OKCDeaf

Posted By lmj on March 9, 2010

In pleading guilty, Azrelyant and Finkle admitted that beginning in approximately October 2007 and continuing through approximately July 2009, they conspired with others to pay individuals to make fraudulent VRS phone calls that were processed through DHIS, and that were billed to the FCC through VRS provider Viable Communications Inc. (Viable). According to the guilty pleas, Azrelyant and Finkle made VRS calls to prerecorded messages and other numbers for the sole purpose of generating VRS minutes and also coordinated with others to generate illegitimate VRS minutes that would be billed to the FCC. Azrelyant and Finkle also admitted to processing illegitimate VRS calls that were routed to DHIS by Viable.

via Two Former Executives of Video Relay Services Company Plead Guilty to Defrauding FCC Program.

Editor’s note:

Despite these legal problems, I think highly of viable’s software and am happy that SnapVRS has taken up the support for it.

Category: World News | No Comments »
Tags: fcc, fraud, snapvrs, viable, vrs

Posted By lmj on March 9, 2010

Details: Express Yourself.

Category: video | No Comments »
Tags: contest, express yourself, sorenson, video

Posted By lmj on February 28, 2010

They rely on nonverbal cues when words fail, but making their needs known is frustrating at times without the ability to explain.An interpreter has talked to the children several times to explain what is happening. The Lechtenbergs said they will continue to use an interpreter to reassure the boys and learn more about their needs as time progresses.

via Haitians get in tune with new Oklahoma homes | NewsOK.com.

Maybe they should teach sign language first.

Category: World News | No Comments »
Tags: children, haiti, language, nonverbal, oklahoma

Posted By lmj on February 21, 2010

Department of Rehabilitation Services spokesman Jody Harlan said both OSB and the School for the Deaf are having to cut costs.

via MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK – Oklahoma School for the Blind faces budget cuts.

Category: Local News | No Comments »
Tags: blind, budget, cutbacks, cuts, deaf, drs, gym, kirk, money, muskogee, oklahoma, osb, osd, parents, school, state, support

Posted By lmj on February 11, 2010

As the football season was ending, the Dallas Cowboys rolled out a wireless system to provide closed captioning, audio play-by-play and amplified public announcements. Officials with the Houston company that developed the device – slightly larger than a smart phone – said it's likely to be the first of its kind for a stadium.

“You can go anywhere in the stadium and stay in tune with the game,” said Scott Purcel, the Cowboys' director of broadcasting.

He said adding captions to the video board was considered, but that would limit some fans when they went to concession stands or other areas of the stadium. Purcel said he wasn't sure how many times the devices were used by fans at the end of this season, but maker Softeq Development Corp. said the team has about 40 units.

The device has a 3 ½-inch screen with raised directional buttons on the edge to help with navigation. It connects to the stadium's Wi-Fi network through any of 700 access points and streams data for fans who need help following the games or other events at the stadium.

via Cowboys Stadium to offer new devices to help visually or hearing-impaired fans | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Dallas-Fort Worth Transportation News | Dallas-Fort Worth News.

Category: World News | No Comments »
Tags: closed-caption, cowboys, dallas, device, football, stadium, video board, wifi, wireless

Posted By lmj on February 11, 2010

The Web site, known as Accessible Emergency Information, covers 18 emergency preparedness topics and puts the material in a friendly format for deaf, blind and limited sight people.

A main feature of the site is videos that contain American Sign Language translators, an audio voice and the written material of the emergency topic.

via Web site offers emergency information for deaf, blind » Homepage » The Palestine Herald, Palestine, Texas.

Category: World News, video | No Comments »
Tags: american sign language, asl, emergency, emergency preparedness

Posted By lmj on February 11, 2010

However, another issue is developing because of this. Orchard says some businesses are now just ignoring relay calls altogether. She says that is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

via Con artists scam consumers with hearing impaired phone system – ABC 4.com – Salt Lake City, Utah News.

Category: World News | No Comments »
Tags: ada, americans with disabilities act, deaf, relay, scam

Posted By lmj on February 10, 2010

Beyond Hearing Aids: Implantable Hearing Technology – Suphur, OK (Event Details)

Thursday, February 18, 2010 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Central Time)

Oklahoma School for the Deaf

1100 East Oklahoma Ave.

Sulphur, OK 73086

via Beyond Hearing Aids: Implantable Hearing Technology – Suphur, OK  powered by RegOnline.

If you work with patients who do not benefit from hearing aids or no longer receive as much benefit as they need, we invite you to attend this free informational forum to learn more about Cochlear’s remarkable implantable hearing technology, the Cochlear Nucleus 5 Cochlear Implant System and the Baha Direct Bone Conduction System.

Category: Calendar, Interpreter, Local News | No Comments »
Tags: aids, cochlear implant, deaf, hearing, implant, oklahoma, school, sulphur

Posted By lmj on February 3, 2010

Do you want an open forum to discuss interpreter issues? JOIN US at forums.okcdeaf.com!

• Business
  1. Pay
  2. Policies
  3. Cancellation
  4. Termination
• Video Relay Interpreting
  1. Stress
  2. Politics
  3. Breaktimes
  4. Quality (lousy intepreter)
• Educational
  1. Teacher/Interpreter Relationship
  2. Roles/Responsibilities
  3. Ethics
• Certification
  1. National? NIS? Master? Advanced?
  2. Local – Oklahoma QAST?
  3. Workshop Ideas/Notes
  4. HELP!

Join us as we strive to improve the Deaf’s use of interpreters and the Interpreter Profession. Create your account, post some questions and let’s get started!

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags: advanced, business, cancellation, certification, dicuss, education, forum, ideas, Interpreter, master, national, nis, oklahoma, pay, policy, politics, qast, relay, stree, terimination, topics, training, video, workshop

Posted By lmj on January 27, 2010

YouTube – IRSvideosASL’s Channel. What a commanding effort.

Category: Important Information, World News, video | No Comments »
Tags: 2010, asl, captions, deaf, earned income credit, file, forms, gov, irs, tax, tips, video