Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hearing Loss Association

Southwest Ohio Chapter

Invites you to join us – All are welcome

Sunday, April 13, 2008
2:30 PM to 5 PM


Our speaker will talk for about 45 minutes and have time for questions. There will also be some time to socialize with others who are hearing impaired.
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Mason Public Library*
200 Reading Road
Mason, Ohio 45060


Getting the most out of one's hearing aids

Our guest speaker is John Greer Clark, Ph.D. He is on faculty at the University of Cincinnati’s Doctoral of Audiology program. He is best known for his writings on audiologic counseling, Communication Sciences and Disorders. He is a great speaker.


Free and Open to the Public

* Directions to Library:
It is on Reading Road/42 north of Tylersville on the right before the road curves right. For information contact Arlene Mason 513-683-5855 or email us at
aringlossassociation@yahoo.com

The Hearing Loss Association of America is the nation’s largest organization for people with hearing loss. We are a local chapter with monthly meetings.

Our members include those who are hearing impaired and those who love them.

Future topic:

May 11, TSA will discuss air travel for passengers with hearing loss

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

IEP Town Hall Meeting

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Your Rights as a Parent
Community Services for the Deaf
of The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center
2825 Burnet Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45219
5:30 - 7:00PM

Enjoy a sandwich buffet while you listen to Tabitha Belhorn, a statewide parent advocate from Ohio School for the Deaf. She will discuss how to get the most for your child's IEP.

Marlee Matlin on The Ellen Show

Click here: Marlee Matlin on Ellen 3/21- Subtitled « bill creswell - captioning the internet one video at a time

Friday, March 21, 2008

Vote for Marlee!

Did you miss Marlee on Dancing with The Stars? Check out this online video of her performance:

http://dynamic.abc.go.com/streaming/landing?lid=ABCCOMGlobalMenu&lpos=FEP



Marlee Matlin danced wonderfully on The Dancing With The Stars TV show. Her total score from the judges was 22 points. She is in the 3rd place among the women. The top scores are 28 points (Kristi Yamaguchi) and 24 points (Priscilla Presley). They will combine the judges scores with the public vote. The man and woman "star" with the lowest total will be off the show.

Vote for Marlee - Show the world that the Deaf CAN dance!!

How to vote -

http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/index?pn=aboutthevote


Tuesday, March 18, 2008

11 Questions with Marlee Matlin

So you think you can dance? Try doing it without hearing the music. That's what Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin will do on the sixth season of the hit reality series 'Dancing With the Stars.' Matlin answered our questions via e-mail about dancing while deaf, why she signed up and who her biggest competition is.





1. How Did you get involved with the show?
There was a rumor going around our household that Mom would be perfect for 'Dancing With the Stars.' And it seems that my husband and 12-year old-daughter were the ones who started it! Ha! As I told them, it's much nicer to be asked to the dance than to do the asking. So, when I was asked this past January, I thought the timing was too perfect to pass up.



2. Why did you want to go "Dancing"?
I wanted to be the coolest mom in the world for my daughter and make my husband proud. But mostly, I wanted share with my children the confidence that my parents instilled in me that they could do anything they set their minds to if they just followed their hearts. It's a philosophy that's guided me throughout my life despite what barriers came my way.


3. Do you think being deaf will help or hinder your Performances?
Neither. It's more about whether I can gather up the rhythm I've got inside me and get my feet, hips and shoulders to move. For me, the real handicap of being deaf isn't in my ears, it's in my head. Being deaf will hinder me only if I let it. And so far, I've managed to do quite well despite being an actor who is deaf in Hollywood, for over 20 years.

4. Did you have any dance training prior to joining the show?
If you count weddings and Bar Mitzvahs and a little shimmying I've done for my husband in the bedroom, then yes. But if not, then call me a newbie. I've never had formal dance training.

5. Your partner, Fabian Sanchez, is new. What tricks does he have up his sleeve?
His sparkling wit and dazzling dance technique! He's one of the funniest people I've ever met and I am constantly amazed by his dance ability! Not to mention that he has the Latin moves to die for.

6. What did you think when you got a partner who's new to the show?
I love Fabian. I couldn't be any happier to have been hooked up with him. But I also love Julianne [Hough]. At 19, she's done far more than anyone I've known and her talent and enthusiasm just blows me away!

7. Who do you think will be your biggest competition?
The ghosts of winners past: Apolo, Helio, Emmitt, Drew and Kelly. I've watched the show over the years and have to say that I have some big shoes to fill if I'm going to make audiences proud enough of my dancing ability to allow me to proceed to the final week.

8. Which dance intimidates you most? And which one do you love performing?
I think any dance where I'm not looking directly at my dance partner. That would be any dance where I have to look away like the fox-trot, waltz, quick step. Also those dances where I don't actually hold onto him, like the jive. As for the one I can rock at, I do love the cha-cha and all of the Latin dances. They are so soulful and sensual!



9. Which of your fellow dancers is your family most excited to meet?
For my seven-year-old son, Brandon, it's about meeting Jason Taylor; he's a huge football fan. And for my 12-year-old daughter, Sarah, it's about the stars who are singing on the show the second week -- The Jonas Brothers. She can't say their names without screaming! The two youngest ones don't really get the concept of stars yet. And as for my husband, he'd better say his wife! Ha!

10. Would you consider being part of another reality show?
I wouldn't mind producing one. And I wouldn't mind playing a role like Heidi Klum plays on 'Project Runway,' being the host of a show, but I don't think I could tell people that "you're out!" As for a show I wouldn't do, I would definitely never do a celebrity version of 'Survivor.' Jeff Probst is a friend of mine and I think he would go out of his way to make my life a living hell.

11. Do you worry about losing Oscars cred by wearing such skimpy, sparkly outfits?
If you can tell me the difference between the "skimpy sparkly outfits" and what Academy Award-winning actors (no names, please!) don't wear in movies they appear in, then I'd be happy to give [it] a second thought. 'Dancing With the Stars' is about the most family-friendly show I could have done. The outfits may be skimpy and sparkly but they're done with style and taste.








Cleveland Cavaliers Hire Deaf Player

Cavs sign league's first legally deaf player, Lance Allred

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed 6-foot-11 center Lance Allred to a 10-day contract Thursday as he was called up from the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede. He will provide depth in the frontcourt with both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace fighting back problems. Allred becomes the first legally deaf player to play in the NBA. He's had about 75 percent hearing loss since birth but uses implants that allow him to be functional.

''It is an accomplishment. It's meaningful that I've made it to this stage,'' Allred said. ''I want to be known for more than that, but it is an honor.''

Allred played in college at Utah and then Weber State, where he was third in the NCAA in rebounding as a senior in 2005. He played a year in Europe and has played the last two seasons in the D-League, this year averaging 16.2 points and 10 rebounds to be named to the league's All-Star Game. He also played in summer league with the Boston Celtics last year.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Teen Club on WCPO - Channel 9


"Dancing With The Stars" Deaf Actress Inspires Local Teens

Related Links
ABC News: Deaf Actress to 'Dance With the Stars'
Marlee Matlin Official Website
IMDB.com: Marlee Matlin

Web produced by: Neil Relyea

Deaf actress Marlee Matlin's challenge on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" has inspired teens with hearing loss.

On Friday night a local deaf teen club met at Powell Crosley, Jr. YMCA on Winton Road to learn how to dance.

Instructors hope to use dance as a tool to increase awareness about how many deaf professional dancers there are nationwide.

The teens involved were excited because they not only learned a few ballroom steps, but also learned hip hop and modern dance.
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Thank you so much to Rachel James for teaching the teens some great hip hop dances!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Cochlear Implant Debate on TV - #2!

April 20, 2008
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Playwright Stephen Sachs has adapted his original play, Sweet Nothing In My Ear, for a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie set to air on CBS in April.
The television version of Sweet Nothing, now shooting, isdirected by Emmy Award-winning Joseph Sargent and stars Acade my Awardwinner Marlee Matlin and Golden Globe winner Jeff Daniels.
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In Sweet Nothing in My Ear, Laura, who is deaf, and Dan, who is hearing, are an attractive young couple happily married for nine years. Their son Adam was born hearing, but by age six has also become deaf. When Dan decides to pursue the possibility of a cochlear implant for his boy- a tiny computer chip inserted in the brain that would allow him toregain his hearing - a divisive wedge is driven between husband and wifethat threatens to shatter their marriage.

Cochlear Implant Debate on TV

CBS Sunday March 30th at 9 PM/ET
Cold Case
This episode focuses on the debate within the deaf community about cochlear implants and is taking place at a boarding school for the deaf.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Teen Group

REMEMBER!
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Friday, March 14, 2008
7:00 - 9:00PM
Powel Crosley, Jr. YMCA
9601 Winton Road
Cincinnati, OH 45231
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Dance Like a Star!
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Come socialize with other Deaf teens. Learn some dance moves.

Ohio Youth Leadership Forum

The Ohio Youth Leadership Forum is a week-long conference that provides selected high school juniors and seniors with disabilities the opportunity to develop and enhance leadership skills. The conference, held in Columbus, focuses on leadership, personal development and citizenship. By the end of the week, delegates develop a Personal Leadership Plan to take home and implement in their communities. Since the program was started in 1999, 136 delegates have had this excellent opportunity.

Interested in attending the Youth Leadership Forum? Those who are interested must fill out an appilcation for consideration to attend the Youth Leadership Forum. An appilcation is available on-line for those interested. You can get the application by clicking on either of the links below

Medicaid Buy-In Program Delayed

On June 30, 2007, Governor Strickland signed
into law a bill which requires the state to
establish a Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) option for
people with disabilities.


The establishment of an MBI program removes
a major barrier to employment by allowing
people with disabilities to earn more income
and still qualify for Medicaid health coverage.
For many people with disabilities, private
health insurance that covers their unique
health care needs is either very expensive or
unavailable. In the past, people who needed
Medicaid coverage faced having to choose
between working and having health care.
A person with a disability is eligible for MBI if
his/her income is below 250% of the federal
poverty level (FPL), after excluding the fi rst
$20,000 of their income. A person may also
have up to $10,000 in assets. People will
be responsible for paying a premium on a
sliding scale when their family income exceeds
150% of the FPL. Other exclusions may be
established in the MBI rule.


Ohio joins 34 other states offering the option
to “buy-in” to Medicaid, and an opportunity
for people with disabilities to become more
self-suffi cient, gain more independence and
participate fully in all aspects of community
life, including employment.
State Senator Stivers and State Representative
Peterson, who introduced the MBI legislation,

have said that MBI will pay for itself from the
income, sales and other taxes that working
people with disabilities will be adding to the
state’s economy.


Next Steps The law allows the Ohio Department
of Job and Family Services 180 days to submit the state
plan amendment for MBI to the Centers
for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) and allows changes, if necessary, to gain CMS approval. Between now and January 2008, the Department, in
collaboration with the MBI Advisory Council (which consists of private and public groups,
including ODDC and Ohio Legal Rights Service), will write rules to implement the
program. Additionally, regional meetings will be held to spread the word about this new
program.


“People with disabilities, their families and
others who support them have advocated
diligently for more than six years to make
MBI a reality,” said Bev Johnson, Executive
Director of Cerebral Palsy Association of Ohio.
Congratulations to those who worked hard for
many years to make MBI a reality for Ohio’s
workers with disabilities.


This article is from The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council - http://www.ddc.ohio.gov/

Parliamentary Workshops

Columbus Association of the Deaf, Inc.
Parliamentary Workshops
Presented byElizabeth "Libby" Pollard
on May 16 and 17, 2008

OPEN TO ALL FREE for EVERYONE!!!
American Sign Language
Great opportunity to learn and refresh your understanding of the Parliamentary Procedures!!!

Friday, May 16 at 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
at CCH 2 1165 Colony Dr, Westerville, OH 43081
"ABC's of Parliamentary Procedures"..learn basics of how to participate meeting and make things going smooth in meeting. How to use an agenda, make and discuss on motions, and voting.

Saturday, May 17 at 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
at CAD 323 Woodrow Ave, Columbus, OH 43207
"Responsibility of Members and Officers"..learn about what is member's responsibility during meeting and also for officers. How parliamentary procedures help everyone working together?

"Classifications of Motions"..learn how to make good motions during meeting and seveal different kinds of secondary motions. How to make subsidiary motions to AMEND and process to make amendments to motions. Ideas of how have more successful motions during meeting.

Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 pm to 5 pm
at CAD 323 Woodrow Ave, Columbus, OH 43207
"How to Run an effective meeting"..learn how to have successful and productive meeting. Why participation is important? Practice good meeting manners and be involved with "mock" meeting using different motions. Also learn ow to apply into Board meetings, disciplinary process, and more...

If you have any questions about this event, contact to CAD Secretary Robert Cooper at darc821@aol.com or fax 614.825.4429Jordy Felter, CAD Events Coordinator at jmfelter@sprint.blackberry.net orFrank Stephan at fstephan@sprint.blackberry.net

Deaf Camping


Monday, March 10, 2008

Thursday, March 6, 2008

CapTel

Sprint’s Hard of Hearing Customers Benefit from New and Free Web-Based Solution

Sprint WebCapTel® Solution Shows Captions over the Internet During Phone Calls; Facilitating Easier Conversations

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint (NYSE:S) today released Sprint WebCapTel®, a new free web-based service that allows a person who can speak but has challenges hearing over the phone, to read word-for-word captions of their calls on a web browser. This new service is expected to help an estimated 23 million Americans with hearing loss, who may face challenges hearing over the telephone.

“We are always looking for ways to offer unique and easy user experiences for our customers. This new solution from Sprint will offer the hard-of-hearing community with the ability to enjoy the benefits of a natural phone conversation by accessing real-time web-based captions,” says Mike Ligas, director of Sprint Relay.

With Sprint WebCapTel®, users can make and receive calls on their own telephone, cell phone, land-line, or even an amplified phone. During the call, if they have difficulty hearing what is being said, they can log into www.sprintcaptel.com and read written captions of everything their caller speaks. Captions appear virtually at the same time as the person speaks, allowing users to enjoy a natural telephone conversation.

With this new service, CapTel® is available almost anywhere with a phone and internet access on a computer. Using any phone, even amplified phones, Sprint WebCapTel® will capture the audio of the person speaking to the user and change the spoken sounds into words to read. When displayed on a web browser, the user can change the font size, color, and even background. When a call is completed, the user can save the captioned conversation for later review, allowing the user to concentrate on being involved in the conversation.

“WebCapTel puts people with hearing loss back in control of their own telephone conversations - any time, anywhere - by capitalizing on the convenience and prevalence of the Internet,” states Robert Engelke, president of Ultratec, Inc., the company that developed CapTel technology. “It gives people with hearing loss the confidence to rely on the telephone again, leveling the playing field for professional opportunities, in social situations, and in matters of personal safety.”
This free service is available for Sprint customers anywhere in the United States and within US Territories. However, calls to or from international locations, such as Canada or Mexico, are not available. To learn more about this free service, visit
www.sprintcaptel.com

Sprint has 17 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind or have a speech disability to communicate with hearing persons on the phone. Sprint’s experience in the field assures users of Sprint Relay receive quality service no matter what type of Relay service they are using. Relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or call length. For more information, visit www.sprintrelay.com.

Sprint WebCapTel is an extension of Sprint’s existing CapTel® service, which also provides captions during phone calls, but requires a specialized telephone to display the captions.
CapTel and WebCapTel are registered trademarks of Ultratec, Inc.


ABOUT SPRINT NEXTEL
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving approximately 54 million customers at the end of 2007; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit
www.sprint.com

ABOUT ULTRATEC INC.
Ultratec, Inc. is the world’s leading developer of text telecommunications equipment for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Since 1978, the company has been responsible for numerous advancements in telecommunications technology, including a full range of text telephones, public telephones, amplified telephones, and signaling systems for people with hearing loss. Ultratec works extensively with government agencies, emergency services, and local and national advocacy groups to ensure equal telecommunications access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.


Contacts
SprintMedia Contact:Sukhi Sahni, 703-592-7779
sukhi.sahni@sprint.com

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Town Hall Meeting Tomorrow

Come to CSD Thursday, March 6, 2008
5:30 - 7:00PM
Topic - Vote!
Learn about the voting process.
Learn more about the candidates.
Free!
Coffee, soda and snacks provided

St. Rita Book Fair

The public is welcome to come to
The Saint Rita Book Fair
Wednesday, March 12 8:00am to 8:00pm

Job Opening

This company WANTS TO HIRE DEAF PEOPLE!

Blue Ash suburban law firm representing lenders and mortgage servicing companies seeks energetic individuals for one full and one part time position. Intelligence, enthusiasm, positive attitude, and good work ethic required. Experience not.

We are seeking a document control/legal assistant who will work closely in a team environment with attorneys and other legal assistants. Duties include photocopying and mailing of documents, preparation of motions and orders and notices to the courts.

The Part time position hours hours are start time of no later than 3:00 p.m. and some evenings may be required to work until 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. Competitive pay, and with a demonstrated ability and willingness to learn, there may be an opportunity for the part time position to transition into a full time position. Eligible for 401(k) after six months. Additional benefits available with a set minimum schedule of at least 30 hours a week.

The full time position would also require working until approximately 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. and would have a start time of approximately 10:30 a.m. Excellent opportunity to join a growing law firm. Comprehensive benefits package offered including paid time off, health, dental and vision insurance, disability and life insurance and 401(k). Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please e-mail your resume to resumepllc@mdk-llc.com or fax to 513-936-8514. Equal Opportunity Employer.