Deaf Watch Newsletter
(Address)
Deaf@Activist.com

December 20, 1997

To the American Psychology Association:

               First of all I am Richard Roehm, a 35 year old Deaf person 
living in California. Secondly I am a victim of discrimination and 
I had a legal case already in the system and I have settled my case
this summer after 3 years of negotiations.  I know what its like 
to be disabled.  I know how it feels to have been discriminated 
against and be treated as a second class citizen.   I also feel other 
Deaf people are going through the same thing I did. 

       I have spent the last 3 yrs recovering from the emotional trauma 
resulting from repeated acts of discrimination and non-ADA compliance from 
my former employer of 13.5 yrs.  The last 5 years was very hard on me.  I 
unable to seek employment elsewhere as I am haunted by the experiences.  
I have turned down several job offers because I can no longer trust 
other people.  

       Rather than sitting here and mope all the way, I have started 
an education project to help other Deaf people.  My newsletter "Deaf Watch" 
was started in November 96.  It is a monthly e-mail newsletter with advocacy 
and Deaf related news.  On January 24, 1997 I have launched the newsletter 
homepage "Deaf Watch Homepage" and it is disability accessible and has 
lots of legal resources links and Deaf advocacy links and has back issues 
of the newsletter.  Deaf Watch Homepage is now the Ultimate Deaf Resource
Center.

                       Http://www.deafwatch.com

All of my newsletters promote Deaf unity and cooperation toward a 
common goal which is to improve the quality of life for the general 
Deaf population.  I have been seen in the news as a civil rights
demonstrator and activist on several occasions. Deaf Watch Newsletter 
has strong alliances with heavy duty disability organizations like 
DICOMP and ADAPT. 

By studying website, my newsletters, and press releases, you will 
develop a picture of me as a guardian of the Deaf community.
  
My long term goal is to safeguard the rights of the disability 
community by providing them with information and resources they can 
use to defend their rights.  Actually I am educating the disability 
community using the internet.  Some of my internet postings have 
reached to hardcopy mediums like Deaf newspapers and snailmail 
newsletters.            
             
For 1998, I ask you to consider the following.

        A number of employers in my district have become very creative 
        in their attempts bypass their responsibilities under the Americans
        with Disabilities Act.  This includes hiring psychologists to cover
        up company tricks by labeling disability discrimination victims as
        dangerous and a plethora of misdiagnosis.  The Deaf Community is 
        reacting to this by staying on Social Security Income and Social 
        Security Disability Insurance.   Continued misdiagnosis along with 
        the lack of adequate enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities 
        Act is not encouraging the Deaf community to look for work.  America 
        needs more Deaf workers.  America can acquire more Deaf workers by 
        being more vigilant in their enforcement of the Americans with 
        Disabilities Act which was signed in 1990 and discouraging psychologists 
        from the practice of making diagnosis that benefit employers or people
        that discriminate.  Once the Deaf community sees that ADA is being 
        vigorously enforced along with better treatment from the psychology
        community, they will feel more secure and confident and become workers.   
        I ask you to help out in the enforcement of ADA by discouraging such
        misdiagnosis of disability plaintiffs so that the Deaf and disability 
        communities in my district will explore employment opportunities and 
        achieve independence from welfare programs.

        The disability community is one of the largest and most underrepresented 
groups in the states as well in the nation.

        We at Deaf Watch Newsletter thank you very much for your time to read 
this letter and anticipate your response.

        Deaf Watch will continue to aggressively pursue justice, fairness, and 
equality for the Deaf Community as it has been doing since November 1996.
We have chosen that EDUCATION is the best way accomplish this objective.  
Your support for this effort to move the Deaf Community forward is greatly 
appreciated.

                                    Sincerely,
                                    Richard Roehm
Chief Editor
Deaf Watch Newsletter


         ,,,
        (o o)
 ===oOO==(_)==OOo===================================================
 DEAF WATCH                           Orange County, California   
 Richard Roehm  
 Chief Editor              Internet : Deaf@activist.com 
                                      Nesmuth@hwsys.com
                                      Nesmuth@concentric.net
                  DEAF WATCH   
                  Http://www.deafwatch.com
     .oooO  Oooo. Http://home.hwsys.com/users/roehm/deaf.htm
 ====(   )==(   )===================================================
      \ (    ) /
       \_)  (_/