Why is IMCommunity important?

Do the Math
- 10% of Us population experience hearing disability
- Each one of them is in a daily communication with at least 10 people.
- This project will effect the whole population of US and beyond.

Who are HOH people?
Most of them are a part of your families, friends, or professional network.
They
- Grew up and live in a normal hearing community
- Do not know sign language
- Are very shy about their difficulties
- Give up oral communication in many situation
- Experience frequently an attitude "you do not hear since you do not want to hear"
- Find it difficult to express their communication needs
- May give up opportunities to participate, enjoy life, learn and develop

What is happening today
HOH people experience discrimination
- The quality of their real time communication through regular phone and relay isn't good enough
- Most educational institute are not well equipped to provide access for the information of lectures
- Most public lectures do not provide caption or a text of the lecture
- Many customer service departments hang off or are impatient when connected through relay
- When looking for a job, many companies request phone interview and close the communication when there is a request for alternative ways of interviews
- Many restaurants are too loud for people who are HOH to enjoy a conversation
- Have huge expenses purchasing hearing aids and special assisstive devises

Inspiration - A better future for people with hearing loss

IMCommunity promotes
- Democracy, equal opportunities, freedom and self expression
- New possibilities to communicate, develop, learn, work, share, and contribute
- Developing of innovative technologies to benefit a wide range of users
- Education regarding strategies for effective communication with people with hearing loss

How did it all started

IMCommunity is a community project that started on January 2007 by Esther Inbal Ph.D., an Educational Technology Consultant with a wide support of people educators, artists, technology people, health care providers and the general public.

A. Equal Opportunities For Communication !!!!

When IMCommunity started with a vision of empowering communication for Hard of Hearing. Following our research of current and new technologies, a bigger possibility seemed to be available - the possibility of equal opportunities for communication. This can be a transformation of the state of being of people with hearing loss and a way to allow a full participation in all aspects of life.

We decided that the first tool to use, is a simple technology, widely in used in some companies, very powerful and inexpensive. The Instant Message Technology (IM). We vision a world in which IM will be a part of everyday life and everyday communication with everyone - similar to phone. It will be used in all customer service departments, in contacting anyone, it will be in every advertisement and in every business card. Wherever you will see the option of calling, you will have an option to chat. The technology is there, some improvements will be welcomed and most important education the public, guidelines and law enforcements are needed.

Instant messaging boosts communication and allows easy collaboration and is becoming more and more important in personal and in corporate environments. IM facilitating quick, safe, and persistent exchange of information such as URLs or document, options we do not over the phone

IM for HOH and for everyone

Using IM Instant message, the HOH person is equal to the person he communicate with. It allows the HOH to understand 100% of the information. Therefore it allows the HOH person to be relaxed in his/her communication. In professional setting it allows a quick access to all needed information in equall way to any otehr person and without the need for a special equipment or services.
In a personal setting it allows a spontanious communication, have fun, and share jokes. Usually the content of the chat is much more meaningful than the content of the phone. Kids and young people love it - so do I.

Why phone and relay are not good enough for the hard of hearing community?

Phone calls sometimes are clear and sometime not, always challenge the HOH to deal with missing links without the help of visual clues.

Phone calls could be better if the following qualities will improve

• clarity of the sound
• quality of the line
• quality of the phone
• humidity in the air
• the speed of the speech,
• knowing the context
  

There is always an unknown element and the HOH person does not know if he/she will understand all meaningful words and concepts. Therefore, phone calls can be a mistake or cause challenges when you call a person who does not know you.

Phone calls are a state where a HOH person needs to cope with many missing links, they demand more energy and concentration. Sometime HOH people will get tired of it. In this case they will tent to talk more rather than to listen. They will try to make the call as short as they can. It may cause the other person to be frustrated.

Be aware that HOH people always wish to have more rather than less communication and feel bad when they request you to repeat what you have said. Most of my friends developed the sensitivity and the intuition to make the phone calls successful. My sister Nili is one of the best communicators - we talk over the phone daily and for a long time. It is very rare that I ask to repeat.

What she does is:
1. Talk from a good phone line. (There are differences in clarity between different lines and phones)
2. Makes sure there are no background noises or interference ( TV, talks, etc.)
3. Speaks clearly and a normal way
4. Is sensitive and confirm I get names or address correctly
5. Welcomes my request to repeat and will repeat what she says using different words
6 Will never say "never mind it is not important" when I ask her to repeat

Why relay isn't the best solution?
The relay services, are relatively slow. People who talk with the HOH doesn't know what is happening in cases where it takes time to the caption to appear on the screen. It is frustrating. Also they are not used to a slow speed of the conversation. Practice in maintaining communication based on keywords and techniques for speed reading may be helpful.

"If captions will appears on every single phone for hard of hearing and non hard of hearing people - it will give the normal hearing person a better understanding what is happening. It may be simple to add the caption option to each phone call once the speech to text technology will be used for captions" Such an option will be useful also to store, search, repeat and manipulate phone info.

For some people the idea that there is another person listening to the converstation (and typing the relay) effect the feeling of intimacy in the conversation - Automatic conversion to text will solve this problem.
Most of my friends hate relay and would encourage me to use it only for emergency or in request for info I can't find in another way.

Yesterday I got the latest technology - Captell. It works in a better speed based on VCO technology. It means that I can choose that the person with whom I talk may not know that I am using a relay. It is better but still it is slower than a normal conversation.

Promoting the Use OF IM as a major tool for communication

Key Questions:

- What will encourage the use IM ?
- How can we promote businesses and government agencies to adapt IM as they did for phones and e-mail?

1. Need special download and setting process. What seems easy to tech people can frustrate others.
Why wouldn't IM become a part of the e-mail software with same password and login name?
2. The different IM programs are not talking to one another.
Why can't MSN messenger users talk with AOL IM or Skype users? why can't we do with IM what we do with e-mails and phones?
3. Why most of the companies did not adapt IM as a part of their website?

Good Role models
Fidelity gives an option to chat with customer service representatives
NYC public library set the option of chat in their web site.
Google - You use same login information for e-mail and for chat and both options are user friendly

Meeting the goal of providing functionally equivalent telecommunications access.

"Exciting technology for those of us who are deaf and hard of hearing was recently approved by the FCC. Called Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone (IP CT), it is an improved version of CapTel that will allow us to utilize a wider range of existing telephone and computer equipment, thereby increasing our telephone access.

All you need are voice and Internet connections. Like a traditional call, the user talks to the other party, and can hear the responses. The difference is that a behind-the-scenes operator transcribes the other party's words into captions. Now, with IP CT, you'll be able to make a VCO call over the Internet.

A much larger group of individuals with disabilities will also benefit from this service, as the text size and font, colors and brightness can all be modified. Captions can be manipulated on the screen, and varying amounts of text can be available at any one time.

In addition, IP CT will equalize the playing field in the workplace. A fact sheet submitted by Ultratec -- who created CapTel as well as the IP version -- to the FCC lists the advantages: no analog phone lines are necessary, an existing telephone and IP connection are all that's required, and all the features and functions of the business telephone system are available to the user, making access to the telephone equal to that of other employees. Both incoming and outgoing calls can be captioned.

The FCC ruling was issued in response to a petition by the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and 35 other consumer organizations on behalf of people nationwide with hearing loss. In announcing the ruling, the commissioners praised IP CT as "a giant step forward" for people with hearing loss, noting the potential to improve employment, social, and economic opportunities for people who are hard of hearing. Several commissioners also praised the transparent nature of the technology as meeting the goal of providing functionally equivalent telecommunications access."

from i711.com

Instant Massages - a natural part of customer service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2007

Contact: Esther Inbal Ph.D.
etti.einbal@gmail.com
617 388 2274

New Technologies
Will Transform Communication
for People with Hearing Loss

New York, NY

Esther Inbal, Ph.D., a technology education specialist, is leading a community project directed to empower communication with people with hearing loss.
Dr. Inbal suggests new solutions and strategies that will open the era of equal opportunities for 30 millions people with hearing loss currently living in the USA. She wishes to promote visual communication through the use of text, instant massaging, simultaneous captioning and the use of speech to text technology in every phone and handheld device.

Few companies already adopted the new technologies. "The new technology has been a godsend," said Moody, a 42-year-old system integration analyst with hearing loss. "It's opened doors that previously were closed to us." B. Roberts 2005

However, legislation and public awareness are needed to confirm that these promising technologies will become mainstream. Still most of the people with hearing loss experience unnecessary difficulties in communication, education and career. Still highly qualified people are being blocked by a simple commonly used technique of phone interviews.

For more information about technologies that will transform communication for people with hearing loss please check Dr. Inbal�s blog http://IMcommunity.blogspot.com

Inbal created the project while participating in a Landmark Education leadership program. Part of the coursework was to create a project that benefits the community. Landmark Education is an international training and development company (www.landmarkeducation.com).


____________________________________________________________

To allow equal opportunities Instant message (chat) should be added to all customer services communication center, federal agencies, educational institutes.

On 2/9/07, Guy wrote:
Hi Etti, There is one company that I am familiar with that does exactly that: http://www.liveperson.com/. I am sure that there are more. By the way, today's call centers are not called "call centers" anymore - they're called "contact centers" because you can contact them using a phone, a fax, an email or chat. Personally, I am not a big fan of this channel, because of the way it works: they let one agent talk to multiple people and the response time is not very good.It was fun meeting you!Guy.

On 2/6/07, Etti wrote:
Guy,Following our talk about the future of simultaneous Voice to text I thought about another option to make us the customer who are Hard of Hearing enjoy effective communication.What do you think it takes to set a customer service that answer chats as well as the 1800 number or e-mail? I know that some companies are doing it and it is great like Fidelity or NY Public library. Will be happy to hear your perspective or if you can refer me to someone who is experienced in implementing such solutions.

Technology helps set peopel with hearing loss free to succeed

Tucked away in her cubicle at Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Louisiana, Yvette Moody stares into the incandescent glow of her computer screen, taps out a few sentences and clicks "send." Another e-mail dispatched -- just one of millions transmitted daily in the business world.

Except that this one signals a revolution.

Moody is one of 200,000 Louisianians and 28 million deaf Americans who are seeing the closing of a communication gap between those who hear and those who can't.

The high-tech gadgets and gizmos most people take for granted -- wireless Internet, Blackberries and Sidekicks, e-mail, instant messaging, text pagers, video phones and Web cams -- are now more available to the hearing-impaired, leveling the playing field a bit more.

Once handicapped by the front-and-center status of the telephone in the professional world, Moody and others who have embraced devices devoted to visual communication now find themselves on equal terms with other workers.

"The new technology has been a godsend," said Moody, a 42-year-old system integration analyst. "It's opened doors that previously were closed to us."

Those doors swung shut more than a century ago, when Alexander Graham Bell -- experimenting with ways to teach speech to deaf children -- instead invented the telephone.

Over the years, there were efforts to make a deaf-friendly device, including the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, a telephone with text, and the Voice Carry Over, or VCO, which allowed the hearing-impaired to talk directly to those they called and have responses typed back using a relay service.

But it wasn't until Vinton Cerf, a former researcher with the U.S. Department of Defense, hearing-impaired and frustrated with communication with colleagues, helped jump-start the Internet, that things began to change.

Then came e-mail and instant messaging. Cellular phones with text-messaging capabilities. Wireless portable communication devices, such as Blackberry and Sidekick. Web cameras that allow the deaf to speak to one another online using American Sign Language.

Soon, advocates say, 3G and 4G wireless video phones -- already available in parts of Europe -- will let subscribers see who they're talking to in real time, which will give the hearing impaired another edge.

"The Internet is just one technology that has had a direct impact on the integration of deaf people in a hearing environment," Cerf said in a recent speech. "What is important about it is that the tools they use are the tools that the rest of the hearing population use too."

W. Fred Roy III, executive director of the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf, said the shift has been dramatic and swift -- much of it taking place in the past 36 months.

What it means, Roy said, is that the hearing impaired can not only perform such mundane tasks as ordering pizza but also participate in video conferences at the office.

"Deaf people for the first time in history can talk to anybody, anywhere at any time for any reason," Roy said. "That means their involvement in commerce is improved, their ability to maintain employment is improved and their ability to participate as taxpayers is improved. There is no way to say this other than it's very exciting."

But it also forces the state agency -- which historically has provided specialized equipment for the deaf not stocked in every shopping mall -- to rethink its role. Roy said the commission likely will shift its focus to advocacy issues.

For Moody, such changes have meant the difference between pursuing the same career she planned before losing her hearing -- or the ones suggested by a rehabilitation service: Data entry clerk or beautician.

"In the business world, people sometimes feel your intellectual ability is somehow on the same level as your hearing ability," said Moody, a Southern University graduate who has a master's degree from the University of Phoenix. "I've run the whole gamut with technology, but it's been worth it."

The former model mysteriously began losing her hearing in 1988 -- just two weeks before she turned 25.

Initially, she used a TDD, but found it limiting because it could only communicate with other TDDs. Then came a portable Voice Carry Over, or VCO, which allowed Moody to talk directly to the person she called and have responses typed back to her using a relay service.

When Moody went to work for Apple Computer in 1995, she was given an alpha pager through which she could receive e-mails.

In her job with BlueCross BlueShield, most of Moody's communication is over the Internet via e-mail. She's also gotten a cochlear implant, a device that transmits sound by stimulating nerve fibers in the inner ear.

But what thrills Moody the most about the impact of mainstream technology is that what it means for her 15-year-old daughter Racheal, a sophomore at Lee High School who is also hearing impaired.

"I tell her, 'Whatever you want to do, you can do," she said. "Your disability does not have to hold you back at all. She wanted to be the first deaf astronaut. Now it's massage therapy."

When David Moores started cleaning cages after school at the Animal Medical Center in Covington, colleagues would flash the lights to let him know it was time to go home.

Today, the 27-year-old grandson of author Walker Percy, who was born with a hearing loss that got worse over time, is a veterinarian in that same clinic.

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine graduate communicates with clients using e-mail, instant messages and -- before he got a cochlear implant last July -- a relay service through which an interpreter read his typewritten messages to the person on the other end of the telephone.

Moores said the technological developments can make a difference -- but ultimately it depends on whether the hearing-impaired person is willing to take advantage of it.

"I know quite a few deaf people, and some take it upon themselves to learn how to better themselves and get an education. They have a drive to succeed and they have resources and they know how to make use of that," Moores said. "But some don't have that kind of will."

He remembers when his mother, Ann Moores -- who is also deaf -- got her first Blackberry. She was so excited about the prospect of communicating with family and friends, he noted, that she exceeded the messaging limit in the first two days.

In a conference room at Hamilton Telecommunications on Bluebonnet Centre Boulevard, employee Henry Brinkmann has assembled a display showing the evolution of the technology that over the years has helped the hearing impaired communicate.

But the businessman -- who is deaf -- said none of those earlier devices offered the kinds of opportunities the hearing impaired now have.

"It's truly leveling the playing field," Brinkmann said. "It's a whole new world for us."

By Penny Brown Roberts

http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/12/technology_help.html

lhh.org

Meeting wonderful people at LHH
Josh Gendel is very knowledgeable in assisstive technology, kind and willing to help. What a great source of sharing and support. We discussed the possibilities of my project. Josh refered me to valuable resources.

Newsgroups that deal with hearing loss - alt.support.hearing-loss.
You can access it usually through your e-mail software or through Google groups at:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.hearing-loss/topics?lnk=srg&hl=en

A. directs the community education programs, provided me with resources and information about activities in NYC and US.

D. Direct the educational programs for children, an amazing school psychologist who is working at LHH for 20 years. It was amazing to learn about the progress in the field in the last 50 years. We are planning to meet again to discuss ways in which educational technology can empower children with hearing loss.


-------------------------
ABC - Association for better communication is a great organization and is active in LHH to promote a better access for people with hearinmg loss.

for example, supporting new legistration like
Dear a.b.c. members.

Joe G. sent me this announcement.

Both legislative houses in Albany have passed the Interagency Bills.

It is very important that we all write or email Governor Spitzerand
ask him to please sign this bill. Please ask your chapter members to write
also.

Here is the mailing address or email contact information for Governor
Spitzer.

Mailing address for Governor Spitzer:
Governor Eliot Spitzer
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Email contact for Governor Spitzer : Congress.org


Here are the BILL NUMBERS, TITLE OF THE BILL, PURPOSE OF THE BILL,
JUSTIFICATION OF THE BILL, and a SUMMARY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE
BILL.

> BILL NUMBER: A2461A/S1923
> SPONSOR: Morelle (MS)
>
> TITLE OF BILL:
> An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to
> creating the state interagency council for services to
> persons who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing
> to promote a comprehensive service system for the
> deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing population
>
>
> PURPOSE:
> Services for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing
> persons are provided by many agencies of the State
> government and through funding from these agencies, by
> many private agencies and providers. This bill would
> establish an Interagency Coordinating Council for
> Services to Persons Who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, or Hard
> of Hearing under the administrative lead of the New
> York State Commission on Quality of Care & Advo-
> cacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD). The
> Council would coordinate the collection of information
> on population needs, engage in comprehensive strategic
> planning and prepare legislative and policy
> recommendations to the Governor and the State
> Legislature.
>
>
> SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
> This bill proposes to amend the Mental Hygiene
> Law by adding a new section 45.21 to create a New York
> State Interagency Coordinating Council for Services to
> Persons who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind or Hard of Hearing.
> The Interagency Coordinating Council would be adminis-
> tered by the New York State Commission on Quality of
> Care & Advocacy to Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD).
>
> The Council will include seven agency heads or their
> designees from the following agencies: the chairperson
> of the NYS CQCAPD, who will also serve as the chair of
> this council, the Public Service Commission, the
> Offices of Children & Family Services, Aging, and the
> Departments of Education, Health, and Labor.
>
> In addition to the agency representatives, the Council
> will include eight representatives appointed by the
> Governor and the State Legislature.
>
> Functions of the Interagency Coordinating Council and
> the NYS CQCAPD would include:
>
> 1) the promotion of a statewide program for
> coordinated services to persons who are deaf,
> deaf-blind and hard of hearing;
>
> 2) the maintenance of data on the incidence of
> deafness, deaf-blindness and other hearing loss;
>
> 3) to serve as a clearinghouse of information on
> available Services;
>
> 4) the dissemination of service information;
>
> 5) receipt of complaints affecting the deaf,
> deaf-blind and hard of
> hearing;
>
> 6) the ongoing evaluation of the needs of the deaf,
> deaf-blind and hard of hearing communities, including
> technology;
>
> 7) to report to the Governor and State Legislature
> beginning on or before November 1st 2009 with
> advisement on policy, legislative initiatives and, by
> the third year of funding, the development of a
> uniform
> statewide plan.
>
> JUSTIFICATION:
> This bill would significantly improve the delivery of
> services to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or
> hard of hearing. It would provide a discussion focus
> on the delivery of comprehensive services for medical,
> housing, transportation, technology supports,
> personal care, family supports, and day programs for
> the deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing.
>
> Interagency discussion would result in an
> identification of the needs of the deaf, deaf-blind
> and hard of hearing communities and a more efficient
> matching of these needs to State resources. The
> establishment of a Council that includes persons who
> are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing will do much
> to ensure that services for this population are
> responsive to the special needs of these groups. As of now,
> there is no single "impartial" place where deaf and
> multi-handicapped deaf individuals can receive
>information regarding available services.

Yoga for HOH NYC

I am sure that Yoga classes will open great possibilities to
people who are HOH and that they will enjoy the experience.

If you are interested in a private Yoga class for HOH or if
you are a Yoga teacher who are interested in promoting yoga classes
for HOH.

Please contact me at

visualyoga.blogspot.com

etti_manhattan@hotmail.com






I started to enroll Yoga teachers to modify their classes to welcome HOH peopel
and started to research how Yoga teachers training programs address the needs of HOH.

N.C. is an experienced Yoga teacher in NYC.
She invited me to join her Iyvengar Yoga class and shared with me her experience.
Beside teaching regular classes, N. has experience teaching Yoga for the deaf using
the service of an interpreting services with sign language. She agrees with me that
there are few HOH people who attend Yoga classes and that they tend to be shy about
their hearing loss. As I am a Yoga teacher, N. blessed me for my wish to develop
ways to teach Yoga for the HOH and will be happy contribute to the project.


I am sure that Yoga classes will open great possibilities to people who are HOH
and that they will enjoy the experience.

Yoga for HOH

April 2004

YES HERE IT COME

YOGA FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING DISABILITIES

At this stage it is more for people who are using sign language. I wish to extend it also to support those who do not sign. We all bless and celebrate a good and a serious start from a great institute. We will do our best to find funding to extend such activities and developments.To fund interpreter and technology solutions.

When I started IMCommunity there was no Yoga class for people with hearing disabilities and I looked for one for years in Boston, Israel and NYC.

Now Sharon is starting the class at NYC - April 2007
Sarit is learning the topic in Israel
And will provide private classes for HOH beginning - May 2007 in NYC and NJ

Please forward the information to anyone who may be interested in developing the topic or take a class.

Etti

etti_inbal@yahoo.com

Yoga for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

The Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York is pleased to
announce a 10 week class series beginning April 21st

Iyengar Yoga is for students of every age and fitness level. Learn the fundamental postures ("asanas") of the method. Yoga teaches us how to move, reach, bend, twist, stabilize, and release in a mindful and balanced way.

Class Dates: Saturdays, April 21 - June 30 (no class on May 5th)

Class Time: 1:00 - 2:30pm

Instructor: Vicki Vollmer

Communication: ASL Interpreting

Cost: $165 series / $20 drop in
Please be mindful that we are unable to offer make-ups for missed classes or refunds.

Register by calling the Institute @ (212) 691-9642, emailing sharon@iyengarnyc.org, or in person at the front desk of the Institute.


Helpful Information:
Students should wear shorts or footless tights. Wear clothes that allow easy movement but are not baggy.

Come to class with an empty stomach.

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

If you have any injuries or physical problems, be sure to notify your teacher prior to the start of class.

Namaste

Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York
sharon@iyengarnyc.org
(212)691-9642
http://www.iyengarnyc.org/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As for myself I will provide private lessons for people who are hard of hearing...
Contact me at etti_inbal@yahoo.com

________________________________________________________________________________

and a letter from an Israli Yoga teacher who wish to learn more about the topic..

הי אתי

באופן אישי לא יצא לי לעבוד עם כיבדי שמיעה ואני לא מכירה אנשים שעובדים איתם אך לדעתי אין ולא צריכה להיות בעיה לעשות זאת. למשל אצלינו השיעור מתחיל המדיטציה, נשימות ואימון פיסי. מדוע שתהיה בעיה לעשות זאת עם כיבדי שמיעה? כאשר אנו מודעים לבעיה ניתן לבנות את השיעור בהתאם לצרכים. לא רק שבעיני זה לא בעייה אלה זה גם מאתגר. שיעור מסוג זה צריך להתבסס על הדגמות, תשומת לב עמוקה מצידו של המורה, שכמובן עליו להיות מודע למורכבות של האוכלוסיה הספציפית ולהשתמש ביוגה בכדי לעזור להם. השפה לא חייבת להיות מילולית ולאו דוקא הקול של המורה הוא זה שיוצר את האוירה. הרעיון נשמע לי מצויין ואולי כדאי להכשיר מורים ליוגה לדבר כזה. עוד לא נכנסתי לאתר שלך אבל אעשה זאת בקרוב. אשמח מאד לתרום לו אם אוכל

שרית

Sarit from a Yoga teachers training program in Israel is happy to learn about the topic. She is sure classes can be modified to address HOH needs. Our conversation just started.

Amercan with Disabilities Act, AARP

American Disability Act is an important document. Many people in IMCommunity assume that there is a need for for improvement / enforcement as technologies and better solutions are being developed.

ADA American with Disabilities ACT.

It is recommended to
- Increase the awareness for the availability solutions that promote equal opportunities for communication for example - the use of Instant Messages.
- Enforce the use of Instant Message as an option for communication with all government agencies, educational institutes, hospitals, and customer service departments.
- Enforce the use of CART in all educational institute and public lectures.

To improve ADA it is recommended to request that organizations like AARP will act to promote more awarness and needed changes.

Enclosed is my communication with them:

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us.  We appreciate
hearing from you.

At this time, AARP has not taken a position on the issue you raised. 
Our public policy positions are determined each year by the
all-volunteer AARP Board of Directors after a full 12-month cycle of
consideration.  This process begins with input from members just like
you, and is supported by extensive member polling and research
efforts.  The Association's National Policy Council thoughtfully
develops each policy after reviewing the pros and cons and makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors.  Please keep in mind that
all of our policies are strictly nonpartisan, focusing on issues, not
political considerations.

Besides surveys, we carefully monitor member input through telephone
calls, emails and letters.  We also conduct field hearings and focus
groups to help direct our policy decisions to reflect the majority of
our members' needs.  In addition, our bi-monthly magazine and the
newspaper, which are sent to all AARP member households, periodically
contain "sound-off" columns asking for member responses.  

AARP Fulfillment
601 E Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20049

I hope this information is helpful.  Thank you again for taking the
time to share your views with us.  Your interest helps ensure that
AARP truly has the power to make life better.

Sincerely,

Betty
Member Communications
Member@aarp.org

Toll-free 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277).
Toll-free 1-877-434-7598 TTY
©1995-2006. AARP. All Rights Reserved.



------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMUNICATION AND
THE HARD OF HEARING STUDENT
(http://p3.csun.edu/p3access/mod-comstrat.html)

Accessible communication is the primary need of students who are hard of hearing within the postsecondary setting. The development of accommodating communication strategies provides the hard of hearing student with venues to educational success, whether that communication strategy is through interpreting, real-time captioning, C-Print, assistive listening devices, speech, speechreading and/or auditory cues. The communication strategies hard of hearing students choose vary; the final deciding factor is which strategy or strategies are the most comfortable and effective. It is important to remember that no two students are exactly alike in terms of accommodation preferences. Some students may choose one, a few or all communication strategies.

Communication needs and diverse learning styles impact the student’s choice of communication used in the classroom.

Modes
Decisions
Hearing Loss
Signed
Speech
Text

Challenge 1
Challenge 2
Challenge 3
Challenge 4


COMMUNICATION MODES

Strategies available to hard of hearing students can be broken down into three general categories.
 •  Signed
 •  Speech
 •  Text

Traditionally, most hard of hearing students rely on speech and text communication and may have no knowledge of signed communication. Every student has their own unique needs.

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COMMUNICATION DECISIONS

Hard of hearing students’ communication needs are highly individualized and are based on many variables such as:
 •  Degree and type of hearing loss
 •  Age of onset
 •  Communication choices made by parents
 •  Use of auxiliary support services (i.e. FM loops, computer assisted real-time transcription {CART})
 •  Learning styles

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COMMUNICATION AND HEARING LOSS


Typically, hard of hearing students have a mild to moderate hearing loss (25-60 decibels). They may rely on residual hearing to communicate through speaking and speechreading. Auditory abilities of hard of hearing individuals range from being able to hear a watch ticking to carrying on a conversation on the phone. They use technology to adapt accordingly. Computer assisted realtime transcription (CART) and assistive listening devices are examples of accommodations that hard of hearing individuals use to help with facilitating communication. For those with lower degrees of hearing loss, speech communication may be the only strategy used. Individuals with higher degrees of hearing loss may rely on hearing aids combined with speech communication and auditory cues. Signed communication may help those with more hearing loss and/or hard of hearing individuals who are culturally Deaf. For more information, see Info@Deafness

Communication needs and diverse learning styles impact the student’s choice of communication used in the classroom.

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SIGNED COMMUNICATION

Signed communication is constituted of manual modes (Cued Speech, Manually Coded English (MCE), gestures) and an autonomous whole language, American Sign Language (ASL). In an academic setting, signed communication still can occur even if one of the parties is a non-signer. This brings in the role of the interpreter/transliterator who translates signed communication into oral/spoken communication and vice versa. Nonmanual communication (body language, facial expressions) is fundamental to signed communication.

Typically, most individuals who are hard of hearing rely very little on signed communication as a strategy. However every person has individual experiences and needs, and chooses their communication strategies accordingly.
American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, complex language used by deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States and parts of Canada. The hands, arms, body and face are used to produce an organic language with its own grammar and linguistic rules. For individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing, ASL may provide 100% communication access. ASL is the fourth most used language in the United States.
Cued Speech

Developed by Orin Cornett in 1966, cued speech is a phonemically-based system of hand signals used to supplement speechreading. With eight handshapes to represent consonants and four positions on the face to signify vowels, the deaf/hard of hearing individual can better distinguish between words that look similar, such as “bat” and “mat.”
Manually Coded English

Manually Coded English (MCE) is a system of signs, American Sign Language put in English order. MCE is generally used for communication between hearing and deaf individuals, particularly in the postsecondary environment. Many MCE signs are created as an effort to represent words that were previously spelled.

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SPEECH COMMUNICATION

Speech communication is an umbrella category for speech, speechreading, auditory cues and hearing aids or assistive listening devices for expressive and receptive oral English. Using speech communication as an effective strategy is contingent on the individual’s degree of hearing loss and their ability to maximize what residual hearing they have. It is the hard of hearing person’s responsibility to recognize and understand his/her hearing ability, as well as its implication and effect on his/her speech ability. For some individuals, speech communication may require specialized training (e.g. speech therapy). About 30-40% of all speech can be read on the lips, if both communicating parties maximize all expedients.
 •  Speech

Speech, or speaking, is a strategy many hard of hearing students use. The quality of a hard of hearing person’s speech varies and depends on many factors, such as onset of hearing loss, type of hearing loss, degree of residual hearing, motivation and/or effectiveness of specialized training. Some hard of hearing students may have the same speech as a person with normal hearing, while others may have differences that reflect their hearing loss. For instance, some hard of hearing students may not include sounds they do not hear. Some may use inappropriate pitch.
 •  Speechreading

Speechreading is a strategy that relies on visual cues from the speaker’s face, patterns on the lips to decipher speech and facial/body language to indicate tone. For many hard of hearing students, hearing speech in the classroom may sound like a series of low, muffled sounds. For some students, speechreading helps decode these sounds while listening with or without auxiliary aids. When students read lips, they can see the placement of the lips, teeth and tongue, which determine consonant production.
 •  Examples of distinct consonants and vowels:
/o/, /l/,/f/, /p/

In general speechreading can be very difficult without listening. Many sounds look nearly the same on the lips and other sounds are invisible on the lips.

 •  Examples of words that look identical on the lips:
Bat, mat, pat, pad, mad, bad

For a hard of hearing student to effectively speechread, the student can try to use his/her residual hearing, ask for clarification and repetition, and follow conversations by drawing from content where a spoken word is missed, adjust the environment for clarity and visibility. The speaker can speak clearly at a controlled pace and minimize movements. The ability to speechread is a talent, not a reflection of intelligence.
Auditory Cues

Auditory cues are sounds that hard of hearing individuals pick up with or without assistive listening devices. Cues help hard of hearing students with other communication strategies (speechreading). Each hard of hearing student’s degree of hearing loss varies; the ability to hear speech may be more distorted for one person, while another person may struggle with loudness. Words may be heard as another:
 •  goose may be misheard as booth
 •  heap may be misheard as heat
 •  reach may be misheard as rich

A quiet environment is an ideal classroom setting for hard of hearing students to best use auditory cues as a means of receptive communication. Auditory cues are better used with the help of hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices, which amplify sounds. Some assistive listening devices allow the hard of hearing student to tune out environmental sounds to hear the speaker better. For more information about hearing technology, please refer to  Assistive Devices.

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TEXT COMMUNICATION

Hard of hearing students may prefer text, or written, communication at times. In situations where speechreading is not possible, such as in a darkened classroom, students may resort to writing and/or typing. Written communication also comes in handy if hard of hearing students find they cannot rely on auditory cues or do not have access to assistive devices. With the advent of the Americans with Disabilities Act has come increased awareness and use of CART services. CART is frequently the accommodation of choice by hard of hearing individuals. It is effective, even in a darkened room, because the words are displayed on a screen. In situations where CART or ALDs are not available, using paper and pen or taking turns typing on a computer are effective alternatives.

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COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES

Challenge 1:  Comprehension

The hard of hearing student has difficulty with comprehension on a one-to-one basis..

Strategies for Challenge 1:
 •  When speaking to a hard of hearing student, look directly at the student.
 •  Address the student directly—do not tell the interpreter “tell him” or “tell her.”
 •  Use eye contact while speaking.
 •  Be aware that using facial expressions and body language helps communication flow more efficiently; raised eyebrows connote questions, whereas a relaxed face indicates statements.
 •  Be prepared to use different modes of communication: writing, typing, using an interpreter, speaking clearly, etc.,.
 •  Understand that each student has different communication needs and adapt accordingly.
 •  Make sure the environment is as quiet as possible for auditory and visual clarity.
 •  Try to stand between three and six feet from the student.
 •  Remember that an entire sentence or phrase provides more content, making for easier lipreading than a single word.
 •  Minimize head movement while speaking.
 •  Speak normally and clearly.
 •  Pause when changing topics or making a new point.
 •  Repeat or acknowledge a new word, name or any other unfamiliar terms.

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Challenge 2: Speech

The hard of hearing student speaks for him/herself, but you have difficulty understanding him/her.

Strategies for Challenge 2:
 •  Relax.
 •  If speech is unclear, ask for repetition.
 •  Pay attention to non-manual communication such as body language, facial expressions, gestures).
 •  Written communication can be used in lieu of spoken communication.
 •  Request an interpreter, a sign language or oral interpreter. Interpreters are for all parties involved in communication. Interpreters are familiar with the speech patterns of individuals who are hard of hearing or deaf

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Challenge 3:  Classroom Interaction

The hard of hearing student finds participation in classroom discussions difficult and/or awkward, or does not participate at all.

Strategies for Challenge 3:
 •  Make sure the hard of hearing student sees you before resuming speaking.
 •  Be sure there is sufficient lighting in the classroom for the student to see everybody clearly, but make sure the light source is not behind the speaker; this creates black silhouettes that are difficult, if not impossible, to lipread.
 •  Avoid covering your mouth while speaking. Lipreading may help the hard of hearing student’s comprehension.
 •  Refrain from speaking when not facing the student (i.e. writing on the blackboard or passing out papers)
 •  Speak slowly and clearly without exaggerating for students who rely on auditory cues and speechreading.
 •  Tapping gently on the student’s shoulder to get his/her attention is perfectly acceptable.
 •  Using facial and body expressions provide cues that may assist the hard of hearing student’s comprehension.
 •  Understand that if the student is using a service provider in class, there is a time lag in receiving information.
 •  During discussions, have one person speak at a time; turn taking will help all students follow the classroom discussion better.
 •  When asking a question, allow enough time for the hard of hearing student to receive the question from the service provider and formulate a response before calling on someone to answer the question.
 •  If a student poses a question, repeat the question before answering.
 •  Identify every speaker by pointing or addressing the speaker by his/her first name, in order to allow the hard of hearing student to see the speaker.
 •  When writing on the blackboard, allow for time for the hard of hearing student to read the information before resuming discussion.

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Challenge 4:  Environmental Disturbance

The classroom is noisy and interferes with the hard of hearing student’s ability to follow class discussions.

Strategies for Challenge 4:
 •  Ask for one speaker at a time to keep the chatter to a minimum.
 •  Stand three to six feet away from the hard of hearing student.
 •  Close windows and doors to block out outside noises.
 •  While speaking, stand away from vents, overhead projectors and any other devices that produce noise.
 •  If the classroom is inappropriately noisy, ask to be relocated.
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Educational Technology may contribute to HOHhttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif children

April 11.2007

Technologies of visual communications for international customers may be valuable for people with hearing loss. We can learn from other fields like .....

http://www.stc.org/54thConf/precon/pc4.asp

Away with Words

Downsize page counts and significantly save on printing and translation costs by combating the wordiness of information. This workshop specifically explains how to move documentation away from its dependence on words, develop visual strategies to address various products and audiences, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing visual instruction.

Who Should Attend:

Technical communicators and graphic designers who produce information with graphics for international audiences. Suitable for writers, illustrators, managers, and usability testers.

You’ll learn to:

• Visualize instructions for usability.
• Use visuals to downsize or eliminate word-count.
• Address and accommodate international audiences.
• Illustrate complex objects and products with simple shapes and applications.
• Determine the suitability of wordless instructions for various scenarios.

About the Seminar Leader:

A former technical writer and now a visual interaction designer, Patrick Hofmann has turned into “a man of few words.” For over ten years, Hofmann has conducted seminars and workshops on visual instructions, helping clients overcome the anxiety and stress involved in globalization and translation—often by eliminating the text in their online, hardcopy, and interface information.

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Yesterday I met D who directs educational program for children who have Cochlear implants who were deaf and now can hear . Once kids at the age of 1-2 years get the implants, they can hear but need special education to develop their language skills.
I was invited to meet their team to learn more about their work and brainstorm about how educational technology can contribute to those kids who have an implant or are HOH. I am excited about the possibility of empowering communication for those kids, specialists, and families.

Speech to Text

Speech to Text - New Era for people with hearing loss

Speech to text technologies are being developed and used.
I-pod is being widely used to publish lectures on Ipod U (university).
Now that users can hear lectures on i-pod, they are looking for the speech text technology to allow them to print, search and manipulate the content.

Sure, Steve Jobs can and will make the Magic and transform the way we communicate and learn. I bless him to add simultaneous speech to text conversion to Ipod and Iphone.

Adding such a possibility will do magic to the HOH community. Actually it will open an
Era of equal opportunities for the people with hearing loss.
Their world will become Flat. As T.L Friedman describes the new ways things are being done.

Conversion audio/video to text

Conversion audio/video to text

D recomended to explore current technologies of audio/video to text - for example

" We use cutting edge technology to ensure consistently high quality conversion of your audio/video to text output. We have ability to send and receive files by FTP. We can deliver transcripts in a variety of formats like doc, text, pdf and can deliver the transcripts in a variety of ways including email, secure web-site and CD-Rom. We are capable of handling any kind of audio/video cassette, CDs, DVDs and other digital files including aac, avi, dss, mov,mp3, mp4, wav, wma and many more digital formats."

http://www.tech-synergy.com/mp3totext.htm

T-Mobile® Sidekick

T-Mobile® Sidekick™ has gained popularity for its messaging capabilities. Affordable “data only” plans offered by several wireless carriers enable deaf and hard of hearing consumers to communicate on-the-go via instant messaging, email or SMS. Now with several improvements available in its next generation device – and the introduction of two wireless Internet relay applications.

T-Mobile® Sidekick II™ includes a much more powerful vibration motor than in previous devices.

MCI’s IP-RELAY.com and GoAmerica® created two Internet relay applications – Wireless IP Relay.com, and Sprint Relay WirelessSM, powered by GoAmerica – that will be offered at no charge. T-Mobile customers T-Mobile Sidekick II devices will have access to both of these new applications beginning today (note: other wireless carriers may choose to offer one or both of the Internet relay applications as well).

The Internet relay applications are quick and easy to use. After downloading the application a user simply selects the new icon to instantly connect with a relay operator and make relay calls.

http://www.aad.org.au/

Caption in US Senat

Senate Committee to Caption Proceedings

January 2004

quote

"I was shocked to see this report that a Senate committee will launch a pilot program to caption its proceedings, and they might consider captioning more proceedings if they can afford it. They're just now thinking about captioning their proceedings? They're not sure they can afford it? How many gazillion dollars are we spending on pork barrel projects, corporate welfare, and a host of other dubious expenditures?

Can someone tell me why it's ok for our Federal government to deny people with hearing loss access to its proceedings? Can someone explain why everyone with hearing loss isn't up in arms about this? Can someone please offer some ideas on how we can get universal communications access to be as readily accepted as universal wheelchair access? "

http://www.hearinglossweb.com

Simultanious translation / captioning

Simultaneous Translation

It is increasingly common for conferences to require high-level simultaneous translation services.
from www.maggiore.ch


Future possibilities - Simultaneous Captioning

The equipment used today - CART is complicated to use and expensive. Rarely used in public lectures and educational institutes.

Better technology and law enforcing can make it available in every presentation, same as caption in most TV shows.

IM - Instant Massage better than phone

Why IM is a great solution for interactive communication?

What's the problem with phones

Phone calls sometimes are clear and sometime not, always challenge the HOH to deal with missing links and no visual clues.

The quality of the phone conversation depends on the:

• clarity of the sound
• quality of the line
• quality of the phone
• humidity in the air
• the speed of the speech,
• knowing the context
  

There is always an unknown element and the HOH person does not know if he/she will understand all meaningful words and concepts. Therefore, phone calls can be a mistake or cause challenges when you call a person who does not know you.

Phone calls are a state where a HOH person needs to cope with many missing links, they demand more energy and concentration. Sometime HOH people will get tired of it. In this case they will tent to talk more rather than to listen. They will try to make the call as short as they can. It may cause the other person to be frustrated.

Be aware that HOH people always wish to have more rather than less communication and feel bad when they request you to repeat what you have said. Most of my friends developed the sensitivity and the intuition to make the phone calls successful. My sister Nili is one of the best communicators - we talk over the phone daily and for a long time. It is very rare that I ask to repeat.

What she does is:
1. Talk from a good phone line. (There are differences in clarity between different lines and phones)
2. Makes sure there are no background noises or interference ( TV, talks, etc.)
3. Speaks clearly and a normal way
4. Is sensitive and confirm I get names or address correctly
5. Welcomes my request to repeat and will repeat what she says using different words
6 Will never say "never mind it is not important" when I ask her to repeat

Education for better communication
People who are sensitive and good communicators can be 30-40% more effective than others while calling HOH. I am sure that this people are effective with everyone they talk with.

Why relay isn't the best solution?
The relay services, are relatively slow. People who talk with the HOH doesn't know what is happening in cases where it takes time to the caption to appear on the screen. It is frustrating. Also they are not used to a slow speed of the conversation. Practice in maintaining communication based on keywords and techniques for speed reading may be helpful.

"If captions will appears on every single phone for hard of hearing and non hard of hearing people - it will give the normal hearing person a better understanding what is happening. It may be simple to add the caption option to each phone call once the speech to text technology will be used for captions" Such an option will be useful also to store, search, repeat and manipulate phone info.

For some people the idea that there is another person listening to the converstation (and typing the relay) effect the feeling of intimacy in the conversation - Automatic conversion to text will solve this problem.
Most of my friends hate relay and would encourage me to use it only for emergency or in request for info I can't find in another way.

Yesterday I got the latest technology - Captell. It works in a better speed based on VCO technology. It means that I can choose that the person with whom I talk may not know that I am using a relay. It is better but still it is slower than a normal conversation.

IM - The best alternative to phone and more...

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION !!!!

Instant messaging boosts communication and allows easy collaboration and is becoming more and more important in corporate environments. IM facilitating quick, safe, and persistent exchange of information such as URLs or document, options we do not over the phone

IM for HOH and for everyone

Using IM Instant message, the HOH person is equal to the person he communicate with. It allows the HOH to understand 100 of the information. You are relaxed and have fun, you can be spontaneous and share jokes. Usually the content of the chat is much more meaningful than the content of the phone. Kids and young people love it - so do I.
Questions I have:

- What will encourage the use IM ?
- How can we promote businesses and government agencies to adapt IM as they did for phones and e-mail?

Currently most IM
1. Need special download and setting process. What seems easy to tech people can frustrate others.
Why wouldn't IM become a part of the e-mail software with same password and login name?
2. The different IM programs are not talking to one another.
Why can't MSN messenger users talk with AOL IM or Skype users? why can't we do with IM what we do with e-mails and phones?
3. Why most of the companies did not adapt IM as a part of their website?

Good Role models
Fidelity gives an option to chat with customer service representatives
NYC public library set the option of chat in their web site.
Google - You use same login information for e-mail and for chat and both options are user friendly

Job Interview for HOH

I can't count the number of times that people read my resume or were impressed by my projects and contacted me. But when they found that I do not hear well over the phone and use a relay service - they shut off communication. Could you believe it?

- In Hebrew there is a song ... "Hacole Biglal Masmer Katan" Everything is because of a small nail. My nail is a telephone interview.

The first stage of screenin new employees is a phone interview.
When it comes to me - it means a dead end. No possibility to pass at all.

I use the phone with friends and family members. But those people are aware of the needs to talk clearly and of the possibility that I will ask "could you please repeat?" as a part of the conversation. However in a phone interview I have no chance.

Usually I ask to use chat, e-mail or to come to a meeting. Such a request will kill th eprocess.

Out of 100 only one time I succeeded and I wish to thank you for D. from Plato learning who requested that I will be interviewed by e-mail.

New Possibilities Encouraging companies to use chat or e-mail for a job interview.
Introducing guidelines /law require employers to interview with Phone, Chat, or e-mail.

Story - TV Caption

Caption

One day we were invited to good friends of us to watch video together and as we have our coffee in the family room Y started to go through all the process of learning all the setting of the caption. When he did not succeed he called his son for help. It was just natural for him to commit that I will understand and have equal opportunities for enjoying the movie. I am not sure till this day that he knows what did it mean to me.

New Possibilities - TV, VCR and DVD producers - why don't you make the setting of the caption easy?
Why isn't there a law that request caption from all the TV programs - the technology is there.

How Does it Feel To Be HOH

How Does it feel to be HOH?

Imagine....
- How does it feels to live with missing links?
- How do you feel when you see a movie with the volume turned down, almost off?
- How do you feel in a conversation with people who do not speak your language?
- How do you feel when you love to think quickly, and the communication is slow??
- How do you feel when people misjudge and discriminate you?

.........You may decide to shut off communication
Or you can count the blessings.....

- Your friends are true and dedicated friends. You have a natural selection system!
- You have a reminder that you are human and that nobody is perfect
- You are an inspiration to other people
- You know better about communication than most people
- You are encouraged to be creative and inventive (Thomas Edison was deaf most of his life..)
- You are encouraged to learn new technologies
- You have many opportunities to welcome kindness and meet wonderful people

Communication comes from the heart and the brain ...... and what is truly important will always be available for you.

Computer-aided realtime translation technology - CART

Computer-aided realtime translation technology - CART - captioning lectures and live television programs

Realtime reporting is most commonly used in education and in captioning live television programs. Those persons who perform the captioning listen to the words spoken and simultaneously stenotypes those words on a shorthand machine which sends the electronic data to a computer. The computer instantly translates the stenotyped shorthand into English text and sends that text to the TV or the computer.

CART reporters are trained to facilitate communication directly between consumers who are hearing impaired and who are fluent in English but who cannot use sign language or oral interpreters. In its broadest sense, CART reporting is one type of interpreting.

Captell Captioned Telephone

Yes, a new technology is here. From 1.1.2007 - available in NYC. I ordered one.

Today April 10, 2007 I am using Captel in a new way.
People can call me through relay by calling Captel 877-243-2823 and than request to get connected to my phone number.
A great addition. However, I am looking forward to be able that people will call my number directly and get the relay services if they or me wish to. The team at Captel provide excellent and friendly customer support.

The telephone that displays written, word-for-word captions of everything the caller says

Ideal for people with some degree of hearing loss, the Captioned Telephone (CapTel™) works like any other telephone with one important addition: It displays every word the caller says throughout the conversation. CapTel users can listen to the caller, and can also read the written captions in the CapTel's bright display window.

Captel phone is working nicely on Time Warner digital phone!!! Josh was right - When I called, no one in the phone company or in CapTel knew it will work.

Nest stage
Now that I wish to improve the effectiveness of Captel I wish to try the 2 line option.
In Boston I used the 2 line VCO using one line with the option of 3 way call.

I see that Time Warner added a new 3 way call service. I asked to add the feature to my phone.

"The advantages of two-line captioned telephone include direct inbound dialing, call waiting, call forwarding, direct 911 calling, and the ability to have two or more persons on the call at the same time"

I hope it will work.
http://www.captionedtelephone.com/

Notes May 2.2005
CapTel is great - I use the two line - the service is excellent and customer service by Michelle Mode is the best.


New options are throught WebCapTel
___________________________

WebCapTel is a new Internet-based addition to the CapTel service. It is being offered nationwide by Sprint (www.sprintcaptel.com) and Hamilton (www.hamiltoncaptel.com) .

WebCapTel brings CapTel services to those in states where CapTel in not a relay offering and those who prefer to use VOIP, cable and cellular phone services. It also offers mobility. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection and a phone. For instance, you can use a cell phone and a laptop in a coffee shop with a wireless network or from your kitchen table.

Artists for HOH

Shosh Ernst blessed me with her painting Inspiration http:www.shoshernst.com

Artists for HOH

Shoshannah, a Jewish artist whom I met in MOMA sent me a blessing for my project. The word Baruch means "You are blessed" in Hebrew. I was moved by her kindness and inspired by her art.
www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/s/shoshannah