3 Part- Time positions for Deaf Advocates in Iowa available; from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013

Trained Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Advocate will provide direct services to Deaf /Hard of Hearing victims in the State of Iowa. Advocate will provide direct services in person, through video phone, secured AIM and text communications. Advocate will work as on needed basis within the limits of the grant.

Responsibilities

Provides comprehensive 1:1 peer consulting through a victim based platform.

Provides assistance in safety planning, filing of order of protection, and assistance with other victim service forms.

Provides outreach information, referrals to appropriate needed services and advocacy in securing American Sign Language interpreters for services.

Provides support to court related hearings, shelter placements and other referred collaborative hearing settings

Provides accurate documentation of daily interaction, appropriate reporting of services, filing appropriate documents and following up as needed.

Provides advocacy during office hours directly, as needed through video phone or text messages.

Educates through outreach, presentations, trainings and workshops.

Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent communication skills.

Must be able to work flexible hours including nights and weekends.

Experience with Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Speech Impaired customers required.

Must have own transportation – regular travel required.
Willing to work evenings and weekends.

Ability to work in a bilingual-bicultural team environment.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent proven work history in advocacy work or working with Deaf/Hard of hearing community.

Demonstrated ability to communicate fluently in American Sign Language and other communication modes.

Must have strong commitment to innovative thinking, problem solving and implementing system advocacy for deaf/hard of hearing adults.

Must have strong ability to work with complex cases, free of biases and independently.

This position is part-time 20 hours/week

Apply Online! https://ssl.c-s-d.org/hr/OnlineApplication/

Tags: suicide, oppression, audism, Deaf, psychologist, therapist, counselor, social worker, mental health, depression, anxiety, PTSD, ASC, ASCDEAF, Facundo Element, Alison, prevention

To the NAD Delegates for the Upcoming 2012 Conference:

Alternative Solutions Center (ASC), a Deaf-owned and operated psychotherapy practice serving the Deaf community, is pleased to share our endorsement of Sheri Ann Farinha for NAD President.

Although there are many wonderful candidates running for NAD Board positions, Sheri’s history of advocacy for Deaf civil rights stands out. This is a cause close to our hearts – and those of our clients – whose stories remind us everyday how far we have to go in securing access to high-quality mental health services, education, employment, and so on, for members of our Deaf community.

With the combination of her longstanding commitment to activism and advocacy for the Deaf community and her charismatic leadership style, Sheri will make an exceptional President. She has earned the respect of many of us, with her willingness to use social media to communicate openly with the community. Sheri has our confidence that she will lead with the same dedication and accessibility she has consistently demonstrated in her professional and volunteer roles.

NAD delegates, we trust that you will acknowledge the outpouring of support for Sheri and cast your votes in her favor for NAD President.

Sincerely,

Candace A. McCullough, PhD
Sharon M. Duchesneau, LCPC

For more information, visit Sheri Ann Farinha’s

Website: http://www.sheriannfarinha.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/303047126455009/

Missouri Association of the Deaf Win Suit Against State

From KBIA

May 11, 2012
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

A federal judge has approved settlement of a lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 1,000 deaf Missourians over mental health services for the deaf.

U.S. District Judge Matt Whitworth approved the settlement Thursday in Jefferson City in a suit filed by the Missouri Association of the Deaf and 13 named plaintiffs. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say about 20 percent of deaf persons in need of mental health services are children.

The suit accused the state of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide adequate mental health care for the deaf. Among many provisions, the settlement requires greater availability of sign language interpreters and development of outpatient and inpatient centers staffed with clinicians and case managers trained in aiding the deaf.

http://kbia.org/post/missouri-association-deaf-win-suit-against-state

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/05/11/settlement-okd-over-deaf-mental-health-services/

TAGS: missouri associaton of the deaf Jefferson City judge matt whitworth lawsuit

Counseling Services for Deaf people who have no insurance or whose insurance plan will not cover mental health counseling services? It may be a possibility if ASC is awarded this grant.

Thanks to a program sponsored by Chase and LivingSocial called Mission: Small Business?, your support could translate into a $250,000 grant. But we need at least 250 votes at missionsmallbusiness.com to qualify. To vote for ASC:

Go to missionsmallbusiness.com and click ‘Log In & Support’ and log in using Facebook. Search for our business (ASCDEAF) by name OR filter by our State and City (Maryland, North Bethesda).

Click on the blue Vote button next to our business name to show your support for our business. We need 250 votes by June 30th before our application will be considered. Your opportunity to do social justice! Again, many thanks for your support for our Deaf community.

The Health Project Coordinator will work on several NCDHR research projects, in collaboration with the NCDHR Research Team.

Responsibilities include:

· Recruitment and outreach about NCDHR research programs with the Rochester Deaf community

· Lead healthy lifestyle intervention groups and individual intervention sessions over videophone

· Coordinate recruitment and survey administration for the NCDHR Deaf Health Survey 2, starting Fall 2012

· Coordinate outreach and education efforts to inform the Rochester Deaf community about HEART: Health Engagement and Action for Rochester’s Transformation

Experience and familiarity with Deaf culture and Deaf health is highly preferred. Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) is required. A Master’s degree in health, education, or psychology related fields is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, such as a Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in a related field and at least 2 years of related experience.

If you would like to apply, please send your resume to:

Carlene Mowl

Email: Carlene_mowl@urmc.rochester.edu

Mail:

Carlene Mowl

National Center for Deaf Health Research

University of Rochester Medical Center

Box 708

265 Crittenden Blvd

Rochester, NY 14642

If you have any questions about this position, please call Carlene at 585-286-5042 (videophone) or 585-273-1173 (voice).

Why Teach ASL to Hearing Caregivers? Hire Deaf Employees!: All of this is great news, but more work remains to be done in educating Georgia about the needs of Deaf people with developmental disabilities. The article below quotes one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers: “…the remedy will require the state to set up programs to help prospective caretakers learn American Sign Language, and to make sure group homes are adequately staffed with the right professionals.”

How about hiring Deaf professionals who ALREADY are fluent in American Sign Language?!!! It seems a no-brainer, but apparently the state is in serious need of education when it comes to meeting the needs of its Deaf group home residents with developmental disabilities, a population that needs direct services from Deaf professionals who can communicate clearly with them and understand the subtle nuances of signing so often characteristic of this group.

Judge: State (Georgia) discriminating against Deaf people with disabilities

By Bill Rankin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

11:16 a.m. Thursday, May 3, 2012
The state of Georgia is discriminating against people who are deaf and mentally and developmentally disabled by denying them meaningful access to mental health services, a federal judge has found.

In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Richard Story found the state is failing to provide appropriate group home care to such individuals and does not have enough mental health care practitioners who are proficient in American Sign Language. Because of these deficiencies, the state is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the judge found.

The plaintiffs, Story ruled, “have produced sufficient evidence to prove as a matter of law that deaf consumers, because of their deafness, and as a result of several institutional failures on the part of the state, are denied meaningful access to the mental heath care services provided by the state to the general public.”

Story said crafting a remedy to the problem must still be accomplished and said he was convinced one can be found through a collaborative effort. He directed a magistrate judge to oversee mediation between lawyers for the state and the plaintiffs — two deaf adults who have severe mental illness and developmental disabilities — to find a solution.

Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/judge-state-discriminating-against-1430596.html