On April 30, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission released a public notice regarding rates for telecommunication relay services.
It states, in part, that carriers break down into three tiers:
"Tier I includes monthly minutes up to 50,000; Tier II includes monthly minutes between 50,001 and 500,000; and Tier III includes monthly minutes above 500,000."
They then state the formula by which they come to the following conclusion:
"This calculation results in rates of $5.7754 for Tier I, $6.0318 for Tier II, and $3.8963 for Tier III."
These rates seem to be per minute of use.
So, it seems to me, the assumption is that big companies can absorb more costs - and therefore should be punished for their success.
This could be disastrous for the Deaf community. Large video relay services may have to cut back or cut out service entirely.
This same document had a process for making comments.
Please feel free to do so.
Visit our amazon store
Wednesday
"My Deaf Family"
Marlee Matlin believes the English speaking world is ready for a reality show starring a Deaf family.
The networks seem to disagree. After lots of reports that several networks were interested, none gave the premise the go ahead as a show.
Apparently the networks believe we are more interested in families who swap wives than a family who is culturally and linguistically different from main street USA, yet struggling with the same American issues we all face.
I disagree. I think Marlee has tapped into something we all need: a way to recognize ourselves in our differences.
Stop by her you-tube channel and see the pilot. If you agree, won't you write a letter to a studio and and tell them so? I don't know which one Marlee would prefer, but she has always had a great relationship with NBC (Home to The West Wing and Reasonable Doubts), so I would like to start there.
Or click her twitter link at the top of the page and ask her which she would prefer.
As she says, "Let's make some noise!"
The networks seem to disagree. After lots of reports that several networks were interested, none gave the premise the go ahead as a show.
Apparently the networks believe we are more interested in families who swap wives than a family who is culturally and linguistically different from main street USA, yet struggling with the same American issues we all face.
I disagree. I think Marlee has tapped into something we all need: a way to recognize ourselves in our differences.
Stop by her you-tube channel and see the pilot. If you agree, won't you write a letter to a studio and and tell them so? I don't know which one Marlee would prefer, but she has always had a great relationship with NBC (Home to The West Wing and Reasonable Doubts), so I would like to start there.
Or click her twitter link at the top of the page and ask her which she would prefer.
As she says, "Let's make some noise!"
Thursday
refusal of service
20 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities act and doctors are still refusing to provide qualified interpreters?
An emergency interpreter costs on average $65 an hour with a two hour minimum in Texas. One cannot be obtained, used, and dismissed within those 2 hours to at least me sure a person understand his illness and treatment? No one suggests paying an agency interpreter all day - but a hospital cannot afford 2 hours?
Especially since the courts have determined that a $400,000 practice cannot claim undue hardship.
Surely there is a way to be sure the patient understands and is able to obey the doctor's instructions without relying on reading, a skill many deaf have at only a fourth grade reading level.
How many more people have to die?
An emergency interpreter costs on average $65 an hour with a two hour minimum in Texas. One cannot be obtained, used, and dismissed within those 2 hours to at least me sure a person understand his illness and treatment? No one suggests paying an agency interpreter all day - but a hospital cannot afford 2 hours?
Especially since the courts have determined that a $400,000 practice cannot claim undue hardship.
Surely there is a way to be sure the patient understands and is able to obey the doctor's instructions without relying on reading, a skill many deaf have at only a fourth grade reading level.
How many more people have to die?
Monday
Deaf Sports in the news
The US Deaf Sports Federation and Deaf Nation are conducting the first ever USA Deaf Tennis Open: July 15 to 19, 2010 at Las Vegas Hilton Tennis Center and Lorenzi Park Tennis Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
The next Winter Deaflympics are being held in Slovakia, February 18-26, 2011. Sports include: Alpine Skiing; Cross Country Skiing; Curling; Ice Hockey; Snowboard.
And Vancouver, who recently hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will also host the Deaflympics, in February, 2015.
The next Winter Deaflympics are being held in Slovakia, February 18-26, 2011. Sports include: Alpine Skiing; Cross Country Skiing; Curling; Ice Hockey; Snowboard.
And Vancouver, who recently hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will also host the Deaflympics, in February, 2015.
More Deaf News
I know I said I would get back to Repetitive Motion Injury- but there is lots of stuff going on!
First of all, The Catholic Church has been accused of repeatedly looking the other way while priests abused deaf children. There are stories in Italy and the United States.
A Philadelphia agency that provides services to the Deaf and hard of Hearing has lost most of its staff and its interim executive director. This leaves many going without assistance they have had for over 14 years.
New Kids on the Block star Joey McIntyre has released to the press that his second son was born deaf in December of last year. Right now hearing aids are helping the family to adjust.
And finally, a piece of fun news: The Oregon Shakespeare festival is providing open captions during 11 shows. It may help that Howie Sego is starring as the Ghost of Hamlet's father.
So if the news will let me - next week we will get back to identifying the warning signals of repetitive motion injury.
First of all, The Catholic Church has been accused of repeatedly looking the other way while priests abused deaf children. There are stories in Italy and the United States.
A Philadelphia agency that provides services to the Deaf and hard of Hearing has lost most of its staff and its interim executive director. This leaves many going without assistance they have had for over 14 years.
New Kids on the Block star Joey McIntyre has released to the press that his second son was born deaf in December of last year. Right now hearing aids are helping the family to adjust.
And finally, a piece of fun news: The Oregon Shakespeare festival is providing open captions during 11 shows. It may help that Howie Sego is starring as the Ghost of Hamlet's father.
So if the news will let me - next week we will get back to identifying the warning signals of repetitive motion injury.
Catching Up
So now that I have enjoyed my Spring Break, let us see what is happening in the Deaf world.
The Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing are celebrating Dr Seuss.
In case you missed it, You-Tube has started auto-captioning. Some things are rather amusing still, but it is a start.
Ebay has been sued for discrimination against Deaf users because they require a telephone number to verify status.
Hawai'i School for the Deaf gets a makeover.
And the University of Cincinnati is holding a health fair to be sure Deaf individuals get accurate information regarding health care.
The Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing are celebrating Dr Seuss.
In case you missed it, You-Tube has started auto-captioning. Some things are rather amusing still, but it is a start.
Ebay has been sued for discrimination against Deaf users because they require a telephone number to verify status.
Hawai'i School for the Deaf gets a makeover.
And the University of Cincinnati is holding a health fair to be sure Deaf individuals get accurate information regarding health care.
Saturday
You tube adding captions!
Up until now only those who added captions prior to posting their videos were able to have their products accessible to the Deaf. With new speech recognition technology, you tube will try to automatically caption every video.
It could prove entertaining. For example, rumor has it that Ella Morton from Rocketboom said "Hi, I'm Ella Morton" and the captioning said "Hi I'm abortion" - but I can't get any captions to load sigh. Anyway, it is a great idea. I hope it works!
It could prove entertaining. For example, rumor has it that Ella Morton from Rocketboom said "Hi, I'm Ella Morton" and the captioning said "Hi I'm abortion" - but I can't get any captions to load sigh. Anyway, it is a great idea. I hope it works!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
