Archives for December 2000

Editorial: Old friends, new friends

Originally appeared in Silent News, December 2000.

Well, it’s about an hour before deadline and I’m hastily trying to write an editorial and fill up this space. I’ve just come from Long Beach, Calif., where I attended the Deaf Expo. I’ve had a total of about 16 hours of sleep over the past five days. Let’s not forget jet lag and the deadline crunch of getting this paper to the printer.

I had heard about Deaf Expo, but never had I attended before. It was a great weekend for me, and my very first public appearance as editor. The support I got was overwhelming, especially at the reception Silent News held on Saturday night. After the reception, I rushed off to the World Recreation Association of the Deaf’s (WRAD) 15th anniversary banquet to accept a certification of appreciation on Silent News’ behalf.  It was inspiring to see how much of an effect WRAD has had internationally (ask Bruce Gross about where the WRAD banner has been!).

Regardless of the incredible lack of sleep and exhausting schedule, I am struck by one common thread that I’ve experienced at each and every deaf event. This thread is so simple and so basic, but it’s powerful: the common thread of seeing old friends and making new friends.

At Deaf Expo, I was able to visit with friends I hadn’t seen in years – as long as ten years. I ran into people I grew up with in Illinois. I ran into people who I had never met, but had communicated with via e-mail or phone. I ran into people who I had been in awe of all my life but just now am getting to meet. I even got to play with one of the performers’ kids as the performer was on stage (that Ethan is a darling!).

On  Saturday, at the Expo, I stood quietly to the side as I waited for a friend to page me and tell me where he was. I stood next to the main performance area, and I could see everything from where I was standing: the booths, the people coming in and out of the area, the performers on stage, and the kids running around.

And it hit me.

This was all happening simply because we were all deaf.

I stood there and started thinking about how many times I had been to events like this – National Association of the Deaf conventions, local events, sporting events, even simple gatherings at friends’ houses – and marveled at how we all repeat the greeting, the chatting, the catching up, and the good-bye processes. I do get weary of having to go through that. But I will never, ever get tired of these events. How could I? The people are the ones I work with to make a living, the ones I socialize with, and the ones who experience similar frustrations in our daily lives.

As I stood there mulling all this over, I got paged by my friend. “Where are you? I’m by the Wyndtell booth!”  Technology’s great, isn’t it?

We announced at our reception that we were launching a new 04-01-01 plan. But we can’t tell you just yet what the 04-01-01 plan is. And no, this isn’t an April’s Fool joke.

We are really excited about all the changes and surprises we have in store for you. I hope you’ve noticed that our sports coverage has expanded considerably this month. Thanks to both Barry Strassler and Randy Shank, we’re working on making the sports section even more informative and interesting even for non-sports lovers.

Our subscription rates have exploded lately, and I’m excited about that. I’m also excited about the fact that we have so many good writers joining our team, along with increased submissions by community agencies and readers.

Many of you have been asking who did our current logo. The person that worked with us on designing the logo is Maureen Klusza.  Many of you may know her work as an illustrator from several publications, including Silent News, especially her “Deaf Side” cartoons.

Finally, many of you have also asked where you can e-mail me feedback or ideas for future stories or events. You can now e-mail us at silentnewsideas@aol.com. Feel free to share your comments, feedback, or ideas. There is a list of e-mail addresses on page 11 that you may find helpful.

Have a happy season – and many, many thanks to all of you who have been so incredibly supportive during my first few (and busy!) months at this job.

Now, if only I can get over this incredible jet lag before I eat that turkey this Thursday…

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Lexington’s Cohen to retire after 35 years

Orginally appeared in Silent News, December 2000.

Dr. Oscar P. Cohen, Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of the Lexington School for the Deaf/Center for the Deaf, announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2000-2001 academic year.

“This year marks Lexington’s 135th year of serving the deaf community. It is also my 35th year at Lexington,” Cohen said. “Reflection has allowed me to recognize that now is the time for me to bring the same commitment I have had for Lexington to some of the other causes and interests in which I have been involved for years but have not been able to give my full attention.”

Cohen, whose father attended Lexington, graduated from Hunter College with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in teaching the deaf from Columbia University’s Teachers College. He also earned a doctorate in administration from Columbia.

Cohen began working at Lexington as a science teacher, and served in several capacities, including director of the residence programs and principal.

Lexington has served many purposes in his life, Cohen said. “Lexington has been important to me in my professional and personal life. In fact, when Lexington moved to the current campus, I lived with my wife and children in an apartment in the residence hall.”

Cohen was asked to assume the superintendent/CEO position in 1996 by Lexington’s board of directors. During his tenure, Cohen brought many changes to Lexington. He said, “I am most proud that Lexington has played a role in bringing about higher expectations for deaf persons through raising standards and confidence that all deaf persons can learn and can excel in ways perhaps we did not think possible.”

One of the notable achievements of recent is Lexington’s release of results from a study using the Mediated Learning Experience model. “This is a system that empowers teachers and parents to become more effective ‘mediators’ in children developing critical thinking skills.” Results show that students using this approach have significantly increased literacy and writing skills.

Another achievement Cohen is proud of is the emerging multiculturalism and diversity at Lexington. “We have been sensitive to different factions and perspectives in moving Lexington from an oral/aural only school to one that embraces the value and richness of sign language as a language and an essential means of communication,” he said. “We have also moved from a predominantly ‘non-cultural’ to cultural model of deafness. For example, Lexington’s board has 10 out of 24 trustees who are deaf. When I first arrived at Lexington, there were none.” Racial diversity also has increased both at the administrative and academic levels.

Philip W. Bravin, president of the Board of Trustees at Lexington, said, “Cohen has made Lexington a special place for all students, parents, clients, and staff during his 35 years of service. He has transformed the school into a model urban center of education and service. We wish him continued success and will miss his leadership and innovation.”

Cohen has served in a variety of leadership positions, including president of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) from 1994 to 1996, and currently serves as chair of the New York State 4201 Schools Association. He has three grown children, including one who wrote the acclaimed book, Train Go Sorry, and eight grandchildren.

The Lexington Board of Trustees is currently establishing a search process for a successor by the summer of 2001.

“As I explore new opportunities, Lexington will always represent a significant influence in my life,” Cohen said. “I will leave Lexington at the end of this academic year with the knowledge that I have been part of a community made of people, staff, students, and families full of unparalleled energy. Together we have made Lexington a special place.”

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Game show not covered by ADA

Originally appeared in Silent News, December 2000.

Deaf people sue for access; Judge says no

To get on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, people must first battle a lengthy series of questions through a web of touch-tone phone commands. For a group of deaf people in the Miami area, this is what frustrates them.

Frank Zavala, a representative with the Miami Center for Independent Living, who has sued Who Wants to be a Millionaire?,  said, “The only way to be on is you have to call and answer questions. But here’s the catch. It’s a voice phone, [and] you can’t use relay nor a TTY. It’s ironic that they close-caption their show, but the deaf/hard of hearing can’t be on.”

The center filed a lawsuit against the show. Michael Lanham, the lawyer representing the center, said in an e-mail, “The basis of this action deals with a person’s mandatory use of a touch-tone phone, coupled with an automated telephone system or device that cannot be utilized by the deaf community (either through the state switch or by a TDD), the upward mobility impaired (cannot use their fingers or cannot push the numbers on a touch-tone phone), and some in the vision-impaired community (cannot see or utilize the phone).”

When asked why he accepted this case, Lanham responded, “Well, first, this process is wrong—it discriminates, and second, it’s treating certain disabled individuals like third-class citizens. And as a lawyer who lives with a disability everyday and who knows and specializes in rights for people with disabilities, I felt I had to try to eliminate a barrier of access, if I could.”

U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is not broad enough to cover the show’s screening process, but he said the show’s goal “should be to encourage participants with disabilities.”

Lanham said, “It’s up to each and every one of us, able or disabled, to exercise our Constitutional rights…to those who disagree and think this action is frivolous, I hope they would understand that some of us, regardless of our disability, want the opportunity to equally compete for the American dream of trying to win a million dollars.”

The game show had a blind contestant on earlier in the year. Zavala said, “You got a blind person on, why not a Deaf person? After all, we’re not dumb.”

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Deaf flag football tournament in Chicago full of surprises

Originally appeared in Silent News, December 2000.

Wheeling, IL—The weather was perfect: not too chilly, but not too hot. The sun was cooperative, and the wind wasn’t too strong. Twelve teams, with a total of 214 players, came to participate in the U.S. Deaf Flag Football Super Bowl XV, hosted by the Chicago Club of the Deaf with Terry Hall as chairperson.

The double-elimination tournament made for some interesting games, especially with teams that were expected to lose early on in the weekend. Games were played very much off schedule, which resulted in irritation on the part of the players, and confusion among fans. An example was the game between Minnepaul and SWCID. Originally slated for Friday at 3 p.m., it got postponed until the next morning at 8 a.m. due to darkness. Even then, the game did not start until late Saturday. There also was no clear scoreboard, and the results from each game were written on a big piece of paper taped to the side of a van. The weekend’s 247 fans had to either sit on a crowded bench or sit on the ground.

Regardless of these minor obstacles, the tournament was well-attended and full of spirit. The game between Indianapolis and Chicago was one of the more notable games. Both teams, with veterans Kevin Smith playing for Chicago and Michael Paulone playing for Indianapolis, were full of young and inexperienced players looking to Smith and Paulone for guidance.

Minnepaul was also another surprise for many. However, Herman Fuechtmann, the Minnepaul coach, said, “I was not surprised with our results. In fact, I expected us to do a little better. If we had beaten Indy instead of choking at the end of the game. We might have had a few players but they were quality players.” The game between Indianapolis and Minnepaul ended dramatically. Both teams were tied, and Indianapolis had a chance to score a touchdown with four downs from the 20-yard line. Sure enough, Indianapolis managed to pull off the touchdown, winning the game, 19-13.

The GODS team, complied of what seemed to be too many players from all over the nation, played aggressively and fiercely. They had no practice sessions prior to the tournament, and this proved to be their downfall.

The championship game between Ohio and Frederick proved to be one of the most climatic games. Ohio, who had Cy Saunders and Jesse Bailey, played against brothers John and Joshua Moore of the FSK team of Frederick. The game was over with a winning touchdown by Joshua Moore, the championship belonging to Frederick.

One of the unique things about this year’s tournament was the presence of deaf referees; three of the four referees were deaf. USFFD Commissioner Alex Calogar helped coordinate the first-ever training session for all interested deaf referees prior to the tournament. Hall of Fame Diretor John Schultz wrote in an e-mail, “[The USFFD Committee] most certainly got our feet wet—or should I say boiled?—as we did our best to deal with the many new changes that occurred. A perfect example would be the implementation of the new USFTL (US Football Touch League) rules system by the three deaf referees, trained and certified by USFTL during the summer of 2000 with the help of an USA Deaf Sports Federation grant.”

However, the deaf referees weren’t quite well-received by the players. Fuechtmann said, “I feel it is hard for deaf referees to stay unbiased when the players are complaining so much about calls no matter how good [the calls] were. It seems that when there are hearing referees, it’s harder for the players to complain, and the players can focus on playing the game instead of worrying or wasting time arguing with the referees. This seems to be true of sports that have deaf referees—basketball, softball, and flag football.”

Indeed, during the game between Indiana and Chicago, an Indianapolis supporter walked up to a referee and signed fiercely, “You are the worst referee ever! Ever! I will never support you!” Referee Halischak  ignored him and walked off, with Indiana players restraining their emotional supporter. Overall sentiments were that the referees did a good job, especially with the communication being so accessible.

That night, the Hall of Fame banquet honored Ron Sipek and Willie Forrest, both originally from Illinois. “USFFD has worked with the host deaf club in finding names along with biographies and histories. What normally happen is the host club usually does their own research into their local deaf football history, then submits a list of two to four names to the USFFD board of directors,” said Schultz. “Thus, the USFFD Hall of Fame has been able to mine a golden vein of deaf football stories while accumulating a long list of past-time deaf football greats from throughout the country.”

After the Hall of Fame event, awards were given out. This year’s awards were a little different, because selections were based on statistics alone. Cy Saunders scored the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament (55 passing attempts/33 passing completions, 501 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception). Other honors included Defensive MVP being given to Alex Calogar (9 tackles and 5 sacks), and Offensive MVP being John Moore (63 passing attempts/29 passing completions, 487 yards, 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, along with 11 rushes for 133 yards and 1 touchdown).

Schultz said, “I can definitely say that this year’s tournament was completely covered with silver lining, with everyone involved in a grand learning experience, especially with the new USFFD board of directors going through a trial-by-fire in handling their first tournament together.”

Chairperson Hall agreed. “We really want to thank the folks that came and enjoyed the weekend. The Chicago fans that came and supported our teams and other fans from other places were the greatest.”

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