Office of Deaf Services SIGN of the TIMES E-NEWS December 2010 ANNOUNCEMENT HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! From Staff and Commissioners! The Department of Human Rights established a board. Each commission will be submitting recommendations to help implement the department’s strategic plan. Three years ago, November 2007, DSCI developed an issue paper called, .Critical Issues Facing Iowa’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities.. The following five issues were identified by the Commission from past public forums and their advocacy work. . Mental Health . Legal . Interpreters Competency Standards . Youth . Services for Hard of Hearing Commissioners would like to hear from you about any of these five issues. There are three ways: 1. Come to our commission meetings and share your concerns or comments during public comment or 2. Contact DSCI’s Commission Chair, Theresa Legg, C/O DSCI dhr.dsci@iowa.gov must be 14 days in advance or 3. Contact Commissioners—their contact information is available on our commission webpage: www.deafservices.iowa.gov/commission/commi Visit DSCI website: www.deafservices.iowa.gov Questions or Comments? Email us: dhr.dsci@iowa.gov ANNOUNCEMENT Hearing Assistive Technology Workshop November 12-14, 2010 at University of Iowa Center for Development and Disabilities, .Martha Meyer, HLA-CI, was one of 12 participants in this workshop, sponsored by Gallaudet University, Hearing Loss Association of America, George Washington University, and the University of Iowa. This was the first time the workshop had been held in the Midwest region, but it has been conducted in other parts of the country in previous years, with funding provided by a grant. Participants were from Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico and Ontario, Canada. They were selected after supplying detailed applications and letters of recommendation. Presenting information on a wide variety of topics related to Assistive Technology for hearing issues were these individuals: Dr. Matt Bakke, Gallaudet University Washington DC - workshop leader, alerting/signaling devices Dr. Ruth Bentler, Au.D., University of Iowa – hearing aids Dr. Carolyn Brown, PhD., University of Iowa - cochlear implants George Khal, Iowa City - listening systems Linda Kozma Spytek, Research Audiologist, Gallaudet University - telephone technologies Audiology students from the University of Iowa – hands on demo of phones, listening systems, alerting devices Lise Hamlin, HLAA, Bethesda, Maryland - advocating for technology in workplace and public Jane Gay, director, Iowa Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT), Univ.of Iowa Patricia Tomczyszyn, HLAA coordinator of the workshop and ongoing follow-up activities of participants Heather Easterly, Registered Professional Reporter – real-time captioning for all of the HAT sessions A great deal of information was presented over the course of approximately 16 hours, and large binders with the presentations and additional informa- tion were sent home with each participant. In addition, the class has access to a web site for sharing information to aid in the 12-month follow-up period, when each class member is tasked with presenting information to various interest groups in their local communities. That said, if you know of a group with an interest in or need for this type of information, please contact Martha at MarthaLMeyer@gmail.com. Martha can send information or present it in person, or refer to other participants if they are located closer to the group. The other four Iowans involved in the work- shop were Sheryl Butler, Glenwood; Brad Herring, Muscatine; Mary Heron Dyer, Glenwood; and Suzy Mannella, Des Moines – representation of Iowa from shore to shore, the Missouri to the Mississippi! The January meeting of HLA-CI will feature Martha presenting selected information from the HAT workshop. If there is a specific topic from those listed above that you want to hear more about, or another related to hearing loss that isn’t listed, please let Martha know by January 10 so that she has time to prepare – and then please plan to attend! It is Jan. 22, Saturday, 1 p.m., at Scottish Rite Park Apartments in Des Moines.. Upcoming HLAA Webinars – Internet broadcast, captioned and audio Dec.15 – Financing Your Hearing Aids Jan.12 – Hearing Research – New Treatments & Remedies You Can Expect Pre-registration is required. See www.hearingloss.org/Community/schedule.asp CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12/02: 6:30 pm: Deaf Iowans Against Abuse Fundraiser—Come Spa with Us! located at Java Creek Café, Cedar Rapids. 12/03: 6:00 pm: American Sign Language Social hosted by Deaf Awareness and DMACC located at ALL-Play, Des Moines. 12/04: 6:30 pm: Deaf Iowans Against Abuse Fundraiser—Come Spa with Us! located at Country Inn & Suites at the Airport, Cedar Rapids. 12/04: 7:30 pm: Sign Language Interpreted Play called, .Mother Hicks. located at Strayer—Wood Theatre, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. 12/05: 1:00 pm: Sign Language Interpreted Play called, .Mary Poppins. located at Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. 12/09: 7:30 pm: Sign Language Interpreted Play called, .Mary Poppins. located at Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. 12/09: 6:00 pm: Central Iowa Hearing Loss Association Holiday Get-Together located at La Hacienda Restaurant, 3121 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines. 12/18: 5:30 pm: Cedar Rapids Association of the Deaf invites you to the 29th Annual Christmas Dinner located at Hiawatha Community Center, Hiawatha. To see more details of these events, see our events webpage: http://www.deafservices.iowa.gov/events/index.html Visit DSCI website: www.deafservices.iowa.gov Questions or Comments? Email us: dhr.dsci@iowa.gov