnson Drive, Ventura, CA 93003 on November 14 from
7pm to 9pm.
Tell the cashier that you're with DynaMingle so that a portion of your
purchase is donated to DynaMingle.
(From flyer at mata expo)
-------------< ANNOUNCEMENT >
Please visit our iGive store http://www.igive.com/ocdac for your
holiday shopping needs.
-------------< DEAF GRAPEVINE >
NAD Settles Relay Complaint Against Online Retailer
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), representing Heidi
Forrest, settled a disability discrimination complaint against
WorldWide Direct/Buydig.com, Inc. The complaint, filed with the United
States Department of Justice, claimed that Buydig.com, an online
retailer, refused to accept Ms. Forrest's Telecommunications Relay
Service (TRS) call.
Kelby Brick, NAD Director of Law and Advocacy, commented "this is an
important precedent establishing that stores and businesses must
comply with the law by accepting relay calls."
Buydig.com allows customers to place orders for the purchase of
digital products by phone, fax, mail, and online. In July 2004,
Forrest initiated on online order. After initiating her order,
Buydig.com contacted Forrest by email, requesting that she call the
customer service number provided. Buydig.com did not indicate that its
phone number was accessible to TTY calls so Forrest attempted to call
the customer service number using relay.
Buydig.com refused to accept Forrest's relay calls, explaining that
they do not accept "these calls." As a result, Forrest never had an
opportunity to communicate with a Buydig.com representative.
Buydig.com then cancelled her order.
As part of the settlement, Buydig.com agreed to comply with the
following conditions:
Produce and provide all company personnel with a written copy of the
company policy requiring acceptance of relay calls in compliance with
Title III of the ADA;
Provide comprehensive training to all personnel on Buydig.com
obligations to accept relay calls;
Post a notice on the Buydig.com website of its policy of accepting
relay calls. "Now deaf or hard of hearing individuals can receive
equal access to the products and services of Buydig.com," Brick
continued, "We are happy to see a retailer change their policies in
order to ensure deaf or hard of hearing individuals are treated equally."
For more news and information regarding requirements of businesses to
provide access to deaf and hard of hearing individuals as well as
other individuals with disabilities, please visit the following
website: http://www.nad.org/ADAtitleIII
-------------< BULLETIN >
Senators Kennedy and DeWine Introduce Bill to Help People with
Disabilities Overcome Barriers to Independence
On Wednesday, November 2, 2005, U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
and Mike DeWine (R-OH) held a press conference in which they announced
the introduction of the Community Living Assistance Services and
Supports (CLASS) Act of 2005 (S 1951) that would create an insurance
program for adults who become functionally disabled. This legislation
would provide a cash benefit to help obtain services and supports in
the community while providing individuals with disabilities more
choices in their lives.
Too many Americans are perfectly capable of living a life in the
community, but are denied the supports they need, said Sen. Kennedy.
The bill we propose is a long overdue effort to offer greater dignity,
greater hope, and greater opportunity. It makes a simple pact with
all Americans If you work hard and contribute, society will take care
of you when you fall on hard times.
This bill is a good step in changing public policy to help severely
impaired people overcome barriers to their personal independence, said
Sen. DeWine, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Retirement
Security and Aging. This bill would allow Ohio families and people
across the country to more easily obtain much-needed tools like
housing modifications and assistive technologies.
Over 100 groups representing people with disabilities, seniors, and
Americas workers have signed on to support this legislation. Included
in that support are the American Association of People with
Disabilities, the National Council on Independent Living, ADAPT, the
Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and the Disability
Policy Collaboration.
This legislation creates a voluntary insurance program that is based
on the principles of independence, choice, and empowerment. It would
be financed by voluntary payroll deductions of individuals (at least
18 years old) who have contributed to the program at least five years.
There are two benefit tiers: Tier 1 benefits ($50 a day) would be
payable to eligible individuals who have two or more impairments in
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) or the equivalent cognitive
impairments and Tier 2 benefits ($100 a day) would be payable to
individuals who have four or more ADLs or the equivalent cognitive
impairment.
Mr. James Stearns, a national trustee of United Cerebral Palsy, also
spoke at the press conference on Thursday. He stated: On behalf of
United Cerebral Palsy, I applaud Senators Kennedy and DeWine for
introducing the CLASS Act. Their legislation advances a system that
rewards independence by encouraging people with disabilities to live
in their own communities and be productive.
-------------< 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 >
Now Hear This: Films Captioned For The Deaf
http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-captions.artnov07,0,1406623.story?c\
oll=hc-headlines-life
See me, hear me
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/health/s_391851.html
REEVE'S DISABLED INSPIRATION AIMS FOR POLITICS
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/reeves%20disabled%20insp\
iration%20aims%20for%20politics
Foundation for disabled robbed
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051107/NEWS01/51107001\
/1079
Videophones make calls easier for the hearing impaired
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MTAmZmdiZWw3Zjd2\
cWVlRUV5eTY4MDEyNTQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1
-------------< ADVOCACY NEWS >
National Association of the Deaf Urges Comments on Closed Captioning Rules
As a result of a petition submitted by the National Association of the
Deaf (NAD), Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc., Self Help for the
Hard of Hearing, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy
Network, and the Association of Late Deafened Adults, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) has begun a rulemaking process to
examine the FCC closed captioning rules.
Closed captioning is an integral and crucial part of a deaf and hard
of hearing person's daily life and personal safety. However, despite
the FCC current closed captioning rules, there continues to be woeful
captioning access -- no access or poor quality -- in broadcast captions.
The FCC seeks comments on whether additional enforcement mechanisms
should be required to ensure full compliance with its rules and to
increase the accountability for noncompliance with its rules. "This
will be the biggest change in captioning rules in years," says Kelby
Brick, NAD Director of Law and Advocacy.
The FCC seeks comments on the following areas:
-non-technical quality standards for closed captioning
-technical quality standards for closed captioning
-monitoring of captioning
-complaint procedures
-accessibility of contact information
-standardized FCC complaint form for consumers to use
-fines and penalties for failure to caption
-requirement for compliance reports by broadcasters
-availability of captioners to provide live and pre-broadcast captions
"The FCC must hear from consumers on this important issue," urged
Sheila Conlon Mentkowski, Chair of the NAD Technology Committee.
Consumers are encouraged to take action now by going to:
http://www.nad.org/CaptioningAction
-------------< DEAF QUOTES >
"With video relay, I'm able to use my natural language, which is Sign
Language," James Ahearn
-------------< 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 >
Marilyn Golden, Policy Analyst at the Disability Rights Education and
Defense Fund (DREDF) ([email protected]), reports:
New ADA Transportation Guidance From DOT
Recently, four new guidance documents interpreting the Department of
Transportation (DOT) Americans with Disabilities Act Regulations were
released by DOT. These four guidance documents faithfully carry out
the intent of the ADA and its regulation to protect the civil rights
of people with disabilities. For example, one of the documents states
that transit agencies must provide paratransit service in a way that
goes beyond "curb-to-curb service" if necessary to actually get the
passenger from his or her point of origin to his or her destination.
The documents are entitled:
1. Origin to Destination Service
2. Full-Length, Level-Boarding Platforms in New Commuter and Intercity
Rail Stations
3. Paratransit Requirements for '5311-Funded Fixed-Route Service
Operated by Private Entities
4. Use of "Segways" on Transportation Vehicles
The new DOT documents can be found at www.fta.dot.gov/ada under the
first heading, "DOT Disability Law Guidance." A current direct link is
http://www.fta.dot.gov/14531_17511_ENG_HTML.htm. Note that the first
link has a number of other important ADA transportation tools for
advocates, including:
* The FTA ADA complaint form at
http://www.fta.dot.gov/14531_14889_ENG_HTML.htm
* A growing list of FTA ADA assessments of transit agencies at
http://www.fta.dot.gov/14531_16159_ENG_HTML.htm
--
Marilyn Golden
Policy Analyst
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
<[email protected]>
Home office:
1629 Ward Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
USA
Voice (510) 549-9339
FAX (510) 549-9449
<www.dredf.org>
-------------< OUTSIDE NEWS PART 3/3 >
ARB donates to Sekondi School for the Deaf
http://www.accra-mail.com/mailnews.asp?id=14615
Sign language improves mental abilities
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/11/sign_language_i_2.html
Disabled Woman Sentenced To House Arrest For Smuggling Cuban Birds
http://www.local10.com/news/5268792/detail.html
Assistive Technology Centre for hearing-impaired ready next year
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/176969/1/.html
Hearing-impaired victims to enjoy group's assistance
http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=10/23/2005&qrTitle=Hearing-impair\
ed%20victims%20to%20enjoy%20group%E2%80%99s%20assistance&qrColumn=NATION
-------------< 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 >
How to contact the DEAF ACTION CENTER of NEW ORLEANS :
Contact Information for the Deaf Action Center for the New Orleans
Region: Deaf Action Center-New Orleans (moved to Baton Rouge, LA)
Shari Bernius, Executive Director (Offices have moved to Baton Rouge
under the Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans-also in Baton
Rouge) Jennifer Guerrieri, Coordinator of Interpreters
9853 Jefferson Highway
Unit F-5
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
cell 504-615-7122
[email protected]
Jennifer Guerrieri, Coordinator of Interpreters
504-615-4944 cell
504-736-9103 home
[email protected]
Shari Bernius home ph now 225-243-5200
[email protected]
Fred
W. Fred Roy III
Executive Director
Louisiana Commission for the Deaf
8225 Florida Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70806-4834
225-925-4175 Video Phone/v/tdd
800-256-1523 v/tdd
225-922-1515 FAX
225-235-4203 Cell
[email protected] (email & Cell IM)
www.dss.state.la.us
==============================
Special Meeting and Workshop
Hello everyone. I truly hope this finds you all healthy and safe!!
LRID would like to announce a Special Meeting and Workshop on December
10 from 9:00am - 5:00pm at the Lafayette Athletic Association of the
Deaf (LAAD) Clubhouse.
Thank you to LAAD and to Bruce Dunn for the site location. Derrick
Elkins is working to finalize the workshop details.
Please share this information with others interested in LRID. I look
forward to seeing everyone. Smiles!!!
If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]
Leslie Knowles
LRID 2nd Vice-President
==============================
Apply for Financial Assistance from ENTERGY
I have found out that ENTERGY is giving away money. Between $1,000 and
$10,000. The only stipulation is that you must have already APPLIED
for FEMA assistance. The website address to apply online is:
http://www.fndmidsouth.org/Power_of_hope_applications.htm
Once you complete the application online and emailed it to the
foundation you will receive an instant/fast response back from the
foundation thanking you for submitting you application, and you will
be contacted about your approval or rejection within 30 days of them
receiving your application.
Please share with everyone we know who are in need.
Peace and continued blessings to everyone.
ILY
"fmy"
-------------< EPILOG >
If you wish to contribute to this newsletter, feel free to send in
news, stories, and opinions relating to the disability community. Your
support in this effort to move the disability community forward will
be greatly appreciated. We will continue to aggressively pursue
justice, fairness, and equality for the disability community as it has
been doing since November 1996. We have chosen that EDUCATION is the
best way to accomplish this objective.
The Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center is a community based
organization that puts people with disabilities first in their
advocacy for equal opportunities in safety, health, and productive living.
The Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center provides services for disabled
individuals and their families in our community who need help in
navigating the social services maze. Every day people go without
proper food, shelter, and essential medical care every day due to a
variety of factors including low wages, job loss, injuries, illness,
age, domestic violence, or divorce. While all of us are susceptible to
hard times, disabled individuals are at the most risk. With the
generous support of people like you, we are able to help many of these
families and individuals not only to meet essential daily needs, but
to work toward a brighter future with programs in job training,
education, counseling, elderly assistance, and temporary housing.
Feel free to forward this email message to anyone and any of your
personal mailing lists so we can get the important messages out far
and wide and encourage them to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
To subscribe to this newsletter go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdacnewsletter/ or send a blank email
to [email protected]
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