Equalize Payments To Deaf?
    Ruth Sinai, Ha'aretz correspondent reports in the July 3rd edition of The Ha'aretz Daily News in Tel Aviv that the Finance Ministry in Israel is proposing to equalize National Insurance Institute (Nil) payments to hearing-impaired children. This discovery was made in a document the Ministry submitted to the High Court of Justice. Under current regulations, a hearing-impaired child receives a full disability allowance up to the age of eight, a 50% allowance between ages 8-13, and a 70% allowance 14 years and older. David Harpaz, father of a deaf girl, had petitioned the court opposing these regulations arguing that they are totally irrational and that all deaf children, of any age, should receive a full allowance. The state's response noted that both the treasury and Nil agreed. The treasury proposes, however, to equalize the allowances without increasing the budget meaning some children would receive more and others would start receiving less.

Cochlear Implant Author To Make Appearances
    Arlene Romoff, author of "Hear Again - Back to Life with a Cochlear Implant" is making appearances at a number of conventions this summer: the SHHH national convention in Cherry Hill, NJ; the Northeast Regional Family Retreat in Sturbridge, MA, and the Cochlear Implant Association Convention in Minneapolis, MN. Romoff was hearing until she became 20 years old. "Little by little, slowly but surely, my hearing kept declining until 30 years later, I had virtually none". Her book focuses on her year-long journey back to the "hearing world" with her cochlear implant. It is published by the League for the Hard of Hearing in New York. For information, contact the League's Publications Department at 71 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010 or www.lhh.org/catalog/hearagain.htm

Sculptist Gary Mayers Makes Noise
    The Union-Tribune in San Diego, CA reported on June 28th the accomplishments of Gary Mayers who sculpts works of art in his studios from wood, marble, metal, stone and resin. Mayers, 46, has always known since high school that he would "do the art and sculpture for other people to enjoy". Mayer's work is displayed at the Lillian Berkley Collection in Escondido, CA. He sold his first piece in 1984 through a gallery in 1984. It was a bronze piece resembling a fish called 'Fossil'. He says some of his sculpture pieces takes as long as a year. A four-foot long replica of his 10-inch piece 'Form' has been commissioned by Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Mayers will oversee construction which will be completed by a foundry in Monterey, CA. Mayers' work has also been purchased by the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, the UCLA Medical Center and the Palm Springs Desert Museum as well as private collections and museums throughout the world. Mayers also plays tennis, fencing and likes to go fishing. He travels around the world looking for ideas. "I enjoy seeing the different artwork created by different cultures. It gives me a global perspective of art and people", he says. He hopes to visit islands of the South Pacific and New Zealand on his next trip.

Three Jewish People Inducted Into Fraternity
    Robert Harris, Daniel Langholtz and Dr. Martin Florsheim was among the thirteen people inducted as honorary brothers of the Kappa Gamma Fraternity at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. during its 100th anniversary celebration on June 21 st. Harris, was a community leader and is now a full-time entrepreneur. Langholtz is a clinical social worker who has been involved in mental health, rehabilitation and interpreting and Florsheim who is currently principal of P.S. 47 in New York City was instrumental in bringing changes and improvements to the school. The fourth Jewish person was also inducted: Dr. Alan Marcus, a child of deaf adults and a psychologist and coordinator of Mental Health Services at Gallaudet University.

Matlin To Host AIDS Benefit
    Academy award winner Marlee Matlin is hosting a party and performance of Nickelodeon's 'Blue's Clues Live!' to benefit the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF). This stage presentation benefit will be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday, August 4th. Matlin appeared in 'Blue's Clues' as 'Marlee the Librarian' teaching Steve and Blue sign language. Her children's novel "Caution, Deaf Child Crossing", will be published by Simon and Schuster in February 2002. CAAF supports infrastructures already in place by funding the pressing needs of organizations serving their respective pediatric HIV/AIDS communities. This year alone, CAAF will grant over $1,250,000 to 55 agencies in 22 states across the country.

Nowak Plays Spectacular Volleyball
    Stacy Nowak was named 'Athlete of the Day' by the Torchbearer during the Deaf lympics 2001 which was held in Rome, Italy. In her first international match, Nowak was said to play "spectacular volleyball, placing herself all over the court. Nowak was relentless in her serves, her kills, and provided tremendous support to the Triple Towers with several blocks that thwarted the opponents' offense".

North Jersey Center To Celebrate 25th
    Chairman Timothy Golden and assistant chairperson Rose Pizzo has unveiled details of the North Jersey Community Center of the Deaf (NJCCD)'s 25th anniversary banquet in honor of deceased club founder Morton Grand. It will be held on Saturday, October 13th at Friar Tuck Inn in Cedar Grove, NJ. For further information, contact Harry Sahatjian at 21 Westerholt Avenue, West Paterson, NJ 07424. The celebration is limited to 250 people on a first-come, first-served basis.

Myers Teaches Deaf Children To Play Tennis
     The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in Michigan reported on July 29th that tennis "lessons teach more than just tennis to hard of hearing children." In an article by staff writer Amy Boerema, Kimberly Cummins is quoted as saying "They tell me I'm a killer out there because I just hit four balls over the fence..." Cummins, 16 is a Waukesha resident and one of the students who gained an increased sense of self-esteem after taking tennis lessons for deaf and hard of hearing children with Howard Meyers and his crew. Myers along with five other tennis experts volunteered their coaching skills to provide free lessons for twelve children, 7-17 years old at the Woyahn Tennis Center in Waukesha. Myers has played tennis for over 50 years and previously taught deaf children at the Wisconsin Lions Camp m Rosholt. Funding for the WauKesha lessons comes from the Wisconsin Tennis Association and the Midwest Tennis Foundation. He says tennis is a great game for children with hearing impairments to gain skill and confidence because it's not a team sport that requires verbal communication.

Joint Camp Session To Develop Student Appreciation
    Marcy Dropkin was program director of the weeklong Rainbow Bridge Arts Camp which took place at the Milwaukee Sign Language School in southeastern Wisconsin in June. A result of camp partners; the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Brookfield, the Milwaukee Sign Language School, the Milwaukee Public Theatre and Dreamtime Studio at Danceworks Inc., it provided students with the opportunity to appreciate and participate in visual arts, dance, drama, writing and music. Sixteen deaf and hard of hearing ranging from 8 to 13 years old participated in this camp which was funded primarily by a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts and also included projects involving African and Asian culture. "We want to expose the kids to as many role models as possible, especially deaf role models" says Dropkin.

Aussie's Bloom
    Andrew Bloom, 44, is no hurry to marry. Deaf since birth, Bloom lives in Melbourne, Australia and operates a cleaning business. A profile of him ran in the Melbourne Edition of the Australian Jewish News saying that the best thing that ever happened to him from his former marriage is two sons Ashley, 11 and Nicholas, 9. "They're so delightful and witty", Bloom says. In talking about life in Australia, Bloom says he does not feel beset by a disability. "I can do everything that a normal person can except pick up the phone... Now with easy access to fax, email and Australian Communication Exchange, distance communication is no longer an issue and he can run his business." He has a close circle of Jewish friends that have been around since childhood, most of whom are still married. He says meeting women is not hard but they are rarely Jewish. "I am difficult to understand at first, people have to be patient with me. If they don't have the patience then I forget about it or move on." About being a parent, he says "Responsibility has made me a better person much less selfish. Without children I'd be a selfish son."

Festival Of Cinema For The Deaf?
    Yes, its true... the Chicago Institute for the Moving Image (CIMI) is planning a 'Festival of Cinema for the Deaf' in Chicago to feature films created for a deaf audience. Among program activities during this March 1-4, 2002 event is prominent speakers from deaf and hearing communities. They welcome film and applications. This appears to be a hearing event that welcomes "Deaf films" and has committed to providing sign language interpreters. Liz Tannenbaum, a Deaf actress is said to be working on the production of a film for this CIMI event. Rabbi Douglas Goldhamer of the Congregation Bene Shalom/Hebrew Association of the Deaf is listed as a CIMI faculty member. Interested persons can contact CIMI at 1610 Highland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660 or visit their website at www.cimi.ws

Corson To Leave Kentucky For Connecticut
    Harvey Corson, will be leaving his position as superintendent of Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD), the country's first state-supported school for the Deaf to assume the executive director job with the American School for the Deaf (ASD), the oldest school of the Deaf in the country. "It was a difficult decision for me and my wife, Mary Ann", Corson says, "Our hearts are here in Kentucky." He will start his new job at the school in West Hartford, CT on November 1st. Just as Corson was the first Deaf person to become superintendent at KSD, he also will be the first deaf superintendent at ASD!

New Year Card Fundraiser
     Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf is offering a "lovely linen cream colored New Year's card with blue ink that says 'L'Shana Tova' in the language of the deaf, fingerspelling, and also in English on the front with a hand pouring honey onto an apple. Inside the card, also in fingerspelling and English it says: 'All Our best wishes for the New Year'. This announcement was made by Jan Seeley with TBS who says card can be bought at $2 each or 10 cards for $15 plus $1.80 postage ($1.25 postage for 4 cards). "The cards come packaged in clear cellophane fastened with red apple stickers." The card can be seen on their website at www.tbsdeafjewish.org/ and click on the "What's New" button and order through Seeley at jsee2@aol.com, or mail to TBS to: TBS/Jan Seeley, 12200 Bradford Place, Granada Hills, CA 91344-1901.

Adam Stone Proves It Can Be Done'
     Former JDCC News youth columnist Adam Stone of Del Mar, CA was recently mentioned in the August 9th edition of the Washington Post as one of three disabled students doing an internship with Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc. in McLean, VA. An amateur actor and playwright, Adam M. Stone is currently enrolled at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology. During his stint at Booz-Allen, a global management and technology consulting firm who has started an "emerging leaders" program to prepare promising students with disabilities for leadership roles, Stone has been assigned to their disabilities consulting practice. "This is a win-win program," says Booz-Allen community relations manager Barbara Haight, "It helps students get a jump-start into leadership-oriented careers, and it helps dispel people's stereotypes of employees with disabilities."

Rebecca Lovitch Appears On The Garcia Brothers TV Show
     Her parents explain, "it is a story about a hearing impaired becomes friend with Larry, the youngest of the family. The Garcia hail from the city of San Antonio where they live in a very middle class neighborhood on the west side of the town. Larry be comes a student buddy for the school. That role is like a guide who takes around new students. So Larry's new student was Rebecca, Tammy. They became really good friends, in fact Larry invited Tammy to his house. They had dinner and she taught the family several food table/ food signs which was very educating for the Garcia family. Larry had learned what was like to be Deaf by wearing ear plugs for one day at school. Larry had lost his Student Buddy job because the entire class had made fun of Tammy which was a misunderstanding thing which had upset Tammy. But in the end they became good friends again."

Jewish Education Course For Deaf
     The Hebrew College has obtained funding by Combined Jewish Philanthropies to present an 'Interpreting In Jewish Settings: Core Themes & Prayers in Judaism' on Thursday evenings starting October 18th through November 15th at the Hebrew College in Brookline, MA. Among its planned topics: The Jewish year, What is Prayer?, Berakhah (Blessing), The Sh'ma, and Issues of Interpretation. All classes will be presented in sign language and the fee is $125. Tuition assistance for Deaf participants are available and they are currently arranging for CEU/ACET for interpreters. For more information, email to Irma Kahle at kahle@mediaone.net

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