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ANNOUNCEMENT FROM HAWK RELAY:
(credit goes to Dan Arabie, The American Association for the Deaf Blind, Kristen Fredericks-Chapman and John Lee Clark)
Excerpt from John Lee Clark:
I wanted to let you know that the Federal Communications Commission is open to comments from the public on DeafBlind Relay Service. This period lasts only thirty days, so now is your opportunity to write a few words.
The deadline is February 4th.
Two of the easiest ways to submit your comments are:
E-mail me at HYPERLINK
“mailto:johnlee.clark@comcast.net“johnlee.clark@comcast.net. Your comments
should be addressed to the FCC, not to me, and needs to include a mailing address.
Or post your comments on-line on the FCC Web site through:
HYPERLINK
“http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi“http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/p
rod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi
The proceeding code number is 03-123.
If you have not yet read about DeafBlind Relay Service, a free and unlimited service that would dispatch Communication Facilitators to DeafBlind people’s homes or workplaces to relay calls in person, you can visit Hawk Relay’s Web site at
HYPERLINK “http://www.hawkrelay.com/“www.hawkrelay.com.
It includes a video demonstration, along with text transcription. Also, please feel free to ask me any questions you may have.
Your support is important, but it is even more important if your support is known! Comments can be very short. If you are DeafBlind yourself, write
about how DBRS would help increase your opportunities and quality of life.
If you are not DeafBlind, you still can express your support by sharing some
thoughts on how DBRS would have a positive impact on the community.
After the comment period closes on February 4th, the FCC must make a final
decision within ninety days. So we will know by May whether DeafBlind Relay Service is approved. Your comments will absolutely make a big difference.
Let us convince the FCC to say YES to closing the gap in telecommunications
access, which Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires. But before they can say YES to this, we need to say YES ourselves.
Thank you for your time in reading this and considering showing your support!
John Lee Clark
HYPERLINK “mailto:johnlee.clark@comcast.net“johnlee.clark@comcast.net
Hawk Relay
HYPERLINK “http://www.hawkrelay.com/“www.hawkrelay.com
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Coco’s Commentary
In the innovative age of Deafhood, our lives become more comfortable with technology that is increasingly becoming accessible for people with hearing loss. But it also means that those with hearing AND visual loss are slowly following behind with exclusions due to “two disabilities”. Companies abide by the ADA which nowadays are more concerned about meeting the auditory requirements to ensure DEAF people are more “in tune” with hearing people.
Hearing blind people are better off. True that. There are ATM machines that are voice-activated with braille. But no pop-up braille display for Deaf Blind. Get it? That’s just an atom of our problems we face as Deaf Blind people.
We would be “okay” if there was accessibility for us EVERYWHERE….. as Deaf people, you gotta understand.
So – sighted, blind, DB, deaf, motivation-impaired – DO IT.
Empower many others – in the thousands or even millions – by adding your signature. You’ll change lives.
Merci beaucoup,
Christine “Coco” Roschaert
Have empathy, will build.
Let’s just say that if you build a website with me, it’s going to be a real learning experience. Working with a Deaf Blind client will give you an insight into our world. Majority of my readers are sighted. It’s obvious to me – the commenters, the untranscribed vlogs, and feedback that my site isn’t Braille friendly.(sigh) Point what: Readers who are visually challenged should have full access to my site starting a.s.a.p!
Off the bat: I’m no tech wizard. I can operate a coffee machine and learn quickly if it comes with a manual less than 5 pages. My Blackberry still clicks away at an ancient age of 5. I used to have a “high-school ish” website but that was so long ago.
I’m slated to be in Nigeria by February 10th (yea, that’s the date!!!!!!!!!!!) and I will be blogging and vlogging on a regular basis (too much time basking in the sun of the Sahara Desert and during dark nights at home in candlelight and a charged battery) and it breaks my heart my site isn’t accessible for everyone (deaf sighted/blind; hearing sighted). I have many plans, ideas but reluctant to post.
Y’know, I don’t have a real paying job right now. My friend, the Canadian Disability Payments, is supporting me right now while I’m volunteering at the Deaf Blind Service Center in Seattle, WA. (amazing experience so far). Webmasters looking to make it rich needn’t apply.
If you have the enthusiasm, knowledge, creativity, research skills, and the time – I can pay you a small sum.
I can be reached via videophone, email, AIM or pager. Lv a comment how to reach you.
Tactile love wherever you are in the world -
Coco
Memorial Service
The family will provide two interpreters for the event. There will be a
short service given by the Gutches family Minister, then the minister
will ask anyone who wants to share a short story about how Drew has
touched their lives to share, about 5 min each. Light refreshments will
be provided.
Drew’s Memorial and Celebration of his Life will be held:
Saturday, January 19, 2008
2pm-4pm
Holiday Inn & Conference Center
5400 Holiday Drive
Frederick, MD 21703
Tel 301.694.7500 Fax 301.694.0589
Website www.hifrederick.com
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Coco’s Comments:
I wanted to tell you… I am heartbroken over my buddy Drew’s death. He was a friend and he believed in me. What made his death more unnerving – he died at 1:50pm, Saturday January 5th, which also happened to be my birthday. Now every year I will remember him during the good times – just this year I’m allowed to grieve.
I have known Drew for two years now, having met through his roommates Marc and Brad – and once we did, we found out we shared something in common – Drew had Usher Syndrome like me. I was more active and involved with the Deaf Blind community and Drew was still taking baby steps forward.
In 2006, while I lived with Drew for a month in Washington, DC I finally persuaded Drew to attend the American Association for the Deaf Blind conference in Baltimore that summer along with Marc and Brad as our support service providers (more like cute poodles on leash as Drew and I would joke). The most amazing thing about the conference for me was when Drew got up from our table during the Closing Ceremonies gala and got himself up on the stage in front of 300 Deaf Blind people, 500 SSPs and interpreters, among other guests. Our table gawked at him in amazement.
Drew announced to the American Association for the Deaf Blind that he wrote a check for the nation’s leading Deaf Blind organization – in the amount of $10,000.
That was the kind of man Drew was, to me. An unsung hero.
“I finally feel normal”, he told me mid-week during the conference.
Ditto, Drew. The DB community has lost a future leader in telecommunications for the Deaf-Blind. We will put our best foot forward, and remember you.
Sending Drew tactile 9-0 love up above,
coco
