deafweekly
September 16, 2009
Vol. 5, No. 14
Editor: Tom Willard
Deafweekly is an independent news report for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that is mailed to subscribers on Wednesdays and available to read at www.deafweekly.com. These are the actual headlines and portions of recent deaf-related news articles, with links to the full story. Minor editing is done when necessary. Deafweekly is copyrighted 2009 and any unauthorized use is prohibited. Please support our advertisers; they make it possible for you to receive Deafweekly.
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Last week's most-read story:
HEARING AIDS: 5 THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN PURCHASING! News
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Rockville, MD
VIABLE SUED OVER WAGES
Rockville deaf-services company Viable has been hit with a class-action lawsuit
filed by former and current employees seeking back payment of wages, interest,
compensatory damages and other relief. The litigation comes not long after Viable
made an agreement to be bought by a New York competitor. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit,
filed Aug. 26 in a Greenbelt federal court, include Viable's former director
of corporate communications, Glenn Lockhart, who left the company last month.
The lawsuit adds to the woes of Viable, which has been under a cloud since a
June visit by federal investigators. / The
Business Gazette
Andover, MA
ASL TEACHER GETS SIGN SHE CAN RETURN
Daniela Ioannides, an American Sign Language instructor who students and the
teachers union rallied around after she was not rehired at the end of last school
year, has returned to Andover High School this fall. The state has granted her
a waiver to teach this year without state certification. Superintendent Claudia
Bach received the news on Sept. 2, the day before school started in Andover.
"We are happy she's back. She's a successful teacher," said Bach of
Ioannides. / Andover
Townsman
Kings Mountain, NC
DRIVER CHARGED IN WRECK THAT KILLED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Drinking and driving at a high rate of speed led to the wreck that killed an
assistant principal, according to police. Last Wednesday, Wallace Kent Wall
was charged with felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired. Police
did not put Wall through a breathalyzer test at the scene because of a communication
barrier, said K.L. Putnam with Kings Mountain Police. Wall has a hearing impairment,
according to police. / Gaston
Gazette
Annapolis, MD
STATE OVERCOMPENSATES DOZENS OF RETIREES
The Maryland pension system overpaid 45 retired non-faculty employees at the
Maryland School for the Deaf by a total of $487,000 over 22 years. Unfortunately
for the recipients, it's a mistake that could hurt them more than it does the
state. The error led 45 retirees to count on an amount of money that won't likely
continue. It also led an additional 56 active employees to expect more money
in retirement than will actually materialize. / Southern
Maryland Online
Honolulu, HI
CHANGES PROMPT DEAF RESIDENTS TO SOUND OFF
About 50 members of the deaf community rallied and appeared at a legislative
informational hearing yesterday at the state Capitol to express anger and dismay
over changes in the Deaf Services Section of the Vocational Rehabilitation and
Services for the Blind Division. The program services 244 deaf people. Igniting
the furor was the proposed termination of Ele MacDonald in cost-cutting work
force reductions Nov. 14 because of the unprecedented state deficit. MacDonald
has been supervisor of the deaf services section since it began in 1997, and
she handles more than 170 cases. / Honolulu
Star Bulletin
Augusta, ME
DEAF MAN WINS SUPPORT IN CLAIM AGAINST POLICE
A man who is deaf has won support for his claim that he was discriminated against
twice when city police officers refused to provide him with an interpreter after
he requested one. An investigator for the Maine Human Rights Commission concluded
that Wayne Draper of Augusta was the victim of illegal discrimination in his
encounters with police on Nov. 10, 2007, and Jan. 23, 2008. / Morning
Sentinel
Washington, DC
FORT WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Under a settlement agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, deaf patients at the Fort Washington Medical Center in Prince
George’s County, Md., will be screened and provided with sign language
interpreters whenever interpreter services are necessary for effective communication.
The settlement was negotiated following an investigation by the Department’s
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in response to a complaint from a deaf patient.
The man entered the emergency room late one evening accompanied by his 11-year-old
son. Although the man and his son requested an interpreter, none was provided,
and the medical staff relied on t he son to interpret for his father in the
emergency room. / Business
Wire
Mesa, AZ
POLICE: WOMAN ATTACKED MOM OVER STARE
Mesa police have arrested a woman on suspicion of attacking a Valley mother
because she believed the woman's daughter was staring at her. Tonya Goodson
said she was taking her kids to the store when she was approached by Viniecia
Jordan. "She said put her your daughter, in check, your 'B' daughter in
check, actually," Goodson said. Goodson said Jordan was angry her 10-year-old
daughter, who is hearing impaired and reads lips, was staring at her. / KPHO
Fort Smith, AR
RESPONDERS TO TEST THEIR NEW CAPABILITIES
Members of Fort Smith’s emergency personnel will test their sign language
abilities with deaf residents in simulated emergency situations on Friday. “We’ll
have everything from a lost child (scenario) to a heart-attack victim,”
said Dee Mathes, director of Deaf Ministries at Mission United Methodist Church.
Officers, firefighters, EMTs, medical personnel and CERT volunteers who have
been attending basic American Sign Language classes over the past few weeks
will participate in a “React & Sign” outside drill for emergency
situations with the deaf at Mission United Methodist Church. / Times
Record
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NY
EXPERT TUTORING FOR HEARING IMPAIRED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN
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INTERNATIONAL
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Verona, Italy
ITALY GRAPPLES WITH PRIEST SEX ABUSE
It happened night after night, the deaf man said, sometimes in the priest's
bedroom, sometimes in the bathroom, even in the confessional. When he was a
young boy at a Catholic-run institute for the deaf, Alessandro Vantini said,
priests sodomized him so relentlessly he came to feel "as if I were dead."
This year, he and dozens of other former students did something highly unusual
for Italy: They went public with claims they were forced to perform sex acts
with priests. / Associated
Press
Taipei, Taiwan
ONLINE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION SERVICE LAUNCHED BY IBM AND CHINESE
DEAF ASSOCIATION
IBM and the Chinese Deaf Association have announced the launch of an online
sign language interpretation service in Taiwan, aimed to provide video and audio
instant messaging services to the deaf. No financial details were disclosed.
The service, initially used to support the organization of the 21st Summer Deaflympics
held in Taipei on 5-15 September 2009, is expected to benefit over 200,000 deaf
and hearing impaired people in Taiwan. / Trading
Markets
Bahrain
LIFELINE PLEA FOR DEAF PATIENTS
All of Bahrain's medical centers and hospitals could soon have dedicated staff
to deal with deaf patients. An MP hopes this would further integrate Bahrainis
with disabilities in the community and allow them further independence. Sign
language should also be introduced in some of the shows broadcast by local TV,
said MP Dr Salah Ali. He said that he sent a letter to Health Minister Dr Faisal
Al Hamer, stressing the need for each medical centre to have at least one employee
who knows sign language to assist the deaf. / Gulf
Daily News
New South Wales, Australia
STONE-DEAF SCOOBY SURVIVES CAVE ORDEAL
Scooby the dog is free after spending five days stuck in a mountain cave in
the New South Wales Hunter Valley. The deaf eight-year-old king charles spaniel
had been stuck in the cave on the rural property at Sweetmans Creek since Sunday
afternoon [Sept. 6], when he ran into the cave while out walking with his owner.
The RPSCA found the dog about 20 feet behind a rock wall last Thursday and used
jackhammers to try to clear a path. / ABC
News
Christchurch, NZ
CHRISTCHURCH TO GO QUIET FOR ONE MINUTE ON 14 OCT
Christchurch going quiet for one minute on Wednesday the 14th of October in
the hope of raising awareness about the dangers of hearing loss is the aim of
organizers of the city’s first Hearing Awareness Day on October 14. “We
want to raise awareness and remove the stigma of hearing loss and educate the
public about noise induced hearing loss,” Christchurch Hearing Association
President Bob Abbott said. / Scoop
New Delhi, India
INDIAN WEBSITES FLOU T GUIDELINES FOR THE DISABLED
Last month, Deepak Kumar (name changed on request), a visually-impaired businessman,
logged on to check out for some information on the newly-created Rajya Sabha
website. Given the government’s assurance this February that at least
50 important government websites would be made disabled-friendly and accessible,
he should have faced no problems. However, there were accessibility problems
galore. / Business
Standard
Chennai, India
HEARING-IMPAIRED ARTIST TO EXHIBIT WORKS IN TOKYO
A woman clad in a bright yellow sari looks into a red room where a young girl,
clad in a blue salwar, reclines in a chair. Overhead, the ceiling fan moves
lazily, while outside a yellow auto waits. Artist M Ramalingam has been fascinated
by the world of color since childhood. Spotting the boy's talent, his art teacher
at St Louis Institute for the Deaf and Blind encouraged him to study art. Today,
at 52, Ramalingam has held innumerable exhibitions and is the only Indian artist
who will be showing his work at the 2009 ParaArt Tokyo Exhibition at Seibu Gallery,
Tokyo. / The
Times of India
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Heading Back to School special
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LIFE & LEISURE
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Odenton, MD
FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, STUDENT OVERCOME COMMUNICATION BARRIER
Chu Lee is fully deaf. He doesn’t read lips. His flight instructor, Dominick
Moyer, doesn’t know sign language. But the two have a natural communication
style that allows them to work together seemingly effortlessly in the cockpit.
A quick thumbs-up, a nod, a note, or a finger point translates flawlessly into
a takeoff, heading change, slip, or other maneuver. The pair’s ease of
communication was evident on a 45-minute cross-country flight from Frederick,
Md., to Cumberland, Md., on a clear day. / AOPA
Online
Wheat Ridge, CO
WHEAT RIDGE HOSTS A ROMP FOR DEAF DOGS
Carol DeNileon, like many owners of deaf dogs, counts herself lucky to have
found Rhonda Champion, who organizes a loosely knit group dedicated to finding
homes for and helping train special-needs dogs. About 50 deaf dogs — from
a Great Dane to a Chinese crested — and their owners gathered Sunday afternoon
to exchange experiences, pick up training tips, learn agility exercises and
romp in the yard at Best Friends Pet Care in Wheat Ridge. / The
Denver Post
Kansas City, KS
THE WATCHDOG / 'DEAF CHILD AREA' SIGN
Ben Nicks of Shawnee has wondered for years about a sign alerting motorists
to a “deaf child area” near the 5500 block of Inland Drive in Kansas
City, Kan. The sign has been there for at least a decade, he says, wondering,
“Is the deaf child still in the area or is he a deaf adult by now?”
Nicks has uncovered a bit of a mystery. / The
Kansas City Star
New York, NY
MAKE VIDEOPHONE CALLS LIKE A CHAMP!
A new internet video report released by Deaf411 called “Make Videophone
calls like a Champ” shares insights on preparing for a successful videophone
conversation. It is the second report in the “Deaf Living Solutions”
series. With high speed internet, a laptop with webcam, or a videophone device,
videophone communication has become a highly desirable communication option
for people who use sign language to communicate instead of the traditional text
telephone. / Deaf411
Atlanta, GA
HELP FOR HEARING LOSS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
A newly launched website www.AdviceOnHearingAids.com
is proving to be a valuable and informative resource for consumers seeking unbiased
information on hearing aids. With so much information out there about hearing
aids, and so many different brands, styles, types of technology, and opinions
about which one is best, it can be a daunting task for a hearing-impaired consumer
to make an informed decision on which product is right for him or her. This
new site aims to alleviate the stress, hassle, and confusion that consumers
are often faced with when seeking information on hearing aids. / PRWeb
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Now, take advantage of special low pricing. For a limited time only, Harris Communications has it on sale for only $9.99! Sale ends September 24, 2009.
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callVRS has a new facelift and continues to give you the "freedom of choice"! callVRS allows you to find your favorite interpreter for your many needs. Keith Wann is now showing his serious side by bringing us a VRS company that his parents would be proud of...and one where interpreters want to work. You have seen him do silly commercials for other VRS companies, but he is also a Nationally Certified Interpreter, NIC Master and CI CT and calls himself a profesional Coda interpreter. "For the other VRS companies, I was a paid actor, with callVRS my true voice can be heard... It's time we have a VRS provider focus on the interpreters along with the callers to make the VRS experience better for everyone!" www.callVRS.org - dial callVRS.info on your video phone.
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WORKING WORLD
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Grand Rapids, MI
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES OF MICHIGAN HELPING CLIENTS FIND INTERPRETERS
Marty Jansen was up bright and early for a 7 a.m. appointment with his heart
doctor. An interpreter, he was told, was on the way. Sure enough, in walked
a spoken Spanish interpreter. A nice guy, Jansen recalls, but not much help
to a deaf person. "I had to wait an hour for (an American Sign Language)
interpreter to come," said Jansen, 70, through an interpreter. "They
didn't have an excuse. (The doctor's office) obviously didn't look at my form."
/ The
Grand Rapids Press
Baton Rouge, LA
DEAF CHILDREN LEARN TO SIGN BY TOYING WITH RFID
When early-childhood instructor Susannah Ford takes out her bucket of RFID-enabled
toys at the Louisiana School for the Deaf, the children, ages three to five,
gather quickly. These small cars, airplanes and stuffed animals look like any
other toy, except each is equipped with a passive 125 kHz RFID tag to help the
kids learn how to use sign language. A small number of deaf students in Louisiana
and Texas are using this new system, known as Language Acquisition Manipulatives
Blending Early-childhood Research and Technology (LAMBERT), to learn American
Sign Language. / RFID
Journal
Phoenix, AZ
ZOUNDS ACQUIRED BY PRIVATE INVESTORS
Zounds Hearing, a unique manufacturing and retail company focused on providing
hearing aids with state-of-the-art fidelity, lower price point and professional
services, has been acquired by a group of its previous investors. Zounds founder
Sam Thomasson will remain as President and Chief Executive Officer. Thomasson
started the company as a promise to his hearing-impaired daughter. He vowed
to create a new hearing aid to overcome her frustration with her traditional
hearing aids, caused by excessive feedback, noise, poor sound quality and discomfort
in the ear. / Business
Wire
Silver Spring, MD
NAD ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF ANITA B. FARB AND NEW HIRE
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) announces the retirement of Anita
B. Farb, Director of Communications and Operations, with deep appreciation for
her commitment to NAD and the American deaf and hard of hearing community over
the last 24 years. In her stead, the NAD has hired Shane H. Feldman as its Chief
Operating Officer. He was previously employed at the NAD for over five years
where he served as Coordinator of Marketing and Communications as well as Editor
of the NADmag, under the supervision of Farb. / NAD
News
Rochester, NY
'DEAF LIFE' MAGAZINE SHINES LIGHT ON DEAF CULTURE
When Matthew Scott Moore was studying social work and filmmaking at Rochester
Institute of Technology, he realized media could be a powerful tool for change.
Today, after 25 years at the helm of his own production company and nearly 15
years of magazine publishing under his belt, he's trying for international change.
Moore, 50, is working with a media company in Japan to launch a Japanese version
of his monthly Deaf Life magazine. Oh, did we mention that Moore can't hear?
/ Democrat
and Chronicle
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A new local web site called www.healthbridges.info was created by people who are Deaf.
The site is for people who are Deaf and for health providers and insurers too. This newly developed website seeks to provide reliable health and advocacy related information in a format that is accessible to all. Each month the topics discussed will change.
Please visit the site www.healthbridges.info today and let us know about topics that you want to learn more about.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Internet
THE BACHELOR: JERRY FERRIS
Jerry Ferris is probably best known for appearing on season three of The Bachelorette,
which featured Jen Schefft. (season three winner of The Bachelor, with Andrew
Firestone) The finalist, who since broke up with Jen, went on to become a successful
sign language interpreter, actor and producer. I was lucky enough to get to
sit down and talk to Jerry about his experience on the show, his new career
and what it was like growing up in a deaf household. / TV
Grapevine
Washington, DC
RATHSKELLAR RETURNS FOR A SPECIAL SHOW!
Prepare yourself for a special performance by Rathskellar on October 3 at Gallaudet
University! With an unknown future for Rathskellar, this may be your only opportunity
to catch the show that has mesmerized thousands of deaf and hearing fans worldwide!
The special October 3rd show will include crowd favorites such as Wild Wild
West, Frankenstein, Stick Dance, Thriller, 1950’s scenes, ICE, and drum
songs! Purchase your tickets at www.rathskellar.com
and witness the unforgettable beauty and energy of Rathskellar. / Press
Release
Mt. Pleasant, MI
COUPLE WRITES BOOK ON DEAF GIRL'S VIEWS
A Mt. Pleasant couple wrote a book when they were in college about a young,
deaf girl's perspective of the "everyday world" entitled, "Robin
Sees A Song" which is scheduled to release its second edition during Deaf
Awareness Week, Sept. 21-27. Jim and Cheryl Pahz were a young, married couple
who worked together educating deaf children at a school in Tennessee where the
idea to write the book with their students in mind became a reality. Cheryl
Pahz said that the "main message of the book is that there are a lot of
ways people can express themselves." / Morning
Sun
St. Louis, MO
CHAD KROEGER MYSTIFIED BY SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
Nickelback were playing an ordinary show in the ordinary city of St. Louis,
Mo. last month when frontman Chad Kroeger was confronted with something that
seemed like it was extraordinary to him: a sign language interpreter. Kroeger
was engaging in between-song banter when he spotted the interpreter to the left
of the stage. "Are you signing every word I'm saying?" he asked the
woman, who must have replied in the affirmative because he quickly replied,
"Oh, that's awesome!" But the fascination didn't end there. / Chart
Attack
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Keith Wann's ASL Comedy Tour
2009-2010
Keith Wann, renowned for his hilarious, sidesplitting comedy performances, is
now producing and hosting the ASL Comedy Tour 2009, which will travel the U.S.
this year. With American Sign Language (ASL) artists presenting solo performances
incorporating comedy, skits, songs, improvisation, and stories, each show lasts
two hours. Sponsored by www.CallVRS.org,
the multi-city tour is designed to be affordable for each location - making
it ideal as a fundraiser for participating organizations.
“We really want to reach out to all communities, so we are sharing in the costs and profits at each location. We will work closely with booking parties to maximize profits for their organization and to bring in as many people as possible for a night of laughter, socialization and fun,” Wann said. “We also offer workshops by some of our performers, which can be held the day of the performance. People can come to our workshops, and then unwind by attending the comedy show that evening.”
www.aslcomedytour.com
Contact KemiProductionsInc@gmail.com.
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DEAFLYMPICS
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Taipei, Taiwan
TAIWAN DEAFLYMPICS FINISH WITH A FEAST
The 21st Summer Deaflympics ended in Taipei on Tuesday with fireworks, drumming
and a massive open-air banquet that showcased local Taiwanese delicacies. The
closing ceremony began with a performance by U-theatre, a local drumming troupe.
Russia took home 98 medal at these games, the most of any country. Ukraine came
in second with 67 medals, followed by China, with 38. Host Taiwan came in fifth
with 11 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals. The Deaflympics featured 20 sports
this year, including tennis, wrestling and judo. A record 4,000 athletes from
81 countries participated. / Voice
of America
OLYMPICS FOR THE DEAF
It's one of the fastest growing sporting events in the world, with more than
4,000 athletes and support staff from around 85 countries taking part. The 21st
Deaflympics, which gives the chance for people with hearing impairments to show
off their athletics skills, is drawing to a close in Taiwan. Cindy Sui, our
reporter in Taipei, went to meet one of the athletes, Rajeev Bagga on Monday
as he was hoping to win his sixth gold medal in badminton. / BBC
DEAF OLYMPIANS SPEND MORE
TIME, MONEY TO COMPETE
Chang Lee-hsiao lost his hearing to a fever at age 3. Forty-three years later,
he is one of Taiwan's top bowlers with several medals to his name, but it certainly
wasn't easy, or inexpensive. Chang, a Taipei elementary school aide, has practiced
bowling for up to five hours a day over 15 years, during which he had to win
over his family who were opposed to his pursuit of the sport because of the
expenses involved, his coach Yang Yu-wen said. / Reuters
India
DEAF ATHLETES DO RP PROUD
IN DEAFLYMPICS
Traveling on a shoe-string budget, they flew out of the Philippines without
the usual fanfare and fancy send-off accorded to their more popular Filipino
counterparts. But the six Filipino deaf athletes rose above dismal circumstances
to play for the country for the first time in the 21st Summer Deaflympics here,
the first ever to be held in Asia. Amid glittering fireworks and bright lights
of the Taipei Stadium at the opening ceremonies of the Deaflympics here last
week, the modest nine-member Philippine team marched proudly, carrying the national
flag along with bigger teams from 90 countries. / Philippine
Daily Inquirer
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SPORTS
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Beverly, MA
BEVERLY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF GETS BOOST FROM MOTORCYCLE CHAMP ASHLEY
FIOLEK
The Beverly School for the Deaf was all revved up to meet Ashley Fiolek. Fresh
off another gold medal victory while visiting the Bay State, the No. 1 ranked
United States Amateur Women’s Motorcycle champion made special a pit stop
at the Children’s Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf
for a two-hour demonstration, Aug. 31. "The director from the school found
out about me and thought it would be inspiring to the students if I came to
the school and showed them what I do,” Fiolek said. / The
Beverly Citizen
Towson, MD
DEAF ATHLETES HURDLE BARRIERS, ACHIEVE GOALS IN COLLEGE SPORTS
Last year, 76 deaf and hard-of-hearing students played NCAA and NAIA sports,
according to Deaf Digest Magazine, and 39 played in Division I. That does not
account for those who do not wish to be identified. Those figures have steadily
risen since the 1973 Rehabilitation Act mandated interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing
students at universities and provided against discrimination based on disability.
/ USA
Today
Fremont, CA
INNOVATIVE A-11 OFFENSE FINDS A NEW LANGUAGE AT CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR
THE DEAF
California School For The Deaf football coach Kevin Bella clearly is a man who
believes in pushing the envelope of communication. I learned that quickly trying
to figure out the best way to conduct an interview with him for this column.
Since I was aware Bella himself is deaf, I wrote him an e-mail with an accompanying
list of questions I had. He e-mailed back and suggested that we simply do a
telephone interview. Huh? I scratched my head and agreed, not really knowing
how that would work. But he subsequently called me Monday and we conducted a
good half-hour phone conversation through a remote sign-language interpreter.
/ Mercury News
DeKalb County, GA
DEAF FOOTBALL STAR OVERCOMES DISABILITY
Football for most people is fast, loud and exciting, but the game for Jay Mathew
is silent. Mathew is deaf. He can't hear but that doesn't stop the Clarkston
High School freshman from playing the game. "Sometimes I try to put myself
in his position. All this is going on around you and your whole world is just
silent," said Coach Jay Rollerson. Mathew doesn't do it alone. He depends
on his interpreter Kelli Livingston. She's in the mix in practice and during
the games. / CBS
Atlanta
Harrisburg, SD
CSD GOLF CLASSIC RAISES OVER $15,000 FOR DEAF YOUTH
On July 31, at Spring Creek Golf Course in Harrisburg, S.D., CSD held its seventh
annual Golf Classic fundraiser. All proceeds from this charity event benefit
Camp Lakodia’s National Literacy and Leadership Camp (NLLC) for deaf and
hard of hearing youth. The NLLC is held each year at Camp Lakodia, located on
Lake Herman in Madison, S.D. / CSD
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EMPLOYMENT
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You can advertise your job openings here for just $20 a week (up to 100 words, 10 cents each add'l word). Start spreading the news! To place your ad, send the announcement to mail@deafweekly.com.
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Account Services Supervisor
Reports to: Director- Customer Care
Location: Purple Communications
595 Menlo Drive
Rocklin, CA 95765
Brief summary of duties:
Under the supervision of the Director - Customer Care, the Account Services Supervisor will be responsible for scheduling the hours for all the Purple Account Services Agents (PAS Team) monitoring attendance and call activity. The supervisor must also assist and support in the teams sales activity and questions. In addition, the Account Services Supervisor will help train the team on the company’s products and services. The supervisor must also run metric reports and use the results to provide feedback of the agent’s performance.
Areas of Responsibility:
* Utilize the Customer Relationship
Management (CRM) system to develop and maintain customers, and to continually
update relevant customer information as required
* Communicate company value proposition to build loyalty, and maintain customer
base
* Understanding of call center metrics to conduct performance reviews
* Train the members of the team to handle customers issues on their accounts
and orders
* Schedule the team’s hours to provide call coverage.
* Track agent attendance and product sales data for incentive and performance
measurements.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
* Must be familiar with communication
devices for the deaf and hard of hearing
* Understanding of Call Center Metrics (AHT, ASA, Queues)
* Familiarity and proficiently to navigate through various sales and customer
databases for obtain quick results to support the agents on calls.
* Understanding of call volumes to schedule personnel to obtain optimal call
coverage.
Experience with the following is a plus:
* Knowledge of American Sign Language
and Deaf Culture preferred.
* Basic knowledge of MS Excel and
MS Outlook
* Extremely organized and highly motivated
* Excellent written communication skills, and ability to communicate effectively
through email
* Attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy in data entry
* Ability to work a flexible shift
between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. PST
To apply for this position, please go to www.purple.us and click on the “career” and “search listings” tabs.
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JOB TITLE: Customer Recruiting
Representative
DEPARTMENT: Inside Sales/Outreach
REPORTS TO: Inside Sales Manager
Please note: This is a 90 day Temporary position - work is performed in a business office environment
Brief summary of duties:
Under the supervision of the Customer
Recruiting Manager, the Customer Recruiting Representative will be responsible
for qualifying leads by cold calling and teaching customers how to use VRS services.
In addition, the Customer Recruiting Representative will call prospective deaf
customers and convert them to become customers of Purple Communications. The
representative will also be required to maintain accounts through follow up
and customer retention surveys.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Make outbound calls & qualify
leads provided by Marketing or referrals
2. Market and provide support for VRS & Text Relay Services
3. Convert original equipment to use Purple communications / Hands On VRS
4. Communicate company value proposition to build loyalty, and maintain customer
base
5. Provide follow up support for all accounts ( inactive and active )
6. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
- Friendly and engaging
- Organized, a self-starter and a quick learner
- Connected to your local deaf community
- A highly motivated salesperson with a good amount of energy
- Capable of thinking in technical terms
- Capable of devoted daily time
- Knowledge of ASL and Deaf Culture
Experience with the following is a plus:
· Troubleshooting any issue
that may arise
· Computer and Software
literacy
· Experience with D-Link
or any other video phone devices
· Welcoming and enthusiastic
personality
Physical Requirements:
Employees may experience the following physical demands for extended periods of time:
· Sitting, standing and walking
(95-100%)
· Keyboarding (40-60%)
· Viewing computer monitor,
videophone, and pager requiring close vision (40-60%)
Work Environment:
Work is performed in a business office environment, or at home, depending on work status (see above). Some travel to company, customer and vendor sites, including some that are out of state may be required.
To apply for this position, please go to www.purple.us and click on the “career” and “search listings” tabs.
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