Tuesday, March 31, 2009

DTV and Captioning

CSD Partners to Create Survey to Address Nationwide DTV Related Captioning Issues

CSD will compile survey statistics and submit to the FCC as part of the ongoing CSD-DTV Transition Project.



SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (March 30, 2009) -- In January, CSD announced that it had been awarded a contract from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement an awareness campaign targeted at the nation's deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind consumers in regards to the digital TV (DTV) transition. To that end, CSD launched both a Help Center (call center) and a new Web site to provide DTV information and to help consumers solve their problems procuring coupons, installing converter boxes, choosing the best antenna for their geographic locale, and even more.

This innovative Help Center call can receive traditional phone calls, and also TTY, relay, video relay, videophone, and CapTel calls. This means that regardless of the level of hearing loss, the Help Center is equipped to handle any call type preference.

Although not a stipulation of the FCC contract, CSD and specific project partners -- the National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH, the National Association of the Deaf, the Hearing Loss Association of America and a representative of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology -- have developed a closed captioning survey to further address captioning issues around the nation. At the end of the survey project, CSD's collected data will be shared with the FCC to assist them in the myriad of captioning problems currently affecting deaf and hard of hearing consumers.

The survey is broken down into four main sections: General Information, Isolating the Problem, Signal Path (how the signal is received), and Equipment Type. Those without Internet access can call (877) 388-4968 and a Help Center agent will assist them with the survey.

From the onset of the DTV transition, CSD anticipated that a high percentage of the incoming queries would relate to captioning issues. Considering there is an estimated 118 million current captioning users in the U.S. (National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics), CSD was aware of the importance of documenting these captioning issues. Understanding where problems are happening at the national level or where they cluster geographically allows feedback to be directed to the proper entities.

"The issue of captioning problems came to a head when approximately 421 stations transitioned nationwide on one day, Feb. 17," said Benjamin Soukup, CSD chief executive officer. "From that point on, deaf and hard of hearing consumers have been contacting the FCC and TV stations directly, imploring them to address these captioning glitches. This survey should arm the FCC with information that doesn't come from the industry or TV stations, but directly from those frustrated consumers."

To take the survey, find out how to contact CSD's Help Center, and locate the answer to other various DTV transition questions, go here. To contact the FCC directly with captioning concerns, go here .

Monday, March 30, 2009

Hearing Aid Tax Credit

Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act Introduced Again;
Find Information, Resources at Better Hearing Institute Website

The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act was introduced on March 19, in the House of Representatives by Representatives Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Vern Ehlers (R-MI). If enacted, the Hearing Aid Tax Credit (H.R. 1646) will provide a $500 per hearing aid tax credit for dependents and people over age 55. It would be available once every 5 years.. The Hearing Aid Tax Credit is actively supported by AG Bell, the Hearing Loss Association of America, American Academy of Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, International Hearing Society and Hearing Industries Association.

The Better Hearing Institute has created a Hearing Aid Tax Credit website.

Among the information you’ll find there:

- Why tax credits for hearing aids? (Gives data and research for the impact on taxpayers, boomers and seniors, children)
- Copy of the H.R. 1646
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Endorsing Organizations
- List of Co-Sponsors (42 as of 3/25/09)
- States Considering Hearing Aid Tax Credit Legislation (North Dakota, Montana, New York)
- Tips for writing to your member of Congress or state legislature
- An electronic form you can fill out and send as an e-mail or print and mail.

A page will be added for S.1410, the Senate companion for the bill which is expected to be introduced soon.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Movies and More - Weekly Update!

You can get your own VRS phone number here.


The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center now offers FREE VRS! If you are a hearing person and you need to contact a person who uses a video phone, simply dial 1-866-500-9662 to connect to the operator. You will need to know the person’s IP address. If you use a video phone and want to place a call to someone on a voice phone, go to the keyboard on your remote and type CACVRS.TV to get a relay operator. You will need to know the person’s voice phone number.

How do you find out your IP address? It’s easy! Simply type What is my IP address into your search engine or click here .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DEAF PROFESSIONAL HAPPY HOUR
March 27, 2009
7:00pm
Cadillac Ranch
38 Fountain Square Plaza Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-621-6200
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SILENT DINNER
April 3, 2009
7:00pm
Tri-County Mall
Food Court Area
Easter Play – interpreted……..Friday, April 3, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Lakeside Christian Church
Buttermilk Rd
Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lakeside Christian Church – 9:30 a.m. Sunday Service interpreted (every Sunday)
Buttermilk Rd.
Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky
Contact person: Greg Smith greg@lakeside.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deaf Health Fair – April 4, 2009
The Deaf Health Fair focuses on education and support systems for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing communities in the prevention of health-related problems.

Topics such as Cancer, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Mental Health Issues, Civil Rights, Dental Care, Communications Technology, Faith, plus other topics will be offered. We will have booths, Interpreters, SSP’s and Real-Time captioning.

FREE:
All Workshop Sessions
Childcare
Materials
Box lunch - for those who send registrations before March 26, 2009

Registration: 8 am to 9 am Events: 9 am to 4:30 pm

PARKING: There is no charge for parking in the CCM Garage. If you park in other garages there will be a charge


For more information contact:
Betty Rosenberger University Hospital
513-584-3785 TTY/FAX Betty Rosenberger
513-584-5052 Voice 234 Goodman ML 0707
Betty.Rosenberger@Healthall.com Cincinnati, OH 45219

Sponsored by: University Hospital, University of Cincinnati Disability Services, Sorenson Communications, Cincinnati Bell, Relay Ohio (Sprint), Relay Kentucky (Hamilton)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday, Apr. 7
10:30am – noon
The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center’s
Deaf Town Hall Meeting: Life after Fifty,
The Deaf Club, 3938 Spring Grove Avenue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, Apr. 25 Downtown Drums: HSDC Annual Fundraiser @ 20th Century in Oakley – order tickets online at http://www.hearingspeechdeaf.com/about/news/downtowndrums/
ASL Movie – “The Legend of the Mountain Man”
University of Cincinnati, Aronoff Center Auditorium 4400, College of DAAP, Cincinnati Ohio 45221
Email aslclub.UC@Gmail.com for tickets

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

I Love You Man
Friday, March 27 at 2:30pm and 7:45pm
Saturday, March 28 at 5:05pm and 10:35pm
Sunday, March 29 at 2:30pm and 7:45pm
Monday, March 30 at 2:30pm and 7:45pm

Duplicity
Tuesday, March 31 at 3:45pm and 9:55pm
Wednesday, April 1 at 12:35pm and 7:10pm
Thursday, April 2 at 3:45pm and 9:55pm

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

Knowing
Friday, March 27 at 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:15pm and 10:05pm
Saturday, March 28 at 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:15pm and 10:05pm
Sunday, March 29 at 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:15pm and 10:05pm
Monday, March 30 at 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:15pm and 10:05pm
Tuesday, March 31 at 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:15pm and 10:05pm
Wednesday, April 1 at 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:15pm and 10:05pm
Thursday, April 2 at 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:15pm and 10:05pm

Springdale Cinema De Lux 18 – Closed Captioned
12064 Springfield Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45246

12 Rounds
Friday, March 27 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm, 10:05pm and 12:30am
Saturday, March 28 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm, 10:05pm and 12:30am
Sunday, March 29 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm and 10:05pm
Monday, March 30 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm and 10:05pm
Tuesday, March 31 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm and 10:05pm
Wednesday, April 1 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm and 10:05pm
Thursday, April 2 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm and 10:05pm

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

Knowing
Friday, March 27 at 1:30pm, 4:15pm, 7:20pm and 10:25pm
Saturday, March 28 at 1:30pm, 4:15pm, 7:20pm and 10:25pm
Sunday, March 29 at 1:30pm, 4:15pm and 7:20pm
Monday, March 30 at 1:30pm, 4:15pm and 7:20pm
Tuesday, March 31 at 1:30pm, 4:15pm and 7:20pm
Wednesday, April 1 at 1:30pm, 4:15pm and 7:20pm
Thursday, April 2 at 1:30pm, 4:15pm and 7:20pm


Showcase Cinema De Lux – Closed Captioned

7860 Mall Road
Florence, KY 41042

Monsters Vs. Aliens
Friday, March 27 at 12:30pm, 2:50pm, 5:10pm, 7:30pm, 9:45pm and 12:00am
Saturday, March 28 at 12:30pm, 2:50pm, 5:10pm, 7:30pm, 9:45pm and 12:00am
Sunday, March 29 at 12:30pm, 2:50pm, 5:10pm, 7:30pm and 9:45pm
Monday, March 30 at 12:30pm, 2:50pm, 5:10pm, 7:30pm and 9:45pm
Tuesday, March 31 at 12:30pm, 2:50pm, 5:10pm, 7:30pm and 9:45pm
Wednesday, April 1 at 12:30pm, 2:50pm, 5:10pm, 7:30pm and 9:45pm
Thursday, April 2 at 12:30pm, 2:50pm, 5:10pm, 7:30pm and 9:45pm

Stimulus and the ADA

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
and the ADA

What You Need To Know


As part of the economic stimulus package, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Funds are being distributed by Federal agencies to States and communities throughout the country to build, repair, and upgrade a wide range of facilities, systems, and programs.

The Department of Justice wants to take this opportunity to remind State and local government officials, business owners, and building professionals of their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Generally, agencies or companies that build new facilities or alter existing facilities must comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The ADA also requires that all State and local government programs and services and all goods and services offered to the public by businesses be accessible to people with disabilities.

We at the Department of Justice can help you understand your responsibilities. If you have a question about what you are required to do, you can call our toll-free ADA Information Line. All government and business callers will be able to speak confidentially to an ADA Specialist during normal business hours to discuss how the ADA applies to their specific situations and get answers to any ADA questions they might have. If you want to read or download the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, you can go to our ADA Website, where the Standards and a wealth of other ADA information are available to you, day or night. You can also contact sources in your area by calling the toll-free number of the National Network of ADA Centers.

ADA Information Line

800-514-0301 (Voice)

800-514-0383 (TTY)

Mon-Wed, Fri 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (ET)

Thurs 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm (ET)

ADA Website www.ada.gov

National Network of ADA Centers 800-949-4232

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Cochlear Implant Recipient Group

Cochlear Implant Recipient Group
The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati
2825 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
Use Burnet Avenue entrance (front)
CDonnellon@HearingSpeechDeaf.Com
513.221.0527 ext. 182

Ravi N. Samy, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Lisa Houston, AuD
will discuss hybrid cochlear implants and their research protocol.

Ask the Experts
Whether you are considering a cochlear implant or already have one, get your questions answered by our panel of cochlear implant professionals.

May 14, 2009
6:00 p.m. Social
6:30 p.m. Presentation

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Weekly Update

The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center now offers FREE VRS! If you are a hearing person and you need to contact a person who uses a video phone, simply dial 1-866-500-9662 to connect to the operator. You will need to know the person’s IP address. If you use a video phone and want to place a call to someone on a voice phone, go to the keyboard on your remote and type CACVRS.TV to get a relay operator. You will need to know the person’s voice phone number.

How do you find out your IP address? It’s easy! Simply type What is my IP address into your search engine or go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/.
Deaf Health Fair – April 4, 2009
***********

The Deaf Health Fair focuses on education and support systems for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing communities in the prevention of health-related problems.

Topics such as Cancer, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Mental Health Issues, Civil Rights, Dental Care, Communications Technology, Faith, plus other topics will be offered. We will have booths, Interpreters, SSP’s and Real-Time captioning.

FREE:
All Workshop Sessions
Childcare
Materials
Box lunch - for those who send registrations before March 26, 2009

Registration: 8 am to 9 am Events: 9 am to 4:30 pm

PARKING: There is no charge for parking in the CCM Garage. If you park in other garages there will be a charge


For more information contact:
Betty Rosenberger University Hospital
513-584-3785 TTY/FAX Betty Rosenberger
513-584-5052 Voice 234 Goodman ML 0707
Betty.Rosenberger@Healthall.com Cincinnati, OH 45219

Sponsored by: University Hospital, University of Cincinnati Disability Services, Sorenson Communications, Cincinnati Bell, Relay Ohio (Sprint), Relay Kentucky (Hamilton)
*****************
Tuesday, Apr. 7
The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center's
Deaf Town Hall Meeting: Life after Fifty
The Deaf Club, 3938 Spring Grove Avenue.
*************

Saturday, Apr. 25 Downtown Drums: HSDC Annual Fundraiser @ 20th Century in Oakley – order tickets online at http://www.hearingspeechdeaf.com/about/news/downtowndrums/
ASL Movie – “The Legend of the Mountain Man”
University of Cincinnati, Aronoff Center Auditorium 4400, College of DAAP, Cincinnati Ohio 45221
Email aslclub.UC@Gmail.com for tickets
****************

Captioned Movies

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

Race to Witch Mountain
Friday, March 20 at 1:20pm and 6:45pm
Saturday, March 21 at 4:20pm and 9:15pm
Sunday, March 22 at 1:20pm and 9:15pm
Monday, March 23 at 1:20pm and 6:455pm

Last House on the Left
Tuesday, March 24 at 4:40pm and 7:25pm
Wednesday, March 25 at 1:45pm and 7:25pm
Thursday, March 26 at 4:40pm and 7:25pm

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

Last House on the Left
Friday, March 20 through Thursday March 26 at 12:55pm, 2:05pm, 3:45pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm, 9:25pm and 11:00pm.

Watchmen
Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19 at 3:15pm, 7:00pm and 10:00pm.

Springdale Cinema De Lux 18 – Closed Captioned
12064 Springfield Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45246

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

Last House on the Left
Friday, March 20 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:40pm and 10:10pm
Saturday, March 21 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm, 7:40pm and 10:10pm
Sunday, March 22 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm and 7:40pm
Monday, March 23 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm and 7:40pm
Tuesday, March 24 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm and 7:40pm
Wednesday, March 25 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm and 7:40pm
Thursday, March 26 at 12:05pm, 2:35pm, 5:05pm and 7:40pm

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

….sorry that’s all the information that is out so far. Check back for updates.

Have a good day!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Red Cross Emergency Preparedness for Deaf

You can download the Red Cross information for Deaf on emergency preparedness for people with hearing loss or deafness at:
http://www.rochesterredcross.org/Data/FileManager/Deaf%20Preparedness%20Brochure1.pdf

Free Emergency Notification

Website: www.emergencyemailnetwork.com
Free public service
Get notified of an emergency by email
Computer
Blackberry or cell phone with internet access
Fax
Topics to choose from:
Severe weather
Health alerts
Homeland security
Amber alerts – missing children

Monday, March 9, 2009

Caption Committee

Please join us at our "Arts for All" committee meeting.
We are working to caption live theater in Cincinnati

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
1:00 p.m.
The Hearing Speech & Deaf Center
2825 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

RSVP to CDonnellon@hearingspeechdeaf.com