Deaf Professional Happy Hour

Tonight!

January 30, 2009
5:00 p.m.

R.P. McMurphy’s
2910 Wasson Rd Cincinnati OH 45209
513-531-3300

Cochlear Implant Recipient Group

Is ON for tonight at 7:00 p.m.
at the Hearing Speech & Deaf Center
2825 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

Email Carole at CDonnellon@HearingSpeechDeaf.com
or call 513.221.0527 ext 182

House Defeats TV Bill

Bill's Defeat Means Nation Will Transition From Analog Sets Next Month
By Kim Hart

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 28, 2009; 1:53 PM

The House today defeated a bill to delay the nation's switch to all-digital television by four months. The action comes less than two days after the Senate unanimously passed a plan to postpone the Feb. 17 switch to June 12.

The defeat was a setback for the Obama administration and Hill Democrats, who are concerned that too many Americans are not ready to get digital programming. House Republicans have argued that postponing the date would cause confusion for consumers and cost millions for broadcasters who have planned to make the transition.

Congress three years ago mandated that all television broadcasters shut off analog signals and air only digital programming. As a result, viewers who rely on older analog TV sets and antennas to receive broadcasts will need to upgrade to a digital TV or install a converter box to continue watching television.

The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on over-the-air broadcast signals, or 5.7 percent of the population, are not prepared for the transition and could see their TV sets go dark next month.

The Obama administration had urged Congress to postpone the transition to give consumers more time to get ready. In a letter to Capitol Hill, Obama aides cited consumer confusion and budget shortfalls as two key reasons for a delay.

This month the Commerce Department hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for $40 coupons that help consumers pay for digital TV converter boxes, which cost between $50 and $80. Consumers who need coupons are now being placed on a waiting list until already-issued coupons reach their 90-day expiration date, making money available for additional coupons. About 3 million consumers are on the waiting list.

The Senate bill to delay the transition did not specify how the costs of a delay would be covered, which contributed to opposition in the House. Other lawmakers could still come forward with new bills to delay the transition or find other alternatives. But that would require Senate action and, with less than three weeks before the transition, time is running out.

Changes to Town Hall Schedule

The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center's Town Hall Meetings
will be held at

The Deaf Club
3938 Spring Grove Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45223

Town Hall Meetings
are offered through our
Community Services for the Deaf Department (CSD)

10:30-12:00 noon


February 10, 2009:

Presenter will answer questions regarding current U.S. economy (unemployment, foreclosures, stock market, etc)

Are we headed for another era of Depression?



April 7:

Carol Yoken, psychologist fluent in sign language, will present on Life After Fifty.



June 9:

Ask the Doctor!

Dr. Susan Wiley, will answer your medical questions. Oprah has Dr. Oz, we have Dr. Wiley!

Snow Day

The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center is closed today, Tuesday, January 27, 2009.

Text for Emergency!

Deaf, Speech and/or Hearing Impaired

Deaf, Speech and/or Hearing Impaired individuals who carry cellular telephones for texting purposes can now request police, fire or medical assistance in the City of Cincinnati by texting to CPD-9911 (513-273-9911). A trained operator will respond to those text messages 24/7/365 and ensure the appropriate response.

Additionally, Police Communications Section, each of the five police districts, and Criminal Investigations Section are each equipped with a TTY/TDD and have trained staff on proper use of these devices should calls be placed to any of these locations main numbers.

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/pages/-33862-/

Communicating with Police

CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICY STATEMENT REGARDING
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH
PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING

OVERVIEW

It is the policy of this law enforcement agency, the Cincinnati Police Department, to ensure that a consistently high level of service is provided to all community members, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. This Agency has specific legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. To carry out these policies and legal obligations, the Agency instructs its officers and employees (hereinafter, “officers” 1) as follows:

* People who identify themselves as deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to a level of service equivalent to that provided hearing persons.

* The Agency will make every effort to ensure that its officers and employees communicate effectively with people who have identified themselves as deaf or hard of hearing.

* Effective communication with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing involved in an incident -- whether as a victim, witness, suspect, or arrestee -- is essential in ascertaining what actually occurred, the urgency of the matter, and type of situation.

* Various types of communication aids - known as “auxiliary aids and services” - are used to communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These include use of gestures or visual aids to supplement oral communication; an exchange of written notes; use of a computer or typewriter; use of assistive listening devices (to amplify sound for persons who are hard of hearing); or use of qualified oral or sign language interpreters.

* The type of aid that will be required for effective communication will depend on the individual's usual method of communication, and the nature, importance, and duration of the communication at issue.

* In many circumstances, oral communication supplemented by gestures and visual aids, an exchange of written notes, use of a computer or typewriter, or use of an assistive listening device may be effective. In other circumstances, qualified sign language or oral interpreters are needed to communicate effectively with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. The more lengthy, complex, and important the communication, the more likely it is that a qualified interpreter will be required for effective communication with a person whose primary means of communication is sign language or speech reading. For example:

o If there has been an incident and the officer is conducting witness interviews, a qualified sign language interpreter may be required to communicate effectively with someone whose primary means of communication is sign language.

o If a person is asking an officer for directions to a location, gestures and an exchange of written notes will likely be sufficient to communicate effectively and a sign language interpreter is often not required.

* To serve each individual effectively, primary consideration should be given to the communication aid or service that works best for that person. Officers must ask persons who are deaf or hard of hearing what type of auxiliary aid or service they need. Officers must defer to those expressed choices, unless there is another equally effective way of communicating, given the circumstances, length, complexity, and importance of the communication, as well as the communication skills of the person who is deaf or hard of hearing.

* The Agency is not required to provide a particular auxiliary aid or service if doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the law enforcement activity in question, or if it would cause an undue administrative or financial burden. Only the Agency head or his or her designee may make this determination. For example:

o If the Agency has limited financial resources and providing a particular auxiliary aid would cost a large sum of money, the Agency head may determine that it would be an undue financial burden (note: the Agency's budget as a whole must be considered). In this situation, the most effective means of communication that does not involve an undue burden must be used.

* The input of people who are deaf or hard of hearing who are involved in incidents is just as important to the law enforcement process as the input of others. Officers must not draw conclusions about incidents unless they fully understand -- and are understood by -- all those involved, including persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

* People who are deaf or hard of hearing must never be charged for the cost of an auxiliary aid or service needed for effective communication.

ON-CALL INTERPRETIVE SERVICES

* The Agency will maintain a list of sign language and oral interpreting services that are available (on-call 24 hours per day) and willing to provide qualified interpreters as needed. Each of these services will be chosen after having been screened for the quality and skill of its interpreters, its reliability, and other factors such as cost. The Agency will update this list annually.

* A qualified sign language or oral interpreter is one who is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary. Accordingly, an interpreter must be able to sign to the deaf individual (or interpret orally to the person who does not use sign language) what is being said by the hearing person and to voice to the hearing person what is being signed or said by the deaf individual. The interpreter must be able to interpret in the language the deaf person uses (e.g., American Sign Language or Signed English) and must be familiar with law enforcement terms and phrases. Because a qualified interpreter must be able to interpret impartially, a family member, child, or friend of the individual who is deaf may not be qualified to render the necessary interpretation because of factors such as professional, emotional, or personal involvement, or considerations of confidentiality. Additionally, although a “qualified” interpreter may be certified, a certified interpreter is not necessarily “qualified,” if he or she is not a good communications match for the deaf person (e.g., where the deaf person uses Signed English and the interpreter uses American Sign Language) or the situation (e.g., where the interpreter is unfamiliar with law enforcement vocabulary). Certification is not required in order for an interpreter to be “qualified.”

TTY AND RELAY SERVICES

* In situations when a non-disabled person would have access to a telephone, officers must provide persons who are deaf or hard of hearing the opportunity to place calls using a text telephone (TTY, also known as a telecommunications device for deaf people, or TDD). Officers must also accept telephone calls placed by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing through the Telecommunications Relay Service.

TECHNIQUES FOR OFFICERS TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY

* Officers must review and have a working knowledge of Guide for Law Enforcement Officers When In Contact With People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. This document reviews how officers should communicate effectively in the types of situations officers will encounter. These situations include: - Issuing a non-criminal or motor vehicle citation. -

o Communicating with a person who initiates contact with an officer.
o Interviewing a victim or critical witness to an incident.
o Questioning a person who is a suspect in a crime.
o Making an arrest or taking a person into custody.
o Issuing Miranda Warnings to a person under arrest or in custody.
o Interrogating a person under arrest or in custody.

TYPES OF AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES

* Officers must utilize the following auxiliary aids, when available, to communicate effectively:
o Use of gestures
o Use of visual aids
o Exchange of written notes
o Use of computers or typewriters
o Use of assistive listening devices
o Use of teletypewriters (TTY's)
o Use of qualified oral or sign language interpreters

1 The reference to “officers” includes all Cincinnati Police Department

Captioned Movies

Captioned Movies

Regal Cinema – Open Captioned
Deerfield Towne Center
5500 Deerfield Blvd.
Mason, OH 45040

Hotel for Dogs
Friday, January 23 at 12:25 p.m.
Saturday, January 24 at 2:50 p.m.
Sunday, January 25 at 12:25 p.m. and 10:05 p.m.
Monday, January 26 at 12:25 p.m. and 7:40 p.m.

Paul Blart Mall Cop
Tuesday, January 27 at 3:05 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.
Wednesday, January 28 at 12:40 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.
Thursday, January 29 at 3:05 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.

AMC Theater at Newport On The Levee – Closed Captions
1 Levee Way
Newport, KY 41071

Paul Blart Mall Cop
Friday, January 23 at 12:20 p.m.
Saturday, January 24 at 10:05 a.m.
Sunday, January 25 at 10:05 a.m.
Monday, January 26 at 2:40 p.m.
Tuesday, January 27 at 1:40 p.m.
Wednesday, January 28 at 2:40 p.m.
Thursday, January 29 at 2:40 p.m.

Showcase Western Hills – Closed Captioned
5870 Harrison Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45248

Notorious
Friday, January 23 at 1:20 p.m.
Saturday, January 24 at 1:20 p.m.
Sunday, January 25 at 1:20 p.m.
Monday, January 26 at 1:20 p.m.
Tuesday, January 27 at 1:20 p.m.
Wednesday, January 28 at 1:20 p.m.
Thursday, January 29 at 1:20 p.m.

Showcase Cinema De Lux – Closed Captioned
7860 Mall Road
Florence, KY 41042

Hotel for Dogs
Friday, January 23 at 11:55 a.m.
Saturday, January 24 at 11:55 a.m.
Sunday, January 25 at 11:55 a.m.
Monday, January 26 at 11:55 a.m.
Tuesday, January 27 at 11:55 a.m.
Wednesday, January 28 at 11:55 a.m.
Thursday, January 29 at 11:55 a.m.

Inauguration Viewing Party!

The community was inviting to The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center to watch the historic inauguration of Barack Obama to President of The United States with captioning and sign language interpreters.

Town Hall Meeting

Newly Revised Schedule for Deaf Town Hall Meetings sponsored by CSD of the Hearing Speech and Deaf Center.



When is the next meeting? February 10

What time? 10:30-12:00 noon

Where? The Deaf Club: 3938 Spring Grove Avenue

Topic of Presentation? Life After Fifty presented by Carol Yoken, Psychologist knows ASL!





The Deaf Town Hall Meetings will begin a new schedule and location. Every other month on the second Tuesday in collaboration with The Deaf Club Senior Citizens Group. All are welcome and invited!

Presidential Inauguration

Local Cincinnati TV Stations Channels 5 and 19 did stories on our inauguration viewing parties. Here are their online versions:

Channel 19
http://www.fox19.com/global/story.asp?s=9706621

Tri-Staters gather to watch history

All over the Tri-state, people came together to witness history and share the excitement of President Barack Obama's inauguration.

It was a day, a moment, people want etched in their memory forever.
"I'm just so excited and hopeful for the country for Cincinnati for the world," said Susan Pace, who watched the inauguration.

They brought their children to tell them years from now, 'We were at the Museum Center watching when...'

"You were there you were alive for that we voted together on a day where I'm excited about these words of hope and change," said Alison Zlatic.

They came because they didn't want to watch alone. They wanted to witness history together. They braved the cold, not on The Mall, but on Fountain Square.
"A change of the guard hopeful we can change America for the better even though its freezing I just want to be a part of this history and watch Barack Obama take charge of the country," said William Adams.

They went to the art museum, following a message of unity to witness history together.

"I didn't want to stay home and cry by myself cause this is big, this is big," said Richard Hill.

So big in fact that President Obama has inspired a nation to dream and dream big.
"That shows you in America you can achieve anything you want if you put your heart and soul into it," said Hill.

The hearing, speech, and deaf center in Cincinnati hosted their own inauguration party with huge TVs and interpreters.

The center offers programs for those who face communication obstacles in their daily life, and held this event for people with hearing problems, to get the most out of the day.

And it was a close call for everybody wanting to watch the inauguration at the Freedom Center.

Their feed went down during the ceremony leaving the TV screens blank. Luckily, the feed went back up just a few minutes before President Obama took the oath of office.
After that, everything went according to plan.


Channel 5
http://www.wlwt.com/politics/18524291/detail.html

Hearing Impaired Take Part In Inaugural Events


CINCINNATI -- As people across the nation watched Tuesday’s historic events unfold, a group that’s often left out took part, as well.

The hearing impaired don’t always have a place to gather to witness events such as President Barack Obama’s inauguration, but a local organization reached out to help make them a part of the historic day.

Interpreters helped translate Obama and other speakers’ words for the hearing impaired at the Speech and Deaf Center, and their demographics matched those at the gatherings in Washington and elsewhere.

“There are people in the room today who are hard of hearing, people who are deaf, people who are black, people who are white (and) everybody wanted to come together and be part of this celebration and feel connected,” said Linda Berman, executive director.

Deaf Chat

D E A F C H A T & C O F F E E 2009


January 17
February 21
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 21
December 19

Rookwood Pavilion
Starbucks Coffee
2692 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-631-3329

Every Third Saturday
7:00 PM to 12:00 AM


Founder Carolyn Wells – celainewinks@hotmail.com
Host Brian Walden – jbwalden@hotmail.com
Visit: www.deafcoffee.com/html/ohio/cincinnati.html

Obama Biography Captioned Online

The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is pleased to announce that it has teamed with Arts & Entertainment Television Networks (AETN) to provide captions and description (narration added to visual program elements during natural programming pauses) to the A&E Biography of Barack Obama in celebration of his Inauguration as the 44th President of the United States.

As part of the agreement between the DCMP and AETN, everyone can enjoy the streamed version of the A&E Biography of Barack Obama on DCMP’s Web site (www.dcmp.org/obama) for a two-week period beginning January 20, 2009, the date of the Inauguration. Viewers will be able to choose between a captioned, described, or captioned AND described version of the program.

Barack Obama

Come to the Hearing Speech & Deaf Center (2825 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219) on Tuesday, January 20 to watch the historic inauguration of Barack Obama on large screen TV with captions and ASL interpreters! All are welcome!

Pre-inauguration TV coverage starts at 10:00 a.m.

The swearing in ceremony starts at 11:30 a.m.

The parade starts at 2:30 p.m.

Come for all day or any time you can make it! Enjoy the accessible presentation with your Deaf and hard of hearing friends!!

Light refreshments will be served. You are welcome to bring a lunch.

Open Captioned Movie Schedule

Deerfield Towne Center
5500 Deerfield Blvd.
Mason, OH 45040

Bride Wars

Friday 1/16/2009 at 1:15 PM and 7:05 PM
Saturday 1/17/2009 at 4:00 PM and 9:20 PM
Sunday 1/18/2009 at 1:15 PM and 9:20 PM
Monday 1/19/2009 at 1:15 PM and 7:05 PM

Unborn

Tuesday 1/20/2009 at 4:45 PM and 10:05 PM
Wednesday 1/21/2009 at 1:40 PM and 7:20 PM
Thursday 1/22/2009 at 4:45 PM and 10:05 PM

Patient Education Program (PEP)

Do you want to learn more about hearing loss, hearing aids, and how to improve your ability to communicate? Are you a hearing aid user who still experiences problems in difficult listening situations? Do you ever feel tired, frustrated, or embarrassed about your hearing loss?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Hearing Speech & Deaf Center’s Patient Education Program will interest you!

The program consists of two 2-hour sessions. Each session will include information, group discussion and activities and demonstrations. Sessions are offered once a month, on Wednesdays from 1:00 – 3:00. The course is FREE for patients who purchased hearing aids from HSDC, and $25 for outside referrals.

Our dedicated staff of Audiologists and Speech Pathologists will work with individuals and family members to minimize the impact that hearing loss has on communication.

Call the center today to register (513) 221-0527 ext. 129.

Cochlear Implant Recipient Group

Are you the only Cochlear Implant user you know?
Would you like to meet with other Cochlear Implant users?
Come to the 1st get-together of the Cochlear Implant recipient group.

The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center has teamed up with University ENT and The Cincinnati VA to offer their patients a fun and free way for CI users to socialize, share ideas and learn from each other.

The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center
2825 Burnet Ave
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
Thursday January 29, 2009
7:00 PM
4th Floor Conference Room
Contact Carole Donnellon at
513.221.0527 ext. 182 or CDonnellon@HearingSpeechDeaf.com
if you have questions or if you need additional information.

ASL Classes

The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center is offering
ASL CLASSES!
The classes will take place at
Symmes Township Branch Public Library, 11850 Enyart Road, Cincinnati, OH 45140

Wednesday Evenings 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
January 21 – March 11

Call the Hearing Speech and Deaf Center to register 513-221-0527 ext 170.

Fee for each student is $90.00 for 8 weeks/8-10 hours of ASL instruction
No text required to purchase
Handouts will be given out for students to keep
Must pay through HSDC at the time of registration, not at the library through instructor
Each course will require a minimum of 5 registered students to proceed
Courses are limited to a maximum number of 25 registered students per class

ASL Movie at UC
VP MAN

Raising money for UC asl club!
Raffle included in ticket purchase!
More info: aslclub.uc@gmail.com
Where: University of Cincinnati
5470 Aronoff Center
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Room 4400 (on second floor)
When: January 17, 2009
Door opens 4 pm ~ movie starts 5pm
Tickets $10 at door
Presented in American Sign Language

* Movie is captioned but no spoken dialogue *
Large movie screen ~ plenty of sound effects!!