Implant Sales

The company that makes the best-selling cochlear implant in the world says profits were up 8% during the second half of last year. Cochlear Ltd is based in Austrailia and reports implant sales for the period rose 7% to more than 9800 units. It recently introduced the Nulceus 5 implant to the US. Sales also increased for the company’s Baha, a bone-anchored hearing aid which is designed for those who are deaf in one ear. Company officials predict 15% growth in 2010.

Deaf Entertainers Documentary

Hundreds turned out at Bremerton High School near Seattle for the first public showing of See What I’m Saying: the Deaf Entertainers Documentary. It introduces audiences to deaf comedian CJ Jones, deaf actor Robert DeMayo, deaf rock ‘n’ roll drummer Bob Hiltermann, and hard of hearing singer TL Forsberg. The full captioned film will be shown in 25 cities during the spring. Athens, Georgia is the next stop. See the full schedule of cities is here.

Georgia Winner Supports NAD

University of Georgia student Abby Killough was named Miss Savannah River 2010 Saturday night. She was crowned at Augusta State University. She'll next compete in the Miss Georgia pageant. Killough's platform is the National Association of the Deaf. She's studying communication sciences and disorders at UGA. She would like to pursue a career in audiology and help children and adults with hearing problems.

Hopital to Pay $105k

The family of a woman who died at North Memorial Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota has settled a lawsuit with the hospital over its failure to provide sign language interpreters. Mary Ann Nelson's family had met with doctors for months without understanding she was dying of cancer. Both her and her husband David were deaf. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights says the medical team failed to communicate effectively with the Nelsons. State regulators say North Memorial has now agreed to pay $105,000 to settle charges that she and another patient were not provided proper access to qualified sign language interpreters. David Nelson had repeatedly asked for an interpreter. The other deaf patient involved in the suit, Mark Epstein, filed a complaint saying he asked for an interpreter every day at North Memorial during his 2007 hospitalization but was turned down. Even though North Memorial employees claimed he never asked for an interpreter, state regulators said it didn't matter. An interpreter was needed in Epstein's case and the medical personal had a duty to recognize the need and do something about it. North Memorial now must not only pay the agreed amount, it must provided training for workers and begin using video relay with deaf patients. Hopital officials must produce evidence that they are complying with the agreement for the next two years.

Students Make Valentines For Sick Children

WYFF-TV in Greenville, South Carolina reports on a Valentine's Day gift from students at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind.

1st Deaf Page

The Mississippi legislature has its first deaf page. 19-year-old Derek Schmitz of Florence is a senior at the Mississippi School for the Deaf in Jackson who uses ASL and wears a hearing aid to help with his minimal residual hearing. An interpreter is accompanying him on the floor at the Mississippi Capitol where he delivers messages and runs errands for lawmakers. Schmitz eventually plans to become a veterinarian though his interest in politics has been sparked by his recent experiences.

1st for Dubai

Eton Institute in Dubai is offering the country's first sign language course starting February 14th. A part of the proceeds from the course will be donated to the Dubai Centre for Special Needs. The beginner-level Introduction to Signing class will involve 30 hours of interactive learning over five weeks. For more information click here.

Closed Captioning Inventor

The name Bill Kastner may not be familiar but you probably know his work. He’s the guy who came up with the equipment that makes closed captioning on television possible. Bill earned his masters degree in electrical engineering from K-State before working for Texas Instruments. That’s where he designed original closed captioning decoder. Bill did everything but create the interface to the television set. Fellow employee Joe Lynn did that. It was the mid 1970’s and Public Broadcasting asked Texas Instruments to come up with a device that would let deaf viewers read what was being said on air. In July of 1993, the FCC declared that all TV’s 13 inches or larger must have a closed caption decoder built into them.

Bummy's Student Center

The California School for the Deaf in Riverside will dedicate the Gerald "Bummy" Burstein student center today. He gave $100,000 to a fund to help provide leadership opportunities for area deaf students. Burstein spent many hours in the room when he worked at the school.

Proposed Law Would Require Captioning

Kentucky lawmakers are considering requiring closed captioning be made available at movie theaters. Those with at least five screens to have at minimum of one screen with a closed captioning service. The bill proposed by State Senator Ray Jones would also require captioning be offered in different ways including hand held devices and words on the screen.

Striving for an Accessible Campus

The student newspaper at the University of Washington reports on accessibility issues at the school in this article.

Art on Display

Deaf students showcased their talents in the arts. KGET-TV in Bakersfield, California offers this video report (no captions).

Hearing Aid Models

▪ BTEs "behind the ear"
These are the familiar crescent-shaped instruments first developed in the late 1940s. These durable aids include a receiver, microphone and amplifier that fits over the ear. It directs sound into the ear canal through a tube and custom-fitted ear mold. The most options and is easiest to handle. Picks up sound and processes it into electrical impulses that are sent through a wire to the speaker. Cost: $500 to $2,900 per ear.

▪ "mini" BTEs or OTE (on the ear)
These are the newest aids. They dramatically reduces the size of the crescent and replaces the bulky wire and speaker with a clear, thin tube. They cost $700 to $2,350 per ear.ITEs "in-the-ear" Smaller than BTEs, these fit into the outer ear and project slightly into the ear canal. Fairly easy to handle and comes with many features. These can be ordered with or without dual microphones, which provide information to the computer to analyze and reduce background noise. It comes in full shell size and the smaller, less-visible "half shell" size. Cost: $500 to $2,400 per ear.

▪ ITCs "in the canal"
This variation on the in-the-ear models protrudes only slightly into the outer ear. They are partially visible though smaller than ITEs. Not for people with severe or profound hearing loss. Fewer features and more difficult to handle. Cost: $650 to $2,350 per ear.

▪ CIC "completely in canal"
The smallest but most difficult to handle model, these customized hearing aids are tucked so far down that it comes with a plastic thread to pull it out; They are rarely visible. Not for people with severe or profound hearing loss, smaller batteries with short life; will last no more than 7 years. Impressions are taken of the ear canal to fashion the aids. Cost: $500 to $2,900 per ear.

▪ IOT "invisible open technology"
A one-size-fits-all model, these aids are a variation on CIC aids but are not custom-fitted. Sometimes referred to as "fit-and-go," it can be programmed in one visit to a hearing aid center. Cost: $1,500 to $1,900 per ear.

Feds Investigate Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office in the California county of Alameda has cut a deal with federal authorities after a justice department investigation. Officers in the San Francisco-area county arrested a deaf and blind man but failed to provide him with a tactile interpreter two days. The Sheriff's office has agreed to now provide interpreters whenever needed, post notices in its waiting rooms and train staff members on the new policy.

Implant Study: Positive Result

A new study finds children with cochlear implants feel about the same concerning their life as their hearing peers. Researchers at the Dallas Cochlear Implant program say the findings support their claim that implants have a positive impact on young children. In the past, research suggested that hearing-impaired children have a harder time in making friends and feeling socially accepted. Details of the study are in the February issue of the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery journal.

School May End Operation

The South Dakota School for the Deaf may soon close. The 14-acre Sioux Falls campus has only five students and state lawmakers are looking to save as much as $700,000 through the closure. If the school stops operation, the ASL program would move to a mainstream school.

ASL: Misconceptions & Fact

Misconception: Just a few sign languages are in use around the world
Fact: Sign language developed differently in various countries

Misconception: ASL is not a real language but just a system of symbols
Fact: ASL is its own language with its own rules of grammar

Misconception: ASL is English in sign form
Fact: It is a language of its own. Like any language, ASL has its own vocabulary and grammar.

Misconception: A deaf person as less intelligent if that person speaks or writes English with broken grammar
Fact: People who are born deaf have no access to the primary form of English, which is the spoken word

Misconception: ASL is easy to learn
Fact: It can take years to gain fluency

Scam Warning

Someone is targeting the deaf persons with a scam where the victims are told they are on a special list to recieve government money. However, the caller or email writer claims personal information will be necessary before the money is sent. The scammers ask for the person's address, occupation, date of birth, account numbers and passwords. This information is used to access those confidential accounts.

Prisoners Sue

Deaf inmates in Virginia have filed a lawsuit claiming state officials are violating ADA law. The discrimination suit says there are too many limits on their access to sign language interpreters and that there are not enough communication devices or visual notifications about events and information related to safety issues.

Split Refunds

The IRS offers advice on Split Refunds in ASL.

Digital TV Closed Captions

There are two types of captions available on broadcast digital channels. One type is similar to the caption that appears on analog channels. The viewer can't change the caption. The other type can be customized by viewers. It can have different sizes and background colors.

Education Tax Credit

Here are some tips from the IRS on the Education Tax Credit in ASL.

Krome Sign Language Translator

About a year ago, we told you in this post the Krome Sign Language Translator was coming out for about $200. Here's a video about the pocket dictionary. Harris (the manufacturer) offers more information about the device here.

Breslin Preps for Broadway

Here's a video of Abigail Breslin talking about her coming stage debut in The Miracle Worker which is returning to Broadway (no captions). You can read more about the production here.

Cuts at NCSD

The North Carolina Schools for the Deaf will remain open despite budget problems but there will be a cutback in services. Staff will lose work hours and residential students will return on Monday instead of Sundays. Last year, state officials discussed combining the two schools (one is in Wilson and one is in Morganton) in order to save money. But the governor decided against the plan and both schools will stay open.

Vehicle Tax Deduction

The IRS offers advice on the Vehicle Tax Deduction in ASL.

Learning About College Options

The Las Vegas Sun describes what a visit from a Gallaudet recruiter is like for local high schoolers in this story.

Withholding Calculator

Tips from the IRS on how much to have withheld from your paycheck in ASL.

Hearing Loss hasn't Slowed Phillies Prospect

The Philadelphia Daily News has profiled Tyson Gillies, a deaf baseball prospect for the Phillies here.

New ASL Certification Program

Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green is adding a new American Sign Language Studies undergraduate certificate program. The Board of Regents approved the plan on Wednesday. the program starts this fall and will be set up thorugh the Communication Disorders department in the College of Health and Human Services. About two dozens students are expected to register for the program. Five courses will offered for the 12-hour certificate program including Finger Spelling, Profession Ethics and Issues and Deaf Culture and History.

Hockey Weekend Across America

A group of challenged New Jersey hockey players are planning to dispel a lot of myths about hockey this weekend. All eleven will are visit 54 rinks in 54 hours. They hope the 1,370-mile trek will encourage rink owners to provide ample ice time for disabled players. It's part of the Hockey Weekend Across America event that runs through Sunday. Two US Deaf Olympians are on the team.

Making Work Pay on Income Tax

IRS tips on the Making Work Pay tax credit in ASL.

Airports... By the Numbers

Of the 13,505 U.S. airports, 700 require radio communications. That means deaf pilots can fly into the other 12,805.

Plan to Close School Ends

A committee in the South Dakota Senate has killed a bill that would have changed the state constitution and allowed closure of the South Dakota School for the Deaf. The governor tried to close the campus last year but the parents filed a federal class-action lawsuit saying state's constitution prevented the move. The bill's sponsor, Al Novstrup, says there is a new proposal that would make the bill unnecessary.

Protest Over ASL Program Closing

Students trying to save the Deaf Education Program at Michigan State University are planning to launch an email campaign asking administrators to, “Please keep MSU’s Deaf Education Program for our deaf children who use ASL in Michigan.” Late last year, the school announced plans to close the program. It's one of nearly two dozen that are set to shut down.

Florida Investigation

A federal investigation of Florida's Dept of Children and Families over its failure to provide services to deaf clients has been completed. The US Dept of Health & Human Services says the agency failed to provided sign language interpreters to deaf persons in critical situations related to child protective services investigations and state mental health facilities. In the settlement, the state agency agreed to:

• provide interpreters when needed
• hire an independent consultant to oversee implementation of the settlement’s terms
• convene an advisory committee in partnership with the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• establish an interpreter quality assessment and certification program
• designate ADA coordinators and single points of contract in the more than 100 direct service facilities operated by DCF

Education on Income Tax Returns

IRS tips on the Education Tax Credit in ASL.

Texas Appointment

Susie Grona of Hideaway is one of the five people appointed to the Texas State Independent Living Council. The council leads, promotes and advances independent living and advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities. Hideaway teaches at Tyler Junior College. A former deaf education teach in the Corpus Christi public school system, she is on the board of the Texas and National associations of the Deaf, and Texas Association of Parent and Educators for the Deaf.

Burke Honored

Howard College in Big Springs, Texas is giving special recognition to Douglas and Beatrice Burke. The board has approved renaming several buildings in their honor that are located on the SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf. The school says Douglas Burke was the first deaf person to lead an institution of higher education in the nation. He passed away in 1988 after helping to establish the community college in east Texas. His wife, Beatrice Burke, also has played a critical role in the school, serving as a past chair and member of the institution's advisory committee and as a member of the Texas School for the Deaf Governing Board.

E-Filing Income Tax Returns

IRS tips on e-filing in ASL.

Plan to Change State Constitution

Some South Dakota are hoping to close the state school for the deaf. Senator Al Novstrup of Aberdeen has filed a resolution that would put the issue to a statewide vote this November. If approved, the resolution would remove references to the school from the responsibilities of the state Board of Regents in the South Dakota Constitution. That would clear the way for the legislature to close the school, something that was proposed by Governor Mike Rounds last year to save money.

FCC Issues 7-Eleven a Citation

The FCC has issued warnings to several companies for failing to file Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Reports. The agency requires telephone equipment manufacturers to make cellphone handsets available that are compatible with hearing aid devices. The Commission also requires phone manufacturers and service providers to submit HAC reports on January 15 of each year, detailing their compliance with the handset stocking rules.

Firefly Mobile Communications is exempt from complying with the handset stocking rules because it sold so few of them. Even so, Firefly was not exempt from the requirement to file an HAC report, so the Bureau issued it a citation, threatening to impose a fine if it fails to file the report again.

7-Eleven also received a citation because it offers cellphones with prepaid minutes but did not file an HAC report last year either. The company told the FCC that it is not phone manufacturer or service provider and should not be subject to the HAC reporting requirement.

If the ruling stands, any company selling handsets will be subject to fine for not making a HAC report, contributing to the Universal Service Fund, filing quarterly 499Q’s, and complying with all other regulations applicable under Title II of the Act to service providers... just as Verizon, AT&T and other companies you typically think of as telecommunications companies.

Chances are good that many outlets will just stop selling the phone rather than follow through with meeting the regulation requirements.

Free Income Tax Filing

IRS tips on filing for free in ASL.

Mixed Martial Arts

When Josh Ofiu isn't attending classes at Gallaudet University, he's battling at the Alaska Fighting Championship bouts. Josh never gets nervous from the buzz of the crowd because he's deaf - which he considers an advantage. Four years ago he was charged with assault. Police said he was part of a mob who came back from to get revenge after being kicked out of a party. That's when Ofiu tried his hand at mixed martial arts. But he hopes to pursue a career as a counselor for deaf children when he graduates.

Visual Sound

Pratt Institute student Suhyun Kim has come up with a device that converst voice to text and vice versa. Visual Sound is a mobile phone for the hearing impaired designed with pillars that scroll sideways to expose the roll-out display. The scroll-like device has a touchscreen for text to be typed in, which then gets converted to voice for the other person on the line, whose audio then turns into text for the deaf user of the phone to read. She is now working on finding someone to manufacture it.

Haiti Fundraiser

A fund raiser called Spin-4-Haiti is being planned for February 5th and 6th at Gallaudet. The stationary cycling event will benefit the students of Institut Montfort, a school for deaf students in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, and the Haiti Association of the Deaf. Here is more information.

Tax Tips from the IRS

The IRS offers some tax tips in ASL.

Iowa Fundraiser

Katanya Yingyoth has lost the small device that must be attached to her cochlear implant for it to function. Friends of the Des Moine, Iowa child are holding a concert today to raise money to buy her a new one. The device runs $9,000. Four local bands are scheduled to perform at the 2pm benefit at Miss Kitty's in nearby Clive, Iowa.

Help for Haiti

Here are several groups that were working with in Haiti to help deaf children before the quake struck.

Institut Montfort is a school for deaf students in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Northwest Haiti Christian Mission runs a deaf school in Haiti.

A Catholic group, Reiser Relief was working this fall on establishing the Maranatha Orphanage for Children which includes deaf children (though that is not their focus).

The Children's Medical Mission of Haiti is associated with the Episcopal church and had some outreach to the deaf there before the quake.