DEAF WATCH----February 1998 Greetings, I have made a startling discovery with regards to the California Insurance Commission's television announcements with Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quakenbush speaking that were seen by California viewers in the past several months. It was my discovery that some of televised announcements were about Proposition 103 rebates. Californians who either purchased or renewed their insurance policies between November 1988 through November 1989 are entitled to a rebate as mandated by Proposition 103. These rebates average 10 dollars each person who were insured in California during that period. What ticked me off is that NONE of these televised announcements were closed captioned nor did they have the TDD hotline number!!! The insurance commission is a government entity and they're required to have their televised announcements closed captioned. Televised announcements were scheduled to end last December and some television stations still voluntarily rebroadcasting the announcements as of last week without the TDD hotline or captions. By not including closed captioning and the TDD number, the California Insurance Commission is depriving the Deaf community in California of an opportunity to get a rebate. With a large Deaf/Hard of hearing population in California our losses from this act of ignorance could run up to the millions! I'm basing this on the fact the state insurance commission had discontinued these announcements from this point on and the Deaf/Hard of hearing will not be able to know about this any other means except from reading this post. All policyholders who were insured in California from November 1988 through November 1989 should contact the insurance commission for a possible rebate right now! They will also need the name of their insurance carrier they had during the November 1988 - November 1989 period. Those outside California and those in the California area codes 213 and 310 is (213) 897-8921. The number for the rest of California is 1 (800) 927-HELP (4357). Their toll free TDD hotline is (800)482-4TDD (4833). The hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST/PDT. The Consumer Communications Bureau chief is David Langenbacher and the mailing address is: 300 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. For those with internet access, their website is at this location http://www.insurance.ca.gov/docs/index.html. Contact your insurance company first and request they review their records to determine if a rebate was paid. If the company’s records indicate your rebate was escheated to the state you should contact the State Controller at 1-800-992-4647 or at coucp@vmmail.teale.ca.gov to inquire about your rebate. After asking the California Insurance Commission why they were not broadcasting their televised announcements with closed captions and TDD hotline number, they responded last night through their press department spokesperson Jeff Kenney: "First of all the state contracts with a variety of private firms and the placing of such television ads and the inclusion of TDD information and/or closed captioning has been seen in a couple of examples and hasn't necessarily been the standard and as a result of raising the issue with a couple of private firms this is a request for TDD and closed captioning will be brought up by the private firms early in contract negotiations as a department. California Department of Insurance will use closed captioning in all future ads as well list the TDD line for the consumer and that number is (800)482-4833 and hopefully the newsletter you are writing will increase the awareness of others as well." When asked if they could extend the deadline to let Deaf consumers the opportunity to get a rebate, their response was: "I dont believe the deadline will be extended but as stated before we will use closed captioning and TDD line in future ads" When advised of the potential reaction from the Deaf community they responded: "First of all the information wasn't omitted intentionally and secondly it was state agencies cost for consumer outreach are usually specified in type so prior to another contract negotiation this will of course be taken into consideration" It is important this information is spread throughout as the insurance commission is not going to run these ads anymore. On January 27, the state controller's office told me that there is no deadline to get a rebate that has been escheated which is strikingly different from the press spokesman's answer. (Update : I'm working with several lawyers on a class action suit as result of this blatant Title II violation by the California Insurance Commission.....So DEAF PEOPLE in California be given an oportunity to get a Proposition 103 rebate.) Another point to make....... DPN's 10th anniversary celebrations at Gallaudet University should be geared to promoting Deaf People not this Deaf president. Celebrating it as "Deaf President Now" will do nothing but boost I. King Jordan's ego. We're supposed to promote Deaf people. So let's celebrate it as "Deaf People Now". Deaf Watch Newsletter will be celebrating it as "Deaf People Now"! DEAF PEOPLE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Editor ************************************************************* WHERE IS THE SUPPORT FOR DEAF MARRIAGES? NEEDED! MORE DEAF MARRIED COUPLES who have either a good relationship or a relationship that is struggling to fill out a variety of questionnaires for our research study. No names Needed! CONFIDENTIALITY is assured in this project. There is not enough research available on Deaf marriages. According to the 1994 marital statistics, approximately 50% of all American marriages end in divorce. Our research and the data collected can benefit and help organizations and professionals better meet the needs of Deaf people preparing for marriages, and those who are currently married. This research is related to a doctoral dissertation project and has been approved by both Gallaudet University and Rosemead School of Psychology Research Boards. Both Deaf and hearing are conducting this study. If you have any questions or want to get a packet of questionnaires there are various ways we can be reached. E-mail Missy Barone, M.A. (MbaroneMHC@aol.com), or call Cindy Greenslade 1-800-359-2171/V (pager service). Please give an address where surveys can be sent. Remember, no names are needed. Or can write to Cindy Greenslade c/o Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University 13800 Biola Ave. La Mirada, CA 90639 (562-903-6000). The questionnaires will take you approximately one hour to complete. For those of you who prefer to do the survey through e-mail - you can find our survey on a WEB site (www.turbowp.com/deafstudy/survey1.htm) It is best obtained in NetScape, Internet Explorer, or AOL 3 for 95. WE NEED YOUR HELP! THANK YOU! (From NJ-L News) ************************************************************* "The Black Deaf Community: Building Collaborative Partnerships" The 16th Annual National Black Deaf Advocates Conference will be hosted by the Indianapolis chapter of the National Black Deaf Advocates and will be held Monday, August 10 - Sunday, 16, 1998 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the downtown Westin Hotel. For further information, please contact: Donald Tinsley Lori Qadir (317) 298-3705 TTY or Voice (317) 475-2106 Voice (317) 232-1143 TTY or Voice (317) 931-0757 TTY ************************************************************* GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARDS OPENS MILITARY ACADEMY FOR DEAF CADETS Fort Stewart, Ga. Lt. Colonel Williams formally announced that the Georgia National Guards and the Youth Challenge Academy accepted their first deaf cadet for the 5 months military program last Jan. 21, 1998. The program, in cooperation with the Military Affairs Coordinating Committee and the Georgia Council for the Hearing-Impaired, is designed to give disadvantage youths, 16-21, another opportunity to earn a GED with a guarantee Hope scholarship, courtesy of Governor Miller, for college. The ADA does not apply here since the cadets are not allowed TV and phone privileges. Classroom lessons are strictly computerized with no need for an interpreter. Marcia Glitter, Director of GaCHI, told Henry Co. DEAF Purviews," I think this is a wonderful idea for our own deaf youth program." Senator Mike Crotts was initially responsible for having opened the door for the deaf to gain access. To fund the new program, legislative measures are being taken to close the Georgia School for the Deaf down and redirect its budget accordingly. The basis of that argument being the deaf school has not awarded a high school diploma for the last twenty years. It becomes GaCHI 's responsibility to get the 'so-called' graduates a GED and job placement. For more information and images check on the url at http://members.aol.com/leaschra/DeafPurviews or contact Steven L Schrader Henry County DEAF Purviews Publisher/Editor (770) 957-8923 or Schrade2@aol.com ************************************************************* CALL FOR PAPERS / Policy Studies Journal The Americans With Disabilities Act: Ten Years Later The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 has been called the most sweeping civil rights law in U.S. history, affecting nearly sixty million individuals, as well as their families, employers, private businesses, state and local governments, the telecommunications industry, building owners, and transportation providers, among many others. Researchers now believe that when both houses of Congress overwhelming passed the ADA, policymakers had little idea of the impact the law would soon have on virtually every segment of society. Some legislators appear to have perceived the statute in limited terms, building wheelchair ramps, providing special telephones for the hearing impaired, or installing braille signage. But in the decade since President Bush signed the law in an emotionally charged public ceremony, the ADA has led to programs and policies that have been variously described as "haphazard," "piecemeal," and "patchwork." Disability advocates note that while there have been some areas of progress in improving the lives of persons with disabilities and the discrimination the law was intended to address, there is clearly much more left to do. This multi-disciplinary symposium in the Policy Studies Journal seeks to bring together the research of scholars and practitioners whose work focuses on the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The goal is to present an evaluation of the law's successes and failures, including the following potential topics: o Case studies of local or state implementation of Titles I-IV of the Act o Pre-/Post ADA evaluations of service delivery to persons with disabilities o The continuing debate over "reasonable accommodation" and "undue hardship" o The role of disability advocates and other groups to secure ADA compliance o The ADA and issues of policy ambiguity and legislative intent o Unintended consequences of the law and its regulatory apparatus o Programmatic overlaps and gaps in service delivery o Studies of compliance in the public and private sectors o Implications for other programs such as workers' compensation and social security To be considered for inclusion in the symposium, authors are encouraged to send a 1-2 page proposal abstract to the symposium editor at the address below. Final manuscripts will be limited to 15-20 typed pages in length, with publication slated for early 2000. For more information, including deadline information, contact Dr. Jacqueline Vaughn Switzer Department of Political Science Northern Arizona University (520) 523-8224 Fax (520) 523-6777 Box 15036 E-mail: Jacqueline Switzer@nau.edu Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5036 ************************************************************* VISUAL PHONOLOGY PROJECT AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY A team of Utah State University professors is working on a project that will let deaf infants see what hearing infants hear. The Visual Phonology Project hopes to have a prototype screen ready by June or July. The screen, computer driven, will transduce all the deaf infant's vocalizations and the vocalizations of its caregivers into fine-grained real-time visual images, so that the infant will receive visual feedback that will allow it to play with and learn to control its motor programs for vocalizing. Will Pitkin, who conceived and is coordinating the project, hopes that babies so trained will be able to produce speech identical to that of their hearing peers. For more on the project, see the webpage at http://english.usu.edu/xxx/visual_phonology.html ************************************************************* AT&T FUNDS DEAF ADULT EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY PROJECT St. Paul, Minnesota, February 4 -- D E A F Incorporated is pleased to announce the award of a $15,000 grant from the AT&T Local Business Council for the Deaf Adult Education Curriculum Project. The Local Business Council, comprised of representatives from operating business units in the Twin Cities metro area, meets regularly to discuss how to use philanthropic funds for various projects. AT&T representative, Teresa Lynch, says, "D E A F's project demonstrates an innovative approach in using technology to improve the lifelong learning process for Deaf adults which holds potential for improving individual economic status." D E A F has been and continues to be the sole nonprofit organization that provides educational classes for Deaf adults in the state of Minnesota. Due to rapid changes in technology, D E A F believes new continuing education programs and postsecondary education programs need to be developed to lessen and ultimately prevent gaps in educational and employment accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults. "We are encouraged by AT&T's support of this important project," says Executive Director, Lori Breslow. "The people of AT&T recognize the need for investing financial resources to link education and technology, especially important for traditionally underserved communities." Computer literacy is increasingly a preferred skill among employers today. The explosion of technology in our everyday lives does not necessarily mean equal access. Technology like computers, videos, laser disks, and CD ROMs can be tools for expanding critical thinking, fostering creativity and self expression, and accessing tremendous volumes of information for the adult learner. For example, computer literacy means being able to use the Internet or E-Mail. According to a 1994 report, those whose literacy skills are limited be may among the "have nots" of the information society. Funding for the Deaf Adult Education Curriculum Project will allow D E A F to purchase and use multimedia software to create new CD ROM learning tools to build reading, language, and computer skills of Deaf adult learners. "Teachers need to learn about technology too! New software can allow teachers to create learning tools that will enhance the learning process. We are most excited about this project!" says Marilyn Dodge, Adult Education Manager. D E A F has also nearly completed a multimedia curriculum project funded through the Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach (MCPO) at St. Paul Technical College. Two CD ROMs, "Basic Computer Skills" and "How To Use The Internet," developed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing learners at the continuing education and postsecondary education level, will be available for distribution in the Spring of 1998. D E A F is committed to empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing people by increasing access to information. D E A F provides direct services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities including: telecommunications relay service, adult education, tutoring, Deaf community networking, HIV/AIDS & STD Prevention Education, and information/referral. For more information about this or other D E A F programs, contact Michael Zeledon at 612-297-6704 TTY, 612-297-6766 Fax, or via E-Mail at deafinc@deafinc.org. Michael Zeledon Development Associate TTY: 612 297.6704 VOICE: 612 297.6700 FAX: 612 297.6766 EMAIL: MichaelZeledon@deafinc.org ************************************************************* A DISABLED MANIFESTO We proclaim that we are born free and equal human beings; that our disabilities are limitations only, and that our identity does not derive from being disabled. We proclaim that we have the same value as people who are not disabled, and we reject any scheme of labeling or classifying us that encourages people to think of us as having diminished value. We reject the idea that institutions must be created to "care" for us, and proclaim that these institutions have been used to "manage" us in ways that non-disabled people are not expected to accept. We particularly denounce institutions whose purpose is to punish us for being disabled, or to confine us for the convenience of others. We reject the notion that we need "experts," to tell us how to live, especially experts from the able-bodied world. We are not diagnoses in need of a cure or cases to be closed. We are human, with human dreams and ambitions. We deny that images of disability are appropriate metaphors for incompetence, stupidity, ugliness or weakness. We are aware that as people with disabilities, we have been considered objects of charity and we have been considered commodities. We are neither. We reject charitable enterprises that exploit our lifestyle to titillate others, and which propose to establish the rules by which we must live without our participation. We also reject businesses that use us as "warm bodies" to provide a passive market for their services, again laying down rules by which we must live for their profit. We recognize that the lines between charities and businesses are blurred in the disability industry, and we do not accept services from either if their essential function is to exploit us. We assert our rights of self-determination in the face of rules, eligibility criteria, regulations, customs, laws or other barriers, and we pledge not to allow any authority or institution to deprive us of our freedom of choice. Finally, we assert that any service we need, from specialized teaching to personal care, can be provided to us in the community among our non-disabled peers. Segregated institutions are not necessary to serve us, and they have been the greatest source of our oppression, especially when they have been run by able-bodied people without our participation. All human beings are more alike than we are different. We recognize that when we assert this belief we will find ourselves in conflict with regressive institutions and their supporters, some of whom may be disabled themselves. We do not expect thousands of years of stereotyping to dissipate quickly. We commit ourselves and those who come after us to challenge our oppression on every level until we are allowed to be fully human and assert our individuality ahead of our disability. By John R. Woodward, M.S.W. Center for Independent Living of North Florida, Inc. ************************************************************* RESOURCE OF THE MONTH: THE IRISHMAN Paralegal & Resources Created by James J. Balesh, aka the "IRISHMAN". This site as a way of returning to society what he received from some. His resource and paralegal service is designed to assist those less fortunate to find legal consultation or to assist people in "doing it on their own" so that they do not have to incur legal expenses they can not afford. Believe it or not, there are agencies and individuals who are willing to assist people, for very small amounts of money, if not a Pro Bono basis. As you click your way through his site, you will see the story of "why" he started this company, and ultimately decided to publish a homepage. If it accomplishes nothing else, he hopes it will show others that there "is" a way to conquer adversity, and hopelessness. In addition it will also hopefully show both employees, managers, and all other people with unresolved legal issues, some resources to go to which will guide them in their search for Equality and Justice! THE IRISHMAN Paralegal & Resources can be found at Http://www.irishman2.com ************************************************************* Disability Lawsuit List. Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington & Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs Announce Landmark Settlement of Civil Rights Lawsuit against Wheaton Place Apartments in Silver Spring, its principal owner, Ralph D. Rocks, and Allen & Rocks, Inc. on the basis of disability. The Consent Order, filed in June, in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, represents the largest settlement to date in the nation filed by a private fair housing agency and an individual victim of housing discrimination based on disability. Plaintiff Jack Wright to receive a two bedroom apartment at Wheaton Place at no cost for life - estimated by the defendants to have a lifetime value of $340,000 and a present value of $169,000. Defendants have also agreed to injunctive relief, to develop a reasonable accommodation policy, and to affirmatively market their units to people with disabilities, and to a mandatory fair housing training and policy statement. Background information: Jack Wright, a Montgomery County resident who is deaf and blind and has Usher's Syndrome, applied to live at Wheaton Place Apartments located in Silver Spring, Maryland in January of 1993. The complex was perfect for Mr. Wright due to its convenience to public transportation and shopping. Jack Wright made it clear to the rental agent at the apartment complex that he was capable of independent living, and even offered to pay in advance the full expenses of one year's rent. The agent refused Mr. Wright's offer, citing that the apartment complex does not have any facilities for the handicapped, and recommended a nearby complex that did have such facilities. In a Federal lawsuit filed in December of 1994, plaintiff Wright and Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington argued that the apartment complex, and its managers and owners intentionally discriminated against Mr. Wright by denying him a unit due to his disability and by steering him to alternate housing in violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act. ************************************************************* This month's recipients of the Deaf Watch GOLD Award. We know this is not an easy getter. It's ok if no one gets this award this month. Maybe next month we'll see some new GOLD Sites. ************************************************************* This month's recipients of the Deaf Watch Award. Deafness/Hard of Hearing from the Mining Company (http://deafness.miningco.com) Very Resourceful Site! DeafCanadaOnline (Http://www.deafcanada.com) Great Site! ************************************************************* "He (Martin Luther King) did so much in order for us to be recognized as human beings. His deeds prove that minorities can reach their dreams" Fred Beam, NTID Graduate. ************************************************************* "The hope of the world is still in dedicated minorities. The trailblazers in human, academic, scientific, and religious freedom have always been in the minority." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ************************************************************* Letters from readers. Why in the world are they opting to close the Georgia schoool for the Deaf? WEll for one thing, I do not even think the military will accept the Deaf as an equal in their ranks. Or if it does work, it will take a long time. SMile WEll, I wish this program luck, though just like you, I wish it not have the undesirable effect of closing the school for the Deaf there. :( Shoot, what the should do is have both programs working, and maybe Georgia will set the pace for the rest of the US to see, and say "hey look, the Deaf can be good at the military!!" smile.. Thor Halverson norgeviking@rocketmail.com --------------------------- Hello folks! Read! Read! Colorado State of the State Address by Governor Romer was not close caption for the hearing impaired. I was upset as it had happen like last year. I called channel Four, they said they dont have to caption local shows. I called channel Seven, they said they will look in to the matter. I called channel Nine, (KUSA) and they said their captionist was sick, but they apologized profously and will make an effort to be more prepared for next year. I consider this a success story. The apology, admit to what happen was no excuse and so on. I felt good about it. Ben W. WATTSBEN@aol.com -------------------- A friend sent me the news release from your group about Phyllis signing the national anthem. I informed the deaf high school student I work with. On his return to school after the super bowl he called me a lier as he did not see her signing (or anyone signing for that matter). I did notice two brief shots about 2 seconds each of Phyllis at a distance. I thought this was appauling. My student questioned why in the day of being able to split the tv screen to show different camera angles at the same time they didn't show Jewel on part of the screen and Phyllis on the other part. Hopefully others have complained about this injustice. If you know where to forward this letter to complain, please do so for me. I appreciate getting the information. Keep up the good work. Cheryl Kanitz WiRIDSty@aol.com ----------------------- Hello my name is Lothar Lussier, President of Northern Wolf Enterprises. We manufacture a siren detector for DEAF and HOH automobile drivers. This product is call the Emergency Response Indicator and is given away FREE to qualified DEAF and HOH new car buyers, the problem I am having is that they need to ask for it. When a DEAF or HOH new car buyer asks for it they get it, (FORD, GMC, Chrysler and SATURN ONLY). But if they do not know about it, the sales people almost always do not tell them it is available. Please let me know how to tell everyone about this. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. My E-mail is lothar@northernwolfent.com, our web page is WWW.northernwolfent.com I hope to hear from you, and welcome any suggestions. Thank you Lothar lothar@northernwolfent.com ------------------------------------------------------------- - DEAF WATCH - Federal ID Number : 33-0765412 - Circulation by EMAIL : 284 Subscribers - Chief Editor/Editor : Richard Roehm - Orange County, California - Internet : Deaf@activist.com - Nesmuth@hwsys.com - ICQ #: 7389913 | Handle: SilentKnight - DEAF WATCH Http://www.deafwatch.com - Http://home.hwsys.com/users/roehm/deaf.htm - Visit Http://home.hwsys.com/users/roehm/nez.htm ---------------------------------------------------------- - Education is the best gift that lasts a lifetime! - Help someone subscribe to The Deaf Watch Newsletter ---------------------------------------------------------- - SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION - To be added to the mailing list, send "SUBSCRIBE" - To be deleted from the mailing list send "DELETE" - to this address NESMUTH@HWSYS.COM - - Mailing lists are not sold/given to anyone. ------------------------------------------------------------- - Need to stay on the net? 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