Delaware Deaf Mentor Annoucement

white area on left displays a hand with a cochlea on it with words saying Delaware Families for Hands & Voices

We are happy to announce the NEW Deaf Mentor program is officially up and running. If you are interested in working with one of our trained mentors, a great resource for our Delaware families, a request can be made through Delaware Hands & Voices. We are all excited to begin this program and get families matched!

 
Sincerely,
Arielle Morris
Delaware Families for Hands & Voices
 
– Thanks to Hands & Voices newsletter for this announcement. 
Update 2 – apparently the National Hands and Voices has  more info about this program as Delaware’s site has not yet added the info online.  See https://handsandvoices.org/virtual-waiting-room/other-pros.html under Deaf Mentors section.
 

New Webinar Series!

Contemporary Issues in
Disability and Criminal Justice
3 photos - a man's hands in handcuffs behind his back - a man with a gavel sitting at a court bench - a corridor in a jail facility
 
Join the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center for our new series that will address hot topics related to disability in law enforcement, courts and corrections agencies.
 
Using Self-Advocate Educators with Disabilities for Training Emergency Responders
Wednesday June 9, 2021
1:00 – 2:00 PM Eastern
 
Approximately 6.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities (IDD/DD). In Session 1 of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center’s “Contemporary Issues in Disability and Criminal Justice” Series, a panel of experts and self-advocate educators with disabilities will discuss a research-based training model called Leading Forward, for Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Service providers. Through this model, Self-Advocate Educators (SAEs) are trained in how to teach firefighters, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and law enforcement about the range of characteristics of people with ID/DD and how their behaviors and communication abilities may vary from the non-disabled population in crises or emergency situations.
 
Panelists
  • Lisa Schoenbrodt, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology, Loyola College in Maryland
  • Leah Katherine Saal, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Literacy, School of Education, Loyola College in Maryland
  • Patrick Chaney, Self-Advocate Educator
  • Elaina Camacho, Self-Advocate Educator
 
 
Making Arrests and Detention Accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Thursday, June 17, 2021
2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern
 
This session describes a model to implement and oversee a comprehensive range of accommodations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) people throughout any detention or supervision, in state or county prisons, state or county parole or probation. The key to this model is having a specialist, D/HH ADA Coordinator who is given the authority and budget to ensure access for this often “silenced’ population” The session will also describe the list of specific accommodations needed, from specialized phones, interpreters, captioning equipment & services, and staff training.
 
Presenter
  • Bill Lockard, Program Director, DeafCAN! (Deaf Community Action Network)
 
 
The ADA and Our Jails: Delivering Service to All with Dignity and Respect
Thursday, June 29, 2021
2:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
 
This session will take a look at the ADA and our jails, from the time an individual enters booking until the day they are released. How do you properly ensure that all individuals in your custody have access to programs, services and a level playing field? Regardless of the disability, it is our responsibility to ensure that those entrusted to us while serving their sentences are treated with dignity and respect.
 
Presenter
  • Captain James P. McMichael, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office
 
 
Additional Information about the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center’s Webinars
  • There is no charge to access these sessions.
  • Certificates of participation are available for a fee.
  • Real-time captions will be available for all sessions.
  • The sessions will be recorded for later viewing.
 
Stay tuned as more sessions will be added to this series!
ADAcon
Save the Date!
Mid-Atlantic ADA Conference
 
28th Annual Conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act
September 21 – 23, 2021
Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
 
Mark your calendars for the Mid-Atlantic ADA Conference, ADAcon, hosted by TransCen, Inc. and the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center. ADAcon 2021 will be an in-person event and include sessions grouped in these topical tracks:
  • Housing (Fair Housing Act)
  • State and Local Government
  • Employment
  • Corrections
  • General
 
Complete conference information and registration are coming soon!
 
To stay informed on conference news and registration availability send an email to ADAtraining@transcen.org.
 
Questions? Contact:
TransCen, Inc.
Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
(800) 949-4232 (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)
(301) 217-0124 

Survey of Deaf Individuals Regarding Accessibility in Seeking Healthcare

I am inviting you to participate in a research study about mental health care and healthcare accessibility. This research project is conducted by Jacqueline Fontaine, a psychology student at the University of Wisconsin – Superior and is funded by the McNair’s Scholar’s Program. The faculty advisor whom is overseeing this study is Dr. Eleni Pinnow, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin – Superior. The objective of this research project is to better understand the influence of accessibility and communication on people of the Deaf community when seeking mental health and healthcare services. This electronic survey is being distributed nationwide to people with hearing loss who identify as culturally Deaf, and/or clinically deaf or hard of hearing.

It is my goal to receive as many responses as possible by June 30, 2021. Thank you so much for your help and participation! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or my faculty mentor.

More information at: https://uwsuperior.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1yMtCFTM8jui7Jk?fbclid=IwAR39a9vf_jBp.