Joni's event hard to hear for some - LancasterOnline: Letters to the Editor

Nancy Kingsley, Director of Hearing Loss Association of America, Pennsylvania State chapter submitted this excellent letter to LancasterOnline Editor which was published Thursday, May 1st. Nancy helped me with getting captions provided at the Beth Moore Conference this past weekend.

Joni’s event hard to hear for some - LancasterOnline: Letters To The Editor

Posted: Thursday, May 1, 2014 9:25 am | Updated: 9:29 am, Thu May 1, 2014.

The Sunday News article (April 27) about Lancaster’s National Day of Prayer, set for today, notes that the featured speaker, Joni Eareckson Tada, is a quadriplegic. Joni also leads a ministry, Joni and Friends, for people with disabilities.

Therefore, I was sad that her presentation would be inaccessible to many people with hearing loss because a request for CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) realtime captioning was not granted.

I recently assisted a hard-of-hearing friend who wanted to attend Bible teacher Beth Moore’s presentation at the Giant Center in Hershey on May 2-3.

Although the Giant Center’s Website states that it has an assistive-listening system and will provide sign language interpreting on request, what my friend needed was CART.

However, both LifeWay, the event’s sponsor, and the Giant Center refused a request to provide it. (Ironically, there is greater awareness of the need for sign language interpreting than for CART, despite the fact that far more people need the latter.)

The Beth Moore event charges $69 to attend and consists of 5 1/2 hours of presentations. The requested access would only cost a few hundred dollars and could have opened the door to participation for many who were otherwise excluded (providing access for the 2 1/2 main event hours of the Day of Prayer would cost even less).

The Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania then spoke to the Giant Center’s ADA coordinator (the ADA — the Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990 — requires the provision of effective communication), and the Giant Center finally agreed to provide CART.

Of course, since there was no publicity, many others who could have benefited would have no way of knowing that this access was available.

So, here we have two religious events, one of which provided communication access only when a possible legal challenge loomed and the other of which, despite featuring a speaker with a disability, ignored a request to include and publicize similar access.

The cost in each case was minimal and the gain to those whose attendance would have been enabled was priceless.

Nancy Kingsley

East Lampeter Township

Oticon Focus on People Award Nominations Now Open until May 15

My friend Sarah Wegley, aka Speak up Librarian posted information regarding this year's Oticon's Focus on People awards. It's not to late to nominate someone for this award. The deadline is May 15, 2024.

Hop over and learn more about how you can nominate someone at Sarah's page: http://speakuplibrarian.blogspot.com/2014/04/oticon-focus-on-people-awards-2014.html

Sarah was one of  Oticon's Focus on People awarded in 2011. 

Patrick Roche - "21" (CUPSI 2014)

My friend Vicki posted the link to this short video on Facebook. The young man begins to count backwards from his age of 21 to before he was born. He highlights impacting memories of several ages. For those of us reading the transcript, it appears they didn't transcribe a few years, but those are the years the young man skips, so don't think something is missing.

The Closed Captions are automated and wrong... so read the transcript for better accuracy.

http://www.upworthy.com/hes-counting-down-from-21-and-by-the-time-he-reaches-15-my-stomach-is-in-knots?g=9

Such a powerful statement, don't you think?

Immediate Improvement

Wise Advice

Hearing Loss Expo Coming to Harrisburg, PA

Volunteer ASL interpreter Carol Mellott shared this information with me to help spread the word. It's not too early to plan to attend this event coming to Harrisburg, PA in November. Please share.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Office for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (ODHH) is hosting Hearing Loss Expo 2014! It is slated for Nov. 14-15, 2014 at the Radisson Harrisburg Hotel. This two-day event promises to bring something for everyone. Friday’s activities are designed for the professional while Saturday is geared for the family.

The expo showcases services, products, organizations and social activities for people who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. It is a great learning opportunity to see what Pennsylvania offers. So stop by our website, www.dli.state.pa.us/odhh for more information. The expo page will be updated as we have more information to share with you.

We are looking forward to seeing you in November!

ODHH Staff

Organizations that have applied for and been denied exemption to provide Captions for Deaf and and Hard of Hearing

The FCC actually keeps track of applicants that have filed to be exempt from captioning.

It amazes me how many churches or faith based organizations file with the FCC to be exempt from providing captions for the deaf and hearing impaired citizens (yes, 'hearing impaired' is an acceptable term many of us use who have lost our hearing) of our country. If they are financially healthy, they should simply stop discriminating against people with hearing loss and deafness and provide captions. It is the right thing to do.

If your church or organization provides ASL interpreting, but not captions, that is discrimination. Showing preferential treatment of one group over another is discrimination. #StopHearingLossBullying

Here is a list of those that have filed and been denied exemption.

Oregon Communication Access Project (OR-CAP) posted this link to the FCC webpage where this information is found: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2014/db0227/DA-14-267A

PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 14-267
Released:  February 27, 2014  
NOTICE OF DISMISSALS OF CLOSED CAPTIONING EXEMPTION PETITIONS AND 
OBLIGATION TO BEGIN PROVIDING CLOSED CAPTIONING
CG Docket No. 06-181
By this Notice, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s or Commission’s) Consumer 
and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) announces the dismissal of the petitions for exemption from 
the Commission’s closed captioning requirements listed herein.
1
The Commission’s closed captioning rules allow video programming providers, producers, or 
owners to obtain an exemption from the closed captioning requirements if they demonstrate that 
providing captions on their programming would be “economically burdensome.”
2
  On various dates, the 
petitioners listed in the Appendix filed petitions for closed captioning exemptions under these rules.  The 
Bureau then placed each of these petitions on public notice.  After reviewing the comments received in 
response to these petitions, the Bureau determined that it required additional and updated information to 
evaluate whether the programming at issue should be exempted from the FCC’s closed captioning 
requirements because captioning such programming would impose an economic burden on the 
petitioners.  The Bureau sent letters to these petitioners requesting this supplemental information within 
30 days of the date of each letter. In these letters, the Bureau advised these petitioners that failure to 
respond would result in dismissal of their petitions for failure to support their exemption requests with 
adequate explanation and evidence.  The Bureau further advised petitioners that, in the event of such 
dismissal, petitioners would be required to begin providing closed captioning on the programming at issue 
within 90 days of the date of the Bureau’s notification of dismissal.
The petitioners listed in the Appendix failed to respond to the Bureau’s letter requesting 
supplemental information.
3
  Accordingly, their petitions are dismissed without prejudice as of February 
27, 2014, the release date of this Notice.
4
  
                                                     
1
47 C.F.R. § 79.1.  The names of the petitioners are set forth in the Appendix to this Notice.  
2
47 C.F.R. § 79.1(f).
3
One of the Bureau’s letters requesting additional and updated information, dated September 26, 2013 to petitioner 
Ken Hobbs (CGB-CC-1249), was returned to the Commission as undeliverable on October 17, 2013.  Several 
attempts to contact the petitioner were unsuccessful.  The Bureau therefore includes this petition in this notice of 
dismissals for having failed to respond.
4
The release of this Notice serves as the Bureau’s notification of dismissal to these petitioners.  The Bureau will also 
mail a copy of this Notice to each of the petitioners listed in the Appendix.
This Notice also reminds these petitioners of their obligations to comply with the FCC’s closed 
captioning requirements contained in Part 79 of the Commission’s rules with regard to the programming 
that was the subject of their petitions by May 28, 2014, which is 90 days after the release of this Notice of 
dismissal. 
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice) or 202-418-0432 (TTY).  This Public Notice can also be down-
loaded in Word and Portable Document Format at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/economically-
burdensome-exemption-closed-captioning-requirements. 
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Contacts:  Caitlin Vogus, (202) 418-1264,
Caitlin.Vogus@fcc.gov; or Suzy Rosen Singleton, (202) 510-9446, Suzy.Singleton@fcc.gov.
APPENDIX 
Petitions for Closed Captioning Exemptions Dismissed 
February 27, 2014
Case Identifier
CGB-CC-
Petitioner Program Name Mailing Address
0137 Abundant Faith 
Christian Center
“Faith for Today” Abundant Faith Christian Center, “Faith 
for Today”
Attn:  Ron Rhone
2525 Taylor Avenue
Springfield, IL  62703
0201 Edgewood Baptist 
Church
Edgewood Baptist Church
Attn:  James Wilson
Associate Pastor, Administration 
3564 Forrest Road
Columbus, GA  31907
0225 First Baptist 
Church 
“Crossroads” First Baptist Church
Attn:  Patti Shoemaker
Church Administrator
305 S. Perry Street
Montgomery, AL  36104
0318 First United 
Methodist Church -
Lufkin
“First United 
Methodist this 
Morning”
First United Methodist Church - Lufkin
Attn:  James Dunbar
Evangelism Committee Chairperson 
805 E. Denman Avenue
Lufkin, TX  75901
0327 Cathedral of the 
Palms
“Faith Talk” First Assembly of God, Cathedral of the 
Palms
Attn:  David Farjardo
Business Administrator
3401 S. Alameda Street
Corpus Christi, TX  78411
0478 Off Beat 
Productions
“Off Beat Cinema” Off Beat Productions, “Off Beat 
Cinema”
c/o LipsitzGreenScimeCambia, LLP
Attn:  Barry Nelson Covert
42 Delaware Avenue, Suite 120
Buffalo, NY 14202-3924
0521 Victory Ministries 
International
“Inside Victory,” 
“Man Up,” and
“Conversations”
Victory Ministries International
Attn:  Schavonna Williams
Media Department
4613 York Road
Baltimore, MD  21212
0537 New Testament 
Church
“Glory to Glory” New Testament Church
Attn:  Karen Suskie Morrissey
188 Main Street
New York Mills, NY  13417
0695 For Sale by Owner 
and Builder 
Magazine
“Television Show of 
Homes”
For Sale by Owner and Builder 
Magazine
Attn:  Debra M. Brimberry, Co-owner
1314 Biggers Road
Columbus, GA  31904
0743 Grace Baptist 
Church
“The Miracle of 
Grace”
Grace Baptist Church
Attn:  Tommy Shaver
Worship Arts Associate
7171 Oak Ridge Highway
Knoxville, TN  37931
0819 Voice of Freedom, 
INC.
Voice of Freedom, INC.
Attn:  Pastor John W. Hill, President
2292 Floyd Harris Road
Greenville, NC  27833
0820 Archery 
Adventures, LLC
“Accept the 
Challenge”
Archery Adventures, LLC
Attn:  Brad Frost, Co-Owner
8628 Freedom Trail
Midland, GA  31820
0923 Five and Dime 
Productions
“You’ve Got To Be 
Kidding Me, 
America”
Five and Dime Productions
Attn:  Larry Swanson, CEO
461 Woodburn S.W.
Byron Center, MI  49315
0973 Andrew S. Phipps “Phipps Gospel Sing” Phipps Gospel Sing
Attn:  Andrew S. Phipps
Owner/Manager
P.O. Box 2099
Muncie, IN  47307
1081 Kingdom 
Ambassadors 
Global Ministries
“R.A.W. Truth” Kingdom Ambassadors Global 
Ministries
Attn:  Heather Jordan
KAGM Board of Directors
194-18 120
th
Avenue
St. Albans, NY  11412
1133 The Africa Channel The Africa Channel
Attn:  Bob Reid
EVP and General Manager
5200 Lankershim Blvd., Suite 750
North Hollywood, CA  91601
1192 Abundant Life 
Evangelistic Center
“Life in the City” Abundant Life Evangelistic Centr
Attn:  Jason L. Johnson
Founder & Senior Pastor
172 Rodenberg Avenue
Biloxi, MS  39531
1216 Casa Sobre la Roca 
Iglesia Cristina 
Integral
“Hechos y Cronicas” Casa Sobre la Roca
Iglesia Cristiana Integral
Attn:  Rev. Fernando Garcia
Senior Pastor 
2149 Orinoco Drive, Suite 1
Orlando, FL  32837
1220 Trailblazers 
International 
Christian Center
“Tipping Point” Trailblazers International Christian 
Center
Attn:  Pam Phillips
7509 Fairwind Drive
Baltimore, MD  21244
1222 Ghettothropic LLC “The Other Side” Ghettothropic LLC
Attn:  Tyrone Bynum
547 Pine Meadow Lane Northeast
Ada, MI  49301
1237 Berean Bible Study 
Association
“Grace Believers 
Bible Study”
Berean Bible Study Association
Attn:  Bernice M. Moore
Director/Secretary
204 Tower Drive
Pensacola, FL  32534
1240 Watch Fatboy 
Films
“Industry Chaos” Watch Fatboy Films
Attn:  Christopher Woodard, Jr.
817 Henry Street
Portsmouth, VA  23704
1243 Leon Charney 
Media Foundation, 
Inc.
“Leon Charney 
Report”
Leon Charney Media Foundation, Inc.
Attn:  Limei Wang
Media Director
1441 Broadway, 31F
New York, NY  10016
1249 Ken Hobbs “All the Way Live 
TV”
All the Way Live TV
Attn:  Ken Hobbs
Executive Producer 
P.O. Box 561
Monroe, LA  71210
-FCC-

Beth Moore Conference in Hershey, PA to have LIVE Captions

May 2-3, 2014, Beth Moore will be holding a conference at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Drew Dillon, the Assistant Manager Guest and Premium Services with Hershey Entertainment not only helped in getting captions for us, he also requested that from now on, we contact him directly for ANY events at the Giant Center when we need captions. He will take care of everything.

It is not too late to get tickets, but be sure to let them know you would like to have access to the captions. If you have already purchased your ticket and would like to sit where you can have access to captions, too, contact

Drew Dillion djdillon@HersheyPA.com

I hope to see you there!

Marlee Matlin On Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Police Interaction (+playlist)

There are various signs for "deaf" but here, we learn that to be understood by police officers, we need to use the universal sign for "deaf".  There are other excellent things we should know and do according to this video by Marlee Matlin.

Captions to be Provided at Giant Center Conference May 2-3, 2014

*This is a follow up from an earlier post: ADA Violation at Upcoming Giant Center

I am pleased to announce that captions will be available at the upcoming Beth Moore event at the Giant Center this May. This is the ONLY conference Beth Moore is having this year on the East Coast. If you are a Beth Moore fan, but don't attend conferences because you have hearing loss, or are deaf and don't know ASL, here is your chance to attend a LIVE, CAPTIONED event. You will see EVERYTHING that is being said at the conference.

Let's extend a HUGE thank you to Giant Center's  A.D.A Coordinator Drew Dillon for making this happen. Though the captioning committee (Nancy Kingsley, Terri Avis and I, along with volunteer ASL interpreter Carol Mellott ) unsuccessfully requested captions from LifeWay after countless emails and meeting with their volunteer team, just one call from Carol Horowitz, Managing Attorney of Disability Rights Network of PA in Pittsburg got the ball rolling.

Apparently, the only thing that needed considering was whether it was better to just pay a professional captioner the asking fee, or cover the cost of a lawsuit. Thanks to Carol and to Drew Dillon, there will be professional CAPTIONS FOR ALL!

I also want to thank Drew for the free pass that has been granted for me to attend this event.

Be sure to let them know when you register that you want to be seated where you can have access to the captions. If you have any trouble, contact me: xpressivehandz@hotmail.com

Living Proof Live

May 2-3, 2014 (Friday - Saturday)

Hershey, PA: Giant Center

http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Womens-Event-Living-Proof-Live-hershey-pa

Do you need to know more about captions? Learn more here: Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning (CCAC) and CaptionMatch

*This is a follow up from an earlier post: ADA Violation at Upcoming Giant Center

US Navy to Deafen and Kill Whales

This is a video with Pierce Brosnan is captioned! (Click CC if you need captions) What we can do to stop this.



Read more and sign the petition here: https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3355&s_src=CK-NRDC-SNR-A02-FB-FBLP.D-FLL-US-LKS.F-FE-45w-SNR2

The point of spirituality is to ....

"The point of spirituality is to bring us together, not to split us apart, to bring us together in united, mutual understanding and knowledge." "that they would be One..." May my attitude, words and actions unite and heal rather than to ever consciously wound and divide. May that to which I give my attention be the same. Sowing discord comes from a heart ruled by fear, ego and deep wounds. May I readily forgive those who do, sending them light and peace. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord." Psalm 19:14 The Book of The Great Musician. ~ Lana Ryder Rosner

Untie the emotional weights of past experiences so that...

Specific Emotions that Weaken Organs in the Body

I had just come through one of the healthiest years if my life. While everyone around me had caught colds and flu last year, I breezed through with good health.

My mother passed away in December, and I came down with a mild cold in February. My mother was more than my mother, she was also my closest friend. It  has been difficult adjusting to her not being here. While I go through waves of grief now and then, the loss is still fresh. I am still processing the grief and loss.

I've had a nagging cough since that cold in February that had gotten worse. I was not only keeping awake night after night, I was keeping everyone else awake with it as well. 

A visit to the doctor's office last week brought to light that I have developed bronchitis and a lung infection. The appropriate medicines were prescribed, and I have whittled back my appointments and projects to take time for extra rest and to heal. 

Then, I saw this posted on Facebook. I did not know grief affects the lungs. It makes sense to me, and I'm going to start paying attention to these emotional and physical connections and learn more. 

HLAA - Lancaster County, PA Meeting April 15

Our next Hearing Loss Association of America - Lancaster, PA Chapter Meeting is coming up soon. The topic will be How Hearing Assistive Technology Can Help You presented by Bill Best, HLAA-PA ALD Demo Kit Coordinator.

Everyone is welcome to come and learn. CART and loop provided!

Tuesday, April 15th at 10:00

Village Center Building Fellowship Hall, lower level

Brethren Village Retirement

3001 Lititz Pike

Lancaster, PA

For more information, contact Nancy Kingsley kingsnan@aol.com

ADA Violation at Upcoming Giant Center Event: Beth Moore and Lifeway

*Since the publishing of this blog, after a call from a Disability Rights attorney Carol Horowitz, there will be captions! Read the update of how that came about here: http://xpressivehandz.blogspot.com/2014/04/captions-to-be-provided-at-giant-center.html

ADA Violation at Upcoming Giant Event: Beth Moore and LifeWay

Many financially healthy churches and faith based organizations continue to choose to discriminate against persons with hearing loss for whom English is their first language. These organizations seem to care more about money than souls. Churches don't have to abide by ADA laws, but one would think that they would voluntarily do the right thing and provide equal access to language for DISABLED persons...after all, they do provide wheelchair access for others with mobility disabilities. And faith based organizations ARE required to comply with the ADA.

My first experience with this was at a church up the road from us in Manheim, LCBC . In a very recent correspondence with them, I was told there is no money in the budget for captions for DISABLED persons with hearing loss. However, they are implementing Spanish interpreters for their services. They already have ASL interpreters each Sunday morning for the culturally deaf people.

Recently, I became involved with a captioning committee with Nancy Kingsley, director of the Hearing Loss Association of America PA State Office and Terri Avis, CART Provider/Captioner. Carol Mellott, an ASL volunteer interpreter, informed me of the upcoming Beth Moore conference. Carol and our captioning committee met with volunteers from LifeWay to discuss the need for captioning at the Beth More conference coming to the Giant Center here at Hershey PA. 

After meeting with the volunteers for LifeWay in person, we received this email.

Thank you Terri for talking with the ADA coordinator at the Giant Center, and for all of the continued conversation about the best way to accommodate those with hearing loss.  I appreciate knowing about the needs of those of you with hearing loss, and about the wonderful ways to allow everyone to be able to be included. There is an ache in my heart, and in the heart of the women at Lifeway to be able to find ways for everyone to attend and experience the event in it's fullness. 

In addition to the previously mentioned interpreter and hearing devices that Lifeway offers, I have talked with Lifeway some more about the information you have shared.  Although they are not able to offer all that has been requested, this is how they can bless you:

• Joyce and Terri would be blessed with a ticket to come to the event.  We would love for you to join us!  If you can come, the tickets will be at the "Will Call" window under your names.  
• Lifeway will also put their names on assigned seats in the front near the stage and the interpreter if that is preferred. 
• Terri is welcome to bring her equipment to offer the CART service, but the costs will not be covered.  For now, since Joyce is the only one requesting the service, we are hopeful that Terri's laptop, or a monitor that she can hook her laptop into will be sufficient.  If a monitor is requested, they will need to know this in advance.
• The words for the songs will be on all of the monitors for everyone to see.  This is standard procedure for LPL events.

Thank you for meeting with us, sharing your hearts and ideas, and being open to the ways Lifeway is accommodating you and the hearing loss community on May 2-3rd.  I know that not all of your requests were granted, but I'm hopeful that what can be offered will make your experience more meaningful.  Carol, Joyce and Terri, I hope to see you there!  Nancy, we will miss you.

This is my response to their email:

After seeking God and praying about your offer, I have made a prayerful, Spirit led decision.

Thank you for offering free tickets for me to attend this event, however, it just isn't right.

The way I see it, it is not fair that interpreters will be paid for and provided for culturally deaf people while the organization will not provide equal access via captioning for DISABLED persons with hearing loss and pay for a captionist to provide this service.

For me to attend the Beth Moore event at this point would mean that I condone this ongoing injustice against people with hearing loss and deaf people who do not know ASL at Christian and faith based conventions in our area.

I don't think that God would want any group of disabled people singled out and discriminated against in this manner. 

Therefore I decline invitation to attend the event and future events of Life Way and Beth Moore at the conviction of my heart on behalf of deafened and disabled persons with hearing loss whose first language is not ASL, but English.

Thank you for taking time to meet with us and for taking time to consider meeting the need for open captions for all for this event.

Respectfully,

Joyce Edmiston

"Doveskoletz" Deaf Schools (Starring Gary's Class)

Hop over to "Follow Your Bliss" and check out this Danish Film about deaf schools. Gary's class is featured: http://followingyourbliss.blogspot.com/2014/03/dveskoler-deaf-schools.html

Speaking your truth.....

I don't know who wrote this, but it really resonates with me:

Always speak your truth with love

When you speak your truth,

it's not about changing the other person's mind,

or seeking their approval 

for your opinion.

After all, we can't control 

other people's reactions 

to our actions.

Speaking your truth 

is purely about being true to you.

Always speak your truth with love

When you speak your truth,

it's not about changing the other person's mind,

or seeking their approval 

for your opinion.

After all, we can't control 

other people's reactions 

to our actions.

Speaking your truth 

is purely about being true to you.

"Captions Capture the Votes" by Lauren Storck

Today's guest writer is Lauren Storck, founder of CCAC (Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning) and CaptionMatch . Lauren is the driving force behind captions for today's deaf and hard of hearing persons. Elections will soon be here, and because millions of us depend on captioned television and internet videos and news for information, we want to be sure we are included with equal access to language. Please share this information.

“Captions Capture the Votes”

WELCOME CANDIDATES AND VOTERS!

CAPTIONS CAPTURE VOTERS!

WE ask and encourage you to create campaigns for all elections that include quality captioning – for all media, and for live presentations by candidates.

CANDIDATES – do it soon and keep us informed please via email to CapturetheVotes@CCACaptioning.org – copy and paste the email address please — we’ll publish a list thanking all candidates who do this. Get your message out to voters with quality captioning – not only for millions with hearing loss and deafness, but also for so many others with language and other differences. Captions communicate!

VOTERS – begin contacting candidates in your region now. CCAC will soon have a great Flyer (Poster) for distribution, and also a “model” email for you to use or edit as you choose. Stay tuned! This depends on your energies – come on board! CCACaptioning.org - The Place To Be For Captioning Advocacy. Official non-profit membership organization. Email today to participate and share information, ideas, and discussions. Email to CaptiontheVotes@CCACaptioning.org (please copy, paste and add to your contacts).

The campaign here and also CaptionMatch.com invites communications from candidates, the press, and voters, to assist in finding a captioning provider to meet local needs and budgets. Check out the website and learn more. Refer others to it. CaptionMatch is not a captioning company and not selling any service. It is however a service from the non-profit, all volunteer CCAC, to extend raising awareness, education, advocacy, and the CCAC mission – inclusion of quality captioning universally. Info@captionmatch.com

READ and share information in the CCAC Blog and also on a dedicated Facebook page for the campaign where your voices and discussions are invited (not here on the CCAC webpages). https://www.facebook.com/pages/Captions-Capture-the-Votes/610967952314071?ref=hl

SEE RESOURCES listed below on this page – general and specific information for voters and candidates – send us best resources to add.

THERE will also be information and discussion on the public CCAC blog pages, http://ccacblog.wordpress.com/ that also invites guest blog posts.

AND if you are a member of the CCAC or join now, more discussion, ideas, and best of all, shared “actions” among members using the CCAC Members’ Forum online – we use a CCAC Google Group.

CAPTIONING advocacy for elections begin this month – March 2014 – together! There are many elections in 2014, for Congress – Senate and House – and in some states for Governors. These are the focus, though local positions (local legislatures) can be included also, up to your local teams. Your interest and energies invited from all States in the US – and other regions are, as always, welcome to join us, create local campaigns in collaborations with the CCAC for the same theme. 

AS this CCAC campaign develops, we invite State hearing loss and deafness groups, disability organizations, access, educational, and technology groups to collaborate. Send the CCAC your ideas and let’s talk soon. CCAC may have funds to assist in selected limited ways. We are all volunteers.

We are seeking State team leaders especially in 9 States – California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois.

Florida Team Leader is identified -yes!  more info here soon. Other States? Email soon with your interest please.

RESOURCES

Looks like this site may get us to all Candidates by State – check it out, e.g. for California this year, see http://www.politics1.com/ca.htm

http://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Congress_elections,_2014?gclid=CIGe1fKWrb0CFXGWtAoddFMA9A  – about the many elections across the USA in 2014

https://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html  – about older citizens, most in 9 states, open to read more

Here’s one with names of Congressional candidates – read down to find your state: http://www.fec.gov/data/CandidateSummary.do

With very best wishes to all reading, and thanks to Joyce, This blogpost encourages re-posting in newsletters and places that are appropriate by others. Thanks if you do! 

Lauren

Lauren E. Storck, founder and president of the CCAC, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit volunteer membership organization. Join us! http://CCACaptioning.org

PA House Bill 1608 - What it means for Deaf, HOH, Speech Impaired and Elderly in Pennsylvania

As many of you know, I am on the Telecommunications Advisory Board for Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. There are currently 3 vacant positions open for public members. Are you a relay user in PA? Let us know if you're interested in serving on this board. Your expenses will be covered if you travel into Harrisburg, PA to our meetings. We meet at the Public Utilities Commission several times a year.

At our most recent meeting, we had members from PUC come and discuss with us House Bill 1608 and what it is all about.

This bill has many items that affect the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Speech Impaired and the elderly, as well as anyone who is using analogue equipment.

It asks for the deregulation of telephone companies. This will affect EVERYONE because that means there will no longer be consumer protection, and everyone will be at the mercy of the phone companies.

Deregulation means there will no longer be dispensary programs for disabled people who need special communication equipment, such as tty, tdd and captioned phones. Many of our elderly and disabled people are not able to afford the equipment or services that will come with deregulation.

Though the phone companies say this will "level the field", what it really means is that a lesser quality company can come in and provide very little service to rural areas, and not have to answer to anyone for poor service.

Along with lesser quality service and companies, this opens the field to greater possibility of our disabled and senior populations to be prey to scams and scammers.

How did this bill get proposed? During Hurricane Sandy, many of the copper lines, (also known as access lines) became damaged. Verizon was affected because their lines took a hard hit in some areas. Because of this, they concluded that since fewer people use these access lines, they do not want to repair or replace these lines. If someone moves into a new area, and these cables are not available for their equipment, no new lines will be put in.

With deregulation, analogue equipment will eventually just quit working.

Analogue equipment are not only tty, tdd and older captioned phones, they are also medic alert devices for seniors who need assistance when "fall down and can't get up". These older devices use the copper access lines.

It is interesting to note that cell phones and new mobile devices are not actually phones. They are considered  "radio".

With deregulation, there will be no funding available for government groups to ensure consumer protection, or dispensaries of new compatible equipment for disabled, seniors and low income people who need accessible equipment to meet their communication needs.

I asked Shaun Parks of PUC, PA what we could do right now. He suggested we contact our PA representatives and voice our concerns regarding this bill. We as individuals, and we who belong to groups such as AARP and HLAA need to unite and express our concerns. This will affect everyone in the end, one way or another.

There is much more to House Bill 1608 than we realize.

I am currently waiting for information as to exactly who to contact, and when I have it, I will pass it along to you.

#AARP #HLAA #Communication #Accessibiltiy

"Keep ASL in Schools"

My friends and I were invited to take part in this video. Here are excellent reasons why we should keep ASL in school, and why more schools should have ASL classes. Please join us and support the campaign to "Keep ASL in School":



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYQ1tPF5a6U

Ninja Total Flex

Our friend Neil shared this amazing video. I've never seen anything like this before:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY3gXB9ukVM

Lancaster Sign Language Classes Begin April , 2014 - Register NOW

Kathy Kostrub is offering Sign Language Classes in Lancaster, PA beginning April. Fabulous Husband took one of her classes previously and LOVED it! Sign up NOW.

SPRING 2014 SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES

Beginner I American Sign Language, 8 weeks—Cost- $100.00 (DOES NOT include text cost: $20.14)

Tuesday EVENINGS, 6-8 PM, starting April 15th, Lancaster General Hospital OR
Wednesday EVENINGS, 6-8 PM, starting April 16rd, Location TBD

Prerequisites: None

Reference Text: Signing, How to Speak with Your Hands, by Elaine Costello

This is a beginner class in American Sign Language which will introduce the basics of communicating with the Deaf and
information about Deaf culture. The class will cover the first half of the vocabulary in the required textbook and will include
many extra activities to make the learning process enjoyable.

Beginner II American Sign Language, 8 weeks—Cost: $100.00 + book

Thursday EVENINGS, 6-8 PM, starting April 17th, Location TBD

Prerequisite: Completion of a previous formal class or other experience with ASL
This class is a continuation of Beginner I American Sign Language utilizing the Elaine Costello dictionary text, the Bravo
videos and/or other resources determined by the instructor.

Mail registration form and check made out to “DHHS” to
DHHS– Sign Language Classes
150 Farmington Lane, Lancaster PA 17601
If you have any questions please call Deaf Services at 397-4741.

An Irish Toast for St. Patrick's Day

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks

   May your heart be as light as a song

May each day bring you bright happy hours

   That stay with you all the year long

—An Irish Toast

Ted Talks Shawn Achor discusses "Before Happiness"

My gratitude goes out to my friend Thai for pointing me to this fascinating discussion with Shawn Achor on FaceBook this week. There are incredible exercises and statistics in this discussion worth pondering. I am particularly fond of the 10-5 exercise he took from the Ritz Carlton and applied the exercise in a hospital. Following Shawn's description of the change that came to the hospital months later, Chade-Meng Tan offers us a wonderful thought how we can bring happiness and postitivity to others we encounter without saying a word. We CAN create a different social script for the world. This is powerful in so many ways.

This is 60 minutes in length, and captioned for those who need them - just click on the CC button.

*** Shawn Achor saw this post and tweeted a link where we can find more information regarding the research: http://goodthinkinc.com/ Thank you, Shawn!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muce2TxDlMw#t=2143

After viewing this, I'd like to think I am a "rational optimist". I like his definition of the terms.