Anti-Bullying Policies at Florida School for the Deaf

VIDEO: (Captioned) - Florida School for the Deaf and Blind takes anti-bullying stand.



Firstcoastnews.com: ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FL - Since the implementation of the Jeffrey Johnston "Stand up for All Students" Act, which was passed in 2008, all schools in the state are required to have anti-bullying policies in place.



The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine is just one district working to eliminate bullying. Students from elementary through high school are learning about the importance of being respectful, responsible and cooperative.

Video by fsdbvideos



"She was teasing me like 'I didn't know the words, I didn't know the English language," said student Julia Kadzis.



"In my last school, I had no friends. No one would talk to me really," explains freshman Gracie Delong.



"I've had lots of experiences with bullying here and in the world, and I've tolerated it," said senior D.J. Snell.



Students at FSDB recall their own personal experiences with bullying. "They kept bullying me because I'm a Deaf person," Snell said.



"No one would talk to me really, no one would sit next to me at the lunch table," said Delong. "And the same group of girls would bully me because they didn't think I could see certain things." ...READ MORE: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/article/302077/3/FSDB-takes-anti-bullying-stand

Technology Helps Deaf Students at Gallaudet

VIDEO: Technology Helps Deaf Students at Gallaudet University. (Captioned)



VOA - Gallaudet University in Washington is the world's only university with programs designed for Deaf students and those who are hard-of-hearing. But hearing disorders do not keep students from learning because of the university's heavy use of technology.



Students use interactive technologies in and out of the classroom, technologies such as webcam interactions on Skype. More than 90 percent of Gallaudet's classes use some form of online communication. Professor Gene Mirus says technology is important in the learning process. "So there are, you know, televisions and webcams and things like that. Students are able to record themselves doing projects in sign language, and do that at home. We use a lot of computer technologies, and webcams and things like that."

Video by VOALearningEnglish



Sonam Jain, a student from Sri Lanka, says his years at Gallaudet have offered experiences different from his childhood. "Sri Lanka has states. And they don't have one standardized sign language. So, in the United States, for example, there are signs for almost everything that you would ever want to talk about.



In Sri Lanka, there isn't. And so there are many things you find it very difficult to talk about in Sri Lanka." Another student says Gallaudet has helped him with his communication skills, especially with ASL - American Sign Language.



"When I grew up, I was signing in a way that was more English-like. Here at Gallaudet, I sign more like I sign in ASL - more visual and the communication is much easier, and the social life is wonderful here." That increased ability to communicate helps many students. "A lot of networking and reaching out to people and I've learned from - I've had role models that I've learned from here.



They provide workshops, there are a lot of sporting activities, intramural events that I've been involved with." "Most students increase their self-confidence, and improve their communication abilities and they leave Gallaudet ready to face the world." I'm Jeri Watson.

Source http://learningenglish.voanews.com



Similar article at Medical Research: Dual Adaptation in Deaf Brains

$5.75 Million Settlement Awarded To Deaf & Blind Students

VIDEO: Hawaiireporter.com - $5.75 Million Settlement Awarded to Deaf and Blind Students Sexually Assaulted by Gang at Hawaii Public School.



HONOLULU - A young girl is forced to perform oral sex on an older boy while he films her with his cell phone camera and students at their school look on, another young girl becomes pregnant after she is raped by a male student at her school, a young boy is sodomized in the bathroom by an older student, but school administrators don’t penalized the perpetrator, another child is sexually assaulted by five boys on campus, and nothing is done to stop them or punish them after the fact.



These are not scenarios from an NBC’s Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode, they are actual events that parents say took place at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind, the state’s only public school for children with these disabilities.

Video by KHONNewsHawaii



For more than a decade, some of the school’s administrators and students covered up a terrible secret young children between 12 and 16 years old were being terrorized - robbed, raped, sodomized and even gang raped on campus and on the school buses – not by employees, but by other children. There are just 80 children enrolled in the school, which is located on the edge of Waikiki, Hawaii’s main tourism hub, and just across the street from the Honolulu Zoo.



One student heading a gang calling themselves the “Ringleaders” orchestrated the attacks, and students were ordered to participate as attackers or retaliated against.



Michael Green is one of five attorneys who successfully secured a $5,750,000 settlement last week from the state and a school counselor. ... READ MORE: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/5-75-million-settlement-awarded-to-deaf-and-blind-students-sexually-assaulted-by-gang-at-hawaii-public-school/123



Related Articles:

Settlement Reached In Lawsuit Involving Deaf & Blind Students

Arrests Made In Alleged Sex Assaults At Hawaii's School For The Deaf and Blind

WPRI - Deaf Student Breaks Barriers

VIDEO: WPRI - Deaf student breaks barriers. (Captioned)



PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Providence teen would love to break another barrier through her senior project. 18-year-old Amber Rodriguez is a high school senior with dreams of becoming a police officer, so getting tugged along by one of Providence’s two explosive detection dogs makes for a perfect project.



This is a first for Providence Patrolman Linc Sisson, and Kyra the Belgian Shepherd, who is stronger than she looks. Amber is a sharp shooter on the court for the Rhode Island School For The Deaf, and competes on the basketball court as well as in the classroom.



Her desire to protect and serve combined with her love of animals sparked her unique senior project idea. “I’m learning about how she sniffs out the bombs, how she can find and detect some of the bombs that are hidden,” Amber said.



While Amber’s athleticism would be an advantage to the rigors of police work, she knows she would probably be the first Deaf officer.



“Deaf people are a little more visual, so I would be able to see a lot of things before they happen. We are more attentive with our eyes,” she said. ... READ MORE: http://www.wpri.com/dpp/on_air/street_stories/Street-stories-deaf-student-breaks-barriers

Howard Rosenblum's Inspiration

VIDEO: Howard Rosenblum's Inspiration. (Subtitles)



Howard Rosenblum, CEO of National Association of the Deaf, shares his inspiration with Deaf students.

Video by ampaasd

'The Wizard of Oz' in American Sign Language

VIDEO: 'The Wizard of Oz' in American Sign Language. (Captioned)



Short film: The Wizard of Oz in American Sign Language was made by Eyes Alive!, an elementary school performing arts group at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. The movie was shot over a couple of months on the school campus.

Video by fsdbvideos

Florida School For The Deaf & The Blind Seeks $10 Million For Upgrades

Jacksonville.com: School for Deaf and Blind seeks about $10 million for upgrades.



TALLAHASSEE - Repairing buildings and making construction upgrades makes up the meat of a funding request being pitched by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine.



The school is asking for $9.7 million in construction money, a steep increase over the $1.4 million in Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget and the $1.6 million it got last year. The $1.4 million is the same amount requested by the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the school’s budget.



“With that amount we would barley be able to touch projects needed to ensure safety-related repairs,” said Jeanne Prickett, the school’s president.



With the money, the school wants to fund preventive maintenance, repair projects and remain compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.



“That means we would be able to continue to keep up-to-date buildings and renovate obsolete areas,” Prickett told the House Appropriations Subcommittee during a Tuesday hearing.



Since 2008, the school’s construction funding has dropped by $11.8 million. The funding comes from the same shrinking pot of money used for higher education and k-12 projects. Lawmakers are working to overhaul the system, which is funded by taxes on certain communications and telecommunications.



Students on the School for the Deaf and the Blind’s 80-acre campus have increased from 585 to 610 over the past five years, officials said. Overall enrollment, which includes off-campus students, has increased from 904 to 989 over that time. ... Read more: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-02-12/story/school-deaf-and-blind-seeks-about-10-million-upgrades

HLN: Former NBA Player Runs Camp For Deaf Kids

VIDEO: Exclusive interview with former NBA player runs camp for Deaf kids.



HLN: Mike 'Stinger' Glenn spent 10 years in the NBA playing for teams like the Knicks and Hawks. Since retiring, Glenn has written a book and he makes appearances as a motivational speaker and a basketball analyst. Now, he's returning to the court as a coach and giving back to his own community in a big way.



HLN's Joe Carter sat down with Glenn to talk about his one-of-a-kind basketball camp, designed specifically for hearing impaired or Deaf kids.

Video by HLN



For more informaton please visit http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/02/10/mike-glenn-basketball-hearing-deaf-sports

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Get Social with Mike Glenn Basketball Camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Video by getsocialwithme



This non-profit organization is the Nations First Basketball Camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Athletes ages 14 to 18 attending Junior High or High School. Space is limited and "Basketball Skills" Visit: http://www.mikeglenn.com/camp.html for more information.

Deaf Students Lack Interpretors

The Montana Kaimin - Deaf students outnumber interpreters 2-1; school struggles to meet demand.



MISSOULA - A shortage of sign language interpreters in Missoula has left the University of Montana stretching resources thin for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.



Denise May, the lead interpreter at UM, said Missoula County Public Schools and the University already employ every certified interpreter who wants to work in the region.



"Interpreters are scarce and we could use more," May said. "For example, tomorrow, besides covering all the classes, there's a rodeo club meeting, a mid-year report, a Montana Council for Exceptional Children conference, and others have called asking for interpreters that can work in the community."



There are eight full-time Deaf students attending the University this semester double the number of available full-time sign-language interpreters at UM.



The Americans with Disabilities Act requires businesses and universities to provide equal access to persons with disabilities including effective communication services. ... Read more: http://www.montanakaimin.com/news/article_ed86fc92-70e8-11e2-b6fb-001a4bcf6878.html

Gallaudet Marks 25th Anniversary of 'Deaf President Now' Protests

WJLA - Gallaudet University marks 25th anniversary of 'Deaf President Now' protests.



WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University is marking the 25th anniversary of the “Deaf President Now” protests. The grassroots effort was launched by students in 1988, generating national and international headlines and resulting in the university’s first Deaf president.



When the Board of Trustees selected the only hearing candidate as Gallaudet University’s next president 25 years ago, students organized a week of protests, chanting “Deaf president now.”



“I can remember when we were looking for a Deaf president I actually made a comment that I hope we see a Deaf president in my lifetime. So I think that gives you an example of how far away it seemed to me,” says Fred Weiner.



Since 1988, three Deaf men have served as president of the university. This week, they gathered to reflect on the so-called DPN movement’s anniversary.

“Expectations were very high, very, very high,” says Dr. I. King Jordan, Gallaudet’s first Deaf president. “But there were also expectations that I couldn’t succeed.



People told me to my face that we doubt you can succeed as president.” Most students attending the reunion were not even alive in 1988... Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/02/gallaudet-university-marks-25th-anniversary-of-deaf-president-now-protests-84899.html



Related News: Deaf President Now Protest - Gallaudet University: https://www.gallaudet.edu/gallaudet_university/about_gallaudet/dpn_home.html

Settlement Reached In Lawsuit Involving Deaf & Blind Students

Video: KHON2 - Settlement reached in lawsuit involving Deaf and Blind students.



HONOLULU - A multi-million dollar settlement has been reached in a sex assault lawsuit involving Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind. It's been a year and a half since the State was sued by a group of students at the school. The students alleged they had been sexually abused by other students.



Friday, the attorney representing the group announced that a multi-million dollar settlement has been reached. A spotlight was cast on the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind in the Kapahulu area in 2011, after police started investigating allegations of widespread sex abuse between classmates.



In August 2011, Honolulu attorney Michael Green filed a lawsuit against the state, on behalf of 50 to 60 students.

Video by KHONNewsHawaii



"What we found out was, and I never thought about this, that we had children who were the aggressors, we're talking about sodomizing boys, boys on boys, boys on girls, girls on girls, in the bathroom, on school buses, in the bushes, that because no one seemed to care it seemed like it was okay. So people who were victims became aggressors. And you know that part that maybe affected me the most aside from the fact it's happening to young people, and people that have disabilities is that if you cry out who can hear you? If you have blind students who can see it?" said Green.



The State has now agreed to pay $5M to settle the lawsuit - money that'll go to the victims, and to pay for counseling and treatment... Read more: http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Settlement-reached-in-lawsuit-involving-deaf-and/qEdZ6YT6_EuWYDo6tVhRPg.cspx

Short Film: 'Love Language'

Video: 'Love Language' in captioned.



This video was re-created to spread awareness to the American Society of Deaf Children within my community. There are moments in life when we feel a connection so deep words can hardly describe it. But how do we know that it's real?



This is the story of a boy who meets a girl and falls in love. (Please do not continue reading until after you watch the video!)

Video by JAMitProductions



The Jubilee Project makes films for good causes. This film was produced to raise awareness and support for the American Society for Deaf Children. There are two ways that you can support this cause. This video was created for a School Public Service Announcement for the school. Originally made by The Jubilee Project, all credit goes to them for the story content within this film.



I would also like to take the time to forward you to their website where you can buy the song used "Peaches" by: New Heights for $1.00 and your dollar will go straight to the donation of the American Society of Deaf Children. Please visit that link here: http://jubileeproject.bandcamp.com/track/peaches

The original short film 'Love Language'

Video by JAMitProductions



The Jubilee Project is an organization for good causes. With your generous contribution you can help raise money for Deaf children. Visit the original video as seen right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyB_U9vn6Wk

Profound Audism At Gallaudet University

Video: Audism at Gallaudet University in American Sign Language.



Out of the entire world, within the walls of Gallaudet University Deaf Space. Profound Audism occurred. SimComm destroys both ASL and English. Audism also destroys respect for Deaf people and their Deaf World especially at Gallaudet University.



I experienced profound Audism in Gallaudet University out of all places in the world. A place where the environment is safe for all Deaf people. This intrusion of SimComm and voicing is very irritating. I was not even angry at all at first. I wanted to give positive exposure to the fact it's not a good manner and that it is very disrespectful to Deaf people in general when hearing people SimComm, talking with the voice, using cell phones, etc.

Video by spdundas37



I was hoping for dialogue and discussion to bring better understanding, respect and knowledge, but instead, this hearing student who claim to be a Coda got up and yelled at me with such profound venom, disrespect and hate. Such display of profound oppression has left me shocked and loss of words and thoughts. It even affected my friends at the table.



What hurts me more is that there are other Deaf people there who agreed with me, but sat and did nothing to stand up against Audism. I was even more shocked with the level of apathy. Are we so oppressed and thinking it's so difficult to fight it and we give up and just succumb to it?



I need your help to put an end to Audism from hearing students and put an end to apathy of Deaf people or their lack of courage to stand up for ASL and Deaf World.



My vlog is not an attempt to degrade or belittle other people most especially the hearing group/Coda I was referring about. My point was to bring this up to discussion and to raise awareness of Audism and acknowledgement of Deaf Space at Gallaudet University.



Please remain respectful and civil to each other in hopes we all meet together in harmony and mutual respect. Finally, I truly want to thank those who have shown support and encouragement. Thank you. Shane.

A Personal Look at Accessibility in Higher Education

Logan, Utah - A personal look at accessibility in higher education in captioned. This video highlights the experiences of students and faculty with disabilities in higher education.



The National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE) monitors and promotes electronically-mediated distance education policies and practices that enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

The NCDAE is working to further the national agenda necessary to increase opportunities for participation of people with disabilities and addresses: (a) delivery of electronically-mediated content, (b) testing and assessment, and (c) administrative procedures such as registration for educational offerings. Visit for more information: http://ncdae.org/goals/.

Video by GOALSatNCDAE

Stolen Futures Petition

LONDON - Stolen Futures petition. As this e-petition has received more than 10,000 signatures, the relevant Government department have provided the following response.



As the National Deaf Children’s Society acknowledge in its ‘Stolen Futures’ report, the Department for Education has already taken action to protect the resources available for special educational needs (SEN) provision, including support for Deaf Children. We have ensured that the Dedicated Schools Grant is, overall, at the same cash level per pupil as in 2010-11. We have also announced that we will not seek to recover SEN funding from local authorities where schools have converted to Academy status. This should help protect services on the ground at a time of transition and emphasises our commitment to improving the system of support for disabled children and those with SEN.



Government, at both national and local level, is having to make tough choices given the current financial environment. Those decisions, however, must also be based on a good assessment of local need and well thought through and transparent. Most importantly, families should have clear, accessible information about their rights and the support available to them. This petition has been initiated by the National Deaf Children’s Society.

Read more: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34073

Stolen Futures Petition - Shake, Sign and Share!

SIGN THE PETITION NOW: http://www.ndcs.org.uk/petition Share it: Post to your Facebook,Twitter, YouTube, email contacts and other accounts.

Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children

Scranton school for Deaf & Hard of Hearing children video with captioned. Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation partnered with the SSDHHC for a clay shoot to benefit the school and its programs. The Scranton School is truly committed to providing a successful and enduring legacy of quality education for deaf and hard of hearing students in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Video by CabotSusquehanna

To learn more, please visit http://www.thescrantonschool.org/

Aide At Maryland School For The Deaf Charged With Sexual Abuse

COLUMBIA, Md. (ABC) - Clarence Taylor charged with sexual abuse at Maryland School for the Deaf. Charges allege he molested girls at school in Columbia.



An aide at the Maryland School for the Deaf was arrested and charged Thursday with multiple counts of sexual abuse after being accused of touching three students between 2008 and 2010.



Howard County Police say that Clarence Cepheus Taylor, a 37-year-old Windsor Mill, Md. resident, inappropriately touched three girls while working as an evening-shift dorm aide at the Columbia school for the Deaf and hard of hearing.



Three students, who are now aged 15 and 16, have come forward with allegations of abuse, and investigators believe there may be more victims. Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/12/clarence-taylor-charged-with-sexual-abuse-at-maryland-school-for-the-deaf-82834.html

Pushing Science’s Limits In Sign Language Lexicon

NEW YORK (New York Times) - Pushing science’s limits in sign language lexicon. Imagine trying to learn biology without ever using the word “organism.” Or studying to become a botanist when the only way of referring to photosynthesis is to spell the word out, letter by painstaking letter.



For Deaf students, this game of scientific password has long been the daily classroom and laboratory experience. Words like “organism” and “photosynthesis” to say nothing of more obscure and harder-to-spell terms have no single widely accepted equivalent in sign language. This means that Deaf students and their teachers and interpreters must improvise, making it that much harder for the students to excel in science and pursue careers in it.



“Often times, it would involve a lot of finger-spelling and a lot of improvisation,” said Matthew Schwerin, a physicist with the Food and Drug Administration who is Deaf, of his years in school. “For the majority of scientific terms,” Mr. Schwerin and his interpreter for the day would “try to find a correct sign for the term, and if nothing was pre-existing, we would come up with a sign that was agreeable with both parties.” Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/science/sign-language-researchers-broaden-science-lexicon.html



Lydia Callis has inspired a tribute Tumblr page: http://lydiacalasface.tumblr.com



Related news as seen on the articles:

Lydia Callis: Bloomberg's Interpreter Goes Viral

Fans Want Bloomberg's Sandy Signer' Lydia Callis Back

Introducing New Deaf Organization: NSLDHH

Introducing a new organization, National Student Life for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NSLDHH)



This video in American sign language with subtitles,... Deb Skjeveland, director of student life, shares the founding of the organization: National Student Life for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Visit http://www.nsldhh.com for more information.

Video by Joann Benfield

Celebration For The CSD Student Development Center

Video with captions - Celebration For The CSD Student Development Center at RIT/NTID. What the CSD Student Development Center Means to NTID.



ROCHESTER, NY. - NTID students, faculty and staff talk about what the The CSD Student Development Center means to them. This was shown during an anniversary event for the building put on by Communication Service for the Deaf, the major donor for the building.



"Accolades for the CSD Student Development Center"

The CSD Student Development Center, described as “the heart and center of student life at RIT/NTID,” was celebrated Friday by Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), the major donor of the building constructed in 2006.



Students, faculty, staff and alumni attended the celebration under mild and sun-filled skies in the D. Robert Frisina Quad.



“This building is an important part of our college life,” said Corey Burton, NTID’s Student Congress president. “Thank you to CSD for making our dream a reality. I cannot imagine where we might be if this building never existed. It truly means a lot to us.”

Read More http://www.ntid.rit.edu/news/accolades-csd-student-development-center.



Subscribe the official YouTube channel for National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology. RITNTID

Video by RITNTID