Archive for the ‘Deaf Issues’ Category

Let’s back up—the SMSD protests

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

I want to back up for a bit and talk about the protests by students at the St. Mary School for the Deaf, in Buffalo. I want to start out with some information and links that Dean sent me the day before we went to support the students. It will give you some history, so I won’t have to go over a bunch of stuff when I post about my experice. Here goes:

Hi Everyone,

 I have received a forward message from St. Mary School for the Deaf (SMSD) Alumni that there is a serious protest because the School Superintendent William P. Johnson refused to tenure the popular math teacher Nettie Brewer. 

It makes no sense why they won’t tenure the popular teacher.  And it makes even worst sense that they gave no reason why they have released her.

The SMSD Alumni is supporting this protest and they are asking Alumni to join the protest.  I figured it would not hurt to have more people joining the protest so I am forwarding this to all of you:

March 18, 2008

Wear Yellow T shirt
Join the SMSD protest with students at SMSD campus  (in the front of Main
Building) at 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

March 19, 2008

Wear White T shirt
Join the SMSD protest with student at SMSD campus (near Taylor Hall) at 3:00 pm
to 4:30 pm
(Because they will have BOT meeting at Taylor Hall)

The SMSD protest will sell the yellow arm ribbon. It sells $1.00.

If you want to donate to the SMSD protest please email to Suzi Behun, Secretary of SMSDAA, at pencilny@comcast.net for more information.  Any support they get will be appreciated.

You can even join the Students Protest at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo at the below website:

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/wivb/TQ9572MCAF4I62HAK

For more articles about this on Buffalo News:

St. Mary’s board member withdraws resignation:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/schools/story/298794.html

Parents berate St. Mary’s board with their outrage:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/298127.html

St. Mary’s students return, but complaints continue about superintendent:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/297185.html

Students continue protest on firing

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/schools/story/294316.html

Protest continues despite warning:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/294271.html

Students protest teacher’s dismissal at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/293451.html

More news to come!  And forward this to people who would like to support this…

Thank you,
 
Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
Regional Center for Independent Living
Advocacy and Independent Living Services for Individuals
497 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608

Sorenson VP: 585 546-7598
VP: 74.39.189.195
Voice Callers 1: (877) 467-4877 ext 07598
Voice Callers 2: 866-327-8877 ext 585.546.7598
TTY: (585) 697-1604
Fax: 585.546.7577
E-Mail: dderusso@rcil.org

Thanks Dean!

Posted in Activism, Deaf Issues, Rochester | No Comments »

Going to Buffalo

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

I am on my way to Buffalo with Dean and Frank. We are going to a protest at the St. Mary School for the Deaf. The students are protesting because a popular and good teacher was denied tenure, and fired for no reason. Both Frank and Dean are alumni of the school, so we are going in support of the students. I will check in later with more details.

Posted in Activism, Deaf Issues, Disability Issues | No Comments »

CQCADP visits Rochester

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

The Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for People with Disabilities (CQCAPD) visited the Center for Disability Rights yesterday to meet with the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing community to discuss the new Interagency Council on Services for Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing. Commissioner Gary O’Brien, and two of his staff came by to talk about the Council, and to hear what people want from the Council, and in what direction it should go. I attended the meeting, and took some videos. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=adaptanita&p=r

Posted in Activism, Deaf Issues, Rochester | No Comments »

Forum on the Interagency Council of Services of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

I got this from Dean DeRusso, my colleague and office mate:

Hi everyone,
 
Do you all remember the Interagency Council of Services of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind in New York State?   It’s still there and still needs your help.  
 
At Regional Center of Independent Living office of 497 State Street, Rochester NY, there will be a General Public Forum where the Chairperson Gary O’Brien and his staff will be in Rochester, NY on October 16, 2007, from 3 to 5 pm. 
 
They will be voicing their future with this new Council, and they would like to hear what people from around the state would want from this service.  It’s important that you attend this forum and tell them what you want and feel that New York State needs.  It will help them understand the needs of the deaf community all over New York State. 
 
Remember, your voice will show them why this bill is important for all of us and why they need to appoint the correct 8 people to run this group.
 
Please reserve that time slot and RSVP that you will be at this meeting.  I would like to know how many are comming.  So, that way the visit of the Chairperson and his staff will be worth their visit.  Please keep your schedule open and be there!
 
Thank you,
 
Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
Regional Center for Independent Living

Posted in Activism, Deaf Issues, Rochester | No Comments »

Rally/March for the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Rally/March for the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages

Come to the first annual Rally/March on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 1:45 p.m.

We must always educate the general public about the problems associated with deprivation of linguistic rights of Deaf Americans and Deaf people in other countries in the world. 

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) has declared September 29, 2007 to be the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages.  Please view the following links for additional background information: 

http://mainsparis.skyrock.com/  
http://www.ellasflashlight.com/
http://blogs.nad.org/president/?p=9

Here in Rochester, the Rally/March will begin in front of Field House on the RIT campus.  Look for the signs for the event.  Please be sure to plan on arriving at 1:45 p.m. in order that we can be ready to go on the planned route for the March.  Wear all black or a black shirt to show your support.

We will begin the Rally with a moment of silence for those who have been deprived of birth-given linguistic rights.  We invite local Deaf leaders to speak because the purpose of the Rally is to dialogue with the Deaf community about the utmost significance of the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages.  We will then conclude the program with the March around the campus. 

Contact: Pamela Conley at prcnge@rit.edu

For directions to the “D” lot for parking and to the event outside the Field House, go to: 

http://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/general/generalsmall.gif

Posted in Activism, Deaf Issues, Rochester | No Comments »

Lift Line Forum — Dean’s perspective

Friday, August 10th, 2007

My colleague, Dean DeRusso, gave me permission to post his perspective on last night’s Lift Line Forum. I think that it is important to have his views because Dean is deaf. So often, Deaf folks are not considered in the scheme of things, even within the disability community. I am proud to say that that is not the case at the Center for Disability Rights, or within ADAPT.

Here’s Dean!

Hi everyone!!

Last night was awesome!! Chris Hilderbrant, my supervisor, said, “The Lift Line forum we held last night was well attended – around 90 people – and had many speakers – I’d say about 30″. Among the crowd were some legislatives from local and state and the RGRTS staff. They even brought their CEO Mark Aesch. I would like to point out that there were 9 members from our deaf community in that audience.

Francis Kimmes was the first deaf member to signed to the audience as Deaf Elders Around Rochester (DEAR) president and told them that Lift Line is frustrating for his members and him. He added that that after events he has to stay longer waiting for the Lift Line to arrive, many members don’t get a ride due to their disabilities prevent the bus because they can not hear the horns or have difficult time remembering things. He recommends that they find better ways to remind them like a pager or something. There were other issues that he mentioned as well. Let’s waive hands for Francis for his effort to speak for those who could not show up for this forum!!

I, Dean DeRusso the Deaf System Advocate, signed to Mark Aesch facing the audience about equal access. Comparing Lift Line services with deaf communities Sign Language Interpreters, because the community and society could not meet the needs of the deaf community these interpreters are provided for us at no extra costs.
 
For that reason, I believe that prices should be same prices as the normal RTS bus prices of $1.50, because RTS service could not meet the needs of the disabilities communities.  That means that RTS should use their $8 million dollar state funds from last year profit to cover the costs of the Lift Lines just because Mark Aesch, RTS Service, could not meet the service needed by the disability community at no extra cost to the disability people.  All of the audience start applauding in support of my comment.
 
Mark says that he needs to be sure he has a plan that will help him cover rent costs and basics. I was told they made $8 million state funds profit last year, and year before that was $6 million state funds profit. I was at the last board meeting…they are still making profit. What are they doing with all that profit money? Chris Hilderbrant and I both don’t understand why not use that state funds to help keep the costs affordable for those who do not have a job.

The issue here is that $8.50 is too much for Lift Line riders! They have received $3 million dollars to keep this cost down. However they increased the costs and it makes no sense at all!

There are many deaf people out there who are frustrated with RTS bus service as well! Several deaf from the audience asked to set up a support group to fight RTS and Lift Line service, if you are interested please email me. 

Below is Democrat and Chronicle newspaper’s article, for those who did not read the newspaper recently:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070810/NEWS01/708100355/1002/NEWS

Thank you,

Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
Regional Center for Independent Living
Advocacy and Independent Living Services for Individuals
497 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608

Sorenson VP: 585 546-7598
VP: 74.39.189.195
Voice Callers 1: (877) 467-4877 ext 07598
Voice Callers 2: 866-327-8877 ext 585.546.7598
TTY: (888) 839-8208
Fax: 585.546.5643
E-Mail: dderusso@rcil.org

Posted in ADAPT, Activism, Deaf Issues, RGRTA, Rochester | No Comments »

Judge Spotlights Shortage of Interpreters for the Deaf

Friday, August 10th, 2007

RA note — You would think that in this day and age of post ADA, that people who are Deaf would not have to go through this, but I see it all the time. My colleague, Dean DeRusso, our Deaf Systems Advocate, could tell you stories that would make your head spin, and really get you angry! 

Judge Spotlights Shortage of Interpreters for the Deaf

By ALAN FEUER

New York Times

Published: August 10, 2007

The prevailing custom in the New York courts is for sign language interpreters to work in tandem: one translates the rapid-fire arguments of courtroom life, while the other gets to rest weary hands.

There is, however, a shortage in the courts of sign language interpreters, so this buddy system does not always work, according to court officials. Yesterday, a judge in Queens took note of the shortage, writing a memorandum that explained why he had awarded an interpreter who was forced to work alone twice his daily rate of pay.

The judge, Justice Charles J. Markey of State Supreme Court, gave the higher rate to Gabriel Grayson, a certified American Sign Language interpreter. It was after Mr. Grayson had translated for a deaf plaintiff at a six-day civil trial in June involving a personal injury case. Mr. Grayson had told the judge and other court officials in Queens of the normal two-interpreter setup, but agreed to work alone, for a bit more money, after officials could not find another interpreter to relieve him.

The judge’s memo was entirely self-motivated. No one at the trial — not the plaintiffs, Farrah and Bibi Wahid, nor the defendant, the Long Island Rail Road — disputed that Mr. Grayson should receive the higher rate.

In fact, in his 13-page decision quoting experts on the deaf (and a former lord chief justice of England and Wales), Justice Markey explicitly said that he was trying to call attention to what he considers a worthy cause.

The memorandum, the judge wrote, is intended to explain the court’s decision in signing the order for the increased pay “and to throw a spotlight on the disturbing lack of skilled A.S.L. interpreters in the courts.”

That lack, according to research laid out in the judge’s memo, has a number of causes. First, he wrote, the court interpreters must often wait months to schedule an examination with their certifying body, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The exams are expensive, the judge wrote, as are the dues that interpreters must pay or else risk losing certification.

The court’s rate of $250 a day is not competitive compared with pay rates for similar duties in the private sector, he explained. Justice Markey also pointed out that interpreters are rarely given cancellation fees when they work in the courts, where hearings can be called off without notice at any given time.

Justice Markey noted the “explosion of employment opportunities” for the certified interpreters at video conferencing events — a much gentler form of work than the nonstop world of the courts. While there are no official studies of sign language interpreters in the New York legal system, Justice Markey quoted a study from Nebraska that said 65 percent of all assignments for American Sign Language interpreters in that state’s courts went unfilled.

Back in New York, he said, even in Rochester, which has the largest per capita deaf population in the country (the National Technical Institute for the Deaf is there), only a limited number of certified court interpreters are available.

Justice Markey made specific mention of Kathleen Rozanski, a deaf woman in Rochester who filed a federal complaint in 2002 related to the handling of her divorce.

Justice Markey wrote that Ms. Rozanski’s lawyer did not hire a certified interpreter, but instead relied on notes, telecommunications devices for the deaf and family members familiar with sign language to communicate with her in court. In her complaint to the Justice Department, Ms. Rozanski said these alternate methods of communication had led to higher legal fees. Federal officials agreed, finding in a settlement with the lawyer that attorneys must provide interpreters to communicate with the deaf.

Gordon Hewart, the lord chief justice of England and Wales from 1922 to 1940, once wrote, “A long line of cases shows that it is not merely of some importance, but it is of fundamental importance, that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.”

Justice Markey wrote, “With increasing societal awareness and sensitivity to the plight of deaf persons in the courts, we can add to Hewart’s famous dictum that justice, in the form of courtroom proceedings, must also be clearly heard and, for the hearing-deprived, must be unmistakably interpreted so as to be undeniably understood.”

Posted in Activism, Deaf Issues | No Comments »

Deaf Interagency Bill Signed

Tuesday, August 7th, 2007

I’m playing a bit of catch-up here, but I thought that it was important to let you know that The New York State Interagency Council for services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind (A.2461 / S.1923) has been signed and passed by the Governor Eliot Spitzer on Tuesday July 2nd!!

This bill will provide a state wide services for all of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind New York citizens. 

Thanks to Dean DeRusso and the Empire Association of the Deaf for all of their hard work and advocacy!

Posted in Activism, Deaf Issues, Rochester | No Comments »