| Deaf and Hard of Hering people
have needs for services.
What are our needs?
- Interpreters
- Advocacy
- Equipment/Services
- Telecommunication Device of the Deaf (TTY)/Video Phone
- Closed/Open Captioning
- Television
- Movie Theatre Showings
- DVDs/VHS
- Communication Access RealTime (CART)
- Notification/Signallers
- Doorbell/Phone Calls
- Baby Alerts/Alarm Systems
- Relay Services
To communicate between a Voice user and a TTY user (frequently mistunderstood
by hearing people that relay agents are telemarketers, this is a
myth)
- Equal Employment Access and Rights
- Access to Education
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| What
is Independent Living???
It is a philosophy and practice for people with disabilities
to live independently in their communities, holding jobs, going to school,
raising families and having access to services to meet their needs.
Four core services are our key services to the community.
They are:
* Peer Counseling: ranging from one-on-one and group discussions
and activities to help cope and solve problems.
* Independent Living Skills Training: where we assist some people
with disabilities learn how to manage their own finances, personal care,
social skills and/or utiltizing resources
* Advocacy (individual and system): supporting the person or
group in place of education, legal action, and/or improving a system for
the best of the community.
* Information and Referral, if we do not have the services you
need, we have resources and places where we can send you to get the services
you need. |
Mission
of Midwest Center on Law and Deaf (MCLD):
The Midwest Center on Law and Deaf shall promote and protect the constitutional
and civil rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in the Midwestern
United States, which includes the following states: Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
MCLD has a form for any persons who are deaf or hard of hearing to fill
out to get a card that shows that any law enforcement (police and sheriffs)
must contact an interpreting agency in order to communicate with you freely.
The cost is $20, this is considered a donation in support for the MCLD's
activities in promoting and protecting the rights of deaf and hard of
hearing persons. You can access the form on their website - click on above
link to MCLD.
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Important Laws for People with disAbilities including
Deaf:
Important laws have allowed people with disabilities to live independently
and those laws are frequently at risk, especially the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1992 (ADA). Civil Rights of 1964 and its amendments
may have been a key law for people of race, nationalities and origins,
but that is where the start of equal rights had a foothold in the American
society. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) and its amendments'
key purpose is to ensure that people with disabilities obtain services
for their needs such as school/education, equipment and access to equipment,
and job placement/employment training.
Civil
Rights Act of 1964 - all races, disabilities and genders to be treated
equally and without discrimination
Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and amendments - provides assistance for employment/schooling
for all disabilties
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
- equal access for government buildings, employment, telecommunication,
etc.
Equal Employment Opportunities Commission
- equal access for employment, prevents discrimination and provides
accommodations for people with disabilities to perform their jobs at
the fullest (Title I of ADA).
Telecommunication Act of 1996
- requires 100% of television shows, movies or programs to be captioned
by 2006 (in addition to the Title IV of ADA)
Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act - requires equal access to education
from Kindergarden to 12th grade as any other students with no disabilities,
anywhere.
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