2019 session: bill to improve · more than a dozen states have been for failing to provide adequate...
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DEAF HISTORY MONTH (March 13 - April 15)
2019 Session: Bill to improve
mental health services for deaf
community advances Reported by Jessi Turnure
KARK 4 News Online – March 14, 2019
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – It may be
difficult for many Arkansans to
communicate their feelings when it comes
to mental health.
Advocates say it's even harder for those
who are deaf or hard of hearing.
“The state is not meeting the needs of
the deaf community,” said Kerry Ingram, a
clinical therapist and school-based
supervisor.
Ingram runs the state's only specialized
mental health program for the deaf
community at the Arkansas School for the
Deaf in Little Rock. Of the more than
60,000 deaf Arkansans, Ingram said less
than 5,000 rely on these services.
Legislation would try to make sure they
meet these patients' needs by establishing
standards of care.
“It's not a huge impact on our state to do
something like this but if we don't, we're
facing a lawsuit,” Ingram said.
More than a dozen states have been
sued and lost, or threatened with a lawsuit
for failing to provide adequate mental
health services to the deaf community, like
knowledgeable interpreters during
counseling sessions.
“Best case scenario, if everyone actually
paid for the interpreter, without training,
the clinician doesn't understand their
culture, the language and may say or do
things in the session and actually replicate
trauma that the client is there to fix and
work on,” Ingram said.
Ingram wrote House Bill 1471 based on
other states' settlements and agreements. It
would require the Arkansas Department of
Human Services (DHS) to hire a deaf
services coordinator to oversee mental
health professionals and their services
across the state.
Kelley Linck, the chief legislative and
intergovernmental affairs officer for DHS,
told lawmakers during the House Public
Health Committee meeting Thursday
that the coordinator position “is the one
part of this bill that DHS does not like.”
See Session 2019 on page 3.
See Deaf Culture & ASL Fast Fact on page 7.
2019
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – Page 2
Clubs News
Northwest Arkansas Association of the Deaf,
Inc. had the event of the 2019
NWAAD Mardi Gras Party on March 2, 2019 at John
Powell Senior Center in
Springdale, Arkansas. There
were 22 people who attended
this event. Sean Hager gave his
presentation during this event.
This month’s event is
NWAAD Easter Party on
April 6, 2019. Easter Bunny is
coming to give a special treat
for children.
The next event will be
NWAAD Mom & Dad Party on June 1, 2019 at John Powell
Senior Center in Springdale,
Arkansas. There won’t have any party in May 2019
due to conflict of plans.
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Senior Citizens had
their monthly Social Dinner. Seven members went to
Catfish Hole Restaurant on Wedington Drive in
Fayetteville, Arkansas on the evening of March 8,
2019. The members picked their choice of Catfish or
Chicken meals were good to pick any American foods
and classic ice cream desserts.
The next Social Dinner will be at AQ Chicken
House Restaurant on N. Thompson St. in Springdale,
Arkansas on April 12, 2019. For anyone who age 50
or older, please come to join with them. Also, they
will meet at Monte Ne Inn Chicken in Rogers,
Arkansas on May 10. This location is following east
same road on New Hope Rd. where going to
Horseshoe Bend Campground Park near Beaver Lake
You can see Events Information on page 6.
See ASL Club news on page 5.
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter is operated and owned by
Northwest Arkansas Association of the Deaf, Inc. and is
publishing 12 times per year to hand out at the social events.
2019 NWAAD Officers
President James Bryan
Vice-President Buzz Scanlan
Secretary Saundra Smith
Treasurer Priscilla Scanlan
Member-At-Large
David Giles
Public Relations
NeCol Whitehead
NWA Deaf Senior Citizens Chair
NWA Deaf Newsletter Editor
Paul Smith
Northwest Arkansas Association of the Deaf, Inc. (NWAAD)
established 1975, became incorporated in 2003 and is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization supporting by its members and others
who interested in furthering NWAAD goals.
Please Support NWAAD
Sources, Inc. provides ASL
Classes for FREE!
Courses are available
Monday: 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Intermediate)
Monday: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (Advanced)
Wednesday: 11:00 am – 12:00 noon (Beginner)
For additional information,
Contact NeCol Whitehead: 479-802-3903
E-mail: [email protected]
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – page 3
ARKANSAS DEAF NEWS
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas
creates new program to help deaf
people find employment Reported by Erika Ferrando
THV11 News Online – March 15, 2019
More than 5 percent of Arkansans have a hearing
disability according to a 2017 report by Cornell
University. One challenge they face is finding
employment. That’s why Goodwill Industries of
Arkansas has created a program to fix that.
26 year old Charles Girley Junior is part of the new
DREAMS program at Goodwill.
“My favorite job is cleaning,” Girley said with the
help of a translator.
The Deaf Readiness to Employment and Achieving
Maximum Success program, or DREAMS program,
helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing find
employment.
“My favorite part is having it in my own language,”
Girley said.
“We'll go out in the community and meet with
managers and talk with them,” said Brittany
Fuhrmann, an interpreter and job coach with the
DREAMS program.
“It was created because there’s a great need within
the deaf community needing to find employment and
they’re wanting to find employment,” Fuhrmann said.
The program that started in October has six people
enrolled so far. It offers job training, resume help,
interview help, and on the job support.
“In the DREAMS program I work, I learn classes
like interviewing skills, job readiness skills,” Girley
said.
Another goal of the program is to erase a stigma
and show employers that people with hearing
disabilities can be valuable employees too.
See Goodwill on page 7.
Session 2019
Continued from front page.
Under the bill, the agency would also establish a
certification process for these mental health providers.
They could not deny access to services due to a client
“having residual hearing ability or previous experience
with another communication method.”
“We want Arkansas to be on the forefront of doing
the right thing and not wait until we are sued,” said St.
Rep. Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren, who is sponsoring
the bill. “We don't want to be penny wise and pound
foolish. This will actually save the state money. It is
long overdue, and Arkansas needs to get this right.”
Ingram used an example from his program to
explain the cost savings to the state. In the last three
years, he said his office significantly decreased the
amount of acute-care referrals, which saved the state
about a million dollars. Ingram argues if this action
alone could fund the deaf services coordinator for the
next 10 to 15 years, she or he could find even more
ways to save money across the state.
“Common sense says when you provide effective
services, you're saving money,” he said.
Fite estimated the coordinator would make
between $70,000 and $100,000 depending on
education and experience. She and Ingram said they
also tried to add some cost-saving measures to the bill,
like prioritizing telemedicine.
The legislation cleared its first hurdle Thursday,
after failing the first time it ran in committee. If it
makes it to the governor's desk, Arkansas would be the
first state in the country to pass a bill like this.
In the end, Ingram hopes it makes Arkansans more
mindful. He noted lawmakers decided the measure's
fate on a voice vote.
“So the deaf community in the room had no clue
what the vote was or who voted for what,” he said.
See HB1471 Updates on page 7.
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – page 4
Prepare For New Events Ahead This Year
DEAF SENIORS OF AMERICA 15TH Biennial Conference
September 2-8, 2019 Seattle, Washington
Registration (now to June 30, 2019):
Check or Money Order: $370 per person Credit Card: add $10 service charge
For more information:
Website: dsa2019seattle.org
Tentative – Subjects to Change
5TH Annual NWA Deaf Expo Saturday, September 21, 2019
9:00am to 5:00pm
Meet at Center For Nonprofit @ St. Mary’s
1200 W. Walnut St. (US Hwy 71B)
Rogers, Arkansas 72756
More details coming soon!
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – page 5
NATIONAL DEAF NEWS
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to pay
deaf job applicant $75,000 settlement Written by Sarah Sarder, Breaking News Reporter
Dallas News online – March 20, 2019
Dallas-based insurance company Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Texas will pay $75,000 to settle a disability
discrimination lawsuit after the company allegedly
failed to accommodate a deaf job applicant, officials
said.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission announced Wednesday that Blue Cross
would settle the lawsuit filed by the agency, which
alleged that the company had violated the Americans
with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit was filed after Blue
Cross declined to settle out of court.
Blue Cross could not immediately be reached for
comment.
The allegations in the lawsuit arose after Sheryl
Meador, who is deaf, tried to apply online for a job at
the company but found it was not accessible for deaf
people. After Meador requested accommodations,
Blue Cross stopped communicating with her.
“Like so many other people with or without
disabilities, Ms. Meador just wanted the opportunity to
work,” EEOC attorney Heather Nodler said. “She was
well-qualified for this position, irrespective of the
nature of her disability. Unfortunately, however, the
application process became a needless roadblock to
her employment.”
Meador applied online to become an open-claims
examiner for Blue Cross, but the application presented
an audio segment with no captions, EEOC officials
said. She contacted the recruiting coordinator at Blue
Cross about her hearing and requested
accommodations. Blue Cross stopped communicating
with her despite Meador's reaching out multiple times,
the EEOC said.
A federal judge on Monday signed a two-year
consent decree requiring Blue Cross to pay Meador the
monetary relief and conduct annual ADA training for
employees. The company must inform applicants and
employees with disabilities about their rights and
remove application barriers for those with hearing
disabilities.
“The non-monetary relief contained in the consent
decree should help eliminate obstacles for other
hearing-impaired applicants,” EEOC attorney Joel
Clark said. “We trust that the new policies and
practices for hearing-impaired applicants will effect
positive change for this health care services company.
The EEOC wants to ensure that what Ms. Meador
experienced does not happen again.”
ASL CLUB OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
March 29, 2019 at Sources Inc. in Fayetteville, AR
There were 30 people who attended this event.
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019– page 6
Northwest Arkansas Area Social Events
NWA Deaf Senior Citizens Social Dinner
Friday, April 12, 2019 at 5:00pm
Meet at AQ Chicken House 1207 N Thompson Street
Springdale, Arkansas
Friday, May 10, 2019 at 5:00pm
Meet at Monte Ne Inn Chicken 13843 Highway 94 (New Hope Rd.)
Rogers, Arkansas
Admission: Cost of your choice on Meals and/or Drinks. Donation will be honored.
ASL Club Social Event
FRIDAY, April 22, 2019 at 7:00 pm
Meet at Sources, Inc.
1918 N. Birch Ave. ~ Fayetteville, Arkansas
Free Admission! Donation will be honored.
NWAAD Mom and Dad Party
Saturday, June 1, 2019 ~ 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Meet at John Powell Senior Center
610 E. Grove Ave. ~ Springdale, Arkansas
Admission at Door:
Members: $3.00 – Non-members: $5.00
(First time visiting: FREE)
FUN DAY 2019 Sat., June 8, 2019 ~ 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Meet at Prairie Creek Park Pavilion ~ Beaver Lake
Off from Hwy 12 ~ East of Rogers, Arkansas
Please RSVP at www.ARSources.org or call 479-442-5600
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – page 7
Interesting Information
HB1471 Updates!
On March 19, 2019
At the Arkansas House of Representatives
HB1471 passed!
The bill has sent to the Senate floor.
On March 28, 2019
At the Arkansas State Senate
HB1471 passed!
The bill has sent to the Governor’s desk.
Next, will the Governor sign the bill or not?
The report will be updating in this newsletter soon
after the Governor’s decision.
Goodwill
Continued from page 3.
“They’re capable of doing this. We might need an
interpreter to do trainings or maybe you need to write
back and forth,” Fuhrmann said.
Already two people have gotten jobs in retail and
one in housekeeping thanks to the program, but the
possibilities are endless
“”Anything they’re wanting to do, so we don’t limit
them. We let them pick what they want to do,”
Fuhrmann said.
The program is free for participants, but they have
to go through the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services to
get referred to the program.
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – page 8
Funny Picture
What are Easter Bunny chick’s names?
Announcement
IS ANY DEAF-OWNED
BUSINESS AVAILABLE IN
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS?
PLEASE LET US KNOW!
WE WILL ADD INFO HERE.
Business Ads
Kristin’s Crafts Shop Kristin Bradford – Crafts and Jewelry Maker
Phone: 479-439-8518
For Sale
Jewelry Fundraiser for NWAAD
Check it on the website online below,
http://kittingirl1989.wixsite.com/jewelry
Donation Ads
Boats for Millie A young boy named Maddox understands how
important it is to get his deaf sister, Millie to
Boston and also understands the great financial
cost that comes with the treatment Millie needs.
Now, on his own, Maddox has started making
paper boats to sell so he can help get his baby
deaf sister to Boston. He has a lot of paper and
a really big heart. Boats are $1.00 a piece and
can be personalized by Maddox.
For more information and to make a donation
to help Millie on this website:
www.boatsformillie.com
Arkansas Baptist Conference of the Deaf Bible Conference ~ May 3-4, 2019
Spiritual Retreat Speaker: Rev. John Lovas
Pastor to Deaf at Canal Blvd. Baptist Deaf Church in New Orleans, LA
Registration: $20.00 per person
Meet at Grace Baptist Church 1800 S. Knoxville Ave., Russellville, Arkansas
More Info? Email: [email protected]
Is anyone interesting to put your
business ads in this newsletter?
Let us know!
Do you have your Deaf Community News? We want to hear from you!
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – page 9
April 2019 S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
Birthdays
9 – Janece Phillips
Anniversaries
(none)
Holidays and Others
15 – Tax Day
21 – Easter Sunday
Social Events
6 – NWAAD Easter Party
12 – NWA Deaf Seniors @ AQ Chicken, Springdale
26 – ASL Club Social Event
May 2019 S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Birthdays
29 – Martha Gateley
30 – Saundra Smith
Anniversaries
12 – James and Jessica Bryan
Holidays and Others
12 – Mother’s Day
27 – Memorial Day
Social Events
3 – NWAAD (will not have party this month)
12 – NWA Deaf Seniors @ Monte Ne Inn Chicken
Did we miss someone’s birthday or wedding anniversary on any month of the year? OR see something wrong?
Please let us know! We will do better next time. Thank you!
Calendar of Events Interesting Information
Monday. April 1, 2019
April’s Fool Day
Monday, April 15, 2019
Income Tax Deadline (Tax Day)
Friday, April 19, 2019
Good Friday
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Easter Sunday
Address:
600 Museum Way
Bentonville, AR 72712
American Sign Language interpretation is
provided for all Distinguished Speaker programs
and for Collection Highlights tours on the third
Saturday of each month from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Contact us for preferred seating for ASL users at
our Distinguished Speaker programs.
Sign Language interpretation for all other
programs and tours is available upon request with
advanced notice based on availability. Contact us
to schedule.
Access Contact Information:
Website: CrystalBridges.org/Access
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 479-657-2335, Relay or voice calls are
welcome.
Any New Events Ahead?
Please let us know!
Northwest Arkansas Deaf Newsletter – April 2019 – page 10
April 6 – Janece Phillips
See more whose birthdays and
anniversaries on page 9.
Next Event at NWAAD
Sat., June 1, 2019 6:00pm to 9:00pm
NWAAD Mom & Dad Party
At John Powell Senior Center 610 E. Grove Ave.
Springdale, Arkansas
Admission at Door: Members: $3.00 per person
Non-members: $5.00 per person (We accept cash or credit/debit card)
For More Information: www.nwaad.com Or see NWAAD in Facebook
JOIN OUR NWAAD
MEMBERSHIP TODAY?
Just 10.00 per year! Renewal or Join Today!
See one of our NWAAD Officers
We need your support!
NOW AVAILABLE MEMBERSHIP
PAYMENT ONLINE www.nwaad.com
DONATION TO NWAAD
Now Available Online
Thank you for your support!
BETHEL DEAF
FELLOWSHIP
Schedule of Services:
Sunday 2:00 pm – Worship Service
Wednesday 7:00 pm – Bible Study
For more information,
See online: www.bethldeaffellowship.com