AADB President Arthur Roehrig meets a delegate.

American Association of the Deaf-Blind

An SSP is using tacile sign language with board member Emily Vera.

AADB In Action

Other AADB Information

News from the AADB Office

Last Updated:
Friday, January 16, 2009

Action Needed! Video Relay Service

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Friday, January 16, 2009. For deaf-blind people: have you used video relay services recently? If so, are you delighted because you could participate in a video relay call with the assistance of a CF? Frustrated because CFs are not available to help you access video relay calls? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants to hear about your experiences using CFs during video relay calls. Please send your comments on your experiences by email or mail to:

Thomas Chandler, Chief, Disability Rights Office
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
email: Thomas.Chandler@fcc.gov

Please send a copy of your comments to Gregory Hlibok (also at the FCC), Attorney-Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs, Gregory.Hilbok@fcc.gov. IMPORTANT! The more letters the FCC receives, the better they understand the need for CFs to help deaf-blind people access video relay calls. Please send your letter TODAY!

Obama-Biden Transition Team Meeting

United States President Barack Obama

Caption: The United States President Barack Obama is standing in front of the US Capitol. Enlarged Photo

Friday, January 16, 2009. In December, AADB, along with organizations like the National Association of the Deaf and the Hearing Loss Association of America, participated in an Obama-Biden transition team meeting focusing on issues related to deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind people. Each organization was given two minutes to comment on top issues. AADB advocated for national SSP services and accessible technology, which are currently the two top needs of deaf-blind Americans.

Written recommendations were submitted on how deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and late-deafened people could be included in all aspects of civil rights, housing, employment, health care, telecommunications and transportation. To view the recommendations in its entirety, go to www.change.gov.

Movie Captioning

Friday, January 16, 2009. AADB signed on its support to a “friend of the court” brief filed by National Association of the Deaf urging the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to rule that the ADA requires movie theaters to display captions to ensure that deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind people can participate fully and equally in the experience of going to see a movie. For more information go to http://blogs.nad.org/advocacy/

Captioned Radio

Friday, January 16, 2009. AADB also signed on its support in the reply comments filed by Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDI) urging the FCC to require the incorporation of HD Radio functionality in devices capable of receiving an SDARS transmission from Sirius XM Radio Inc. satellites. HD Radio technology allows for the transmission of captioning signals for terrestrial radio broadcasts, which currently are largely unavailable to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind.

New Candidates for AADB President/Vice President:

Jill Gaus

Jill Gaus
Enlarged Photo

Michael Reese

Michael Reese
Enlarged Photo

Thursday, January 8, 2009. Jill Gaus and Mike Reese, both from Michigan, have just announced that they are running for President and Vice President respectively. Ms. Gaus is a current board AADB board member. To read more...

AADB President and Vice President Elections

Dan Arabie

Dan Arabie
Enlarged Photo

Timothy "Hulk" Jackson

Timothy "Hulk" Jackson
Enlarged Photo

Monday, December 8, 2008. Dan Arabie of Lafayette, LA and Tim Jackson of Sioux Falls, SD, have turned in papers to run for president and vice president of AADB. Look for more information about them in future "AADB Today" issues.

Update:

Thursday, January 8, 2009. The bio of Dan Arabie and Tim "Hulk" Jackson is now up on the web. To learn more...

Spotlight on the Deaf-Blind Community

William Suggs

Photo Caption: William Suggs raises his hands and his soul to the heavens.
Enlarged Photo

Mr. Suggs, from Baltimore, MD, is one of the major participants in the choir of the Baltimore-based Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf (UMCD). The all-deaf choir has traveled around the country, including New Jersey, Virginia, New York, and Texas. To learn more...

AADB Youth Brochure:

New!

Monday, December 22, 2008. Want to meet other deaf-blind teens and youths like you? Find out how through AADB! We have a new brochure describing services that AADB has for deaf-blind teens and youth. Find out more how you can meet others through AADB.

New! AADB's first ever annual report is ready!

New!

Friday, December 19, 2008. Our 2007 annual report is available for your viewing. Read on to find out what we have done to educate the public about AADB and the national deaf-blind community. The report is available in PDF or plain text. If you have trouble accessing this document, contact the AADB Office. We can also provide print, braille copies and other alternative formats upon request.

A New Factsheet on the Web!

Monday, December 8, 2008. Want to learn more about various kinds of deaf-blind people and the neat ways they use to communicate with others? A new fact sheet on this subject is now up on our website. If you do not have access to the website or have trouble accessing this document, contact the AADB Office for a copy.

Comments on SSA Regulations

Friday, November 14, 2008. In October, AADB filed responses with the Social Security Administration in response to the Notice of Public Rulemaking. This Notice of Public Rulemaking was recently released by the SSA for revised medical criteria for evaluating hearing loss. For more detail > > >

Special Preview

Friday, November 14, 2008. In December, we will have a special issue of The Deaf-Blind American, focusing on medical research. This article is on clinical trials for Usher Syndrome. If you would like to read more about this topic in our next DBA, contact the AADB office to become a member (the DBA is only available to AADB members). It can also be purchased from the AADB Office for 8 dollars (including shipping and handling). To learn more > > >

Spotlight on the Deaf-Blind Community

Deaf-Blind and staff
Caption Photo: DBW campers gather in front of the Village Commons where conference events took place. Enlarged Photo >>>

Michigan Deaf-Blind Workshop 2008

By Melanie Bond

When I attended Michigan's very first DeafBlind Workshop (DBW) camp in 1997, I did not know how momentous this occasion would be. Jeff Bohrman, a deaf-blind presenter from Ohio, pleaded for volunteers to help establish a new state deaf-blind organization. For the full story >>>

Comments on American Disabilities Act (ADA)

AADB recently sent comments to the Department of Justice about revisions for Title ll and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title ll prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in state and local government services, and Title III prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities. More detail >>>

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to learn more about deaf-blind people and AADB, the only national consumer advocacy organization for people with dual vision and hearing loss? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions to find your answers.

If you still need more information, contact the AADB Office for assistance.

Jack Wright Memorial Scholarship

Help us honor the memory of Jack Wright this month (he was born in September) by making a contribution to the Jack Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information >>>

Calendar of Events

March 2009

Helen Keller National Center Confident Living Program

A Confident Living Program for adults aged 55 and older, who are hard of hearing and are blind or visually impaired, is scheduled on March 29 to April 7, 2009 at Helen Keller National Center, 141 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY 11050. For more information, contact Dora Carney, Admissions Counselor, at drchknc@aol.com, 516-944-8900 TTY/Voice, or at the address provided. Register early as space is limited.

Events: Do you have any upcoming events you want to announce? Camps for deaf-blind attendees? Conferences in your area? Meetings where you want deaf-blind people to be involved? If you have an event you would like posted on this website, please send it to aadb-webmaster@aadb.org.

Want to make a difference? Join AADB today.

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