DEAF WORKERS OF ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT -- DEAF WORKERS WEEKLY BULLETIN -- June 13, 1998 Greetings, During my relaxing stay in Nevada, I have had the opportunity to check out some Deaf resources in that state. It was difficult to locate some resources. When I finally came up to Southern Nevada Center for Independent Living, I learned that until recently there was no support system for Deaf people in Nevada for 6 long years. There I also learned that the Deaf population in the state of Nevada ballparks at 1,000 and the majority are senior citizens. Of the young they have jobs in hotels and hospitals to name a few. I wondered why Nevada has a low deaf population. A few hours later I discovered numerous forms of hostilities toward Deaf consumers by Nevada casino employees. The discoveries I have made can be converted to a powerful weapon that will rattle the state of Nevada. This weapon called, "Tribal Government Gaming and Self-Sufficiency Act", is something we can use to show Nevada what we as Deaf people are made out of. I am now working on an alliance with California Nations. Then by end of this summer I hope to have hundreds of Deaf volunteers helping out with this campaign. Have a good weekend. Richard Roehm ---- RICHARD ROEHM REMINDS STATE DEAF LEADERS TO CHOOSE NAD LEADERS THAT WILL MOVE THE DEAF COMMUNITY FORWARD. June 6, 1998 Greetings Deaf Leader, You are the people chosen by your state to serve, protect, and cherish the Deaf communities in your state. You are role models for the Deaf communities in your state. Once again you will soon embark on a crucial mission for the Deaf people in your state, and your country. You will be given the opportunity to select new board officers and the next president of the National Association of the Deaf. Keep these things in mind when you go on this mission: 1) The unemployed among the Deaf community averages nationally at 70 percent. Choose NAD leaders that will establish aggressive programs that encourage businesses to hire and fully accommodate Deaf people. 2) Some Deaf state associations are not functioning. Choose NAD leaders that will create an oversight committee that will assume the defunct state association's responsibilities and hold elections to replace the leadership of a Deaf state association immediately once they determine a Deaf state association no longer functions. I understand that developing the criteria for a 'defunct' Deaf state association will be a difficult and painstaking task. 3) Some Deaf state associations are billboarding companies that discriminate against the Deaf. Choose NAD leaders that will establish and enforce protocols for state organizations' businesses with entities and not to support companies that are well known to discriminate against the Deaf. 4) The Americans with Disabilities Act is still poorly enforced. It is still a hassle for Deaf consumers to obtain accommodations for their workplace, hotels, doctors, and lawyers. Lawyers continue to assert their Deaf clients that interpreters violate the attorney-client privilege. Discrimination against Deaf workers is rampant and is protected by vicious lawyers hired by employers. Hotels continue to claim the costs of accommodating Deaf consumers as overburdensome. Doctors would prefer to reduce the examination process to veterinary medicine as they don't want to be burdened with the expenses of interpreters. Many businesses continue to remain at loss as to how to accommodate Deaf consumers. Choose NAD leaders that will establish a nationwide database along with a toll free telephone number for businesses to contact for interpreter referrals and to start an aggressive education / litigation program that will teach these businesses the importance of effective communication with Deaf consumers. ( This is one of the missions of my Deaf Neighborhood's project. It will be nice for NAD to do this so I can commit more time on other important projects. ) 5) Some so called 'Lone Ranger' Deaf activists who accomplish a lot remain ignored by the NAD staff. Many times I have demonstrated to NAD that I have excellent relations with local government officials. So far I have not received a single word of encouragement. Not even a 'Thank You'. Recently I found out that I'm not alone in this situation. Choose NAD leaders that will encourage and support Deaf activists in their independent quests for fairness, equality, and justice for their local Deaf communities. 6) Many Deaf people are still being victimized by sophisticated hierarchical (Pyramid) fraud systems. As I said earlier that there is a high unemployment rate among the Deaf communities. Since a large section of the Deaf community has poor command of the English language and lack the resources to investigate, they easily fall prey to sophisticated fraud systems usually promising instant wealth, sexy cars, and happiness to unsuspecting Deaf consumers. Recently there was such activity in Orange County, California and I had to put a stop to it. Choose NAD leaders that will create a Deaf consumer protection committee that will protect and educate the Deaf communities on protection against sophisticated fraud systems that target Deaf consumers. 7) We have an apathy problem. Many Deaf people are comming up with various reasons including lower occurrence of deafness among babies. I disagree with many of the reasons I have been hearing. It's a consumer's market!! People will not support an advocacy system that moves too slow or keep low profiles, in other words.. does almost nothing to advocate their rights. It's a member's market, if an organization pleases them...they'll support them. If they don't...they wont get any support. IT'S A MEMBER'S MARKET! Finally choose NAD leaders that will continue safeguard the rights of over 21 million people with hearing disabilities. Choose aggressive NAD leaders. Choose NAD leaders that will help keep people with hearing disabilities supporting NAD! Your actions on this mission will help chart out the future of the Deaf community across the USA. We all want our community members to achieve independence from welfare programs. We all want our community members to be productive and become contributors to society. We all want to boost our community member's confidence and morale. The choice is yours and I will respect your decision. Choose Carefully. The future of the Deaf community really depends on your choice. Thank You. Richard Roehm ---- DEAFWATCH TO HOST "1 MILLION DISABILITY CELEBRATION" WEBSITE Saturday, July 22, 2000 - At St. Paul Minnesota 1) July 26, 1990 -to- July 26, 2000 (Saturday, July 22, 2000 is the party) 2) The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Celebrates the 10 Year Anniversary. 3) Come to St. Paul Minnesota With 1 Million Strong. 4) The Disability community will unite in one location. 5) Get your Hotel Reservations Today. 6) Organize a bus group from your hometown. 7) Get 30 family & friends to register with you for the cost of hotel & bus. 8) Join the National Committee planning this magnificent day of celebration. 9) You are responsible for your own transportation, food, and lodging. One theme " We'll get there, it's just taking a little longer." 1 Million people dont move fast!! 10) All activities will go throughout the day with fireworks in the evening so don't feel you are missing the action, because you are the action, you are the celebration! To be put on the mailing list, receive maps, schedules, information, and a T-shirt... Please send $28.00 payable to "1 Million ADA" (c/o Cathy Bolcar) 2213 8th Street North St. Cloud Minnesota 56303 Several politicians including ADA architects are planning to attend this party. A special page is being established in the Deafwatch.com site to keep you posted on latest developments regarding this THUNDEROUS celebration! FEEL FREE TO PASS THIS AROUND TO OTHER MAILING LISTS AND YOUR CONTACTS. ---- IMPROVING YOUR DISCRIMINATION SNIFFER Finding subtle discrimination in housing is difficult. Deaf workers dont realize that some innocent sounding excuses for not doing business with them could be RED FLAGS and signal that an illegal discriminatory act has been committed. Call 1-800-927-9275 (TDD) if you hear something like these. "I rented that apartment right after you called." "I really dont want all those changes - a ramp, grab bars, that's too much" "We can't have mentally retarded people here. Who will take care of them? It will make the neighbors uncomfortable" "Do you think you can afford this neighborhood?" "We just cant seem to make an appointment to show you that house?" "I'll need to pre-qualify you before I show you homes." "The owner just took the house off the market." "There's a problem with the appraisal" "We'd like to make this loan, but we need at least a 20% downpayment" "You haven't been at your job long enough to qualify for a mortgage loan." "You might get a better deal at another bank. Why dont you call there first before you apply here." "I'd like to rent to you but my insurance will go up." "How can I be sure that you will pay the rent?" "We have a no-pets rule and that includes your service dog." "I want to see your medical records" ---- Current job list on the Jobs for Deaf page. Santa Ana, California (2-15-98) Carson City, Nevada (2-23-98) Framingham, Massachusetts (3-2-98) Nationwide USA (3-22-98) Santa Fe, New Mexico (4-9-98) ============================================================== DEAF WORKERS OF ORANGE COUNTY Orange County, California Richard Roehm President Internet : Deaf@activist.com Deaf_Workers_OC@usa.net Website Nesmuth@bbs.hwsys.com Http://home.hwsys.com/users/roehm/dwoc.htm =============================================================== Circulation Information Direct Email subscribers : 32 Indirect Email Subscribers : 36 Feel free to redistribute this newsletter in it's entirety and if you are planning to add a mailing list as a subscriber then let me know for my records. 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