Navigating the DC Public Schools Special Education Process: A virtual workshop
Thursday, September 16 at 7:00PM
Our partners at Early Stages will lead this virtual workshop, guiding parents and caregivers through the DCPS special education process from referral to implementation of services for eligible children. Facilitators will spend time making sure parents understand their rights, and share important tips on meeting preparation, advocating for your child, creating a strong support system, and accessing resources. The session will wrap up with time for questions.
The event is free and registration is required in order to receive the Zoom link. Register at: tinyurl.com/earlystages99. Automatic captioning will be available. To request other reasonable accommodations, contact DCPLaccess@dc.gov or 202-727-2142.
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Hearing Loss Association of America DC Chapter invites you to a program on
Hearing Aids – Over the Counter (OTC), Direct to Consumer (DTC), and Connectivity
Sunday, September 12 at 2PM on Zoom
Legislation passed by Congress in 2017 instructed the FDA to create a new category of hearing devices that could safely be sold over-the-counter (OTC) to persons with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. The FDA has not yet issued these regulations, but is expected to do so shortly. In the meantime a new distribution channel has emerged, referred to as DTC (Direct-to-Consumer). But a lack of clear guidelines or regulations is causing confusion. This presentation will discuss OTC & DTC hearing devices, including including the companies & products involved, as well as new products & features recently introduced through traditional hearing aid channels, and connectivity (Bluetooth, loops & apps), an important feature connecting us to a variety of audio sources.
As some of you will recognize, this topic was the subject of an excellent workshop presented by Dr. Thomas Powers at HLAA’s June convention. Dr. Powers has graciously agreed to give this presentation again on September 12.
Real time captions will be provided for this program. All are welcome.
Please RSVP (with an email to hladcchapter@gmail.com) so that they can send out guidance in advance on how to access this program on Zoom.
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The National Disability Rights Network and the American Association of People with Disabilities will be hosting the 2021 Disability Vote Summit on Tuesday, September 14, 12:00 - 4:00PM
At the virtual Summit, they will explore:
- The power of the disability vote
- Lessons learned from 2020 turnout
- How to use data to mobilize the disability vote
Confirmed presenters include representatives from the National Disability Rights Network, the National Federation of the Blind, SABE Go Voter Project, and more! Join national disability advocates, state and local organizers, policymakers, and others who are working to get out the disability vote.
If you have any questions, please contact Lilian Aluri at laluri@aapd.com or Jack Rosen at jack.rosen@ndrn.org.
Visit AAPD's website to learn more about National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW),
https://www.aapd.com/advocacy/voting/national-disability-voter-registration-week/ which is from September 13-20, and how you can get involved
Register HERE for the summit: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_luKRN0AXTz2reJ3xLeO4AQ
American Sign Language interpreters and CART live-captioning services will be available for this event.
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Maker Talks with the Labs
What is 3D Printing
Tuesday, September 14 at 3:00PM
One of the technologies offered by the Labs at MLK is 3D printing. Are you curious about how 3D printing works? If so, join us for a virtual program discussing the basics of how it works, what materials are used, and what kinds of machines are at the Labs.
Jewelry Making with Paintingstones
Saturday, September 18 at 3PM
Artist Beth Nogay Carenbauer creates jewelry out of vintage cufflinks, belt buckles, and other hardware for her business, Paintingstones. https://www.paintingstones.com. She will talk about her process upcycling everything from bike tires to silver spoons into jewelry. She will also demo how to turn a pair of vintage cufflinks into earrings.
What is Sewing
Tuesday, September 21 at 3PM
One of the technologies offered by the Labs at MLK is sewing machines. Are you curious about how machine sewing works? If so, join us for a virtual program discussing the basics of how it works, what materials are used, and what kinds of machines are at the Labs.
Registration is required for these events: bit.ly/labsclasses
Questions? Contact:
Alexandra Genia, Library Associate, The Labs at DCPL, labs.dcpl@dc.gov, (202) 727-1275
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ASL Classes Starting up Again in September!
Our ever-popular series of Beginning and Intermediate level American Sign Language (ASL) classes will be starting up again at the end of September 2021!
Details on how to join virtually will be available soon.
IMPORTANT! Please make sure you have a working web cam on your computer before you sign in to the class. In order to get the most out of learning ASL, the instructor needs to be able to see the participants and the participants need to be able to see each other as well as see the instructor.
Beginning Level
Tuesdays 7-8 PM, Sept 21-December 14, 2021
This will be a chance for Beginning Level signers to meet and practice conversing and learn some basic signing skills, up to 100 vocabulary words, and rules of grammar. Although focus is on beginners, everyone is welcome to join the class, regardless of skill level.
Intermediate Level
Thursdays 7-8 PM, September 23- December 16, 2021
This will be a chance for signers with some level of signing skill to meet and practice conversing in ASL and learn signing skills, vocabulary words and rules of grammar. To get the most out of the class, participants should have completed a beginning level ASL class and be familiar with at least 100 signs and basic ASL grammar.
If you are interested in taking an ASL Class, please email us with your class level interest, DCPLaccess@dc.gov.
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New Episode of the DCPL Podcast!
Tuesday, September 21 (Listen or Read the transcript anytime)
Access This: International Week of the Deaf
https://dcplpodcast.simplecast.com/
In honor of the International Week of the Deaf (September 20-26, 2021), Jenny is joined by local activists Brianne Burger and Robb Dooling to discuss the new DC Office for Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing (ODBH), and how it will help serve the needs of DC's vibrant deaf community.
*Full transcript is included
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Virtual Tuesday Talk with Judith Heumann, Disability Rights Activist, Rolling Warrior and Fearless Advocate
Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00PM
As one of the leaders of the Disability Rights Movement, Judy (Judith) Heumann is no stranger to speaking up. Heumann will talk about her new book, Rolling Warrior, as well as her life, long career in government, including in the Obama administration, and her work to further disability rights around the world.
Judith Heumann is a leading disability rights advocate who has worked with government agencies, NGOs, and other institutions to develop human rights legislation and policies benefitting children and adults with disabilities. Her new memoir for young readers, Rolling Warrior: The Incredible, Sometimes Awkward, True Story of a Rebel Girl on Wheels Who Helped Spark a Revolution came out in July, 2021.
She served as Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, as The World Bank Group’s first Advisor on Disability and Development, as a Senior Fellow at the Ford Foundation, as DC’s first Director of the Department of Disability Services, and as Special Advisor for International Disability Rights for the State Department. Judy is the recipient of numerous awards.
She wrote “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Advocate” Judith was featured in the Netflix documentary “Crip Camp,” about a summer camp in New York State for children with disabilities and hosts a podcast, The Heumann Perspective. An Apple Original Film about Judy is in the works. She is a graduate of Long Island University and holds a graduate degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley. She lives in Woodley Park.
ASL interpreters and CART (real-time captioning) will be provided.
Register in advance, https://dc-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BnAhWF6QRzam1IVCCUXgcQ.
After registering, you will receive an email regarding how to join the Tuesday Talk with Judith Heumann.
Questions? Contact Marisa Bateman, Library Support Coordinator, DC Public Library | Cleveland Park Library
(202) 834-5646
marisa.bateman@dc.gov
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From Oaks to Acorns: A Conversation with Dr. Frank Turk
Wednesday, September 22 at 6:00PM
Join us for a virtual conversation with Dr. Frank Turk, author of from Oaks to Acorns
Dr. Frank Turk is a legendary figure in the Deaf community, renowned for his work with several generations of Deaf youth. From Oaks to Acorns is an affectionate memoir, distillation of a lifetime of wisdom and experience, and an inspirational guidebook for organizing and promoting leadership among young Deaf people. Dr. Turk also addresses parents directly, in his characteristic heart-to-heart way.
He recounts the history of the Jr. NAD and Youth Leadership Camp programs, includes reminiscences and profiles of some outstanding exemplars, explains what makes effective leaders, encourages readers to get involved in service and advocacy on a local level, and celebrates the Deaf community’s most precious resou resource: its students. Mini-profiles of several outstanding Jr. NAD/YLC alumni are included. A rewarding excursion for anyone who’s ever been involved with the Jr. NAD, is curious about its history, or wants to set up a new youth organization.
His lifelong community service includes 14 years as National Director of the Junior National Association of the Deaf; membership of several national advisory boards; and countless roles as consultant, workshop facilitator and keynote speaker.
ASL/Voice interpreters and live captioning will be provided.
Please register in advance, https://dc-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5mnKedkLRkOLMiyr0THqgg
After registering you will receive instructions on how to join the webinar.
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Assistive Technology Classes to Resume in October
Beginning in October we will resume in person Assistive Technology Classes including iOS and JAWS. More details coming soon!
Are you new to the iPhone and would like to learn to use it with the VoiceOver screen reader? Learn the basics of VoiceOver, a screen reader that uses gestures to control the phone. Learn how to make and receive phone calls, text messages and emails, how to search the internet, and how to use social media.
Are you totally new to using a computer with the JAWS screen reader? Learn the basics of the keyboard, the keyboard landmarks, how to memorize where the keys are, and what keystrokes are most used with the JAWS screen reader.
Are you comfortable with the keyboard but do not have much experience with the JAWS screen reader? You must know the keyboard perfectly to join this class. Learn to use Microsoft Word to create documents and Google Chrome to surf the internet. Learn to create an email account and send and receive messages using Gmail.
If you are interested in signing up or volunteering to teach, please contact us at DCPLaccess@dc.gov or 202-727-2142.
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Talking Book Club
Wednesday, Oct 13 at 11AM
Join the Center of Accessibility for Talking Book Club. This book club is targeted toward participants who are blind or low vision, but we are open to any book-lover joining! We will meet on the second Wednesday of every other month. Our next virtual book club meeting will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. - noon. Paisley, a Library Associate for the Center for Accessibility, will host and moderate the Talking Book Club.
For information on how to join the book club, please feel free to contact us by email: DCPLaccess@dc.gov or phone: 202-727-2142.
During the Oct. 13 meeting, we will discuss, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned--from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.
Enter Mia Warren--an enigmatic artist and single mother--who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.
When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically dramatically divides the town--and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.
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Save the Date - 2021 Disability Awareness Expo
Wednesday, October 27
You are cordially invited to join the 14th Annual Mayor’s Disability Awareness Expo. The Office of Disability Rights (ODR) in partnership with several District Government Agencies will host the event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library’s Great hall, in recognition of October being National Disability Awareness Month. The purpose of this free event is to advance the conversation on equal opportunities and inclusive environments for people with disabilities, complete with information tables and over 50 exhibitors. The District of Columbia is home to over 116,000 people with disabilities and this year more than 400 consumers, caregivers, advocates and students are invited to attend.
Through a partnership with other DC Government Agencies, this Disability Awareness Expo will highlight the important initiatives and programs offered throughout the District.
The event will feature:
- Employment Readiness
- Housing Resources
- Workforce Development
To register, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-mayors-14th-annual-disability-awareness-expo-tickets-168474438581
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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Researcher/Outreach Specialist Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (LSDHH)
Nashville, TN
Project: LSDHH is a library that serves the D/HH across the state of Tennessee within the Nashville Public Library Main campus in downtown Nashville. LSDHH’s website contains resources for parents, students, teachers, professionals, and the Deaf Community. https://tndeaflibrary.nashville.gov/ With this project LSDHH will expand the website to serve the national Deaf Community, including Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing people, with these resources. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [LG-250047-OLS-21].
Job Description: This position is a federally grant-funded contract position for approximately ten (10) months, beginning October 2021 through August 2022.
This position can be remote.
The tasks include collecting from each state and the District of Columbia resources for the Deaf/ Hard of Hearing communities. Then the Research/Outreach Specialist will enter the information into an Excel spreadsheet. Once that is complete, the specialist will be tasked with recruiting two contacts from each of the states and D.C. to maintain the webpage on the website: one from
one from a library and one from the Deaf Community.
Skills Required:
- Knowledge and experience with the Deaf Community and Deaf Organizations
- Good telephone (videophone etiequette
- Good communication skills (English and/or ASL): verbal and written
- Good organizational skills
- Computer skills: Microsoft suite: Word, Excel, etc.
- Time-management skills
- Experience meeting deadlines
Other Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- If working remotely, must have a computer, internet, phone (VP).
- Ability to work independently/self-motivated.
- Ability to work collaboratively.
Preferred Skills:
- ASL fluency
- Experience in research and outreach
Person reports to Sandy Cohen, LSDHH Director.
Persons interested can send a resume and cover letter to lsdhh@nashville.gov by September 18, 2021.
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