Volume 29 Issue 6

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 29, Issue 6
November 11, 2006

Copyright (C) 2006 Hearing Loss Web. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents
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- Article 1: Does University Governance Require the Removal of Gallaudet Trustees?

- Article 2: ALDAcon 2006 Plenary Keynote by Dr. Sanjay Gulati - Part Three

- Article 3: ATA Promotes More Research to Benefit Veterans with Tinnitus

- Article 4: Short Takes

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:
Sonic Alert Alarm Clocks on Sale at Sound Clarity, Inc.
Second Premium Placement:
Bigger and Better Sales at Harris Communications
Fourth Premium Placement:
Switch to Sprint
Classified Section:
Two Online Stores and Two Employment Opportunities

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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- Article 1: Does University Governance Require the Removal of Gallaudet Trustees?
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Does anyone else wonder what's going on with Gallaudet's Board of Trustees?

All indications are that the search process that resulted in the selection of Jane Fernandes was very well conducted. Two-thirds of the Search Committee consisted of non-Trustees, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, a very inclusive group; no major stakeholders were excluded. That Search Committee was responsible for the process that resulted in the selection of Dr. Fernandes.

The search was managed by a major academic search company called Academic Search Consultation Service, one of the premier companies in its field. The lead consultant was Dr. Patricia T. van der Vorm, a very experienced and well-respected academic recruiter.

Once the Search Committee and consultants had completed their efforts, the Board of Trustees UNANIMOUSLY selected Jane Fernandes as Gallaudet's next president. Representatives of students, faculty, staff, and alumni joined Board representatives to grant Dr. Fernandes an overwhelming stamp of approval!

I don't know Jane Fernandes, or any of the other candidates, so I can't comment on the quality of the selection. But the PROCESS was very transparent, and was apparently a good one.

Yet a few short months later, the whole thing unraveled.

The Board reversed itself and revoked its selection. Had they discovered that the reasons for which they unanimously appointed Dr. Fernandes had evaporated? Had they discovered that she was guilty of some malfeasance that she had successfully hidden from everyone? Did they realize that some previously overlooked candidate was the obvious choice for the job, and decide to withdraw Dr. Fernandes' appointment to allow them to select the superior candidate? The answer to all these questions is, "No."

The Gallaudet Board of Trustees reversed itself because of a protest by a militant faction of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The Board revealed no new information that led to the reversed decision, other than the fact that some community members didn't like their selection. In contrast to the search process, the reversal process was closed. It wasn't accessible to the public, so we don't know why the Board chose to abandon prudent University governance.

The meeting at which Dr. Fernandes' appointment was reversed occurred on Sunday, October 29, at a hotel near Dulles Airport. It was no doubt a long, tedious, and exhausting meeting. One would expect that, following the meeting, the Trustees dragged themselves home to try and recover before Monday morning employment demands.

Not so, according to the Washington Post's report (http://tinyurl.com/y94mvd) on what occurred AFTER the Board meeting:

"On Sunday night, some trustees were treated like rock stars when they returned to campus. After talks with protest leaders in the 'war room' inside Fowler Hall, the board members who had pushed for a change emerged one by one through the door as the crowd screamed approval."

What's that? Some of the board members returned to the campus after the vote? That must be an hour's drive, even on a quiet Sunday evening. And they were treated like ROCK STARS? And they met with the students?

I've served on Boards, and one of the first things I learned was to respect the organization's hierarchy. In none of the organizations with which I was involved was it appropriate for a Board member to meet directly with community members, except through official channels. Does Gallaudet discourage such behavior? Do their bylaws address it?

In his Baltimore Sun op/ed piece entitled, "First step in Gallaudet revolution?" (http://tinyurl.com/y8umtm) Kelby Brick (former director for law and advocacy at the National Association of the Deaf) writes:

"University bylaws prevent the board of trustees from receiving any communication or information from the campus community independent from the president's office."

Did some of the Trustees violate Gallaudet's bylaws? If so, are they the same Trustees who led the move to abdicate prudent governance? If they did violate Gallaudet's bylaws, should they be removed? If they did violate Gallaudet's bylaws, MUST they be removed?

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- Article 2: ALDAcon 2006 Plenary Keynote by Dr. Sanjay Gulati - Part Three
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Here's Dr. Gulati's very inspirational opening keynote address. This is part three of three parts.

Advocacy

The complexity of advocacy will be the theme of the Friday night panel. It has many dimensions, from advocating in a family to national advocacy. In another dimension it ranges from nuanced work on details within a system to the most militant expressions of the need for radical change.

It takes a lot of energy to advocate, and many of us move throughout the second dimension at various times. The simplest act of advocacy is to simply stand up and show who we are.

How is it that a couch potato who can barely walk around the block is considered normal, while a blind man who climbs Mount Everest in considered disabled? The concept of normalness is used to protect the psyche of a certain group of people.

Disability opens doors by facilitating a heightened awareness of social context.

I invite you to make the most of these few days at ALDAcon, to use them as a door to a new connection to advocacy, and to enjoy the camaraderie.

Dr. Schlau found that people who experience hearing loss tend to end up with one of three attitudes: struggling, resigned, and accepted.

I love reading the stories of others, in part because I learn how they handle their challenging experiences. Oscar Wilde wrote that we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

Let's reimagine our deafness as normal!

I'm hoping that we have some time to chat.

Q. I'm inspired by your talk and the many references you gave. Where can I get a copy of your book?
A. From the publisher. I think it's cheaper that way than through Amazon.

Q. I was affiliated with the hospital for 18 years, but never knew Dr. Sanjay until today. I feel much the way you do. I'm thriving now, and partly because of ALDA. My deafness is really only 6 years old. I remember an article by Laurel somebody, who was on the board at Gallaudet. My question is, these stages we go through, it seems that there's always a bit of denial and struggle, even though I feel I've come a long a long way. So do you think there's still some of the early stages now that you're thriving?
A. Yes, I think we all go through all of the stages all the time. It's more a matter of what focus you have.

Q Are you considering a CI?
A. I'm not sure I'm a candidate. I think there may be enough damage to my auditory nerves that I'm not a candidate. I don't wear my hearing aids most of the time. I normally sign and use an interpreter when I need one.

Q. Do you have any specific, concrete suggestions that can assist people to get through the phases?
A. Jane 's dissertation includes references to the works of Argyris. He talks about two types of learning:
1. Single loop learning, which is knowing what you want and going after it.
2. More complex learning, in which you adjust what you're doing to reach your goal, but also adjust your goal.

The specific suggestions will be different for everyone, so it's hard to give specific things. But in general, I think stepping back and using the second type of learning is a key.

Q. You talk about wearing hearing aids sometimes and not others. I've been HOH since age four, and now I'm over 50. Now I find myself turning my aids off more and more. Why is that?
A. I think it depends on how much useful information you get. Imagine that your car had a single red warning light that flashed when anything is wrong. It would be a constant source of irritation, but wouldn't give much usable information, and you would want to turn it off. So I think we choose to not wear hearing aids when they don't provide a lot of benefit.

Q. I work in a large company, and I sometimes have to take my hearing aids off, because of the heat in the plant. I have shared that with my coworkers, and they always look after me at work. I have one question for you. I have a hard of hearing friend who is also legally blind. She accepts her deafness, but is struggling to accept her blindness. She's frustrated and blames everyone around her. Do you have any suggestions to help her?
A. I think that having friends who can help you see the reality of the situation helps a lot. And also having friends who know when to impose that reality. The first thing is to not run away, so when there's a "teachable moment" you'll be there to help her.

Q. I want to share one thing. When I became a part of a group of people with very severe hearing loss, I was surprised to learn that many of them didn't know what to do in various situations. Some people asked me how I functioned at school when I couldn't hear. I explained that I read everything I could in advance, I noticed what side of the room the teacher tended to face and I sat on that side, I sat in the second row, because teachers often walk up even with the front row.

I think part of the reason I was able to problem solve is because I grew up on a farm and watched my father make do with what he had. That's a very good lesson in problem-solving. I think we all need to learn problem-solving skills.

C. I started to lose my hearing in the Navy. In my exit physical, the doctor said that I had a hearing loss in one ear, but that it was above the speech range, so it wouldn't be a problem. He essentially gave me permission to ignore my hearing loss. Over the next several years my hearing loss continued, and soon I was unable to function.

I remember reading about Kublar-Ross. She says that she is viewed as the death and dying woman, but she doesn't want to be remembered that way. She wants to be remembered as the life and living woman. And when I realized that, I decided that I wanted to live life to its fullest, and not allow hearing loss to limit me!

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- Article 3: ATA Promotes More Research to Benefit Veterans with Tinnitus
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Editor: We've been reading that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are suffering high levels of hearing loss and tinnitus. Here's the American Tinnitus Association with additional information and calls for increased funding for research.

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Military veterans suffer dramatic increase in Tinnitus, other hearing damage from wars in Iraq, Afghanistan. American Tinnitus Association calls for boost in funding, research for cure.

Portland, Ore. - Military veterans are suffering a dramatic increase in tinnitus and other hearing damage and deserve much more research funding to find a cure, the American Tinnitus Association said today.

"We will have to spend more on veterans' disability compensation for tinnitus and other hearing damage over the coming years than for any other medical injuries from the Iraq and Afghan wars," said David Fagerlie, the association's CEO. "We should be spending much more on research to cure tinnitus and end our veterans' suffering."

Between 2000 and 2005, the number of veterans with tinnitus disabilities more than doubled, Fagerlie said. The amount paid to veterans with tinnitus disabilities went up more than 2-1/2 times. The actual number of veterans with tinnitus may be much higher, he said, since some may not have filed for disability.

*Study: 49% exposed to blasts suffer tinnitus*

With the impacts of blasts from roadside bombs and other explosives, he said, those figures can only climb even further. A recent study shows that 49 percent of all soldiers exposed to blasts in Iraq and Afghanistan had tinnitus. A total of 60 percent had hearing loss, which is often related to tinnitus. The study was conducted by audiologists at the Army Audiology and Speech Center (Delaney et al, in preparation).

An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, a chronic and debilitating condition often described as ringing, hissing or roaring in the ears. Tinnitus sufferers hear these or other sounds - including buzzing, whooshing, chirping and high-pitched squealing - when no external source is present. For 10 million, the condition is severe enough to be distressing and sometimes literally maddening. Between one and two million sufferers are completely incapacitated by it.

Veterans Administration figures showed 339,573 veterans with tinnitus- related disabilities in 2005, up from 144,243 in 2000. The amount paid to veterans with tinnitus climbed to $418 million in 2005 from $150 million in 2000.

"In recent years, medical research has made significant advancements in understanding tinnitus," Fagerlie said. "Now our veterans need us to fund the research to find a cure, and that need is only going to grow."

About the American Tinnitus Association

The American Tinnitus Association is the nation's foremost organization committed to curing tinnitus. Founded in 1971, it has contributed millions of dollars to medical research projects focused on curing tinnitus. The association also provides information on tinnitus to the public, conducts seminars on the condition for medical professionals, and advocates for effective public policies to support its mission of curing tinnitus. It is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

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- Article 4: Short Takes
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Editor: Here are our picks of some additional stories that you may find interesting. For more, please point your browser to: http://www.hearinglossweb.com/news/curr.htm

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Radicalism in the Deaf culture

Since last May, Gallaudet University, the world's only university designed entirely for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, has been rocked by protests over the selection of a new president. Jane K. Fernandes was scheduled to take over from I. King Jordan in January. On Oct. 29, after protesters shut down the Washington campus for more than two weeks, the board of trustees revoked Fernandes's appointment. This fiasco is a striking example of identity politics gone mad.

http://tinyurl.com/yk5axc
(http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped
/articles/2006/11/06/radicalism_in_the_deaf_culture/)

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Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Seek Captions On Ads

This time of year it's hard to flip on the TV without getting bombarded by political ads. At the rate some of these ads are blazing up the airwaves, it can be a downright scary time when it comes to sorting it all out. This is especially true for voters who are deaf or hard of hearing -- when ads don't include closed captioning. "I don't understand why they don't include closed captioning on it, " said Ron, a deaf voter who plans to vote. "Perry as Governor knows the re's a large deaf contingent here in Austin and his ads should be closed captioned, and he knows that." But 'knows that' and 'does that' -- as CBS 42's Leslie Coons found out -- are 2 very different things.

http://keyetv.com/local/local_story_309231503.html

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Kids Learn Better When Classroom is Wired for Sound

Bassett has joined the growing ranks of schools embracing a deceptively simple technology at a time when federal No Child Left Behind accountability standards are compelling districts to find new ways to boost academic performance. Although amplification systems have long been used to help hearing-impaired students, recent research has shown that enhanced audio benefits all students by helping a teacher's voice get through loud and clear, even at the back of the classroom.

http://www.time.com/time/connections/article/0,9171,1543925,00.html

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- Classifieds
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Two online stores and two employment opportunity appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

WCI. Providing Solutions for People with Hearing Loss.
ALL CLARITY PHONES 20% OFF
http://www.weitbrecht.com

Potomac Technology. Everything You Need Under One Roof!
EASY HOLIDAY SHOPPING!
http://www.potomactech.com

Employment Opportunity 1
Various Positions
GLAD
Los Angeles

Employment Opportunity 2
Superintendent
Illinois School for the Deaf
Jacksonville, IL

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WCI. Providing Solutions for People with Hearing Loss.
ALL CLARITY PHONES 20% OFF
http://www.weitbrecht.com
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WCI is here to help you stay connected this holiday season. All Clarity phones are 20% off in November. Take your pick from several choices like the Clarity 510 amplified phone with Clarity Power Boost and 50 number quick dial memory or the CLS45i Amplified Cordless Phone/Speaker Phone.

Call 1-800-233-9130 (V/TTY) or visit us at http://www.weitbrecht.com (use code WCID1106 when ordering).

To receive a copy of our WCI catalog, email sales@weitbrecht.com.

WCI. Providing Solutions for People with Hearing Loss.

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Potomac Technology. Everything You Need Under One Roof!
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Holiday shopping is easy and convenient at Potomac Technology with 10% off and Free Shipping! It's the perfect time to get started on all those gifts for everyone on your list. Choose from a huge selection of items from Signalers and Telephones to Jewelry and Books all at 10% off! Then add free shipping to orders over $100.00.

Why wait? Do your holiday shopping now! Call us now at 1-800-433-2838 (V/TTY) or visit us online at http://www.potomactech.com for details (use code PTECH1106 for when ordering). And to request our catalog just email us at info@potomactech.com

Potomac Technology. Everything You Need Under One Roof!

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Employment Opportunity 1
Various Positions
GLAD
Los Angeles
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GLAD is an Affirmative Action Employer with equal opportunity for men, women and people with disabilities. For more information on the following positions, please go to: www.gladinc.org. The status of all positions is: Regular, Full-time, Non-Exempt, Full Fringe Benefits unless otherwise noted. All positions are open until filled.

* Director of Human Services - Los Angeles, CA
* Community Interpreter - Riverside, CA
* Job Developer/Interpreter - Crenshaw, Norwalk and West Covina, CA
* Community Health Educator-Los Angeles, CA
* LIFESIGNS Dispatcher - Riverside, CA
* Grant Writer - Los Angeles, CA
* Accounts Receivable Specialist - Los Angeles, CA
* Program Assistant/Interpreter - Los Angeles, CA

If interested for any of these positions then please submit resume and application to:

Jeff Fetterman
Human Resources Specialist
Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc.
2222 Laverna Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90041
V/TDD: (323) 550-4207
Fax #: (323)550-4204
E-mail: jfetterman@gladinc.org

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Employment Opportunity 2
Superintendent
Illinois School for the Deaf
Jacksonville, IL
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The Illinois School for the Deaf, announces a vacancy for the SUPERINTENDENT position. Applications are due by January 15, 2007, with a start date of July 1, 2007.

Founded in 1839 and located on a beautiful 50 acre campus in Jacksonville, Illinois School for the Deaf is a residential state school for the education of children who are deaf and hard of hearing in Illinois. The school is operated by the State Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation Services with the objective of preparing students for productive, well-adjusted and responsible adult lives.

Marjorie Olson
400 West Lawrence
Springfield IL 62794-9429
217-524-1379 (Voice/TTY)

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