Volume 24 Issue 10

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 24, Issue 10
September 3, 2005

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Table of Contents
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- Article 1: OHL Questionnaire Results and Conclusions - Part 5

- Article 2: SHHH Exhibits - Part 3

- Article 3: Visor Card for ASL Users

- Article 4: Turn on the Captions

Our advertisers make it possible for us to provide HOH-LD-News as a free service. Please let them know you appreciate their support, and please mention that you saw their message in HOH-LD-News.

- Advertisers in this Issue
First Premium Placement: Weather Alert Products at Harris Communications
Second Premium Placement: Hearing Aid Repair: Fast and Affordable
Third Premium Placement: NADeZine
Classified Section: Two Employment Opportunities

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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- Article 1: OHL Questionnaire Results and Conclusions - Part 5
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We've finally finished tabulating and analyzing the responses to our first OHL questionnaire (whew!). We undertook this project because we sensed a growing dissatisfaction among the **Oral Hearing Loss** (OHL) population with the lack of services appropriate to them, and we wanted to get a sense of what services people want and how they should be provided.

(**We use the term "Oral Hearing Loss" to include people with hearing loss who prefer spoken language as their primary means of communications. This includes people who are hard of hearing, late-deafened, and oral deaf.**)

For general information about the survey, caveats, etc., please see part one of this article. This is part five of five parts.

Question 6

Suppose you decide to visit a vocational rehabilitation agency for assistance. Your local agency is very enlightened and progressive, and you may select a hearing counselor, an Oral Hearing Loss (OHL) counselor, or a Deaf counselor. Please rank these counselors in the order you would be most likely to select them, from most likely (1) to least likely (3).

Thirty-three people responded to this question. Each of the choices was ranked with a number from one to three. The average rank is provided for each of the categories.
OHL - 1.1
Hearing - 2.0
Deaf - 2.9

Respondents' Comments:
Don't care/want best person (3)
Don't want/would not accept a Deaf counselor (4)

Analysis and Comments

The vast majority of respondents (24 of 33) preferred an OHL counselor first, a hearing counselor second, and a Deaf counselor third. Four preferred the order: OHL, Deaf, hearing; four preferred hearing, OHL, Deaf; one preferred OHL and hearing equally, with a Deaf counselor as the third choice.

Combining the responses in a slightly different way, 28 of 33 respondents selected an OHL counselor as their first choice, one had an OHL counselor tied for first , and four selected an OHL counselor as their second choice.

Four people chose a hearing counselor as their first choice, 24 as their second choice, four as their third choice, and one had a hearing counselor tied for first.

Four people chose a Deaf counselor as their second choice, and the other 29 chose a Deaf counselor as their third choice.

Question 7

Now suppose you visit your local (real world) vocational rehabilitation agency and are ASSIGNED a counselor. Please rank the three counselors from Question 6 in terms of which you would most likely be assigned, from most likely (1) to least likely (3). Please leave this question blank if you don't know enough about your local agency to answer it.

Only ten people responded to this question, indicating that most of the respondents aren't familiar with their local vocational rehabilitation services. The average scores were:
Deaf - 1.5
Hearing - 1.8
OHL - 2.7

Respondents' Comments:
- VR doesn't have a clue about OHL folks (2)
- I was assigned a hearing counselor because that's all they had
- Really wouldn't get OHL counselor, because they don't have any (5)
- Wouldn't use VR - they know nothing about OHL

Analysis and Comments

The most striking characteristic of the responses to this question is that a counselor is likely to be assigned to OHL folks in reverse order to their preferences! While people's strong preference is the order OHL, hearing, Deaf, the order in which a counselor would likely be assigned is Deaf, hearing, OHL.

The other striking thing about the responses is that almost all respondents added a comment that VR doesn't have OHL counselors, VR knows nothing about OHL folks, etc!

Eight of ten respondents replied that an OHL counselor would be LEAST likely assignment, despite the fact that an OHL counselor was the first choice of over 85% of them.

Five respondents stated that they would most likely be assigned a Deaf counselor; two, a hearing counselor; one an OHL counselor; and two declared that a Deaf counselor and a hearing counselor are equally likely.

Question 8

Please add any comments you'd like to make.

We received lots of comments here, and it was tough to pick just a few representatives to include here. Here are the ones we chose:

- I think this is great! I'm getting tired of having people say, "Huh?" when I ask about assistive devices and "no" in response to the request for CART.

- I think the #1 thing is to reach those younger adults who are losing their hearing. Why aren't audiologists doing more? My own audiologist told me he thought I was too young for the local SHHH groups so he didn't even tell me about them!

- I feel the OHL and late deafened communities are not understood or misunderstood. Our needs are not being met without fighting for them. Even after you express your needs, too many don't understand. If you comprehend under some circumstances and not another, they think you are faking it. People don't understand how to communicate with us. Too many pubic places do not have any accommodation for us.

- We need to teach OHL folks to self-advocate.

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- Article 2: SHHH Exhibits - Part 3
By Cheryl Heppner and the NVRC Staff
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Editor: One of the best things about the hearing loss conventions is a chance to see what's new in the hearing loss world. Cheryl Heppner and the NVRC staff did a great job of capturing the excitement of the exhibit floor, as you'll see in this series of reports.

If you'd like to share this article, please be sure to credit NVRC. (See credit at the end of the article.)

This is Part 3 of 6 parts.

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With today's report, we are about half way through with information we gathered from the exhibits at the SHHH convention from June 30-July 3, 2005. Doesn't this list of great exhibitors make you wish you'd been there, or glad that you did go? Next year's convention is in Orlando, Florida from June 29-July 2, 2006. Start saving those dollars now!

Caption First, Inc.

Caption First has been providing realtime captioning services nationally since 1989. They are the industry leader in providing CART and realtime captioning services in the Chicago area, and they also have a highly-respected business in providing remote captioning and CART to other locations. The can provide captioning for live video, TV broadcasts, webcasts, corporate business meetings, conference calls, video teleconferences, conventions, education/classroom events and government meetings. Caption First has a goal of capturing 100% of what is spoken with 98% accuracy. Typically their providers and captioners reach 99% or better accuracy. Phil Hyssong, Caption First's Vice President for Marketing and Administration, attributes the company's success to its high standards. Pat Graves, the company's president, is a perfectionist and people want to work for the company because of its great reputation. Pat has a long list of credentials, and she chairs the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) Task Force on CART and the subcommittee for the NCRA Task Force for CART Certification. She is also a trainer of CART on the national level. www.captionfirst.com; info@captionfirst.com; 1-800-825-5234

Energizer

Energizer was displaying its EZ Change batteries. EZ Change battery cases are about the size of a silver dollar and their design helps avoid handling that might result in dropping and losing the battery. There's a thumb slide and tiny magnet to control the battery position and place it accurately in a hearing aid. The EZ Change batteries also don't have the usual tabs that need to be peeled off each battery before use; they are automatically peeled off. Energizer was giving away free coupons for $2 off the price of a package of EZ Change batteries, in sizes 10, 13, 312 and 675, with an expiration date of 12/31/05. Pick up a coupon while they last at NVRC! To see a demonstration of how the battery looks and works: www.energizer-ezchange.com.

America Online

America Online (AOL) set up an Internet Café in the exhibit area, with several computers for convention-goers to use. AOL has received awards for being the first commercial Internet Service Provider to offer closed captions. "Now in the News" is a captioned 3-minute video from CNN that changes 12 times daily. AOL users can go to Keyword: video@, select Guide, select News, select CNN Closed Caption, and click Play. AOL also has two cartoon series, "Princess Natasha" and "SKWOD", for its Kids Online (KOL) designed for kids aged 6-12. Go to AOL Keyword: KOL, click Entertainment, select Princess Natasha or SKWOD. The CC button appears near the video.

AOL members can also access open captioned video tutorials to learn more about AOL's features, tools and services, available at AOL Keyword: Help. During the past year, AOL has also set up partnerships with four relay service providers to allow people who have AIM to connect to a Communications Assistant at their preferred relay service by instant messages and make relay calls. The service can be accessed from any computer or wireless device running the AOL service or AIM. No additional software is needed, and the service is free to AOL members, AIM users, and Apple iChat users (versions 2.1+). The four relay providers are:

MCI IP-Relay.com (screen name: MyIPRelay)
Hamilton Relay (screen name: HipRelay)
Sorenson Relay (screen name: SipRelay)
Hands On Video Relay Service (screen name: hovrsim)

More information about AOL accessibility: http://corp.aol.com/accessibility

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

AG Bell was advertising its evening of "lounge chic" on July 15 with Tom Westman, the winner of Survivor: Palau. Westman, a former New York firefighter, is an AG Bell parent member who has a deaf daughter. Among the materials on display was a new instructional video/workbook set, "Discovering Cued Speech" for $95, and a kit "Songs for Listening! Songs for Life!" for $98.95. Members get a discount. Many other books, videos, and materials are available at the AG Bell website on topics such as early intervention, parenting, children's reading, biographies, advocacy, medicine and research, and speechreading. www.agbell.org

Cochlear

Cochlear was very involved in the convention, with remarks at the opening session by President Chris Smith, its exhibit, a reception, a breakfast/social for Nucleus Forum members, a presentation in the Exhibit Hall, and participation in a cochlear implant manufacturer's panel. A highlight of the Cochlear booth was a demonstration of its new Freedom cochlear implant processor standing up to the "water wheel of torture". This highlighted the design to resist sweat and other moisture. The Nucleus Freedom's features include being the first cochlear implant system to have adaptive Beam technology with a two-microphone system designed to soften distracting background sounds. The Freedom's electrode array has 22 channels placed close to the hearing nerve and four programming options. It also has an integrated telecoil. www.cochlear.com

Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach

Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach (MCPO) is one of four regional centers that are part of the Postsecondary Education Program Network (PEPNet). PEPNet's goal is to enable postsecondary programs across the U.S. to more effectively serve individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. MCPO has been located at St. Paul Technical College in St. Paul, MN since 1996 under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Midwest region it serves includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. It has four outreach sites - one in Wisconsin, two in Illinois, and one in Ohio - who have established model programs and services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. pbrill@sp.tec.mn.us; http://www.pepnet.org

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(c)2005 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 NVR

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- Article 3: Visor Card for ASL Users
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Editor: We recently reported on a Visor Card for people with hearing loss that Bob MacPherson of bhNEWS and Dr. Neil Bauman made available at no cost. As you might expect that effort was a huge success, with thousands of Visor Cards being downloaded. The visor card was designed and promoted by OHL folks, and the communications tips offered were appropriate to OHL folks.

Soon the Deaf folks were asking for a Visor Card appropriate for those who communicate using ASL. And presto! A second Visor Card appeared on Neil's website.

Here's the press release.

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August 26, 2005. (Stewartstown, PA) Since the successful release last month of a visor card designed specifically for hard of hearing people, deaf people have clamored for a similar card designed specifically to meet their unique communication needs. Today, the Center for Hearing Loss Help released the deaf version of their visor card for those whose communication preference is American Sign Language (ASL) rather than spoken English. Used correctly, visor cards can effectively help bridge the communications gap whenever hard of hearing or deaf people are stopped by the police, especially at night. To learn all about how and why to use visor cards, and to obtain your free visor cards (both hard of hearing and deaf versions available), point your browser to http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/VisorCards.htm

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- Article 4: Turn on the Captions
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Editor: Are you interested in advocating for people with hearing loss, but reluctant to add another commitment to your already hectic schedule? If so, this project may be just the ticket. It requires almost no time, but has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of people with hearing loss. Here's the idea, as offered by Debbie Mohney, SHHH Colorado State Coordinator.

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Have you ever been in a restaurant, airport, grocery store, post office, bar, or any other public place where they have a television on to help pass the time when waiting in line or waiting for food and drinks to arrive at the table, and there are no captions?

I have an idea for a new Project - Turn on the Captions!

Let's start a storm across the U.S. and ask everyone to turn the captions on televisions in public places! We don't have to sit in silence and stare at a screen hoping to catch a few words that can be lip-read, we can exercise our assertiveness and ask for captions. This will serve as a public service in educating people about the existence of captions, and teach people that captions can serve more than people with hearing loss.

Pass the word! "Project - Turn on the Captions!"

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- Classifieds
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Two Employment Opportunities appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

Employment Opportunity 1
Mental Health Counselor Internship (Paid Position)
Family Wellness Program of The Center for Childhood
Philadelphia, PA

Employment Opportunity 2
Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI) Coordinator
Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB)
Flint, MI

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Employment Opportunity 1
Mental Health Counselor Internship (Paid Position)
Family Wellness Program of The Center for Childhood
Philadelphia, PA
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Paid Mental Health Counselor Internship with Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Children and Families Available!

With the Family Wellness Program of The Center for Childhood of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. For a graduate student in final semester during Spring 2006. Under an LPC's supervision, the intern will provide group and individual therapy, psycho-social consultation, information and referral, and training and work with a full range of HOH/Deaf children and children with Deaf/HOH parents. Previous experience with Deaf/HOH individuals required. For more information see: www.chop.edu/ccc and go to "Resources for Healthcare Professionals" or email GrossmanA@email.chop.edu

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Employment Opportunity 2
Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI) Coordinator
Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB)
Flint, MI
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IMMEDIATE POSITION OPENING

SIGN COMMUNICATION PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW (SCPI) COORDINATOR

Michigan Department of Education
Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB)
Flint, Michigan

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 12, 2005

JOB DESCRIPTION
MSDB is filling a full-time, contracted professional employee to coordinate the SCPI process for the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB). The contracted employee will recruit members to the SCPI review team, develop strategies to deliver the SCPI program statewide, and work on the MSCPI which evaluates children's sign communication proficiency. The employee must also be qualified to serve on the SCPI team.

JOB DUTIES
- Develop promotional materials for SCPI program and promote the program statewide
- Recruit and train SCPI team members
- Establish, administer, and evaluate SCPI program; recommend program policies and procedures; and design forms
- Collect and maintain program data necessary to meet program reporting and evaluation requirements and the goals of the agency
- Analyze ongoing program operation and recommend modification of policies and procedures to meet commitments more effectively
- Make recommendations in areas of expertise
- Develop alternative strategies for programs based on analysis and research
- Act as liaison with other agencies, organizations, and employees to coordinate the SCPI program
- Prepare budgets
- Maintain records and prepare correspondence related to the work

COMPENSATION
$25.00 per hour plus benefits

QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in any area of study.

Special Requirements, Licenses, and Certifications
Ability to communicate using American Sign Language at the Superior Plus level measured by the SCPI process.

Application Details
If you are interested in this position, please submit a resumé and cover letter identifying your qualifications for this position to Ms. Sue Leach, Michigan Department of Education, OSE-EIS, P. O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909. If you have additional questions about the position, contact Ms. Leach at 517-373-1695, or by e-mail at LeachSM@michigan.gov.

EEO Employer 8/16/05

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