Action Alerts & News Update from MNCDHH for July 18, 2012
Published 07-18-2012
In this Issue:
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MNCDHH News
ACTION ALERT! Have problems with movie captioning at AMC Theaters? We need you to join a complaint process here in Minnesota!
- Have you had problems with movie captioning at AMC Theaters in Minnesota?
- Do you want to report your experiences?
- Do you want to learn about the process of filing a complaint against AMC Theaters?
- Do you want to join the complaint process with the Minnesota Disability Law Center?
Rick Macpherson, a lawyer with the Minnesota Disability Law Center, has received a complaint from at least one deaf person in Minnesota about problems with movie captioning at AMC Theaters.
Rick wants to know if there are any other deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing people in Minnesota who have also had problems with movie captioning at AMC Theaters.
People in other states like Illinois and Arizona have complained about movie captioning at AMC Theaters and won. We can do the same here!
If you want to learn more or join the complaint process, then please contact us. We would like to hear from you by July 31st if possible!
Contact us at:
VP: 651-964-2062
Phone: 651-431-5961
TTY: 1-888-206-2001
Fax: 651-431-7588
Email: mncdhh.info@state.mn.us
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Announcing new and returning board members for MNCDHH
Returning MNCDHH board members
We are pleased to announce the reappointment by Governor Dayton of the following 5 commission members:
- Susan Gensmer
- Lyle Hoxtell
- Alan Parnes
- Michele Isham
- Jason Valentine
Their profiles can be viewed at: http://www.mncdhh.org/about-us/211/directory-new
New MNCDHH board members
We are also happy to announce the appointment of the following 3 new members:
- Brenda Ackerson
- Tracy Ivy
- John Wodele
Their profiles are available below.
Brenda Ackerson is a regional representative from the Upper NW Advisory Committee. She currently works as a Low-Incidence Facilitator and Assistive Technology Coordinator for the Bemidji Regional Inter-District Council and has directly served students who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing for 13 years. As an administrator she assists schools in providing licensed consultants for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, provides parent support opportunities and organizes activities for students to interact with peers with hearing loss. She studied at Gallaudet University and served on the Distance Opportunity Interpreter Training National Advisory Board. She has her Administrative License in Special Education, Masters of Education and has a BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Tracy Ivy will serve as an at-large member. She served as a member of the Deaf Health Community committee with the National Center for Deaf Health Research and has taught American Sign Language in secondary settings in both New York and Minnesota. She worked for IBM as a software engineer and was a Deaf Service Coordinator in Illinois. She has two Masters degrees – one in Secondary Deaf Education of Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and another in Information Technology. Her undergraduate degree is in Criminal Justice and she has an AA degree in Accounting. All of her degrees came from the Rochester Institute for Technology and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Tracy is deaf.
John Wodele will serve as an at-large member. He was born and raised in Wabasha and served for three terms as mayor of his home town. While living in Wabasha, Wodele worked for 13 years in the private sector as co-owner and president of Wabasha Transfer, Inc. In 1985 he joined the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office as manager of media, criminal justice policy, legislative relations, and eventually, chief of staff. He was appointed by President Clinton to the Federal Home Loan Back on which he served for 6 years. He is best known for his role as Director of Communications and spokesperson for former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura and as a talk-radio host on AM 1500, KSTP in St. Paul, MN. Currently Wodele is owner and principal of Wodele Creative, a public relations and communications marketing firm based in St. Paul, MN. He is a graduate of the U of MN, School of Mass Communication. Wodele has had a progressive hearing loss since he was a young child that was not identified until he was in his early 30s. MN Post wrote an article about John’s appointment at http://www.minnpost.com/minnpost-asks/2012/06/john-wodele-experience-dealing-hearing-problems-make-him-good-fit-state-commis.
7/20 – Minnesota Senate will have live captioned webcast about 2 constitutional amendments
For Election Day 2012, Minnesotans will have to vote on the following 2 consititutional amendments:
- Recognition of marriage solely between one man and one woman
- Photo identification required for voting
You can start learning about these issues by watching the live webcast with captions at http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/media/media_coming_up.php?ls==.
The Senate’s media webpage provides a Windows video stream with closed captions. Look for the CC logo on the right side of the Senate’s media webpage. You must have Windows Media Player to view the videos with captions. To turn on the captions, press Control+Shift+C all at once.
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Minnesota News
New vlog with ASL and captions about the flood relief in Duluth and how you can help
On July 3rd, we announced that Doug Bowen-Bailey had an ASL vlog explaining what happened with the bad flooding on June 19-20 in Duluth and why you should still visit.
We are happy to announce that Doug has a new vlog in ASL with captions. This second vlog explains what is happening in Duluth and how you can help.
See Doug’s vlog with ASL and captions at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U20rvYrtDU.
For more information about what is happening in Duluth and how you can help, visit http://duluthmn.gov or http://2012floodrelief.org.
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Craig Schield hired as new DHHSD Northeast Regional Manager
Announcement from Carol Mermon in the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD):
“I am pleased to announce the hiring of Craig A. Schield for the NE Regional Manager position based in Duluth. Craig Schield will start working in Duluth on Wednesday, July 25th. Craig comes to us from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania where he served as the State Coordinator for the Deaf since 2009 for the past 4 years. Between 2001 and 2008 he also worked as a VR Specialist, VR counselor and an ASL Instructor. He also has work experience as a Policy Specialist for the City of Superior, Wisconsin. Craig is a graduate of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf in Delavan, Wisconsin and is a native of the Duluth-Superior area.
Craig holds a Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling from Stout. Craig participated in a highly selective program called the Management Development Institute (MDI) in Pennsylvania. The MDI program focused on essential principles of supervision, labor relations and leadership.
Craig is currently in the process of wrapping up his commitment to his current employer and will be moving to the Duluth area with his wife and 7 month old daughter. Craig loves the Minnesota winters!
Please join me in welcoming Craig Schield to the NE region on July 25th!”
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National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program Pilot will start in Minnesota
It was announced this month that the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD) has been selected as the certified entity to deliver the National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) in Minnesota.
What is the program for?
The purpose is to provide telecommunications equipment to individuals who are deafblind and low income so they can use telecommunications and internet relay services.
When does the program start?
Program materials, including application materials, are being developed. The program is expected to start by mid-August 2012.
Where can I get more information now?
More details are available at http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/disabilities/documents/pub/dhs16_170320.pdf.
Who can I contact to get on the mailing list for more information?
Lee Clark
lee.clark@state.mn.us
651-964-1714 VP
1-888-206-6501 TTY
Or
Jan Radatz at jan.radatz@state.mn.us
651-431-2361 voice
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New video available on how to take care of your valuable hearing aids
A new video about how to take care of your valuable hearing aids is now available. It is called “Daily Use and Care of Hearing Aids” and it has voiceovers and captions.
This video provides information on how to make sure that hearing aids are well-maintained and work properly. The video can be used by hearing aid users, their family members, and service providers such as health care professionals and long-term care providers.
Watch the video at http://media.dhs.state.mn.us/dhhs/HACare/Care_Hearing_Aid/Video_TS/VTS_01_1.vob.
It was produced by the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD).
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CSD has a job opening for a MN Grant Contract Manager
CSD has a job opening for a MN Grant Contract Manager based in St. Paul, MN.
The Grant Contract Manager is responsible for the relationship and contract between CSD and the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD).
Summary of duties: The Grant/Contract Manager will oversee and coordinate exceptional emergency interpreter access while safeguarding capacity, quality and continuity of services. This position will build and maintain networking among emergency-related agencies and providers in Minnesota. This position will also build and maintain networking among certified sign language interpreters qualified to provide emergency interpreting services. Additionally, the Grant/Contract Manager will ensure that an excellent level of customer service is provided for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans.
Full job description is available at http://www.c-s-d.org/JobOpportunities/MNGrantContractManager.aspx.
For questions about this position, contact:
Kari Kiesow
HR & Benefits Manager
CSD Human Resources
605-782-1084 voice, 605-782-8454 fax
kkiesow@c-s-d.org
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National News
ACTION ALERT! 7/18 – Support the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities TODAY!
There are people in the U.S. who are AGAINST the rights of people with disabilities, and we need YOU to fight back NOW!
Both the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We need your support now!
The U.S. Senate needs to hear from YOU before July 19th, because they will vote in the Foreign Relations committee and decide whether to move the CRPD to a floor vote in the Senate for ratification (approval).
The United States signed the CRPD on July 30, 2009, and now the U.S. Senate has to ratify (approve) the treaty.
The CRPD is an international treaty that promotes, protects, and ensures the rights of people with disabilities. This also includes deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing people.
We already have the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but ratifying the CRPD will mean that the U.S. is COMMITTED to the rights of Americans with disabilities. The U.S. will also be able to work with other countries to improve things around the world for people with disabilities. This includes you if you want to travel to, visit, and even work in other countries!
For more information about how to contact your U.S. Senators and the Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee, visit either of the following two links:
For more information about the CRPD, see http://www.usicd.org/index.cfm/crpd-faq.
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Johns Hopkins study shows that one in five Americans has hearing loss
We finally have good data about the number of Americans who have hearing loss! A new study from the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins estimates that one in five Americans, 12 years or older, have “hearing loss so severe that it may make communication difficult.”
The Johns Hopkins study is thought to be the first one to provide an estimate of hearing loss in the entire United States (not just in one area such as a city, or in a specific population such as children). The study shows that more people are affected by hearing loss than was previously estimated.
It was thought that approximately 21 to 29 million Americans had hearing loss. However, the researchers found that 30 million Americans (12.7% of the population) had hearing loss in both ears, and that 48 million (20.3% of the population) had hearing loss in at least one ear.
This is a big increase!
A press release about this study is available from Johns Hopkins at http://www.hearingreview.com/insider/2011-11-23_04.asp.
The full study was published in the November 14, 2011 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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