Volume 21 Issue 5

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 21, Issue 5
October 30, 2004

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Table of Contents
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- Article 1: Hard of Hearing Can Stay in Loop - Part 1
- Article 2: SHHH Convention: Disaster Preparedness Tips for HoH People - Part 2
- Article 3: Opening Drive-In Films to All
- Article 4: Promising Research on Hair Cell Regeneration
- Classifieds
- Contact Information and Disclaimers

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Article 1: Hard of Hearing Can Stay in Loop - Part 1
By David G. Myers
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Editor: Regular readers will remember David Myers as the man who is working to loop America. He wants induction loops installed in all public facilities to provide better communication access to people with hearing loss.

Induction loops are simply large loops of wire that are typically installed under a carpet or above an acoustic tile ceiling. They are driven by an amplifier and produce a magnetic field that drives the telecoil in a hearing aid. The effect of this simple technology is that a person can set her hearing aid to the telecoil position and pick up what's being said just as if she were talking on a phone.

For more information, please visit www.hearingloop.org.

This is part one of two parts.

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As I sat surrounded by several hundred others in London's Gatwick Airport main departure lounge last month, I strained to hear announcements about my delayed flight to Detroit. Alas, the sound from the distant loudspeakers was too foggy for my hard-of-hearing ears.

But hold it. This was Britain, a country whose cathedrals, churches and auditoriums now wirelessly broadcast sound directly to hearing aids.

"The whole of the church is served by a hearing loop," said the first sentence of Westminster Abbey's program for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Queen's coronation. "Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T."

Doing so activates a tiny "telecoil" receiver that not only aids telephone listening but can also transform one's hearing aids into in-the-ear loudspeakers.

Clear to a T

Knowing all this, I tried my hearing aids on their T setting at the airport. Voila! Suddenly I was hearing crystal-clear announcements broadcast from customized loudspeakers inside my ears! Just as my wi-fi-equipped laptop was receiving information wirelessly, so were my hearing aids (via magnetic signals sent through a wire loop that was invisibly surrounding me, likely from underneath the carpet).

It's not just in places of worship and at Gatwick Airport that Britain now broadcasts sound directly to hearing aids. It's also at designated post-office, bank-teller and train-ticket windows. And soon this user-friendly assistive listening will be available at all London Underground ticket windows and in the back seats of all London taxis.

Having many times benefited from the U.K.'s hearing-aid-compatible assistive listening, I wondered, why not the U.S.A. as well? Our prevailing assistive listening systems require us hard of hearing people to locate, check out, wear and return conspicuous receivers and headsets (which often also require removing one's hearing aids).

These headsets, which also are available with loop systems for people as yet without telecoils, often work well. The only problem is that not many people will willingly suffer the hassle and mild embarrassment. (How often have you seen a hard of hearing person using an assistive listening headset?) One manager at Holland's largest theater complex told me that her assistive listening headsets get checked out about once per month per theater.

Getting into the loop

For starters, I installed a simple loop system in my TV room (typical self-installation cost: $200 to $300). The result was wonderful. If you were to watch TV with me [Ed: assumes YOU are a hearing person], you would hear the TV speaker sound at whatever level you wish; I would hear the TV broadcast from my own hearing aids (at a volume I dial on the loop amplifier and customized by my aids for my own hearing needs). I've also looped my office, which enables me to hear telephone conversation broadcast through two ears, with greatly increased clarity.

So, I thought, why not loop a demonstration American community? And what better place than my own caring community, Holland-Zeeland? The response, I'm pleased to report, has been overwhelmingly gratifying. Today, Holland-Zeeland is arguably America's most supportive community for people with hearing loss. Most of our churches, most of our high school and college auditoriums and many other public and business facilities -- more than 80 venues in all -- have installed hearing loops that broadcast sound via people's in-the-ear loudspeakers.

In my own church, where one person used our former assistive listening system requiring headsets, ten people soon were using our new $2,000 loop system, all of them inconspicuously, with the subtle touch of a switch. One woman who could have used our old headsets but didn't said, "It is actually fun to go to church and hasn't been that way for a long time." Another reported, "The experience of actually hearing such clear sounds was thrilling and hard to describe. One has to experience the improvement. It seemed overwhelming."

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- Article 2: SHHH Convention: Disaster Preparedness Tips for HoH People - Part 2
By Cheryl Heppner
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Editor: Are you prepared for a disaster in your area? Have you thought about the special requirements for people with hearing loss? Here's Cheryl Heppner's report on Mary Clark's Disaster Preparedness Workshop from the Omaha SHHH Convention. This is Part two of two parts

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COMMUNICATION
- Have a battery operated, solar powered, or dynamo radio (and batteries, if needed). Even if you can't understand it, you may be able to find someone else who will listen and tell you what is being said. A battery operated TV with captions is also good.
- Cell phones may not work and pay phones are becoming scarce. In a disaster, the phone network can be overloaded because of all the dial tones from phones off the hook, and it will shut down. Emergency operations calls will take priority for whatever phone service is available. Pay phones will still work, but the calls will be prioritized -- you can call people outside of the area to say you are okay, but not those within your area. Keep a roll of quarters for this purpose, and get together with your family to decide on a contact person who lives out of state. Inform your family to call this person when they need to find out how you are in an emergency.
- The Weather Channel offers notification services, including wireless text and email messages. NOAA also broadcasts emergency notices that can be received by their weather radio and a new TV. The radio has text and you can hook it up to a flashing light or vibrator to alert you. Silent Call Corp. and others have flashing lights and vibrators. Some local TV stations offer local weather alerts free of charge to pagers.
- Take responsibility to get to know and work with the emergency communication system in your community.

SPECIAL NEEDS
- Have all the medicine you'll need for at least 3 days.
- Have spare hearing aid or cochlear implant batteries.
- Store enough food for your pet and have a spare leash.
- Talk to friends, neighbors and co-workers about a buddy system, and have at least two. Share with them what your needs are, and work out a way to communicate. One woman who lives alone always put a picture in her window at night and took it out in the morning so her neighbor would know she was all right.
- Add a dry aid kit to your emergency kit for your cochlear implant or hearing aid, even if it's only a plastic bag with something to remove moisture.
- Local emergency and law enforcement people are trained to deal with disability but ours is invisible. Consider having a little placard in your pocket or wallet, that says "I'm hard of hearing, I need...." Laminate it. Clip one to your car visor. Also see if emergency management staff in your area have a registry so they will know about your hearing loss.

Other Information

Search and rescue teams are trained to call out "hello, is anybody there?" Keep a whistle always on hand to use, on a key chain, or a flat one in your wallet. A whistle is not a natural sound so it gets attention. You can only shout for help about 15 minutes before your voice will no longer carry, and you will be hoarse for days.

To paraphrase Tom Ridge, disasters (terrorism) force us to make a choice. We can be afraid, or we can be ready.

Mary would add shoes to the list. One of the biggest sources of injuries after an emergency due to weather such as earthquake, hurricane or tornado, is from people who cut their feet on broken glass because they did not have their shoes on. Keep your shoes close by your bed at night so you always know where they are.

Find out what is kept in your local shelters. Do they have an amplified phone, hearing aid repair kit?

An empty coffee tin is handy. It can be used to store things but can also be useful to cook things.

Resources
www.ready.gov
www.weather.com/services/notify.html

***************
(c)2004 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC), www.nvrc.org. When sharing this information, please ensure credit is given to NVRC.

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- Article 3: Opening Drive-In Films to All
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Editor: This may not be the biggest news in the hearing loss world, but this article got my attention! Most people with hearing loss now have access to at least a limited menu of captioned movies at a local theater. But how many are able to view a captioned movie at a drive-in theater? People in upstate New York were recently treated to a showing of two open captioned movies. Here's the article, which is reprinted with permission of the Times Union, Albany, NY.

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From the newsroom of the Times Union, Albany, New York, Friday, September 24, 2004 .....

Opening drive-in films to all

Open-caption system for deaf audiences is a first at outdoor showing

By BREEA WILLINGHAM, Staff writer

Dan Farfaglia's idea was made for the big screen.

Many who are deaf cannot experience the joy of a drive-in movie, and most films are not subtitled. That will change this weekend with the help of the Menands man.

For the first time in upstate New York -- and possibly the country -- a drive-in movie theater is showing feature films that cater to deaf audiences.

Farfaglia and the owner of the Midway Drive-In in Minetto, Oswego County, have teamed up to offer open-captioned films, or OC films. The event, which runs today through Sunday, will feature "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Troy." The films are full-sound movies in which laser technology imprints subtitles similar to those in foreign films. They also include icons and written descriptions of sounds, including the type or tempo of music.

Industry officials believe it's the first time an OC film has been shown at a drive-in.

The showing coincides with National Deaf Awareness week.

Some indoor movie theaters show OC films, but the selection is limited. Most often, the deaf must wait for feature films to come out on home video that's been formatted for the hearing impaired, according to Farfaglia.

"Hardly any of them are able to enjoy a drive-in movie, which is a totally different world," he said, noting he wanted to share his love of drive-in movies with his girlfriend and others who can't hear at all.

Farfaglia can empathize at least partly. He also has a hearing impairment, which he said was discovered when he was about 4 years old. Hearing aids compensate for his partial loss of hearing, and he said he can enjoy a movie.

OC films make up a small segment of the market, meaning new releases may not be available at most movie theaters. The Crossgates Cinema 12 in Guilderland is among a few Capital Region theaters that show OC films.

Randy Smith, senior vice president of the human resources counsel for Regal Entertainment, which owns Crossgates 12, said that company has been providing OC films for at least a decade and the response has been good.

"The need is there and it's a wonderful service," said Smith.

Midway Drive-in owner John Nagelschmidt said Farfaglia, who grew up in Oswego County, approached him earlier this year, and the two have been working for months on pulling this weekend together.

Nagelschmidt, who bought the drive-in in 1987 after working there for years, was also Farfaglia's ninth-grade science teacher. He remembered the young man as someone who always had a love for the movies despite his hearing impairment.

"He made me understand that when you're hearing impaired it's difficult to glean what's going on in a movie if it's not an OC film," he said.

He said sign-language interpreters will also work the box office and concession stands this weekend to aid hearing impaired patrons. More weekends with open-captioned films could follow if all goes well, he said.

Manda Sievers, who is totally deaf, said her boyfriend, Farfaglia, first came to her with the idea, and she encouraged him to pursue it because she knows the frustrations of not being able to enjoy a movie in the theater.

"When I was young, open-captioned films were not readily available for the deaf and hard of hearing. Naturally because of this kind of limitation, I have never gotten the opportunity to experience a night at the drive-in theatre," said Sievers, who lives in Rochester.

Most open-captioned films come from InSight Cinema, a California-based distributor that formats prints of the movies it gets from the studios. But even then, only a comparatively small number of such prints are available, according to Nagelschmidt. For example, he estimated that only about a dozen prints of the Harry Potter film out of more than 4,000 were available nationwide in open-caption format when it was first released.

That's why many of the movies that are shown most places in that format are not the latest releases, he said.

Randall Blaum, director of marketing for California-based Krikorian Premiere Theatres, said many people who are hearing impaired don't go to the movies because they don't know the formatted films are available.

To help raise awareness, Insight and his company are co-sponsoring an OC Film Festival Oct. 8-10 in Monrovia, Calif., that will include releases such as "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."

"Reaction so far has been very positive," Blaum said.

Regarding the open-caption showing in upstate New York, Blaum said he's been in the film business for more than 25 years and it's the first time a drive-in movie has shown such a film.

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- Article 4: Promising Research on Hair Cell Regeneration
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Editor: For people interested in hearing loss "cures", hair cell regeneration is the current best bet. It appears that virtually all animals except mammals regenerate hair cells on a routine basis. Dr. Edwin W. Rubel and his colleagues are among the researchers on the forefront of this exciting technology. "Hearing Review" recently published an interview of Dr. Rubel along with a synopsis of the research status. Here's one question and answer from the interview. The complete article is available at:
http://www.hearingreview.com/Articles.ASP?articleid=H0410F01

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Hearing Review: If hair cell regeneration is indeed possible, do you think this science will ever progress to a point where there will be full restoration of hair cells, or do you think that it's far more likely we would see a partial restoration of hair cells in the inner ear?

Rubel: In my opinion, it's not a question of if we will regenerate, restore, or protect hair cells, it's a question of when. Because we now know that it's possible, it's only a matter of time until we can apply this science to humans. My best prediction is 10-20 years. I certainly hope to see it in my lifetime.

With respect to the degree of hair cell regeneration or restoration, my gut feeling is that it will all depend on what type of hearing loss a person has to begin with. One possibility for regeneration are people who have complete loss of hair cells due to some genetic anomaly, ototoxins, aminoglycosides, etc. In these cases, hearing care professionals may someday have a choice between recommending a cochlear implant versus an approach for growing enough hair cells where hearing aids could be used more effectively and provide much more acoustic information to that patient. As another example, you might see a patient who has a 50% loss of their outer hair cells. In this case, maybe we will be able to stimulate the regrowth and replacement of these "cochlear amplifier" cells.

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- Classifieds
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One Event, one Travel Opportunity, one Education Opportunity and one Employment Opportunity appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

Event 1
Jewish Deaf Congress Conference 2005
Tampa, Florida
July 3 to 10, 2005

Travel Opportunity 1
Cruise for CI Users
From Los Angeles to Hawaii
January 19 to February 3, 2005

Education Opportunity 1
Graduate Studies in Psychology
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC

Employment Opportunity 1
Dean of Students
American School for the Deaf
Hartford, CT

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Event 1
Jewish Deaf Congress Conference 2005
Tampa, Florida
July 3 to 10, 2005
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something exciting is coming to Tampa, Florida in 2005!

It will be a conference of a different kind!

It will be Jewish Deaf Congress Conference 2005 at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Hotel (a 4 star property) from July 3 to 10, 2005.

For the first time in JDC history we will have a HANDS-ON conference on Jewish wines, Jewish jewelry, Jewish roots, Jewish cooking and much more.

Participants will be actively involved in activities. Jewish Deaf people and their non-Jewish friends are more than welcome to join & learn "how to do it" while having fun too.

The hotel rates are only $89 a night, no matter how many people in a room. So come and share room with your friends. (psssst, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay averages $165 a night and its an incredible deal)

Additional information and details can be found at:
www.jdc2005.com
See the website to see what's happening!

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Travel Opportunity 1
Cruise for CI Users
From Los Angeles to Hawaii
January 19 to February 3, 2005
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

15 Day Cruise-Hawaiian Islands for Adult Cochlear Implant Users
*****SPECIAL FARE FOR THIS CI USER GROUP CRUISE
Leaving from Los Angeles January 19 to February 3, 2005

Join Auditory Verbal Therapist William and Carol Beitzel for an unique experience combining CI therapy with social interaction on a cruise. Learn to develop and enhance your effective comfort level skills using your cochlear implant. Come along with your spouse/SO for fun/relaxation while participating in an exciting complimentary individual/group therapy program.

Contact Bill at wave307@shaw.ca .

Cruise starts at $2099 USD (pp/dbl.occ)

Info/book-contact Evelyn Sinclair at CRUISE WORLD, INC. 101-1090 Waverley St., Winnipeg, MB,CANADA R3T 0P4
1-204-925-2120 or 1-800-463-2120
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Education Opportunity 1
Graduate Studies in Psychology
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interested in pursuing graduate studies in psychology?

The Department of Psychology at Gallaudet University offers both an APA accredited Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, and a NASP/NCATE accredited Specialist degree program in School Psychology, both of which include specialized training for work with Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients and their families.

The Ph.D. program requires four years of coursework plus a one year full-time internship.

The School Psychology program requires two years of course work and a full-time, academic year internship.

Limited financial support is available.

Applicants should possess a bachelor's degree in psychology, or be in the process of completing their bachelor's degree, and have either a psychology major or substantial course work in psychology. Relevant work experience is desired, though not required.

Deaf and hearing applications are encouraged. For more information, contact Patrick J. Brice, Ph.D., Clinical Program Director (patrick.brice@gallaudet.edu), or Lynne Blennerhassett, Ed.D., School Psychology Program Director (lynne.blennerhassett@gallaudet.edu).

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Employment Opportunity 1
Dean of Students
American School for the Deaf
Hartford, CT
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CLOSING DATE: Until Filled
REV: 10/20/04
POST: 10/21/04
PREFERRED START DATE: 01/01/05

The American School for the Deaf (ASD) is located on a 54 acre campus in West Hartford, Connecticut. It is a residential and day program operating as a state-aided private school. It was established in 1817 as the first permanent school for the deaf in America. The current service load is approximately 450. The program is a comprehensive center-based and community-based educational program serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students from preschool through high school, and adult service program, utilizing a total communication philosophy. A Vocational Rehabilitation evaluation component for deaf adults is located on campus. The American School for the Deaf is accredited by the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs Serving the Deaf, the Departments of Education in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF).

SCOPE OF DUTIES

The Dean of Students is appointed on a twelve-month basis by the Executive Director and, under the supervision of the Director of Education, is responsible for the administration of Student Life Services, which includes student development, student dormitories, Student Health Center, daily and week-end transportation, recreation, intramural and interscholastic athletics, and the teaching of life skills for approximately 150 students, Monday through Thursday evening, throughout the school term.

PRIMARY DUTIES

(a) Provides leadership and management to Student Life Services at a Center School for the Deaf.
(b) Directs Student Life staff including Residential Counselors in the Elementary School and the Junior/Senior High School. This includes planning for in-service training, interviewing candidates for employment, conducting regular personnel evaluations, making recommendations for personnel actions, and devising work schedules and assignments for Student Life personnel.
(c) Designs and implements a student life philosophy and curriculum that will provide educational support, social and cultural experiences, life experiences, practical living skills, leadership skills, recreation and athletic programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, ages five through twenty-one years.
(d) Supervises Assistant Deans, Athletic Director, Director of Student Health Center and oversees Student Life staff and operations.
(e) Coordinates daily and weekly transportation schedules and services with LEAs in Connecticut and other states for ASD students as well as foreign student weekend and holiday supervision, in conjunction with the ASD Transportation Supervisor.
(f) Responsible for Student Life curriculum to include academic support, independent living skills, and discipline.
(g) Develops, administers, and oversees efficient and effective office, departmental, and interdepartmental systems and procedures.
(h) Works with parents and serves as a liaison between the school and the home in the area of personal and social growth and student life program.
(i) Participates in the admissions process for new residential students; as well as in the IEP, placement, and disciplinary processes for enrolled students as appropriate.
(j) Interprets official school policy as it relates to Student Life Services, and recommends policy for adoption by the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
(k) Works collaboratively with PACES Program and other school departments.
(l) Other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must possess a Master's degree in a professional discipline such as counseling or student development, or a Master's degree in education of the deaf from an accredited college or university with a recognized teacher training program in education of the deaf. Corresponding professional certification is preferred. Applicants must have at least five years experience in an educational, student life, or student development setting working with deaf children and youth. Demonstrated competency in sign language skills is required, with an SCPI rating of Advanced or better. Good judgment, ability to work varied schedule, including subject to call and emergencies, ability to work and communicate with students, staff, families and general public. The Dean of Students is expected to live on campus, and on-campus housing will be available at a reasonable rental rate.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

(a) Salary is based on a 12-month, 255-day per year schedule, and is commensurate with experience.
(b) Retirement, group health insurance, and other fringe benefits are available.

HOW TO APPLY:
Send resume and letter of application to:

Human Resources Office
American School for the Deaf
139 North Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107-1269
FAX (860) 570-1832

For Applications and more information: www.asd-1817.org

The American School for the Deaf is an Equal Opportunity Employer: M/F/V/H/D.

All applicants will be screened and the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to interview.

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- Contact Information and Disclaimers
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