THIS IS YOUR EMPOWERMENT ZONE!
EXPLORE EQUIPMENT OPTIONS
Harris Communications has “Everything you need for hearing loss”
From clocks, phones and watches to mobile accessories and more. Harris offers “Thousands of products, free shipping and returns, plus a knowledgeable customer service team.”
iCanConnect specializes in phones for the Hearing Impaired
If you have significant combined vision and hearing loss and meet federal income guidelines, iCanConnect can provide you with free communication technology and training to stay connected with family and friends. iCanConnect, also known as the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, is an FCC program administered by organizations in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
www.icanconnect.org
Sorenson Video Relay Service delivers “an unmatched communication experience”
Sorenson Video Relay Service® (SVRS®) provides the highest-quality, professional interpreters and the broadest range of products to deliver an unmatched communication experience.
Sorenson’s ntouch® videophones are the only videophones designed specifically for the Deaf. Sorenson provides extensive outreach, technical support and education programs, so users can communicate with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
LEARN ABOUT NATIONAL PROGRAMS
National Association of the Deaf
“The mission of the National Association of the Deaf is to preserve, protect and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States of America.”
https://www.nad.org/
Access to technology through NAD
“…people who are deaf or hard of hearing were early and eager adopters of accessible text-based communication and information systems, such as pagers, e-mail, instant messaging, and the Internet, as well as early adopters of videophones.
“Today, we have assistive listening technologies, real-time captioning services, Internet captioning applications, movie caption display systems, a wide range of relay services that provide access to the telephone network, digital televisions with digital captions, and video remote interpreting services.”
https://www.nad.org/resources/technology/
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND
THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENFORCE THEM
The Americans with Disabilities Act
“The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.”
https://adata.org/learn-about-ada
United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
“The Department enforces the ADA through complaints, lawsuits, consent decrees, settlement agreements, and alternate dispute resolution (mediation).”
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
“Federal Laws prohibit workplace discrimination and are enforced by EEOC. These are passed by Congress and signed by the President.”
“Disability discrimination occurs when an employer or other entity covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, or the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, treats a qualified individual with a disability who is an employee or applicant unfavorably because she has a disability.”
Review the specifics of Disability Discrimination at https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm
LAWS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA
According to the U.S. Department of Education, this is “a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children.” - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
The U.S. Department of Education says “Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the department.” - Learn more about IDEA and Section 504 at:
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/ - Compare IDEA, Section 504 and ADA side by side:
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-childs-rights/at-a-glance-which-laws-do-what
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Gallaudet University
Washington, D.C.
“Gallaudet is viewed by deaf and hearing people alike as a primary resource for all things related to deaf people, including educational and career opportunities; open communication and visual learning; deaf history and culture; American Sign Language; and the impact of technology on the deaf community.”
http://www.gallaudet.edu/
Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES)
On Gallaudet University Campus, Washington, D.C.
“KDES is a day school serving deaf and hard of hearing students from birth through grade 8. Tuition is free and students come from the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.”
http://www3.gallaudet.edu/kdes/about-.html
National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
Rochester, New York
“The opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students at RIT/NTID are unmatched by any university in the world. Career-focused programs that reflect the needs of today’s employers, work experience gained through the university’s cooperative education program, faculty who specialize in educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students, outstanding graduation and job placement rates, and unparalleled access and support services all set RIT/NTID apart.”
http://www.ntid.rit.edu/
Michigan School for the Deaf
Flint, Michigan
Their mission is “To provide academics and social excellence – rich in ASL and English literacy for all students from infancy to graduation, to be the leader in educating Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Michigan, and to provide services to their families and the community.”
http://www.michiganschoolforthedeaf.org/