REVISION: Hyperlinks corrected for web addresses under the Driver's License section.

May Recognizes Better Hearing and Speech Month

Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month from Live Speak Live. Connecting people through communication.

Each May, Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders.

Back in 1927 the month of May was designated Better Hearing and Speech Month to raise awareness about the causes and treatments of hearing loss and speech impediments. And, on May 21, 1986, President Ronald Reagan issued a formal proclamation designating May as the official month to “heighten public awareness” about hearing loss and speech disorders.

His proclamation is as follows:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month, and I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies and activities. (Proclamation 5486, May 21, 1986).

Ronald Reagan is one among many famous people with hearing loss. Another is Helen Keller. In fact, Helen Keller once said that of all her sensory deprivations, she most missed her ability to hear. She noted that while blindness kept her separate from things, hearing loss separated her from people, and human connections.

http://www.audiology.org/publications-resources/consumer-information/fact-sheets

State of Maine Contracts for the Procurement of Hearing Aids

Background and Purpose

The Division of Purchases has entered into contractual relationships with a number of hearing aid manufacturers by participating in a multi-state cooperative agreement administered by the State of Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture (MNCPV). These contracts offer significant discounts from list price on a variety of types and models of hearing aids. The contracts were put in place primarily to serve Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation clients and Department of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services clients, but any state agency may utilize these contracts.

Opportunities for Municipalities and School Districts

The State of Maine, Division of Purchases is committed to providing purchasing opportunities for municipalities, political subdivisions, school districts, and other public entities. We encourage our contractors to make their services available to these entities through separate contracts but under the same terms offered to the State of Maine. For questions concerning contracting with any of the State of Maine's contracted hearing aid vendors, contact the Division of Purchases at (207) 624-7340.

Driver's License ID Stickers for People Who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Late Deafened

Picture of license with sticker.

On May 1, 2008, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles started providing stickers to people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or late deafened to be placed on their driver’s license.  These stickers are provided on a voluntary basis in response to people’s concern that police may not recognize someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing, who may need some communication accommodation.

People who want to obtain a sticker need to have the sticker application filled out and signed by a doctor, nurse or audiologist or provide a copy of enrollment or diploma from a school for the Deaf attached to the sticker application.  Sticker applications are provided by the Division of Deafness, 207-623-7957 (V), 1-888-755-0023 (TTY), or can be accessed through the Division of Deafness web site at www.maine.gov/rehab/dod/index.shtml or local Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices.  They can also be accessed through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles web site forms and applications section.

http://mainegov-images.informe.org/sos/bmv/forms/deafcertification.pdf

http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/forms/deafcertification.pdf

The application must be mailed to the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 29 State House Station, Augusta, Maine, 04333-0029.  The Bureau will send the sticker to the person with directions as to where the sticker should be placed on the license.

The following was submitted by Disability Rights Maine.

28th Annual Maine Deaf Services Conference

June 17, 2016
Colby College, Diamond Building, Waterville, Maine

Focusing on Maine People who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing/Late Deafened/Deaf-Blind/Non-Verbal using signs or gestures to Communicate 

8:30 a.m. Arrival: registration, networking, display tables and snacks

9:00 a.m. Welcome and Keynote

• Welcome:  Conrad Strack, Co-chair of the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened
• MC:  Anthony Long, Alumni, Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Shaw’s employee
• Keynote:  Employment and Empowerment, Jonathan Davis, Chairman and CEO, J.M. Davis Consulting Group, LLC, a Deaf-owned Career Consulting company in metro DC area and Minneapolis 
• Deaf Grassroots Movement – National Rally Recap:  Larissa Pelletier, Maine Representative
• Supported Decision Making – an Alternative to Guardianship:  Lisette Belanger, Deaf mom of a Deaf young adult; Lydia Paquette, DRM staff attorney; and Leslie McDonald, Getting Out from Under Guardianship!  

12:00 p.m. Lunch in Cafeteria – Buffet with many choices!

1:00 p.m. Break-out sessions – Choose one:

• Effective Communication – Culture and Civil Rights Issues - Interpreted 
• Peer Support Group / Visual Gestural Communication Activity: PSG Coordinator Michelle Ames leads educational and enjoyable activities for folks using signs and gestures to communicate.  Interpreted 
• Deaf Community Discussions – Employment and Empowerment: Get a job, keep your job, thrive and grow!  How to cope as the only Deaf employee - Jonathan Davis and Anthony “Tony” Brucato, Maine Behavioral Healthcare - in ASL Only 
• Interpreter Session- Employment Interpreting – Deb Myers, Ed:K-12, CI, - in ASL only (Interpreter CEUs)
• Hard of Hearing on the Job – Get a job, keep your job, thrive and grow!  How to cope as the only hard of hearing employee. Gwen LaPointe, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Kristine Dach, Maine Behavioral Healthcare - CART

3:45 p.m. Evaluations, Certificate of Attendance, Adjourn

YES, you will understand EVERYTHING that is said at this event!  There will be sign language interpreters, CART Captioning services (the words projected onto a screen) and Assistive Listening Devices. To request a SSP or a Deaf/Blind Interpreter, please contact deafservices@drme.org

Credits and Costs:  $20 General Admission 

Scholarships are available for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals – please ask.

Sign Language interpreters:  $75 includes all meals plus .6 CEUs/6 Contact Hours

To register and pay contact DRM Deaf Services:  deafservices@drme.org;

Call in your credit card number:   207.797.7656 ; 800.639.3884 ; VP: 207.766.7111 

Mail check payable to DRM Deaf Conference to: DRM Deaf Services, 68 Bishop St, Suite 3, Portland, ME 04103

THANK YOU to our Sponsors:

Disability Rights Maine; Maine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; Colby College; Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened; Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Maine Relay, Maine Behavioral HealthCare, Pine Tree Society and more… you can join by sponsoring a table, a presenter, a meal or break!

Information tables:  You are welcome to bring brochures and information about your program, services, job openings, etc. to place on the general information table.  If you would like a full table, please contact DRM Deaf Services:  deafservices@drme.org ;  207.797.7656 ;  800.639.3884 ; VP: 207.766.7111 ; Fax: 207.797.9791

Deaf Services non-profit agencies: Free

Non-profit agencies: $50

For Profit agencies: $200

Sponsorship:  

$200 = Name and logo on all promotional material and slide show running during the conference, announcement of sponsorship before AM break.

$400 = All of the above PLUS personalized slide of name and logo on slide, PR materials in participant folders, announcement of sponsorship prior to lunch.

Mail check payable to DRM to: 68 Bishop St, Suite 3, Portland, ME 04103: 

Please bring unwanted hearing aids for the Warren Center to rehab and reuse.

MERID is an approved RID CMP sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This workshop is offered for a combined total of 0.6 CEUs in the area of Professional Studies at the level of Some Content Knowledge Level.

To download registration forms visit: http://drme.org/events/register-today-for-the-28th-annual-deaf-services-conference 

4th Annual Empowerment Forum for People with Disabilities

August 18, 2016
Hilton Garden Inn
Auburn, ME

Keynote speaker SSG Travis Mills, retired United States Army Staff Sergeant, a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees.  Despite losing portions of both arms and legs from an IED while on active duty in Afghanistan, Travis continues to overcome life’s challenges, breaking physical barriers and defying odds.  Travis lives by his motto: “Never give up. Never quit.”  The Empowerment Forum is hosted by the Five Councils Collaborative who represent the Statewide Independent Living Council, State Rehabilitation Councils for VR & Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired VR, Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Late Deafened, the State Workforce Board’s Commission on Disability & Employment, and the Consumer Council System of Maine.  FMI and to register:  www.caresinc.org/forum

Enjoy an Interview with Michelle Ames

Picture of Michelle Ames

Could you share with us what your family life was like as a child?

My family was very close. I have two older sisters and two older brothers. We all picked on each other and enjoyed many activities like swimming and bike riding. When I was at home I spent a lot of time with my mother. My dad was the crazy one! I couldn’t understand his jokes, which made the joke telling a lot of fun for dad and my family. Our favorite family pastime was going camping and watching Charlie Chaplin movies.

What mode of communication did you use as a child?

To communicate with my family and community I used my voice and was able to lip read, it wasn’t the best mode of communication, but it helped. My mother started learning sign language when I returned home from Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (GBSD) at age 5. If I didn’t understand my mother when she was talking to me she would fingerspell the words. At school, the girls in the dormitory and I created our own signs and learned a lot from a classmate who had a Deaf brother that also attended GBSD.

Where did you go to school?

Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, I resided there for 13 years.

What is your family life like now?

Amazing! We are very close and spend a lot of time together. We’re planning a reunion for this summer! I have two CODAs (children of Deaf adults) who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). I am also a proud grandmother of two, my son’s children. My granddaughter uses signs; I really enjoy communicating with her. Her older brother is catching on it's great to see him grow in the language.

Have you always lived in Maine?

I’ve always lived in Maine! I was born in Presque Isle and have moved progressively south. I now currently reside in Portland.

What kind of work have you done?

I’ve had a variety of jobs. My very first job was a junior camp counselor at the YMCA camp in Mapleton, Maine. I’ve worked in a post office, as a full-time mother of two, at a Goodwill store and at a small shoe manufacturer. I was first introduced to the healthcare field when I was hired as a direct support professional working in a Deaf group home for Goodwill Industries. I worked there for almost 10 years. I worked my way up and became the manager of the group home. I then transitioned to Community Counseling Center to work as a community case manager for six years. I now work as a Deaf Advocate and Peer Support Coordinator at Disability Rights Maine, formally the Maine Center on Deafness. I also recently became a board member of the Maine Educational Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH).

As a Deaf professional what would your proudest accomplishments?

Everyday feels like an accomplishment! Working alongside the community and other Deaf professionals and providers helps gives me perspective and goals for what our community needs.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m enjoying life. I enjoy going on the First Friday Art Walk with my friends. I recently started kayaking; I’m getting the hang of it and I love it! My friends, family, and I love playing card games, cribbage is our personal favorite.

Where do you work?

Disability Rights Maine-Deaf Services in Portland.

What do you do?

I provide advocacy and coordinate the Peer Support Group for Deaf individuals with intellectual disabilities. I also train people in Visual Gestural Communication (VGC) statewide with Wanda McMullen.

What population do you work with?

I work with Deaf individuals and providers that work with the Deaf community.

What are some of your successes?

Success has come in the form of watching and helping others succeed in Peer Support Group. Watching people not knowing how to communicate in ASL and then be able to carry on a conversation. Having participants in the VGC trainings walk away with tools that will be very useful for themselves and their clients.

What are some of your challenges?

Keeping up with video announcements to inform the community of events and issues. I just need to do it; vlogs are a great way to share information.

What would you like to see happen for those that you work with?

I would like to see the participants of the VGC and ASL classes continue to apply their new skills in the community, at home and in the work force.

Is there anything you feel is important to mention?

Believe that you can do it!

The Department of Labor is an equal opportunity provider. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.