What's up at AKRON, CSD

Join the conversation!

2010-02-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Tell us what matters most to you

Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) Administrator Michael Rench is embarking on a 12-city road trip to engage you and fellow community members in collaborative dialogue during café-style conversations.

You and other guests will gather in small groups to share thoughts on questions that are genuinely important to your lives, work experiences and communities. Ideas, patterns and themes from the discussions will be compiled and used to shape future state services such as employment, vocational rehabilitation, transition youth and independent living.

Don’t miss this chance to shape the future! Everyone’s voice will be heard!

Visit www.rsc.ohio.gov for more information and updates from each regional conversation.

Please visit www.rsc.ohio.gov, call 800-282-4536 ext. 1470 or email

brenda.rhodes@rsc.state.oh.us to RSVP. Let us know which free cafe’ conversation you will attend and if you will bring guests. Sign language interpreters will be at the meetings. Let us know if you need other accommodations.

All are welcome!

Join the conversation!

Tell us what matters most to you.

March 18, 6 - 8 p.m.

Helen Arnold Community Learning Center

450 Vernon Odom Blvd.

Akron, OH

LOCATION DATE/TIME

Cleveland March 1, 4 - 6 p.m.

Center for Families and Children

Nancy Lyon Porter Bldg.

4500 Euclid Ave.

Cleveland, OH

Columbus March 2, 4 - 6 p.m.

Main Library

96 S. Grant Ave.

Columbus, OH

Toledo March 3, 4 - 6 p.m.

Dana Conference Center

3110 Glendale Ave.

Toledo, OH

Cincinnati March 4, 4 - 6 p.m.

College Hill Recreation Center

5545 Belmont Ave.

Cincinnati, OH

Marietta March 10, 1 - 3 p.m.

Washington State Community College

710 Colegate Dr.

Marietta, OH

Youngstown March 11, 4 - 6 p.m.

Butler Inst. of American Art, Butler North Education Center.

524 Wick Ave.

Youngstown, OH

Dayton March 12, 4 -6 p.m.

Wright State University

Student Union, Apollo Room

3640 Col. Glenn Hwy.

Dayton, OH

Dover March 15, 6-8 p.m.

Tuscarawas County Senior Center

425 Prospect St.

Dover, OH

Lima March 16, 1 - 3 p.m.

Veterans’ Memorial Civic & Convention Center

7 Town Square

Lima, OH

Akron March 18, 6 - 8 p.m.

Helen Arnold Community Learning Center

450 Vernon Odom Blvd.

Akron, OH

Athens March 29, 4 - 6 p.m.

Ohio University

Baker University Center, Room 240

Athens, OH

Portsmouth March 31, 1- 3 p.m.

SOMC Friends Community Center

1202 18th St.

Portsmouth, OH

Shape the future of disability services in Ohio.

www.rsc.ohio.gov

2010-01-12T10:09:00.001-08:00

Join Community Legal Aid on Tuesday, January 26th at 1:00 p.m. for a free legal information program for low and moderate income Akron residents. The Financial Information and Legal Education program (FILE) provides practical information about expungements, credit reporting and repair, debt collection and harassment, bankruptcy, identity theft, and driver’s license suspensions through an attorney-led Power Point presentation and question and answer period. All participants will receive an informational packet and door prizes of gas cards and bus passes will be raffled off. The program is open to Akron residents and will be held at Open M, 941 Princeton Street, Akron, OH 44311. Open M will be providing a free hot meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, prior to the presentation.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

2009-12-16T09:50:00.001-08:00

How many people use Twitter???????

Deaf Advisory Committee

2009-12-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

Join the D.A.C. in Celebrating 30 years in the Community
We NEED YOU!
We've got tons of neat events planned for this year, and would like
your help and support in getting the community together!

COME to our meetings!

DAC Meetings for 2010

All meetings start at 10am and are located at
Greenleaf Family Center

Dates:
Feb 22nd
April 19th
June 21st
August 16th
October 18th
December 6th

Learn English...NEAT

2009-10-12T16:19:00.001-07:00

2009 CSD Deaf Picnic

2009-09-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

ASL Classes Start May 4th

2009-04-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Community Services of & for the Deaf Program announces:

American Sign Language - Level One Classes

Based on the Vista Curriculum, a functional/notional approach,
taught by trained and experienced teachers.

WHO:
Anyone interested in learning basic conversational American Sign Language

WHERE:
Greenleaf Family Center
212 E. Exchange St.
Akron, OH 44304

WHEN:
Mondays 5:30 - 7:00
May 4. May 11, May 18, June 1, June 8, and June 15

COST:
$100 (pre-registration is required)

Class size is limited. Please send check or money order made out to Community Services of & for the Deaf to:

Community Services of & for the Deaf
212 E. Exchange St.
Akron, OH 44304

Registration due April 27th, 2009

CONTACT:
Greenleaf Family Center
Community Services for & of the Deaf
330-376-9494 x248
330-376-9351 VP/TTY

Children get FREE eye glasses!!!

2009-04-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

Do you have a child or know of someone who does (ages 12 and under)??????
They can get a FREE pair of eyeglasses from Target:

Target is doing a special promotion for their optical service. It could
end any time but will definitely end no later than April 29th. Children 12
and under can get a free pair of glasses.

They need to bring in a valid prescription for glasses from their doctor
and Target will let the child pick from about 40 different frames. They
will place their best lenses in the frames which are non-glare and cratch
resistant and normally sell for $200.00. There are no income guidelines.
Any child 12 or under is eligible.

Please pass this information on to anyone who can benefit from this
promotional offer. If you know someone with lost or broken glasses please
share this information with them ASAP, as the promotion could end at any
time. They would like families to come in as soon as they can.

Closest Center to Akron:

Mayfield Heights

1285 Som Center Rd
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
(440) 995-9300

M-Fr: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Sa: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Su: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Sue Thomas FB-EYE!

2009-04-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

What: A joyous time of laughter, insight, healing & hope with the person upon whom the TV show was based

Where: STOW ALLIANCE FELLOWSHIP
4460 Stow Road (in stow, 1/4 mile southwest off Fishcreek Road)

When: Saturday, April 25th @7:00pm

Cost: Admission is FREE

For More Information Call: 330-686-0722 (voice)

Sue's Website: www.suethomasfbeye.com

Sponsored by: Cornerstone Community Church (www.ccc-stow.org)

DO YOU NEED INTERPRETER?

2009-04-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

If you are in need of interpreting
services contact us:
Greenleaf Family Center
Community Services for and of the Deaf
212 E. Exchange St.
Akron, Ohio 44304

330-376-9351 (VP/TTY)
330-376-9494 x248 (VOICE)
csd@greenleafctr.org

REMEMBER: Give us time to find interpreter and explain ADA, if you've never used the provider before. We understand sometimes last minute. We try our best find interpreter for you! :)

March 19th Crazy Party Pictures!

2009-03-30T11:11:00.001-07:00

Health Topics in ASL

2009-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

New website! It will help you understand, in ASL, different diseases and illnesses.

Check it out!!!!

http://www.deafmd.org/

Party!

2009-03-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

DAC would like to invite you to a Valentine/St. Patrick CRAZY PARTY!

WHEN: Thursday, March 19, 2009

TIME: 5:00p.m. - 8:30p.m.

WHERE: Greenleaf Family Center/ CSD

WHAT TO BRING: Homemade covered dish or desserts!! (DAC will provide coffee)

DAC will sell pop for .45 cents and water for .75 cents.
(Donations will go to the 2009 Summer Youth Program)

COST: If you bring ONE covered dish, your cost is FREE! No covered dish, and you pay $5.00.

Raffle and games!

Make sure to dress up in RED or GREEN or both!!
Best dressed will win a prize!

GAME: CAKE WALK! Bring a cake, and take home a different cake...lots of fun! You bring a covered dish to share with everyone, and we hold the cake to play the game. Please remember if you bring a CAKE, you can join the game. You still must bring a covered dish to get in FREE.

If you have any questions, please contact DAC (Deaf Advocacy Committee) at AkronDAC@greenleafctr.org, or 330-376-9494 ext.248 (voice), 330-376-9351 (TTY/VP).

Wow it's 2009!

2009-01-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

Where did the time go? How is it 2009! :)
We recently sent out the CSD newsletter, I hope you all got it. If not let me know and I'll try to get a virtual one to your email.

For those of you from Akron, I'm sad to let you know that the Carousel closed! I am so happy I was able to see some shows last year, including a breakfast with Santa! Boy was that a blast!

I recently found out some great news! A member of our deaf community has arranged for an interpreter to be at the performance of OLIVER on February 28th at 2pm.

Check it out:
http://www.ejthomashall.com/eventsearch/event_detail.php?id=533

If you are interested please call E.J. Thomas and order tickets for this specific time and date. Let them know you want to be seated in an area to take advantage of the interpreted performance.

How were your holidays? Let me know!

Hopefully 2009 will be wonderful for all!

What is going on in the Community?

2008-12-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

http://www.ohioaslclubs.org/

Check out this site!
You can find things going on in the community!
And you can give them your events so they can post them! NEAT! :)

2008-11-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

MORE Pictures from Fall Festival

2008-11-24T10:16:00.002-08:00

2008-11-19T07:54:00.001-08:00

WBC

2008-11-19T05:42:00.000-08:00

Wow! Woman's Brunch Club was a hit this year! Can you believe it's almost 2009! I'm amazed by the calendar, just flying by. So many fun memories from 2008. Woman's Brunch Club is in our top five FUN times!

Women’s Brunch Club

Where: CSD

Time: 10am-12pm

When: The last Wednesday of each month

Who: Women from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community

Thank you 2008 Woman's Brunch Club! We had a blast! Can't wait to see you in 2009!

TOP SEVEN reasons to come to Women’s Brunch Club!

REASON 7: Share your Talents

This will give you an opportunity to share your gifts with other deaf and hard of hearing women in our community.

REASON 6: Make Great Connections

We have lots of opportunities for you to meet and greet other deaf and hard of hearing people from the surrounding areas.

REASON 5: Learn New things

You’ll be taught by members of the deaf and hard of hearing community. Each month is a different craft or new information you have never heard before, information presented to you by ladies who love to share their experiences with you.

REASON 4: Continue Learning

You don’t have to pay extra for learning at WBC outings. WBC.s builds your skills in many different ways, it offers personal development programs in health and wellness, crafts and much more.

REASON 3: Pamper Yourself—You KNOW You Deserve It! AND…The Price is Right!

Get away for an afternoon to sit back and relax. Learn new things meet new and old friends just have a good time. There is no cost to come and spoil yourself.

REASON 2: WBC is a GUARANTEED Good Time!

We have been providing services to the community for almost 30 years. WBC is just one way to show you that CSD and the DAC are eager and willing to share new things with the community.

And the NUMBER ONE REASON to Come to WBC… Do it for YOU!

The friends you make, the stories you share, the positive spirit you feel after being with your friends, of learning, sharing, laughing, and opening your mind will stay with you for a long time. Think of it as an investment in yourself, not only for the good of your community, but also for YOU.

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting!

We meet on the last Wednesday of every month from 10:00 to 12:00

212 E. Exchange St.

Akron Ohio, 44304

For additional information contact the Akron DAC

AkronDAC@greenleafctr.org

2008 No Meeting in November or December

Hearing world/Deaf World....how to join?

2008-11-19T05:41:00.000-08:00

Do you ever think about approaching the Hearing World? Check out these friends from Indiana! What a statement!

Internet scammers target deaf Portland community

2008-10-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

WOW-- This could happen in our Community, please be careful!

By ANNE YEAGER, KGW-TV

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Mary Beth Meyer, 42, is a smart woman. She has two master degrees and she teaches physical science and geometry at the Washington School for the Deaf.

So imagine her surprise when she became a victim to a scheme, associated with the Nigerian scams that are so widely prevalent in the news.

It was Sunday night when she was on AOL instant messaging a friend, when her friend’s screen name popped up.

“We started chit chatting. She said you have to talk to this man, he told me I had won $70,000. “Said Meyer. “I thought what??? Are you crazy? She said no, this guy is an honest man.”

Turns out, it wasn't her friend at all. Instead it was someone posing as her friend, using her screen name.

So Meyer started talking to the guy on the other end of the screen. He told her he was working with the United States government, trying to provide funds to the deaf community from Nigeria. He told her she was eligible, but then started asking for personal information.

“He asked for my screen name and password. I was like, what? “Meyer said. So she sent an instant message to her friend, or at least the person she thought was her friend, for advice.

“I told her, this guy is asking me for my password. And my friend, Leah, said yes, do it, he’s an honest guy.”

He wasn’t.

As Meyer soon found out, he was a scam artist who had just taken $100 of her hard earned money. The same con men took thousands from her friend Leah, who was too embarrassed to talk about it.

“They are targeting a specific group, the deaf community. We rely on instant messages; we rely on the internet to communicate. We are a tight knit group.” said Meyer.

Her mother, who just moved with her daughter from Las Vegas, was furious.

“My daughter and the deaf community have to work four times as hard to be accepted into society, and to take advantage of that just makes me livid.” said Margaret Meyer.

They called the FBI, who told them this was a new scam.

Special Agent Alan Peters said it’s inclusive of a sweetheart swindlers-type scheme.

“These people gain your trust and then an emergency pops up and they need your money.” Said Agent Peters.

More: Report Internet crimes to the FBI

He says the Nigerians aren’t always Nigerians.

“They are dangerous, they’ve gotten more sophisticated, and not all of them are from Africa. There are some posing here in the United States”

Anyone who has fallen victim should contact the FBI and the state attorney general’s office.

Mary Beth is speaking out. She wants the deaf community to know this is going on.

“These people are fakes, they are crooks.” she said.

The FBI tracks Internet crimes at the Internet Crimes Complaint Center website.

Have you seen DEAF IDOL?

2008-09-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Check it out! Talented People WOW!!!!

CLICK HERE:

http://deafidol.deafnation.com/

Check out this great Blog: Ka'lalau's Korner

2008-09-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

Deaf culture as an authentic culture

Every community has an undercurrent of feeling that is unique. So does the Deaf community.

What I mean by an undercurrent of feeling is not psychological but rather philosophical; it is about "personality" that is reflected in our thoughts, behavior, communication, and even physical bearing (non-manual expressions). Every person shares in it to some degree in how they develop their own individual feeling within the community.

continue reading this blog...clickhere:
http://carl-schroeder.blogspot.com/2008/07/deaf-culture-as-authentic-culture.html

Happy National Deaf Week!

2008-09-22T05:40:00.000-07:00

A lot to improve in Deaf people’s Human Rights

According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) the situation of the approximately 72 million Deaf people around the world is still shocking especially in the developing countries where about 80 % of the Deaf live. Social services, education and interpreter service system are often out of reach especially for African Deaf.

“Due to the fact that good command of sign language as well as education reached in sign language opens doors for Deaf people’s integration into the society, one should provide Deaf children with an opportunity to acquire the local sign language and guarantee the right to education in this language”, asserts Mr Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf. Based on new research information the bilingual approach to education is common in only 27 % of the countries. This means that students are taught in sign language as first language and written oral language as
second language. Almost half of the education is still accomplished using the oral method which jeopardizes access to information and services for Deaf leaving them in the margins of the society. For most Deaf in developing countries university studies are still something to dream about and initiating vocational studies is almost as rare. Prejudices towards sign languages as well as lack of competent teachers in sign language complicate organizing education in the
way that would be the most optimum way for Deaf.

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) that entered into force in May, state governments shall recognize sign language as an official language in the Constitution and/or special legislation, ensure professional interpreter services and guarantee bilingual education to Deaf people. Solely this way the Deaf people’s Human Rights - still so blatantly violated around the world - will be assured in the future.

Facts on Deaf people’s situation in Asia, South-America, Central America and Africa:

• almost all Deaf people have the right to vote, get married and have children – in reality for instance voting can turn out to be impossible because most of the Deaf people are illiterate

• 1 % of the documents that States provide are available in sign language – this prohibits most of the Deaf access to information

• 32 % of the Deaf are denied right to drivers licence – they are considered as a threat to the traffic in many countries

• sign language has an official status in the legislation either guaranteed by the constitution, other legislation or policies in 42 % of the countries. However, in practice the resources for providing services are nil

• in 6 % of the states the decision makers believe that Deaf people don’t have any right to education at all

• states have problems in providing education in sign language in all phases of the system, especially for kindergarten age children and young adults

Additional information:
World Federation of the Deaf, Mr Colin Allen and Ms Meri Hyrske-Fischer, tel. +358 50 4388370
Legal Seat – Helsinki, Finland
This information was founded by: WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF
An International Non-Governmental Organisation in official liaison with ECOSOC, UNESCO, ILO, WHO and the
Council of Europe
PO Box 65, FIN-00401 Helsinki, FINLAND
FAX: +358 9 5803 572
www.wfdeaf.org
PRESS RELEASE
19.8.2008

Akron's Carousel Dinner Theatre presents....

2008-09-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

The Wizard of Oz!

A member of our deaf community has made arrangements for an interpreted performance on Saturday, October 4th at 6pm.
Get your tickets now! They're selling fast!

http://www.carouseldinnertheatre.com/season08.htm#Oz

The New York Times, "Hands That Speak, Hands That Rhyme"

2008-09-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

ON the fourth Monday of every month, the spoken word gives way to the signed at the Bowery Poetry Club. Jason Norman, the host, casts his microphone stand to the side and introduces the A.S.L. Slam, a free-form poetry and storytelling night for the American Sign Language community.

“This,” signs the puckish M.C. with cropped brown hair, “is your stage.”

On a recent evening, participants included a white-haired gentleman in a yarmulke, a Harvard-educated actress in her late 20s named Shira Grabelsky and Bram Weiser, a hearing computer specialist for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority who is an aspiring interpreter. Many favor humorous anecdotes in lieu of poems.

American Sign Language, which is more than 150 years old, is a language that its users say is entirely independent of English, though it is not universally recognized as such. Indeed, A.S.L. is also entirely independent of British Sign Language, and has more in common with French Sign Language.

“Sometimes I wish we had a rule book,” Mr. Norman said of the poetry, through an interpreter, “but A.S.L. hasn’t really even been accepted as a language.”

Repetition of certain hand shapes can represent rhyme just as sounds in spoken poetry produce structure; the pattern of holds and pauses recalls the meter and rhythm of spoken verse. Yet these devices represent approximations.

“I think there’s rhyme in A.S.L.,” Mr. Norman considered. “Or maybe not rhyme. Maybe it’s a beat.” He performs his poems with intricate physicality, with careful and detailed expression.

The event at the club, on the Bowery near East First Street, attracts as many as 50 people, a mix of the deaf and hearing A.S.L. students. On this evening, as with many, some told stories rather than poems, performing with a wit that delighted the room.

Paul Mitchell, a young man wearing baggy jeans and a baseball cap, mimed the perfect impression of how, after a stumble on the street, a white guy might cower while a black guy might morph his misstep into the perfect mock layup. Applause, expressed visually, came as the waving of both hands.

People who can hear, Mr. Norman says, often see A.S.L. as “beautiful” in its movement, dancelike, yet devoid of the precision of speech. But of course language is meant to be understood. “To say A.S.L. is beautiful,” Mr. Norman said, “is a compliment with an insult behind it.”

Still, a language’s youth carries benefits for poetry. “Its rules aren’t frozen yet,” Mr. Norman said. “It’s living and breathing. Deaf children are natural storytellers.”

More Articles in New York Region » A version of this article appeared in print on September 7, 2008, on page CY4 of the New York edition.

I LOVE YOU COW

2008-09-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

Rufener Hilltop Farms

2008-09-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Join the Deaf Advisory Committee and CSD for our 3rd annual Fall Festival get together!

WHERE: Rufener Hilltop Farms
1022 State Route 43
Suffield, Ohio 44260

WHEN: Meet on Saturday at 11am, October 11, 2008

COST: $5 per person

Includes: Maize, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, Pumpkin Playhouse, Jumping House, Face Paintitng, Hayride, and much more!

DAC will provide Hotdogs, Chips & Cider!

Bring your friends and Family!

RAFFLE 50/50

Contact DAC if you have any further questions:
AkronDAC@greenleafctr.org