Saturday, March 12, 2011

Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center Newsletter - March 12, 2011

Greetings everyone,

National Deaf History Month starts tomorrow!

Marlee Matlin the historic deaf actress whose appearance in the current The Apprentice season made a history breaking statement. What had been the powerful statement that represented our identity "Deaf people can do anything but hear" for decades, Marlee says "Deaf people can do anything and hear" shocking the deaf blogosphere and the ripples from this surprise is felt far and wide even outside the U.S. Borders.

Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center is making history being the only deaf social service agency in the state of California to have rigorous education and referral program for parents of deaf newborn babies. We've developed "Fast Track To Hearing" resources thats continuing to grow for these parents and they're at http://eyefirevlogs.com/eyefire2/?p=9451 and has been accessed over 100,000 times since its inception.

Theres two new blogger websites that has invited our participation. 1) Deaf Truth Seeker http://deaftruthseeker.blogspot.com/ and; 2) Deaf News Inside http://deafnewsinside.blogspot.com

Our monthly meetups will resume this May 2011.

Finally lets celebrate National Deaf History Month with a day of positive relationships, a day of positive coexistence, and a day of fun at our bowing tournament. More info on our bowling event http://www.deafadvocacy.org/bowl-a-thon and please join us.

Richard Roehm, Chairman
On behalf of Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center

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Our ebay store http://stores.ebay.com/OCDAC-Adaptive-Equipment-and-More

Funds raised would go to supporting a variety of advocacy, training, education, outreach, and residency programs offered by the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center.

Were always adding many new items each month.

Your support is always needed. Please visit the store and see our new items.

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Our meetups scheduling will resume starting May 2011. Please join a group for more information.

The Orange County Deaf & Hearing Impaired Meetup Group http://www.meetup.com/deaf-38/

The Orange County American Sign Language Meetup Group http://www.meetup.com/asl-37/

Oral Deaf Orange County http://www.meetup.com/deaf-263/

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US Department of Labor makes available Web-based toolkit for federal agencies to increase employment of people with disabilities.

he U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy today posted an online toolkit comprised of resources to assist federal agencies in recruiting, employing and retaining individuals with disabilities.

Read more at http://www.dol.gov/odep/federal-hire.

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Help us raise some funds with our tupperware fundraiser.

Our tupperware fundraiser http://shortlinks.deafadvocacy.org/tupperware

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Embracelets given out as anti-bullying resolution

SBG (Student Body Government) President Colin Whited kicked off the Embracelet event in the Jordan Student Academic Center’s MPR (Multi-Purpose Room) by offering a few introductory words. Several presenters representing different parts of the Gallaudet community followed Whited.

Read more at http://www.thebuffandblue.net/?p=5172

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Breaking the Language Barrier

In March, Briar Woods High School's 55 American Sign Language (ASL) students have something exciting planned.

Read more at http://my.hsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/articleid/420242/newspaperid/2529/Breaking_the_Language_Barrier.aspx

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Donate to Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center

Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center is a transparent organization serving the needs of people with disabilities and our transparency is visible at http://rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/Details.aspx?agency_id=1&license_id=1003712& and we are current with our State of California reporting requirements.

Give us a hand. Go to https://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=33-0806007

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Celebrate National Deaf History Month - Beginning March 13

Hearing-Aid.com and the National Council for Better Hearing offer a look back at this important hearing healthcare event.

Read more at http://www.benzinga.com/press-releases/11/03/p902930/celebrate-national-deaf-history-month-beginning-march-13

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Paypal is one super online payment system we all come to know for now. However a new company called Paybox is rising up using the same babysteps as paypal. They need at least 3 million members before they can open up to the public and your help is needed. We will get $10.00 for each new paybox signup. New signups will be given $25.00 in startup funds. Now isn't that a win win situation for you and our organization?

Paybox http://www.paybox.me/r/ocdac

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Specialized Schools Face Tough Cuts As Budget Battle Nears

Advocates for the blind, deaf and those with emotional issues are gearing up for a battle with the governor over cuts to specialized schools and their programs. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

Read more at http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/134965/specialized-schools-face-tough-cuts-as-budget-battle-nears

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For over 37 years, Labels for Education® has supported organizations across the country by providing more than $110 million in free educational merchandise. This year, the Labels for Education program is getting even better with a new look and focus on the Arts, Athletics and Academic enrichment programs that can spark children's successes. Labels for Education is also adding new partnerships and resources. With your help, the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center can make this year the best ever! To meet our goals, we need to collect 1,000,000 points.

Campbells Labels For Education Program http://www.deafadvocacy.org/campbells

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Deaf woman says in lawsuit that hospital made daughter interpret

A deaf Fort Dodge woman is suing a hospital for allegedly forcing her to use her 7-year-old daughter as a sign-language interpreter before the girl had surgery.

Read more at http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110305/NEWS/103050310/Deaf-woman-says-in-lawsuit-that-hospital-made-daughter-interpret?RAGBRAI

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**** DISCLAIMER ****
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The OCDAC Newsletter is designed to share information of interest to people with disabilities, their friends, associates, and relatives and promote advocacy in the disability community. Information circulated herein does not necessarily express the views of The Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center. The OCDAC Newsletter is non-partisan. OCDAC Newsletter does not sell advertising space.

The Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center is a community based organization that puts people with disabilities first in their advocacy for equal opportunities in safety, health, and productive living.

The Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center provides services for disabled individuals and their families in our community who need help in navigating the social services maze. Every day people go without proper food, shelter, and essential medical care every day due to a variety of factors including low wages, job loss, injuries, illness, age, domestic violence, or divorce. While all of us are susceptible to hard times, disabled individuals are at the most risk. With the generous support of people like you, we are able to help many of these families and individuals not only to meet essential daily needs, but to work toward a brighter future with programs in job training, education, counseling, elderly assistance, and temporary housing.

Feel free to forward this email message IN ITS ENTIRETY to anyone and any of your personal mailing lists so we can get the important messages out far and wide and encourage them to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Our physical address is P.O. Box 4339, Santa Ana, California, 92702-4339 and this email is in compliance with CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.

To subscribe to this newsletter go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdacnewsletter/ or send a blank email to ocdacnewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Friday, March 4, 2011

News We Found For You

In a world of whistles, deaf referee is on call

By the time Jim Segala was an upperclassman at Frontier Regional School in South Deerfield, Mass., he was known for more than just his scoring ability on a team that would finish as state runner-up his senior year in 1986.

Read More at : http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110227/SPORTS08/102270356/In-world-whistles-deaf-referee-call?odyssey=nav|head
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Greater equality for sign language users - Crockart

Edinburgh West MP, Mike Crockart, today called for equal access to telecommunications for sign language users at the launch of a new campaign, VRS Today!

Read More at : http://www.glasgowlibdems.org.uk/201102252405/Scottish-Lib-Dems/greater-equality-for-sign-language-users-crockart.html
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Students take time to sign

Ruth Brunner's seventh grade American Sign Language class at Windsor Middle School is in its eighth week and already demonstrating proficiency in signing.

Read More at : http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110226/WINDSORBEACON01/102260315/Students-take-time-to-sign
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Speaking -- and reading -- in their own language

When Tim and Deadra Stewart talk, their hands move, not their lips. The couple converse in American Sign Language, a language many deaf people in the United States and Canada consider their first language.

Read More at : http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110226/LIFE07/102260328/1007/NEWS01/?odyssey=nav|head
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Senator eyes fee on Utah'scell phones

Utahns' cell phone bills could go up $2.40 a year under a legislative proposal that would add a monthly surcharge to fund telecommunication devices for people who are speech and hearing impaired.

Read More at : http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700113498/Senator-eyes-fee-on-Utahscell-phones.html
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(Deaf) Church volunteer sentenced to 22 years for child porn

A Baptist church volunteer who confessed to sexually abusing nine boys and was found by FBI agents to have gathered more than 10,000 pieces of child pornography was sentenced to 22 years in prison Friday.

Read More at : http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-child-porn-deaf-ministry-20110225,0,4412855.story

Introduction To OCDAC

I'm a long time deaf advocate, deaf community activist, deaf shock jock, combat vlogger, and a deaf futurist on a mission to liberate deaf people from the prison of silence, liberate them from the crab claws of deaf culture, and liberate them from the sticky web of deaf absolutism.

I'm also an oftentimes acclaimed and a distinguished authority on modern deaf communication. I make presentations at meetings, conventions, and provide testimony at hearings. I serve on a patient advocacy council that paves a yellow brick road to normalcy and independence of people with hearing loss.

Given this introduction, you know what kind of contributions I will be making to this blog. I can easily harvest a lot of news relating to deafness and post them here too.

Richard Roehm