DEAF WORKERS OF ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT -- DEAF WORKERS WEEKLY BULLETIN -- SEPTEMBER 18, 1999 Greetings, Did you know that here in California, you can arrest someone for ADA violations? My suggestion, wait until an officer is present and then arrest the person for violating any law that is at least a misdemeanor. Then turn to the officer and ask them to do their duty. You might need to mention Penal Code Section 142. I'm going to research more on putting these ADA violators behind bars! Richard Roehm ---- NEWS FROM THE LEGAL FRONTLINES DARE v STATE OF CALIFORNIA (09/16/99 - No. 9756065) California's six-dollar fee for handicapped parking placards constitutes a surcharge for required measures in violation of the ADA and its implementing regulations. Because the ADA constitutes an appropriate exercise of Congress's enforcement powers under S 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, California's Tenth and Eleventh Amendment challenges fail. Furthermore, 28 C.F.R. S 35.130(f) is accorded controlling weight as an regulation promulgated pursuant to the ADA that is not arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to the statute. MCALINDIN v COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO (09/16/99 - No. 9756787) Sleeping, engaging in sexual relations, and interacting with others are "major life activities" under the ADA. District court erred in granting partial summary judgment where plaintiff raised a triable issue as to whether he was substantially limited in a major life activity. District court erred in granting partial summary judgment on grounds that requested accommodations were "unreasonable". County's argument that it treated disabled employee the same as nondisabled employees misapprehends the meaning of "reasonable accommodation." WONG v REGENTS OF CALIFORNIA (09/16/99 - No. 9815757) Court refused to sanction academic institution's decision to refuse to accommodate a disabled student and subsequent dismissal of that student where the record contains facts from which a reasonable jury could conclude that the school made those decisions for arbitrary reasons unrelated to its academic standards. After-the-fact justification does not satisfy University's obligation to present "undisputed facts" showing that it conscientiously considered whether possible modification would fundamentally or substantially alter the school's standards. Because genuine issues of fact remain as to both the reasonableness of the accommodation in question and disabled student's qualifications, summary judgment was inappropriate. ---- FIRST NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CHILDHOOD DEAFNESS "It takes a whole village to educate a successful deaf youth today." - Dr. Frank Turk, NSCD Chair Nearly 500 participants from 39 states, the District of Columbia and two foreign countries took part in the National Symposium on Childhood Deafness (NSCD), which was held May 20-22 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Co-sponsored by Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) and the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the inspiration for this symposium rose from concern about the welfare of deaf children in the educational system. The Symposium sought to promote greater collaboration among parents, educators, administrators and service providers, among others. Maureen Yates, director of NAD Youth Leadership Camp, presided over the symposium's kickoff luncheon. Several local and national dignitaries were on hand for welcoming remarks, including Dr. Frank Turk, NSCD chair; NAD President Elizabeth Pollard; Sioux Falls Mayor Gary Hanson; Jack Rentschler, secretary of the South Dakota Board of Regents; and Ben Soukup, CSD chief executive officer. I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University (GU), gave an inspiring speech, entitled "Working Together for Everybody's Deaf America." Symposium workshops covered a wide variety of topics, including "Combating Shrinking Center School Enrollments" by James Tucker, superintendent at Maryland School for the Deaf, Reginald Redding, dean of Continuing Education at GU, talked on "Mentorship: Leading the Youth of Today Beyond Year 2000." Several panel programs were also on the conference's agenda. "Considerations for Children with Cochlear Implants" was moderated by Oscar P. Cohen, chief executive officer at Lexington School/Center for the Deaf. Harvey Goodstein, GU mathematics professor and Deaf Way 2000 chair, led "Role of State Associations in Deaf Education." Moderator Betty Lee Bounds, interim assistant superintendent of Texas School for the Deaf, discussed "Raising Your child to be a Literate Person" in her panel. "Surefire Ways to Foster Development of Language and Cognitive Skills" was the topic of the panel led by Nancy B. Rarus, NAD associate director. In addition to Jordan's opening speech, five other keynote presentations were given throughout the symposium. In "Yes, We Can ... When We Know We Can," Phil Bravin, president of Yes You Can, Inc., talked about attitudes and perspectives within the deaf community and gave many interesting insights. Another keynote presentation, "The Well Adjusted Deaf Adolescent: A Wellness Model," was presented by Allen E. Sussman, "G"U Professor and clinical psychologist. Sussman focused on deaf adolescents and what the deaf community can do for them. During the Saturday breakfast, Nancy J. Bloch, NAD executive director; Tim Jaech, Wisconsin's director of special education; and Nancy Rarus, NAD associate executive director, collaborated in presenting "Successful Statewide Education Coalition-Building." They stressed the importance of promoting awareness, in terms of deaf education within society at large. Laurene S. Gallimore, assistant professor at Western Oregon University, gave a presentation on "Linking ASL and English in the Classroom," based on her most recent research. Last but not least, Jane K. Fernandes, vice president of GU Pre-College National Mission Programs, spoke on "Nothing But the Best of All Students ... Anytime, Anywhere." Questions from the audience were stimulating and diverse. In addition to the workshops and panels, those where attended the symposium also had the opportunity to tour the CSD administrative office and South Dakota School for the Deaf Campus. The symposium wrapped up with some final words about "The Road to be Taken into the New Millennium" and "A Crash Course in ASL & Deaf Culture," an evening of special entertainment, hosted by Mel Carter & Company. "It takes a whole village to educate a successful deaf youth today," said Turk. "They need to realize that an appropriate education, based on child's unique needs, is not being provided to many deaf and hard of hearing children." Turk remarked that often policy and convenient placement undermine the independent needs of the child. "This is wrong," Turk concluded. "The symposium was a nationwide effort to do something about it, before another generation of deaf and hard of hearing children is lost." "Our schools cannot do it alone. We need all available strengths - the strengths of lawmakers, friends, the private sector, community leaders and anyone with a vested interest in deaf education. This symposium aimed to set a mutually accepted national educational agenda for the new millennium and to ensure that the agenda is on target." "We felt compelled to organize this event to increase awareness about the current policies existing in the education of the deaf," Soukup stated. "We have a moral responsibility and obligation to do all that we can to ensure that our deaf children have the best possible opportunities for a bright and optimistic future. The work that we achieve now will ultimately results in a generation of deaf individuals that can and will have a positive impact on our world." They symposium was successful due to a variety of professionals, along with parents, working together to discover resolutions to the problems in the deaf educational system. Plans are already underway for the next NCSD to be held in 2001. CSD will again host the event in Sioux Falls, in association with the NAD and other deaf organizations. Turk strongly believes that these long-standing goals will help a child to achieve success: 1) Education: Set up the best education environment possible for all children. It takes a "whole village" to work on that, not schools alone. A "best education environment" is where an on-going dialogue is happening between the students, with the teacher leading from behind, not up front. 2) National Model: Turk feels there is a dire need to establish a national model for collaboration and partnership geared toward quality deaf education. NSCD is a great way to start it off. 3) Continuity: Turk stresses the importance of ensuring the continuity of togetherness among organizations and institutions for and with deaf children. Symposium Sponsors: American Sign Language Teachers Association, American Society for Deaf Children, Communications Service for the Deaf, Conference of American Instructors for the Deaf, Conference of Educational Administrators for Schools and Programs for the Deaf, Gallaudet University, Gallaudet University Regional Center at Johnson County Community College, National Association of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates, National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, Norwest Bank, Pre-College National Mission Programs, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, South Dakota School for the Deaf, State Associations of the Deaf, Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. and USA Deaf Sports Federation. ---- COURTS SEEK ELDERLY, DISABLED TO BE JURORS LESLEY CLARK Herald Capital Bureau TALLAHASSEE -- With a seeing-eye dog napping at his feet and an interpreter for the deaf at his side, state Supreme Court Justice Major Harding launched an initiative Thursday to put more elderly and disabled people on juries. A study by the court's Commission on Fairness and Florida International University's Center on Aging surveyed courts statewide and found too few elderly or disabled Floridians serving on juries. That may be in part because the courts have little experience with the disabled, the study found: 40 percent of the state's courts do not have at least one wheelchair-accessible jury box. "While we have done a great deal, we recognize that much needs to be done," Harding said. Under Harding's direction, the court system will spend next year -- the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act -- looking at ways it can improve turnout. Harding said he will issue awards to courts that develop programs that can be replicated elsewhere. For example, the commission is recommending that the age requirement for exemption from jury service -- now 70 -- be increased to 85 or eliminated. "The Florida justice system should maximize this valuable reservoir of citizens who have a wealth of life experience," the commission's report said, noting that Florida has the highest proportion of seniors in the United States. The commission also recommends that forms for jury service be made available at banks, post offices and libraries to increase the pool of candidates. The state now relies primarily on a registry of people with driver licenses and state-issued identification cards. Although the survey found some people consider jury service an inconvenience, Harding said public participation is crucial. "Jurors bring the common sense of everday life to the system," Harding said. ---- ON THE ROAD TO PASS THE WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT Positive News 1. Four new Republicans and three Democrats have cosponsored WIIA, H.R. 1180, bringing the official total to 238 as of the 9/9/99 entry on www.thomas.loc.gov Rep Crowley, Joseph - 09/09/99 (D-7-NY) Rep Talent, James M. - 09/09/99 (R-2-MO) Rep Clayton, Eva M. - 09/09/99 (D-1-NC) Rep Goodlatte, Bob - 09/09/99 (R-6-VA) Rep Pombo, Richard W. - 09/09/99 (R-11-CA)** Rep Sandlin, Max - 09/09/99 (D-1-TX) Rep Sweeney, John E. - 09/09/99 (R-NY) **Representative Richard Pombo is just south of Rep. Wally Herger's District (R-CA) and just north of Rep. Bill Thomas' (R-CA) District, both important Ways and Means Committee members. Congratulations to all the hard working advocates for this growing bipartisan list of cosponsors!!! This pressure is KEY to WIIA's passage. 2. Late August 1999 -- The California Legislature sent the President, the Vice-president, key Congressional Committee Chairs and members of the California Delegation its strong endorsement of WIIA, Resolution AJR 17 -- text below and available at www.assembly.ca.gov. California advocates are urged to send a copy of Resolution AJR 17 to Representatives Wally Herger, Bill Thomas and David Dreier, the only three CA Reps on the Ways and Means or Rules Committees who are not cosponsoring WIIA - H.R. 1180. 3. September 2, 1999 -- There was a noon rally for WIIA held at the District offices of Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert by local disability advocates in the Chicago area. I have not received a lot of details on this yet. 4. September 3, 1999 -- The SSI Coalition of Chicago had a meeting with Shaye Mandle, the District Director for House Speaker Hastert. Mr. Mandle stated that the Speaker supports the public policy in H.R. 1180 but relies on the Committees and Committee chairs to fulfill their duties in bringing forth good legislation. 5. September 7, 1999 -- The National Council on Independent Living's (NCIL) President Paul Spooner, Marcie Roth, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, and myself met with Kikki Kless, policy staff for the Speaker of the House in Washington. Ms. Kless gave us a dual message. She said that the Speaker supports the public policy in H.R. 1180 but that the Speaker's work is only part of the job. She said the House Committees must do their job and bring up the bill, confirming what was stated in Chicago. WE MUST CONTINUE OUR PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR A FREE STANDING BILL THIS FALL by increasing the cosponsor list and urging Chairman Archer of Ways and Means to take action on WIIA. 6. September 8, 1999 -- I met with Megan Ivory of Representative Ramstad's (R-MN) staff. Mr. Ramstad has become another "champion" legislator for passage of WIIA. [He delivered a strong House floor speech on WIIA urging passage on 7/26/99.] I shared the information we received from the Speaker's staff. From this meeting, Mr. Ramstad has circulated a straightforward sign-on letter to other members of the Way and Means Committee. The letter, addressed to Chairman Archer and to be signed by Ways and Means Committee members, asks for an immediate meeting to move forward on WIIA. Encourage your Congress members on the Ways and Means Committee to sign this letter. Ways and Means Committee members Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and Jim Nussle (R-IA) already have indicated they will sign it. 7. September 8, 1999 -- President Clinton invited members of the health care community and the WIIA working group of advocates to a White House East Room ceremony highlighting his health care legislative priorities for passage this fall. He called on the House to schedule the WIIA vote this fall: "The fourth challenge I want to issue to the [Congressional] leadership is to make sure that we make the responsible choice to allow people with disabilities to keep their health insurance when they go to work," he said. "They don't like the way I want to pay for it. Okay, it's a big government, there are lots of options. But any way to pay for this within reason is better than letting one more year go by where people have to give up a precious year of their life when they could be working and being fulfilled and making a contribution to our country when it will not cost us, really, any more money. So I say, I understand what the problem is. We'll be reasonable. We'll work with you. But we cannot walk away from this session of Congress without passing this legislation." President Clinton, September 8, 1999 I had the honor of attending the ceremony. I had the honor of handing President Clinton the color graphic emblem of WIIA, created pro bono by self-employed graphic artist John Robbins of Oakland, an SSI recipient who needs to retain Medicaid to keep his business and his life together. 8. September 9, 1999 -- The NCIL Board again affirmed the standing votes of NCIL members in urging that WIIA - H.R. 1180 be passed by the House without substantive weakening amendments. What now? The major news is that the Tax Bill passed by Congress this summer will be vetoed by President Clinton as early as this week. Most WIIA advocates see the window for its passage as a free standing bill to be just after this veto and before Congress wraps up its budget negotiations. THIS IS A SHORT window of some three weeks (???) and the reason for this lengthy memo. Advocates agree that WIIA should be passed as a free standing bill. A free standing bill passed would be a win-win for all active parties, including best chances of preserving its current provisions. WE MUST CONTINUE TO 1. INCREASE THE NUMBER of HOUSE COSPONSORS AND 2. KEEP UP OUR PRESSURE ON TWO KEY HOUSE COMMITTEES: Way and Means Committee, Chairman Bill Archer (R-7-TX) and Rules Committee, Chairman David Dreier (R-28-CA), -- Rules has one Republican cosponsor of WIIA. The next legislative steps on WIIA has to come from Way and Means. The bill is likely to go through the Rules Committee as we proceed. Rules Committee has one Republican cosponsor of WIIA. WE can do better, we have done better working with many other Republicans. House Rules Committee Members, Staff, Jurisdiction and Contact Information Contact Information: Room: H-312 Capitol Building Phone: 202- 225-9191 Fax: 202- 225-6763 Web: www.house.gov/rules Other: Committee Jurisdiction Committee Roster: Members are ordered by rank Republicans: (9) David Dreier (CA-28th), Chair Porter Goss (FL-14th) John Linder (GA-11th) Deborah Pryce (OH-15th) WIIA H.R. 1180 COSPONSOR-as of 4/99! Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21st) Doc Hastings (WA-4th) Sue Myrick (NC-9th) Pete Sessions (TX-5th) Thomas Reynolds (NY-27th) Democrats: (4) Joe Moakley (MA-9th), Rnk. Mem. WIIA H.R. 1180 COSPONSOR Martin Frost (TX-24th) WIIA H.R. 1180 COSPONSOR Tony Hall (OH-3rd) Louise McIntosh Slaughter (NY-28th) WIIA H.R. 1180 COSPONSOR Subcommittees: Rules and Organization of the House The Legislative and Budget Process Committee Staff: Maj. Staff Dir.: Vince Randazzo 225-9191 Min. Staff Dir.: George Crawford 225-9091 _____________ Text of AJR 17 LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BILL NUMBER: AJR 17 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT RESOLUTION CHAPTER 77 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 19, 1999 ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 16, 1999 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 10, 1999 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 3, 1999 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Aroner (Coauthors: Assembly Members Havice, Jackson, Keeley, Kuehl, Longville, Migden, Romero, Shelley, Strom-Martin, and Washington) (Coauthors: Senators Chesbro, Solis, and Vasconcellos) MAY 3, 1999 Assembly Joint Resolution No. 17--Relative to persons with disabilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AJR 17, Aroner. Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. This measure would urge the United States Congress to pass the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 in order to meet the urgent demands of people with disabilities who work or want to work across the nation. WHEREAS, In California and elsewhere, throughout a prolonged period of economic well-being and record low unemployment rates, recent national and California studies both have unacceptable findings that only one-third of adults with disabilities nationally and in California hold part-time or full-time jobs; and WHEREAS, In these same studies, 75 percent of those not working stated they want to work; and WHEREAS, The lack of access to private health insurance or the lack of continuing access to Medi-Cal or Medicare is the main obstacle individuals with significant disabilities face when working or returning to work; and WHEREAS, The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) work incentive rules have the potential to be effective but are underutilized, overly complex, and inconsistently administered. Social Security work incentives are used by only a small fraction of those eligible and often result in benefit overpayments that must be repaid by the payee; and WHEREAS, People with disabilities who are SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients have limited choice in employment services; and WHEREAS, On January 28, 1999, Senator James M. Jeffords, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Senator William V. Roth, Jr., and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, introduced Senate Bill 331, cited as the "Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999," to expand the availability of health care coverage for working individuals with disabilities, establish a Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program in the Social Security Administration to provide these individuals with meaningful opportunities to work, and for other purposes; and WHEREAS, On March 18, 1999, Representative Rick A. Lazio, Representative Michael Bilirakis, Representative Nancy L. Johnson, Representative Henry A. Waxman, Representative Tom Bliley, Jr., Representative Bob Matsui, Representative Fortney (Pete) Stark, Representative Brian Bilbray, Representative Steve Horn, of California and other states, introduced House Resolution 1180, cited as the "Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999," a measure similar to that introduced in the Senate; and WHEREAS, The federal act, as introduced, would provide states with the option and incentive grants to set up programs to extend medicaid coverage to certain classes of SSDI and SSI beneficiaries who work, extend Medicare for SSDI beneficiaries who work, provide more choice of employment services, and establish a $2 for $1 earned income offset demonstration project for SSDI beneficiaries; and WHEREAS, The federal act, as introduced, contains strong work incentive and planning provisions for individuals with disabilities who work or want to work, and provisions for community work incentive planners to help individuals understand and use federal and state work incentive programs, Social Security specialists in work incentives at field offices to disseminate accurate information, protection and advocacy assistance when an individual's situation is negatively impacted as a result of work, and an advisory panel to counsel the Commissioner of Social Security and other federal agencies on employment and work incentive programs; and WHEREAS, The interconnected provisions of the federal act work in concert to remove work barriers for people with disabilities; and WHEREAS, Californians with disabilities want to live and work side by side with others in their communities and this goal can begin to happen with passage of this historic national legislation; and WHEREAS, It is the California Legislature's strongest belief that people have the responsibility and right to meaningful employment opportunities; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature affirms its endorsement of the federal "Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999," and urges the United States Congress to pass this act at once in order to meet the urgent demands of people with disabilities who work or want to work across the nation; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairpersons of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Budget, and Finance, and to the Chairpersons of the House Committees on Appropriations, Budget, Commerce, and Ways and Means, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States. -- * Bryon R. MacDonald, Community Advocate The Center for Independent Living - Berkeley/Oakland 436 Fourteenth Street, Suite 218 Oakland, CA 94612 Voice: 510-763-9999, press ext. 19 TDD: 510-444-1837 FAX: 510-763-4910 E-Mail: bryosemite@aol.com * Alana R. Theriault, Disability Advocate/Consultant Work Incentives Update Listserv Manager Berkeley, CA E-Mail: alrt@igc.org Write Congress? http://www.congress.org US Capitol Telephone Switchboard? 202-224-3121 red Fay Chair, Justice For All jfa@jfanow.org http://www.jfanow.org ---- THE TOMATIS METHOD   In each part of the world, in every country, people hear in different ways. The Germans do not hear in the same way as the French, who in turn do not hear in the same way as the Italians.    The impedance in the air is the main reason for this. The characteristics of the environment have shaped different languages over hundreds of years giving each specific features to which the foreign ear must become accustomed.    To speak a language we therefore have to adapt our listening to the acoustic frequencies of that language, which is not always immediately possible. It is advisable to give the ear a specific training.  [THIS IS WHY THE CI WORKS] "The voice only contains what the ear hears" which means: we speak a language badly because we do not hear it properly. [THIS IS WHY THE CI WORKS] "If the ear is given the chance to hear properly, the voice instantly and unconsciously improves": We hear a language better; therefore we speak it better.  [THIS IS WHY THE CI WORKS, EVEN WITHOUT CONSTANT "SPEECH THERAPY" -- THE BRAIN TRAINS ITSELF]] "It is possible to transform the voice by using a system of auditory stimulation for a given time": by listening to a language with the Electronic Ear we can manage to "integrate" this language definitively.  The human ear   The human ear can theoretically capture a large range of frequencies (16 16000 Hz) and discern an infinite number of rhythms. However, as years go by, our ear generally settles into a habit and remains efficient above all in those frequencies and rhythms where we use our mother tongue It is difficult to break out of this habit. The French mainly use frequencies from 1000 to 2000Hz, while the English use frequencies which range from 2000 to 12000Hz. It is no surprise that the French have so much difficulty in learning English and the English in learning French!  Each language therefore has a preferential use for certain ranges of sound frequencies, called basic frequency bands. The Electronic Ear   Thanks to the Tomatis Method, the ear will be forced to hear what it does not hear naturally. This can only be achieved by using a special system which makes use of the latest technology. These exercises are done with electronic switch-overs and by using a set of filters and amplifiers, which respond to the demands of the working of the human ear.  [WHAT DR. TOMATIS CALLED THE "ELECTRONIC EAR" IS NOW WORN ON THE BODY, AND IT IS CALLED THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT (CI)] Paulette Caswell ---- SECTION 508: THE LITTLE-KNOWN LAW Did you know that Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (added to the Act in 1986) requires Federal agencies to obtain and use electronic and information technology that is accessible to individuals with disabilities? Examples of this technology are: computers (hardware and software), keyboards, telecommunications equipment, web-based information and applications, and multimedia applications. Section 508 went largely unused by the agencies, so in mid-1990s, consumers asked for a new version of Section 508 that contained some enforcement mechanisms. These mechanisms would get the Federal agencies to obtain and use electronic/information technology that is accessible to Federal employees with disabilities and to individuals with disabilities outside the Federal government who need government information. Under this law, access to and use of information and data must be comparable to what is available to federal employees and members of the public who are not disabled, unless doing do imposes an undue burden on the agency. Consumers can bring a complaint against agencies that do not comply with Section 508. The amended version of Section 508 directed the Architectural and Transportation Compliance Access Board to publish standards to help all of the Federal agencies comply with Section 508. The Access Board has an obligation to publish these standards by February 7, 2000. ---- GOODWILL INDUSTRIES SETS UP BEACHEAD IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Goodwill Industries of Southern California Opens a New Deaf Employment and Community Center VAN NUYS, Calif. (BUSINESS WIRE) - Goodwill Industries of Southern California (GISC) will hold the grand opening of its new Deaf Employment and Community Center in Van Nuys on Wednesday, Sept. 22, in honor of National Deaf Awareness week. The center is located at 6850 Van Nuys Blvd., and the opening festivities will begin at 3 p.m., followed by a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. "GISC has recognized the importance of providing employment assistance to the deaf and hard of hearing," Deaf Services Coordinator Jenna F. Beacom said, "so we decided to expand our Deaf Services Program from a single program offering office skills training to three separate programs." The center will be able to serve a wide variety of members of the deaf and hard of hearing community in the San Fernando Valley. All of its programs are designed to help people acquire the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. The three programs provided at the center are Office Applications Training, General Employability Skills and Job Placement. The center will serve a wide range of people, including those with no work experience and others with advanced degrees who seek assistance. Free interpreting for interviews are also offered through the Job Placement Program. "It is truly a center by and for the deaf since most of our staff are deaf or hard of hearing, including myself. In addition to offering employment assistance, a goal of this center is to provide a meeting place for the deaf community, something which is really needed in the San Fernando Valley," said Beacom. "Deafness is really a unique disability, in that it is also a culture, with its own language and mores. The center will continue a long cultural tradition which includes Deaf Clubs and other social centers," Beacom added. The new facility will also benefit the San Fernando Valley economy by providing more qualified employees. Feedback from local businesses has been solicited to make sure that students are taught the most commonly used computer applications, for example. Free workshops on the Americans with Disabilities Act and on tax incentives for hiring people with disabilities will be provided for business owners and other interested parties. Founded in 1919, Goodwill is a non-sectarian, non-profit agency, which is nearly 90 percent self-supporting through its retail stores and Industrial Services contracts with local businesses. GISC's mission is to enhance the quality of life for people who have disabilities and other vocational disadvantages by assisting them to become productive and self-sufficient through education, training and employment. Contact: Goodwill Industries Richard Guiss/MinXia Shen, 323/223-1211, ext. 222 ---- Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center is having another sale at the local SSSS W W A PPPP MM MM EEEEE EEEEE TTTTT S W W A A P P M M M M E E T SSS W W W A A PPPP M M M EEE EEE T S W W AAAAA P M M E E T SSSS W W A A P M M EEEEE EEEEE T LOCATION : Golden West College Parking lot spaces Q-33 and Q-34 near Edinger street in Huntington Beach, California. DATE : September 25, 1999 TIME : 8 AM - 3 PM SUPPORT OUR DEAF CENTER IF YOU CAN COME TO THE SWAPMEET OR VISIT THE DEAF CENTER'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.DEAFADVOCACY.COM/PRODUCT.HTM If you can donate items to us for the swapmeet sale, please do it before 6pm friday September 24. We plan on selling the donated items very cheap so we'll need LOTS, LOTS, AND LOTS OF STUFF! COME ON OVER AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! ---- COMMON CARRIER BUREAU REMINDS ALL COMMON CARRIERS OF THEIR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THEIR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES VIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES (TRS) By this Public Notice, the Common Carrier Bureau reminds all common carriers of their obligation to provide access to their services via telecommunications relay service (TRS) throughout the area(s) in which they offer telecommunications services. TRS allows individuals with hearing or speech disabilities to communicate by telephone with individuals who may or may not have such disabilities. TRS facilities are equipped with special equipment and are staffed by communications assistants (CAs) who relay the conversations between the caller and the called party by speaking or typing text. Title IV of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires the Commission to ensure that TRS is available, to the extent possible and in the most efficient manner, to individuals with hearing or speech disabilities in the United States. Pub. L. No. 101-336, § 401, 104 Stat. 327,366-69 (codified as Section 225 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 225); see 47 U.S.C. § 225(b). Carriers are required to provide TRS, in compliance with regulations prescribed by the Commission, throughout the areas in which they offer service. 47 U.S.C § 225(c). To satisfy the ADA*s mandate, the Commission adopted comprehensive rules delineating the TRS obligations of carriers, including a requirement that interexchange carriers (IXCs) provide equal access for TRS users. 47 C.F.R. § 64.604(b)(3). Under this requirement, *TRS users shall have access to their chosen interexchange carrier, and to all other operator services, to the same extent that such access is provided to voice users.* Id. Pursuant to the implementation schedule mandated by the ADA, nationwide TRS has been generally available throughout the United States since 1993. 47 U.S.C. § 225(c). The primary purpose of the ADA and the Commission*s TRS implementing rules is to provide individuals with hearing or speech disabilities telecommunications services that are functionally equivalent to those provided to individuals without hearing or speech disabilities. This goal is achieved, in part, through nationwide TRS. Various competitive telecommunications services are continuing to enter the telecommunications market. To realize the full benefits of such competition, TRS users must have equal access to the public switched network to the same extent as non-TRS users. It has come to the Commission*s attention, however, that TRS users do not always have the same access to their carrier of choice or special pricing plans as non-TRS users. The Commission has been informed that some TRS users have been unable to place TRS calls through their chosen carrier or have been unable to make *dial-around* calls using a carrier-specific access code. If TRS users are not able to use their carrier of choice and are forced to select an alternative provider, they may pay rates that are higher than those charged by their preferred carrier, or may not have access to particular services. This result is inconsistent with the ADA and the Commission*s rules. See 47 U.S.C § 225(c); 47 C.F.R §§ 64.603, 64.604(b)(3). Carriers should take appropriate measures to ensure that callers in the areas that they serve have access to their services through TRS. Because the Commission*s rules require each common carrier to allow access via TRS to their services throughout the area(s) in which they offer service, the Commission is reviewing the extent to which TRS users are unable to access their chosen carrier. The Commission intends to work with TRS users, the industry, TRS centers, state commissions, and other interested parties to ensure that TRS users have equal access to their carrier of choice. We remind carriers, however, that the Commission may consider enforcement action, including forfeitures, should this obligation not be met. For further information contact Cheryl L. Callahan at (202) 418-1806, ccallaha@fcc.gov, or Debra Sabourin at (202) 418-0976, dsabouri@fcc.gov, of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division; TTY Number: (202) 418-0484. ---- VEGAS MGM GRAND SETTLES U.S. DISABILITIES LAW CLAIM WASHINGTON (Reuters) - MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas has agreed to pay $165,000 to three people and improve its facilities for the disabled to settle charges it that violated federal law, the Justice Department said Thursday. ``People with disabilities will now be able to fully enjoy the entertainment and attractions at the MGM Grand Hotel, Casino and Theme Park in Las Vegas,'' the department said in a statement. The Justice Department reached an out-of-court settlement with the hotel to resolve complaints filed by the department and three people that the hotel violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, including hotels and entertainment. Among other things, the MGM Grand has agreed to increase the number of guest rooms for people with disabilities, change its restrooms to accommodate the disabled, remodel some of its gambling tables, improve access to its theaters and provide wheelchair and companion seating at the theaters. ---------------------- Hi Richard Amen!!! thousand times over. Im a late deafened adult who has been fighting since 86 with the us post office about my hearing impairment which gradually became lost completely to the tune of 100 percent rating by the VA total and permanent bilateral deafness. cant get any deafer than that yet to date i have had nothign but EEO, EEOC, REhab ACT, Greivances, and Even Osha complaints (tthree) Also was sued by my condo back in 93 over bandit and won a settlement only after five years of bs court procedings of hud complaints and dept of justice taking their time and almost giving it away then finally to the several times of being ordered to the ENT, AUDIOlogist and etc to prove i cant hear! so yes i like your post very much and ill let you know when i finishe with the newest lawsuit against the usps that i recently filed! for failure to accommodate and also failure in a timely manner. they refuse my hearing dog to work with me says he is a threat to the public on a route ha! yet i have been working most of my days in the office due to unrelated neck injury and they refuse him there too. they want me to volunteer to be a clerk inside the building in a corner somewhere hidden from everyone in the public just so i can bring buddy to work with me. i would lose seniority, pay rate etc! NOT IN THIS LIFETIME! well that is unless the judge rules against me saying i can read lips so im not disabled hummmm? it is on my mind. but the point is i cant hear the sounds around me and behind me at all so hopefully it wont get trashed and would be a federal precidence setting case we can only hope if you or anyone has info to help me out would love to talk to you privately thanks carol and buddy ============================================================== DEAF WORKERS OF ORANGE COUNTY Orange County, California Richard Roehm President Internet : Deaf@activist.com Deaf_Workers_OC@usa.net Website Nesmuth@worldnet.att.net Http://www.i-sphere.com/eyedeaf/dwoc.htm =============================================================== 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. Thank you. =============================================================== Deaf Workers of Orange County will continue to aggressively pursue justice, fairness, and equality for the Deaf Community. =============================================================== Education is the best gift that lasts a lifetime! Help someone subscribe to Deaf Workers Weekly Bulletin =============================================================== SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION To be added to the mailing list, send "ADD WORKERS BULLETIN" To be deleted from the mailing list send "DELETE WORKERS BULLETIN" to this address Deaf_Workers_OC@usa.net Mailing lists are never sold/given to anyone. =============================================================== Need to stay on the net? Try DeafWatch's own "Keeping You Connected" page which is packed with graphical links to FREE email providers. ===============================================================