TTY Scam

An auto body shop in Springfield, Missouri was a victim of a TTY scam. WWLP-TV has this video report. You can read the story here.

Discrimination Lawsuit

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Ventura County, California for its treatment of a deaf woman. The suit claims employee discrimination based on ADA law took place in 2005. The County failed to hire Lee Ann Unchangco to work in social service despite receiving high marks in her interview. During a second round of interviews, it was made clear to her that she would not be hired because she is deaf – despite the fact she had a decade of experience in the same position that earned her high praise in Los Angeles County. The EEOC investigation concluded the county admitted the only reason Unchangco wasn't hired was because she is deaf.

A Ventura County attorney says it was right not to hire the woman after making a reasonable effort to accommodate her. The county is required to respond in writing within two months.

Medical Causes of Hearing Loss

• Otosclerosis

This disorder only affects the bones in and around the ear. About one-in-ten of those who contract the disease will suffer progressive hearing loss. Only half of 1% of the general population get it but 10% of the Anglo and Hispanic population are affected by it. It's rare among African Americans. Women come down with it twice as often as men. The most common treatment for otosclerosis is stapedotomy surgery.

• Ototoxic

These are medications that can damage your inner ear. For instance, some antibiotics are "ototoxic" meaning they can impair your hearing and balance. Aspirin can even cause temporary problems. If you’re having a hearing problem, ask your doctor about any medications you’re taking.

• Tinnitus

This form of hearing loss happens naturally with age. It’s a persistent ringing, hissing, or roaring in the ears. It’s frequently caused by exposure to loud noise or certain medicines.

• Presbycusis

Presbycusis is a form of hearing loss happens naturally with age. It can be caused by changes in the inner ear, auditory nerve, middle ear or outer ear. Some of its causes are aging, loud noise, heredity, head injury, infection, illness, certain prescription drugs, and circulation problems such as high blood pressure. Studies indicate it is probably inherited.

Deaflympics Emblem

There are three elements in the emblem for the 21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei 2009:

~A stylized ear representing the Deaflympics

~A figure representing the athletes

~The Chinese character for north (representing the host city Taipei)

Deaflympic Competitions

The 21st Summer Deaflympics program includes these competitions: badminton, basketball, bowling, cycling, football, handball, orienteering, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo, wrestling freestyle, wrestling Greco-Roman, karate, judo and taekwondo. The events take place from September 5-15 in Taiwan.

Taipei Deaf Fair

Deaflympics begins in Taiwan tomorrow with a record 85 nations joining the competition. At the same time, the Taipei International Deaf Fair is taking place at the Taipei Arena. More than 100 art collections created by deaf artists are being displayed on the exhibit floor along with a visual history of Taiwan`s deaf associations. The theme is Deaf Culture - Taiwan Excellence.

All About Steve

Critics are panning the new movie All About Steve. The Sandra Bullock film is getting trashed for no only being unfunny but also making fun of deaf children. In the movie, the kids fall into a well or mineshaft. A TV crew races to the scene of the big breaking story followed by Bullock. She runs across a field and winds up falling in herself, offering a teary soliloquy while sitting next to a frightened deaf girl. A series of callous deaf jokes follow.

Air Travel-2

Home Invasion

An elderly deaf woman has died from injuries she suffered during a home invasion. Police say someone broke into the house of Elouise LeJune Starks in Clarkesdale, Mississippi through a side window in the middle of the night. The 72-year-old woman was beaten after a struggled with the intruder and died while being airlifted to a hospital. The former elementary school teacher. Police are still looking for the suspect.

More on Gally Finalists

Here’s more on the finalists for the position of president at Gallaudet University. Their current positions are listed in an earlier post. All four of the finalists are deaf and all can sign. They will each visit the campus over the next few weeks. The board of trustees will decide who gets the post next month and the new leader will take over January first. Robert Davila’s term as interim president ends in December. He was selected after the trustees withdrew the appointment of Jane Fernandes. Students protested her selection, taking over the administration building and barricading the school’s gates.

Air Travel-1

Lori Mallory talks about the Air Carrier Access Act in this signed video.

Gallaudet's Next President

Gallaudet’s Presidential Search Committee has named its four finalists to lead the University. They are:

Dr. Stephen F. Weiner, provost, Gallaudet University.

Dr. Roslyn Rosen, director, National Center on Deafness at California State University, Northridge.

Dr. Ronald J. Stern, superintendent/chief executive officer, New Mexico School for the Deaf.

Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, president, National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and vice president/dean of Rochester Institute of Technology for NTID.

More information here.

Captioning Internet Video

There’s a bill in Congress that would bring closed captioning to internet video. Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey introduced the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009. Sites like Netflix and iTunes are not required to carry closed captioning. But if the proposed law is passed, there would be a standard required for large internet video services in the US along with smart phones and other portable devices that display video. The bill, known as H.R. 3101, would not affect user-based sites like YouTube. The bill also calls for funding of research into real-time texting that would apply to cell phone communication. There are six lawmakers sponsoring the legislation. It’s been endorsed by AT&T along with Verizon. Here is more information on the bill.

Types of Hearing Loss

There are basically two categories of hearing loss. These include damage to:

• The inner ear (which is permanent)
• The auditory nerve (which can be repaired medically or surgically)

Medical School

Among the first year medical students at the University of Wisconsin are two deaf students. There are 168 students in the class of 2013.

Amazing Contacts

New contact lenses that display information could soon help the deaf. University of Washington scientists made these revolutionary contacts in such a way that they can give visual cues through embedded LEDs. The circuitry is transparent and works in a polymer lens that is just over one millimeters in diameter.

Official Airline

Deaflympics has picked Taiwanese carrier China Airlines as the official airline for the 21st Summer games in Taipei. The games begin September 5 and run through the 15h. The airline will provide discount tickets and an excess baggage allowance. Cabin crews and ground service employees have been taking sign language training to help improve their service to deaf and hard-of-hearing-passengers. Travel information brochures and films with English subtitles are being included on all flights.

Scam Alert

A Cincinnati Deaf school has issued a scam alert. St. Rita's School for the Deaf says several people are going door-to-door, claiming to sell raffle tickets on bahalf of the school. They are telling potential buyers that the tickets will give them a chance to win a large sum of money or a television set while at the same time helping the school. However, administrators say the school is not sponsoring this effort and does not solicit donations in this way. If you have any information about this unauthorized effort, please call the school or notify the police.

Sorenson and Patrie

Sorenson is partnering with a well-known ASL educator. The Video Relay Service will incorporate Carol Patrie’s management training program. Sorenson will offer her five two-day courses that are based on Patrie`s The Effective Interpreting Series. These one-credit courses are accredited through the American Council on Education and focus on improving managers' skills in hiring qualified video interpreters, evaluating current video interpreters and offering career strategies.

Court This Morning

The head of a deaf services company goes to court this morning, accused of not paying an employee. Mary Moylan claims Viable president John Yeh owes her more than $7400. Another trial is set for October on the civil contract claim.

The Maryland-based video relay service was recently bought by New York-based Snap!VRS. The company was recently searched by the FBI in connection with an investigation of a Florida company whose owners have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud the federal government. Viable says it is fully cooperating with the investigation.