Need to call NVRC?
Check out our Office Information page!
Donate to NVRC (with your credit card)
through Network for Good

Under "Support Any Charity", click on the Donate tab Under Charity Name, type "North Virginia"

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NVRC
is Upgrading our Web Site! |
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In a few weeks NVRC will have a new web site and a new look.
The plan is to have the main site working in 2-3 weeks and to
refresh the content over the next 30 days.
In the meantime this site will stay active but the
content will NOT be updated except possibly this HOME PAGE.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are
sure the new site will will enable us to serve you better.
For more info email: info@nvrc.org
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Special Message |
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A Message from the FCC’s Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau to the VRS Community
You may have seen claims that the video relay service (VRS) program is
threatened. This is not true. The FCC is committed to ensuring the provision of
high quality VRS to all individuals who need this service. The Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) requires telecommunications access that is functionally
equivalent to voice telephone services for people who are deaf, hard of hearing,
or have speech disabilities. The FCC continues to believe that VRS is the most
functionally equivalent form of relay for people who communicate using American
Sign Language (ASL). We stand ready to meet our obligation to preserve and
protect the VRS program so that ASL users and hearing people can communicate
with each other over distances. This was the goal of Congress in passing the ADA
and it continues to be our goal.
Here are the facts: On April 30th, the FCC released a Public Notice
(DA-10-761A1.doc) asking the general public for feedback on what VRS providers
should be paid to handle VRS calls for the next year. The Public Notice seeks
comment on reimbursing providers based on the actual costs that VRS providers
themselves claim to have incurred over the past few years to provide VRS. The
only way to safeguard the VRS program is to adopt reasonable rates for all forms
of relay services. Thus, it is our goal to adopt rates that are rationally based
on the reasonable costs of actually providing VRS. We welcome all comments on
our Public Notice, and will take all feedback into account to determine the next
VRS rates. The VRS program will continue to provide the excellent communication
service that you need.
Joel Gurin, Bureau Chief
Karen Peltz Strauss, Deputy Bureau Chief |
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Captioned
Videos on Health Care Reform |
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a series
of videos on YouTube about Health Reform from its WebChats. You can find them at
http://tinyurl.com/39jt2ph
Click on the small screen at the top with the subject “Health Reform & You.” You
can then select from videos with these topics:
Health Reform & Young Adults
Health Reform & Early Retirees
Health Reform & Insurance Industry
Health Reform & Seniors #2
Health Reform & You
Health Reform & Seniors #1
Health Reform & Small Businesses
All of the videos are captioned, but the quality can vary, as the captioning
process is apparently still in beta testing. If you don’t see captions, click on
the red box with “CC” in white letters to activate the captions.
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Celebrate Fairfax - June11-12 |
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NVRC is partnering with Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. to raise
awareness for the 29th Annual Celebrate Fairfax! Festival being held June
11th-13th, 2010 at the Fairfax County Government Center. Celebrate Fairfax! is
Northern Virginia’s largest community-wide celebration with 25 acres of carnival
rides, fireworks, exhibits, crafts, activities and six stages of live
entertainment
Please use NVRC’s unique promo code: 120 when ordering tickets.
For every ticket sold online now through June 10, $1.50 of adult tickets and
$0.75 of youth tickets, will be donated back to our organization! If you are
ordering more than one type of ticket (adult ticket, youth ticket etc.) you will
need to enter the promo code each time.
To purchase tickets now, visit
http://www.celebratefairfax.com/index.asp?sid=3
and click on
Buy Your Tickets Now!
Note:
Sign language interpreters will be available
in the Children’s area for the following performances on Saturday, June 12th.
Children's Stage
SciTech Center Stage
1pm Rocknoceros
4pm Mad Science Performance
2pm Magic 4 U
3pm Jesse and James
For additional information or questions about the
event, visit
www.celebratefairfax.com
or contact Celebrate Fairfax
at 703-324-FAIR (3247).
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Kids with hearing loss in 1 ear fall behind in language skills |
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News release May 4, 2009 from Washington
University School of Medicine
By the time they reach school age, one in 20 children have hearing loss in one
ear. That can raise significant hurdles for these children, say the results of a
new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, because loss
of hearing in one ear hurts their ability to comprehend and use language.
"For many years, pediatricians and educators thought that as long as children
have one normal hearing ear, their speech and language would develop normally,"
says lead author Judith E. C. Lieu, MD, a Washington University ear, nose and
throat specialist at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
"But then a few studies began suggesting these children might have problems in
school. Now our study has shown that on average, children with hearing loss in
one ear have poorer oral language scores than children with hearing in both
ears," Lieu says.
Hearing loss in one ear can stem from congenital abnormalities in the ear, head
trauma or infections such as meningitis. Children with hearing loss in one ear
may go undetected because they can appear to have normal hearing. Their
difficulty hearing may be mistaken simply for lack of attention or selective
hearing, says Lieu, assistant professor of otolaryngology.
Even children with recognized one-side hearing loss often aren't fitted with
hearing aids and often don't receive accommodations for disability.
The study will be published in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics.
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Free Income Tax Assistace (VITA) |
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Free Income Tax Assistace (VITA) at NVRC for Qualified ASL Users
Need help preparing your taxes??
You might qualify for free assistance to prepare your income tax return.
- Worked in 2009
- Earned less than $45,000
- Use American Sign Language
NVRC is working with DeafTax.com and the Real Economic Impact Tour to offer free income tax preparation for qualified deaf or hard of hearing taxpayers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Using the videophone at NVRC, deaf or hard of hearing tax payers will communicate directly with IRS Certified VITA volunteers to prepare their simple tax returns.
This service is now available by appointment only until April 15, 2010.
There is no cost for the service.
For more information, click here.
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