NVRC - Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons

Education and Outreach

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	NVRC is Upgrading our Web Site!
	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
	Special Message
	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
	Captioned Videos on Health Care Reform
	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.

		Celebrate Fairfax - June11-12
		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).
		Kids with hearing loss in 1 ear fall behind in language skills
		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.
		Free Income Tax Assistace (VITA)
		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.