Deaf Students Lack Interpretors

The Montana Kaimin - Deaf students outnumber interpreters 2-1; school struggles to meet demand.



MISSOULA - A shortage of sign language interpreters in Missoula has left the University of Montana stretching resources thin for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.



Denise May, the lead interpreter at UM, said Missoula County Public Schools and the University already employ every certified interpreter who wants to work in the region.



"Interpreters are scarce and we could use more," May said. "For example, tomorrow, besides covering all the classes, there's a rodeo club meeting, a mid-year report, a Montana Council for Exceptional Children conference, and others have called asking for interpreters that can work in the community."



There are eight full-time Deaf students attending the University this semester double the number of available full-time sign-language interpreters at UM.



The Americans with Disabilities Act requires businesses and universities to provide equal access to persons with disabilities including effective communication services. ... Read more: http://www.montanakaimin.com/news/article_ed86fc92-70e8-11e2-b6fb-001a4bcf6878.html

Gallaudet Marks 25th Anniversary of 'Deaf President Now' Protests

WJLA - Gallaudet University marks 25th anniversary of 'Deaf President Now' protests.



WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University is marking the 25th anniversary of the “Deaf President Now” protests. The grassroots effort was launched by students in 1988, generating national and international headlines and resulting in the university’s first Deaf president.



When the Board of Trustees selected the only hearing candidate as Gallaudet University’s next president 25 years ago, students organized a week of protests, chanting “Deaf president now.”



“I can remember when we were looking for a Deaf president I actually made a comment that I hope we see a Deaf president in my lifetime. So I think that gives you an example of how far away it seemed to me,” says Fred Weiner.



Since 1988, three Deaf men have served as president of the university. This week, they gathered to reflect on the so-called DPN movement’s anniversary.

“Expectations were very high, very, very high,” says Dr. I. King Jordan, Gallaudet’s first Deaf president. “But there were also expectations that I couldn’t succeed.



People told me to my face that we doubt you can succeed as president.” Most students attending the reunion were not even alive in 1988... Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/02/gallaudet-university-marks-25th-anniversary-of-deaf-president-now-protests-84899.html



Related News: Deaf President Now Protest - Gallaudet University: https://www.gallaudet.edu/gallaudet_university/about_gallaudet/dpn_home.html

Settlement Reached In Lawsuit Involving Deaf & Blind Students

Video: KHON2 - Settlement reached in lawsuit involving Deaf and Blind students.



HONOLULU - A multi-million dollar settlement has been reached in a sex assault lawsuit involving Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind. It's been a year and a half since the State was sued by a group of students at the school. The students alleged they had been sexually abused by other students.



Friday, the attorney representing the group announced that a multi-million dollar settlement has been reached. A spotlight was cast on the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind in the Kapahulu area in 2011, after police started investigating allegations of widespread sex abuse between classmates.



In August 2011, Honolulu attorney Michael Green filed a lawsuit against the state, on behalf of 50 to 60 students.

Video by KHONNewsHawaii



"What we found out was, and I never thought about this, that we had children who were the aggressors, we're talking about sodomizing boys, boys on boys, boys on girls, girls on girls, in the bathroom, on school buses, in the bushes, that because no one seemed to care it seemed like it was okay. So people who were victims became aggressors. And you know that part that maybe affected me the most aside from the fact it's happening to young people, and people that have disabilities is that if you cry out who can hear you? If you have blind students who can see it?" said Green.



The State has now agreed to pay $5M to settle the lawsuit - money that'll go to the victims, and to pay for counseling and treatment... Read more: http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Settlement-reached-in-lawsuit-involving-deaf-and/qEdZ6YT6_EuWYDo6tVhRPg.cspx

Short Film: 'Love Language'

Video: 'Love Language' in captioned.



This video was re-created to spread awareness to the American Society of Deaf Children within my community. There are moments in life when we feel a connection so deep words can hardly describe it. But how do we know that it's real?



This is the story of a boy who meets a girl and falls in love. (Please do not continue reading until after you watch the video!)

Video by JAMitProductions



The Jubilee Project makes films for good causes. This film was produced to raise awareness and support for the American Society for Deaf Children. There are two ways that you can support this cause. This video was created for a School Public Service Announcement for the school. Originally made by The Jubilee Project, all credit goes to them for the story content within this film.



I would also like to take the time to forward you to their website where you can buy the song used "Peaches" by: New Heights for $1.00 and your dollar will go straight to the donation of the American Society of Deaf Children. Please visit that link here: http://jubileeproject.bandcamp.com/track/peaches

The original short film 'Love Language'

Video by JAMitProductions



The Jubilee Project is an organization for good causes. With your generous contribution you can help raise money for Deaf children. Visit the original video as seen right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyB_U9vn6Wk

Profound Audism At Gallaudet University

Video: Audism at Gallaudet University in American Sign Language.



Out of the entire world, within the walls of Gallaudet University Deaf Space. Profound Audism occurred. SimComm destroys both ASL and English. Audism also destroys respect for Deaf people and their Deaf World especially at Gallaudet University.



I experienced profound Audism in Gallaudet University out of all places in the world. A place where the environment is safe for all Deaf people. This intrusion of SimComm and voicing is very irritating. I was not even angry at all at first. I wanted to give positive exposure to the fact it's not a good manner and that it is very disrespectful to Deaf people in general when hearing people SimComm, talking with the voice, using cell phones, etc.

Video by spdundas37



I was hoping for dialogue and discussion to bring better understanding, respect and knowledge, but instead, this hearing student who claim to be a Coda got up and yelled at me with such profound venom, disrespect and hate. Such display of profound oppression has left me shocked and loss of words and thoughts. It even affected my friends at the table.



What hurts me more is that there are other Deaf people there who agreed with me, but sat and did nothing to stand up against Audism. I was even more shocked with the level of apathy. Are we so oppressed and thinking it's so difficult to fight it and we give up and just succumb to it?



I need your help to put an end to Audism from hearing students and put an end to apathy of Deaf people or their lack of courage to stand up for ASL and Deaf World.



My vlog is not an attempt to degrade or belittle other people most especially the hearing group/Coda I was referring about. My point was to bring this up to discussion and to raise awareness of Audism and acknowledgement of Deaf Space at Gallaudet University.



Please remain respectful and civil to each other in hopes we all meet together in harmony and mutual respect. Finally, I truly want to thank those who have shown support and encouragement. Thank you. Shane.

A Personal Look at Accessibility in Higher Education

Logan, Utah - A personal look at accessibility in higher education in captioned. This video highlights the experiences of students and faculty with disabilities in higher education.



The National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE) monitors and promotes electronically-mediated distance education policies and practices that enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

The NCDAE is working to further the national agenda necessary to increase opportunities for participation of people with disabilities and addresses: (a) delivery of electronically-mediated content, (b) testing and assessment, and (c) administrative procedures such as registration for educational offerings. Visit for more information: http://ncdae.org/goals/.

Video by GOALSatNCDAE

Stolen Futures Petition

LONDON - Stolen Futures petition. As this e-petition has received more than 10,000 signatures, the relevant Government department have provided the following response.



As the National Deaf Children’s Society acknowledge in its ‘Stolen Futures’ report, the Department for Education has already taken action to protect the resources available for special educational needs (SEN) provision, including support for Deaf Children. We have ensured that the Dedicated Schools Grant is, overall, at the same cash level per pupil as in 2010-11. We have also announced that we will not seek to recover SEN funding from local authorities where schools have converted to Academy status. This should help protect services on the ground at a time of transition and emphasises our commitment to improving the system of support for disabled children and those with SEN.



Government, at both national and local level, is having to make tough choices given the current financial environment. Those decisions, however, must also be based on a good assessment of local need and well thought through and transparent. Most importantly, families should have clear, accessible information about their rights and the support available to them. This petition has been initiated by the National Deaf Children’s Society.

Read more: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34073

Stolen Futures Petition - Shake, Sign and Share!

SIGN THE PETITION NOW: http://www.ndcs.org.uk/petition Share it: Post to your Facebook,Twitter, YouTube, email contacts and other accounts.

Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children

Scranton school for Deaf & Hard of Hearing children video with captioned. Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation partnered with the SSDHHC for a clay shoot to benefit the school and its programs. The Scranton School is truly committed to providing a successful and enduring legacy of quality education for deaf and hard of hearing students in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Video by CabotSusquehanna

To learn more, please visit http://www.thescrantonschool.org/

Aide At Maryland School For The Deaf Charged With Sexual Abuse

COLUMBIA, Md. (ABC) - Clarence Taylor charged with sexual abuse at Maryland School for the Deaf. Charges allege he molested girls at school in Columbia.



An aide at the Maryland School for the Deaf was arrested and charged Thursday with multiple counts of sexual abuse after being accused of touching three students between 2008 and 2010.



Howard County Police say that Clarence Cepheus Taylor, a 37-year-old Windsor Mill, Md. resident, inappropriately touched three girls while working as an evening-shift dorm aide at the Columbia school for the Deaf and hard of hearing.



Three students, who are now aged 15 and 16, have come forward with allegations of abuse, and investigators believe there may be more victims. Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/12/clarence-taylor-charged-with-sexual-abuse-at-maryland-school-for-the-deaf-82834.html

Pushing Science’s Limits In Sign Language Lexicon

NEW YORK (New York Times) - Pushing science’s limits in sign language lexicon. Imagine trying to learn biology without ever using the word “organism.” Or studying to become a botanist when the only way of referring to photosynthesis is to spell the word out, letter by painstaking letter.



For Deaf students, this game of scientific password has long been the daily classroom and laboratory experience. Words like “organism” and “photosynthesis” to say nothing of more obscure and harder-to-spell terms have no single widely accepted equivalent in sign language. This means that Deaf students and their teachers and interpreters must improvise, making it that much harder for the students to excel in science and pursue careers in it.



“Often times, it would involve a lot of finger-spelling and a lot of improvisation,” said Matthew Schwerin, a physicist with the Food and Drug Administration who is Deaf, of his years in school. “For the majority of scientific terms,” Mr. Schwerin and his interpreter for the day would “try to find a correct sign for the term, and if nothing was pre-existing, we would come up with a sign that was agreeable with both parties.” Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/science/sign-language-researchers-broaden-science-lexicon.html



Lydia Callis has inspired a tribute Tumblr page: http://lydiacalasface.tumblr.com



Related news as seen on the articles:

Lydia Callis: Bloomberg's Interpreter Goes Viral

Fans Want Bloomberg's Sandy Signer' Lydia Callis Back

Introducing New Deaf Organization: NSLDHH

Introducing a new organization, National Student Life for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NSLDHH)



This video in American sign language with subtitles,... Deb Skjeveland, director of student life, shares the founding of the organization: National Student Life for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Visit http://www.nsldhh.com for more information.

Video by Joann Benfield

Celebration For The CSD Student Development Center

Video with captions - Celebration For The CSD Student Development Center at RIT/NTID. What the CSD Student Development Center Means to NTID.



ROCHESTER, NY. - NTID students, faculty and staff talk about what the The CSD Student Development Center means to them. This was shown during an anniversary event for the building put on by Communication Service for the Deaf, the major donor for the building.



"Accolades for the CSD Student Development Center"

The CSD Student Development Center, described as “the heart and center of student life at RIT/NTID,” was celebrated Friday by Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), the major donor of the building constructed in 2006.



Students, faculty, staff and alumni attended the celebration under mild and sun-filled skies in the D. Robert Frisina Quad.



“This building is an important part of our college life,” said Corey Burton, NTID’s Student Congress president. “Thank you to CSD for making our dream a reality. I cannot imagine where we might be if this building never existed. It truly means a lot to us.”

Read More http://www.ntid.rit.edu/news/accolades-csd-student-development-center.



Subscribe the official YouTube channel for National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology. RITNTID

Video by RITNTID

The Deaf Dream: Join Dreamers Around the World!

Video with subtitles - The Deaf Dream: Join Dreamers Around the World!



The Deaf Dream empowers Deaf across the globe through education, employment, and the right to dream. Founded by traveling college student, Destiny Yarbro, this organization recognizes that so many capable Deaf around the world desire to change the world but are limited by their circumstances.



We need your help! We welcome all big dreamers to join our organization and change the world!



Find us at www.thedeafdream.org for more information.

Follow us: twitter.com/DeafDreams

Like us: facebook.com/TheDeafDream

Subscribe: TheDeafDream

Video by TheDeafDream

Taylor Swift Donates To Deaf School After Online Prank

BOSTON, MA. - Taylor Swift Donates Concert Tickets and $10,000 to Deaf Students After Give-Away Prank. Internet Trolls Deaf School and Deaf School Still Wins!



Taylor Swift is giving $10,000 and concert tickets to a Boston school for the Deaf after a prank involving an online contest promising an on-campus performance by the Grammy-winning singer.



Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Boston was disqualified from the contest because many of the votes were from Internet pranksters who thought it would be funny for a school for the Deaf to win tickets to a live concert.



The Boston Globe reports that instead, Swift and contest sponsors will donate a combined $50,000 to the school, and U.S. cable channel VH1’s Save the Music program will donate $10,000 in musical instruments... Read more: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/1265519--taylor-swift-donates-to-deaf-school-after-online-prank



Related News:

Taylor Swift Donates Concert Tickets and $10,000 to Deaf Students After Give-Away Prank

Taylor Swift Nixes School For Deaf From Concert Contest; Still Classy

Taylor Swift Donates Money, Show Tickets To Boston School For Deaf After Online Contest Prank

Taylor Swift To Donate $10K To Boston School For The Deaf After Contest Prank

Taylor Swift Donates To School For The Deaf

Taylor Swift Promises $10K and Concert Tickets For Boston School For The Deaf After Internet Prank Hijacks Contest

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Taylor Swift - Mean

Music video by Taylor Swift performing Mean. (C) 2011 Big Machine Records, LLC.

Video source TaylorSwiftVEVO

Deaf Culture and Community Will Likely Disappear

Prediction 30 years from now, Deaf culture and community will disappear! As seen on article: Deaf Gerbils 'Hear Again' After Stem Cell Cure



BSL Zone: The End

A drama envisaging a terminal decline of Deaf culture.

We are therefore currently only showing this film with subtitles.

Here's the linked to watch video: http://www.bslzone.co.uk/bsl-zone/zoom-focus-the-end/



Whether you are hearing or Deaf, it is recommended to watch this film with subtitles. There is spoken content which Deaf people will struggle to understand without subtitles, and there is British Sign Language which many hearing people will not understand.



This film was written and made with Deaf and hearing people in mind, and the film-makers really wanted to make a crossover film from the perspective of Deaf people and Deaf culture.



Ted Evans (Writer/Director) and the team behind The End quite rightly want the film to be accessible for everyone - However watching the film without subtitles would prove to be very difficult.



We are therefore currently only showing this film with subtitles.

Here's the linked to watch video: http://www.bslzone.co.uk/bsl-zone/zoom-focus-the-end/



Sources: http://www.bslzone.co.uk/

Subscribe: BSLZoneOfficial

Kansas Budget Cuts Are Bad News For KSD

OLATHE, KS (KSHB NBC) - Kansas budget cuts could mean bad news for the Kansas State School for the Deaf.



A mandate to cut the budgets for Kansas state agencies could be bad news for a school in Olathe, Kan., that's been helping children since 1861.



In the kindergarten classroom at the Kansas School for the Deaf , kids are learning to communicate using their hands instead of their voices. They are immersed in American Sign Language.



Like the 140 other students at the school, they will be immersed in deaf culture during their years here, learning to cope in a hearing world.



Mary Grove is a KSD senior. She's been a student here since she was 4 years old.



"This is my second home, you know, and the people here are my family,’' she said.



KSD doesn't just serve the kids on campus -- its outreach program supports 255 students and 87 teachers in 108 districts across the state....

Read more: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/state/kansas/budget-cuts-threaten-150-year-old-kansas-school#ixzz274GYfjZ1



Video source NBCActionNews

Save Deaf Young People's Support At School

Video with Subtitles - Save Deaf Young People's Support At School.



Watch a video explaining why the government is making changes to Deaf young people's support at school. Help us by signing the petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34073



National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for Deaf children and young people. Visit http://www.ndcs.org.uk/ for more information.



Subscribe ndcswebteam

Video source ndcswebteam

President Obama Engages With Youth With Disabilities

Video with Captions - President Obama Engages with Youth with Disabilities.



Must-see a video clip of deaf student James Crane speak out and a seat at the table with the U.S. President Barrack Obama at White House in Washington.



WASINGTON DC - As President Obama has so often said, change in America happens from the bottom up. It happens when people organize, speak out, and have a seat at the table. Recently, President Obama met with some youth with disabilities. He wanted to hear their thoughts about the future of disability policy. So, he sat down with participants from the American Association of People with Disabilities internship program. These young people are passionate and strong representatives for millions of people with disabilities across the country. They represent a brighter future for America. President Obama is ready to stand with them each and every day.



Read more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/08/24/president-obama-engages-youth-disabilities



Video source by whitehouse

Deaf Kids Across America

Deaf Kids Across America - Charitable Organization video.



Video source Mike23Fink

Families For RMDS Needs Your Help & Support!

Video: Families for RMDS needs your help & support in American Sign Language.



Contact: Kristen and Derek, Families for RMDS: familiesforrmds2090@gmail.com

More information at: http://www.familiesforrmds.org

Video by Familiesforrmds

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As seen on the articles: http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2012/07/2090-coalition-support-rocky-mountain.html and/or http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-fight-for-schools-future.html



2090 Coalition: Support Rocky Mountain Deaf School.



Support RMDS! Learn more about Rocky Mountain Deaf School needs your support to secure a location for an appropriate building design that would help to meet the educational and safety needs of RMDS students.



The "2090 Coalition (Save Our Park)" is a group of local residents in Lakewood who are petitioning for an election over the building of a new school at 2090 South Wright Street for Rocky Mountain Deaf School (RMDS), a Jeffco Charter School. RMDS wants to move from a strip mall in Golden to this property owned by Jefferson County School District. RMDS can build a 46,000 square-foot new school with an appropriate building design that would help to meet the educational and safety needs of maximum 100 RMDS students. This school would be nationally recognized and the first in the US to be built and designed by the deaf, for the deaf. RMDS must begin building on this property before November or risk losing a $13 million dollar grant from the BEST (Building Excellent Schools Today) program through the Colorado Department of Education. The BEST grant does not use taxpayer dollars - the funding comes primarily from lottery funds.



On June 25, 2012 the city of Lakewood approval the RMDS rezoning request of 2090 South Wright Street so RMDS can purchase the land and build a K-12 school. This land is currently owned by Jefferson County Schools and is zoned for a K-12 school for 300-400 students.



The 2090 Coalition supporters must collect over 3000 Lakewood registered voter signatures by Aug 10. If they succeed, the petition would force the Lakewood city council to revisit the decision. If the council refuses to overturn the rezoning, the issue would go to the voters this fall. The 2090 Coalition is jeopardizing the possibility of a new school for RMDS by delaying the process to the BEST grant deadline.



2090 Coalition petitioners have been seen in several locations spreading incorrect information to gain signatures on the petition which will interfere with the rezoning process of the 2090 South Wright Street property. Their platform is "Save Our Park" and they are telling residents whom they approach that they are "preserving open space". This land had never been open space nor has it ever belonged to the city of Lakewood (something the city's own attorney attests to). The developers zoned it for a school in 1973 and the fortunate residents have been enjoying these 10 acres since then. The proposed school would still benefit the residents and they would still be able to enjoy the adjoining 40 acres that are zoned as open space. Please - we need your support! Help to share the truth about this land and support Rocky Mountain Deaf School.



Have A Nice Day!

DYV Administaff.