Fall plans for the Arkansas School for the Deaf

The superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Deaf says her school is ready to open on Monday (Aug 24). Students are moving back on campus this weekend. You can see her ASL video below and a video report from KARK-TV or read the story here.

Deaf Volunteer Firefighter Arrested Without Interpreter

Keri Dee says local police did not provide her brother, a deaf volunteer firefighter, with a sign language interpreter after his recent arrest. Little Rock's KARK-TV has a video report.

Deaf family, school celebrates Nyle DiMarco's DWTS win

Fans are still celebrating Nyle DiMarco becoming the first deaf celebrity to win Dancing with the Stars. KATV in Little Rock has a video report about how the news was recieved in the town's deaf community.

Def Leppard meets Deaf Leppard

Before the rock band Def Leppard played in Little Rock yesterday, they meet with students from from the Arkansas School for the Deaf.--whose nicknmae is The Leopards, of course.  Photos of the meeting have been going around social media.

Arkansas DeafFest this weekend

The Arkansas DeaFestival takes place this Saturday (June 13) at the Arkansas School for the Deaf. For more information, click here.

Deaf School faces layoffs

Employees at the Arkansas School for the Deaf are concerned about possible layoffs. KNWA has a video report.

25th Silent Sunday

The Arkansas School for the Deaf held it's 25th Silent Sunday Fundraiser in Little Rock hoping to raise more money to fund new technology equipment for the school. KARK-TV has a video report.

the "Wilt Chamberlain of the deaf"

Perhaps the greatest high school basketball player of all time in the state of Arkansas history was deaf. It was on n this date (January 19, 1971-which is given here though the National Federation of State High School Associations says the game occurred on December 4, 1971) that Bennie Fuller score 102 points in a game against Leola that was played at Arkadelphia. Only three basketball players in U.S. history have scored more points in a high school career than Bennie Fuller did. Between 1968 and 1971, the 6-foot-2 guard scored 4,896 points for the Arkansas School for the Deaf becoming known as the "Wilt Chamberlain of the deaf." Now living in Oklahoma, Fuller sadly lost him home in 2013 to a tornado. He averaged more than 50 points a game that season. He was offered more than 100 scholarships to college but he ended up at Pensacola Junior College. He later worked for the US Postal Service and had four hearing children with his wife.

Senior Readies for College

Read about profoundly deaf teen's journey through her Arkansas high school here.

Proposed Terp Law

Arkansas lawmakers are proposing a bill that would affect sign language interpreters in the state. KATV has a video report posted below on DeafNewsToday.com (captioning included) or you can read the story here.

KATV - Breaking News, Weather and Razorback Sports

1st Ark Deaf Retirement Community

KARK-TV offers a video report on the first retirement community in Arkansas built especially for the deaf here.

Fire Takes Home

A deaf woman in Arkansas has lost her home in a fire. Watch the story in a video report posted below from KFSM-TV or read the story here.

Questionable Hire for Interpreting

Arkansas state officials met with members of the deaf community today to discuss why an interpreter was given a state job with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services even though she has no national certification. Just last week, representative John Burris of Harrison questioned her qualifications at a legislative committee hearing. The unnamed woman scored seventh out of nine applicants on a written test and was not able interpret a video of someone using ASL. Six of the other candidates do have national certifications, but were passed over. The woman does have a certification - as a funeral director. She's worked at one for a decade owned by Bill Walker - the State Workforce Director who directly supervises the man who approved the hire. She was hired in January, but did not serve as an interpreter for any Arkansas Rehabilitation Service clients during her first 6 months on the job. Here's a video report from KATV which says "the chosen candidate may not have even applied for the job...or if she did it was past the deadline." KATV - Breaking News, Weather and Razorback Sports

Joining the Band

A deaf teen will play in the marching band at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville this fall. KTHV-TV has this video report below. No captioning, but you can read part of the story here.

Smart911

The Arkansas School for the Deaf is offering a service that allows a 911 dispatcher to see an online profile of the person calling. KTHV-TV offers this video report on DeafNewsToday.com. No captioning, but you can read the story here.

Shooting Near School

A shooting took place this afternoon near the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Blind. A man was shot once in the chest and another man is in custody. The injured man tried to drive himself to the hospital, but an ambulance met him on the way. We'll bring you more information on the story when we have it.

Swim to Hear

KFSM-TV in Fort Smith, Arkansas tells how a six year old swimmer is doing after receiving cochlear implants in the video below.

Cell Phone Charge

Arkansas lawmakers are working on a new cell phone charge to help pay for equipment to assist the deaf. The fee is already included on landline phone bills. State House voted 71-25 to give the Public Service Commission the authority to charge up to 3 cents per month to phone users. The bill was authored by representative Buddy Lovell.

Mission Deaf Center Opens

KHBS-TV in Fort Smith Arkansas reports in this video about the opening of a center for the deaf.

New Center Aims To Help Deaf Children Succeed

KHBS-TV in Fort Smith, Arkansas reports on a new center for deaf children. Watch it here.