NAD News
This lists all Latest News items from the NAD and its affiliates. It also includes news items from outside groups on topics that are in line with the mission of the NAD. Media queries: please use our Contact form.
Historic Rally Held on Nebraska School for the Deaf Graduation Day
The COED is to "identify factors that pose barriers to, or factors that facilitate
Education Secretary Riley Responds to Senators on Springer Caption Funding
Honorable Joseph I. Lieberman
United States Senate
Washington D.C. 20510
Dear Joe:
Thank you for your letter requesting that the Department cut off captioning for "Jerry Springer Show." I am sending an identical response to Senator Coats.
Current Levels of Funding for Captioning Urged by NAD
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) strongly urged the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to maintain current levels of funding by the Department of Education for captioning of television programming. Since the founding of the NAD in 1880, accessibility has remained among the top priorities of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Captions in the Movie Theaters
The Movie Access Coalition (MAC) represents eleven organizations serving deaf and hard of hearing people. The National Association of the Deaf was a founding member of MAC and remains its most active participant. MAC advocates for having open captioned movies distributed through regular channels. The goal is to have these movies shown in neighborhood theaters, on a regular basis and at regular times. MAC believes that once movie studios see how many people attend captioned films, they will have an economic incentive to provide these films to theaters.
Deaf Man Now Working as Forklift Driver for GE
General Electric Company recently settled an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint. The lawsuit was brought against GE by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Michael Hager, who was represented by the NAD Law Center.
The EEOC claimed in its lawsuit that GE Appliances (GE) engaged in an unlawful employment practice at its Bloomington, Indiana facility. GE refused to train Michael Hager for a forklift operator position because of his deafness.
And the Captioning Struggle Continues...
The November, 1997 issue of The NAD Broadcaster, described the NAD request (submitted 10/15/97) to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen the new closed captioning rules. When we submitted our petition, several networks also submitted their own petitions to FCC, requesting a weakening of the captioning rules. In November 1997, we responded to these industry petitions. This article discusses some of the networks' requests, and our responses to each of those requests.
What's the Big Deal About the New IDEA?
This month's column* shares the specific new changes in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Law 105-17, that affect deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Because of the magnitude of the law, I have selected a few key provisions to discuss in detail. (My comments are shown normally;the law's language is shown like this; and the law's new language is indicated in bold.) This article cannot be considered a comprehensive explanation of the changes.
The National Association of the Deaf Reacts to the FCC Report and Order on Captioning
On August 22, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its final rules for the captioning of video programming, as required by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (FCC 97-279). The Commission's assigned task to draft the final rules was not an easy one. The NAD wishes to thank the many staff members whose extensive efforts and long hours on the final rules are much appreciated.
Deaf Child is Third to Sue Maryland Hospital for Discrimination
Latia Falls, an eight-year-old deaf child, and her mother Toschia Falls, filed a lawsuit against Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other civil rights laws on Thursday, May 8, 1997, in federal district court, alleging that the hospital discriminated against Latia on the basis of her deafness by refusing to provide sign language interpreter services to enable her to understand what was happening to her during her five-day stay at the hospital.
A Synopsis of the Bill of Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
The Bill of Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children has been increasingly proposed and enacted in a number of states throughout the country, and this article is a result of our compilation of these various bills and laws. Our suggestions for a model Bill of Rights is also provided in this article for your use. We welcome any additional information and suggestions you may have regarding the Bill of Rights in your State.
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