Hard of hearing student Denied Interpreter at School

A Southern California school refused to provide a sign language interpreter for a hard of hearing student. Gianna Heaviland filed a complaint with the Civil Rights office of the Department of Education--forcing the San Dieguito Union High School District to adopt a new policy. Unfortunately, Heaviland won't be around to enjoy the change. It came too late for her. She's already graduated and now attending NTID in Rochester, NY. KGTV has a video report.

Suit: Deaf School Negligent in Multiple Sexual Assaults

Parents have filed suit against the California School for the Deaf, Riverside over sexual attacks. They are led by a former state senator and say the school has been negligent--and that "internal documents with student interviews showing that multiple sexual assaults took place involving middle school boys at the boarding school." Read the specifics of the allegations in the Press Enterprise here.

The Grinch told in ASL

The daughter of Sheena McFeely and Manny Johnson is back again with a new Christmas story. Last year it was The Night Before Christmas and this year it is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Shaylee is featured in both videos in promotion of her parents ASL learning site called ASLnook. Take a look at what this Cindy Lou look-alike does to the story.

Gally Student arrested

A Gallaudet student ended up behind bars after he drove recklessly through campus this past weekend. Roy McCall of Auburn Hills, Michigan is facing charges for hitting a firefighter during his wild ride. Police say McCall had to be peppered sprayed during his arrest. More details are in the Washington Post here.

3-D Hearing Aid

image from Colorado State
University 

A Colorado State student has printed a hearing aid with a 3-D printer. Megan Aanstoos is working on her Ph.D in biomedical engineering and is hard of hearing herself. Find out what motivated her to do it and where her project may lead in an article from the school's website here.

DC sign slang

Sign language has subtitles depending on the age of the signers, their culture, and especially their region. The Washington Post takes a look at some signs you may see around Washington, DC but not elsewherehere.

Deaf School Hoops Tourney Results

Kentucky won a basketball tournament for Deaf schools over the weekend. The Kentucky School for the Deaf boys didn't lose a game (3-0) at the Spartan Classic taking place at the Ohio School for the Deaf. Participating teams included Rochester, St. Rita, Ohio, Western Pa, and Kentucky. Read more results here.

6 days-no terp

Sally Doering spent six days in a UK hospital without an interpreter. NHS Tayside has apologized for what happened to the deaf woman at Perth Royal Infirmary. She didn't know why she was in pain and what doctors did to her until she returned home. And this isn't the first time it has happened to Sally. Read more at the BBC here and the Herald here.

Regional Academic Bowl

The New York State School for the Deaf is hosting the Northeast Regional Academic Bowl this weekend. The winner moves on to the national competition at Gallaudet in Washington D.C. WFXV-TV has a video report.

North Korea's deaf soccer team

Did you know North Korea has a deaf soccer team? Not only does the isolated nation have one, the team is in Australia to play it's "first international friendly game" in Syndey this weekend. The coach gives orders using sign language and the referee uses a flag instead of a whistle, according to the Australia's ABC news. striker Ri Kuk Jin is quoted as saying, "We are people with disability. We are all deaf but we will work hard to improve our football skills through this opportunity so that we can repay our government's policy for protection of people with disabilities." Read more details here.

Jacobs visit PA school

image from ESU website

A former Gallaudet professor spent last weekend talk about his research and books at a Pennsylvania University. Paul Gordon Jacobs particularly focused on his autobiography novel called Neither-Nor. Jacobs is oral deaf, doesn't use sign and left Gallaudet because "he felt his views differed from the professors who taught there." The Pocono Record has more on his visit to East Stroudsburg University here.

UK Terp fraud a whopping £900,000

Shahab and Shehnaz Reza along with their son could be headed to jail soon. A jury found the deaf UK couple guilty of scamming the government out of some 900,000 pounds "involving fake invoices for sign language interpreters." It was almost exactly one year ago when we first told you about the couple here. You can read how the trial is going in the Daily Mail here.

Arrest in ALA murder

Prosecutors in Mobile, Alabama have arrested Myles Xavier Smith for killing a deaf woman. WALA-TV has a video report.

Suit over Musical in Maryland

A deaf Maryland woman is suing because the producers of a theatrical musical tdid not provide captioning. Jessica Gill, with the help of the NAD, has filed against Key Brand Theatrical Group, the Hippodrome Foundation and the Maryland Stadium Authority for not providing captions at the Hippodrome of the show Newsies. The show did provide interpreters and hearing devices, but Gill does not sign though she does have a hearing aid. Read more on the story here.

New Law Would Create Tax-free Savings Accounts

Congress is considering a bill that would give Americans living with disabilities tax-free savings accounts for long-term expenses. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act is sponsored by Republican Ander Crenshaw of Florida who is Chairman of the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. In the video below, Rep. Crenshaw speaks to his colleagues on the floor of the House about ABLE.

FCC forming committee on deaf issues

The FCC is creating a Disability Advisory Committee. The Committee's job will be to gather public response on issues like 911 response, closed captioning, video descriptions, etc. Nominations will be accepted until January 12 and each member will serve for two years. For more information, check the FCC's site here.

What Life is like for a Deaf Rabbi

image of Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff from Chabad.org

Yehoshua Soudakoff is "just a handful of Deaf rabbis in the world." He led the "first public Chanukah menorah-lighting ceremony last year at Gallaudet University" and will be part of the Rochester Deaf Chanukah Celebration taking place December 22 at the University of Rochester. Read more about Soudakoff and the Deaf Chanukah Celebration planned in Rochester here.

Deaf Woman Killed in Alabama

A deaf woman died from a gunshot wound at a apartment complex for the deaf in Mobile, Alabama early this morning. WALA-TV has more on the story here, WKRG-TV has more on the story here and the Mobile Press Register has a report here.

TN Hospital suit over interpreters

Two deaf men are suing a Tennessee hospital for not providing them with interpreters. Robert Buttrum and Michael Hill say this happened several times at Cookeville Medical Center when they came in for medical procedures. The hospital did provide a video interpreter, but the system didn't work, according to their complaint. The hospital has yet to comment. Read more about the case at Disability Rights Tennessee here.

Fired Deaf employee gets settlement

A nonprofit that fired a deaf employee has agreed to pay more than $38,000 for not accommodating the employee. The Metropolitan Detroit Center for Independent Living, also known as the Disability Network, was accused by the EEOC of failing to give the independent living specialist TTY equipment, a video phone or the ability to use text messaging. Disability Network also agreed to provide training on ADA law to its employees. EEOC attorney Nedra Campbell said, "The hypocrisy of this non-profit whose very mission is to help disabled individuals - disadvantaging and then firing someone because of a disability is mind-boggling." Read more at the EEOC's site here.

More on first Gene Therapy

Here's another TV report on the first gene therapy procedure. This video comes from WDAF-TV in Kansas City where the work is being done. No captioning but you can read the story here.

First Gene Therapy

Rob Gerk became the first person to receive gene therapy to restore his hearing back in October at the University of Kansas Hospital, according to Denver's KUSA-TV. The television station reports that Gerk's doctors will have a better idea whether the procedure worked this month. There's more information on the study here.  KUSA-TV has a video report posted below. No captions but you can read the story here.