Welcome to Deaf Services Commission of Iowa “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” SIGN of the TIMES AUGUST 2008 The deadline for submission to the September issue is August 31st. Send e-mail submissions to the editor dhr.dsci@iowa.gov Photos accompanying submissions are encouraged. For instructions on how to submit photos, contact the editor at the address above. SUBMITTING RECENT EVENTS OR INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENT We’re thrilled to announce our D-Link new videophone IP addresses for the following staff members: Kathryn Baumann-Reese, Administrator VP: 209.56.32.36 Barb Jones, Education & Outreach Specialist VP: TBA (To be announced) Stephanie Lyons, Consultant VP: 209.56.32.35 Suzy Mannella, Consultant VP: 209.56.32.34 If no answer, please call and leave a message with your VP IP addresses only. We’re not able to use phone numbers. ADA COMPLIANCE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION SURVEY We are asking you to take a few minutes to complete the survey. Please visit Deaf Services Commission of Iowa website at www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/ds where you can find the survey or call DSCI for the survey. The purpose of this survey is to get your opinions and experiences with the lodging facility accommodations in Iowa. We will have the results of the survey to identify the most pressing problems. The survey will help us assess the industry as it relates to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind and your experience and knowledge as it relates to your rights to hotel accommodations in the state of Iowa. If you need assistance, please contact DSCI to help you with the survey. Thank you so much for your time and attention to this request! If you have any questions, please contact DSCI at 515-281-3164 TTY/Voice or 1888- 221-3724 Toll Free Voice/TTY or Videophone (the numbers are listed on the left) FOR YOUR INFORMATION Visit the DSCI website: http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/ds/index.html Questions or Comments? Email us at dhr.dsci@iowa.gov or call 515-281-3164 V/TTY or Toll-Free: 1-888-221-3724 V/TTY Welcome to Deaf Services Commission of Iowa “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” RIGHTS FOR AIR TRAVELERS “Thanks to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), airline passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing will be guaranteed greater access to proper accommodations. A new rule issued by the DOT requires that airlines caption safety and informational videos. Furthermore, carriers must provide immediate information, such as flight delays, schedule changes and baggage claims, to passengers with a hearing loss in an understandable format. This rule applies to all flights that begin or end in the U.S., and it also applicable to U.S. air carrier flights worldwide. The rule will become effective May 7, 2009, and a copy of the new rule can be viewed at www.regulations.gov docket number DOT-OST-2004-19482.” INFORMATION SIGN of the TIMES AUGUST 2008 FOR YOUR INFORMATION Visit the DSCI website: http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/ds/index.html Questions or Comments? Email us at dhr.dsci@iowa.gov or call 515-281-3164 V/TTY or Toll-Free: 1-888-221-3724 V/TTY Council Bluffs Senior Housing for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind Cardinal Capital Management, in collaboration with Deaf Northwest, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of deaf seniors through supportive housing and services, is planning a seven acre campus in Council Bluffs at the corner of Bennett and Franklin Avenues. The development will include two buildings. First will be a 32 unit building of affordable apartment homes, one and two bedroom styles architecturally designed for barrier free communication. The second building will be built 2 to 3 years after the opening of the first building and, will be 30 units of limited equity coop housing units for sale. The deaf technologies featured in the building design will include secured entrance with videophone in the lobby, DSL for a videophone in every unit, annunciator light panel, hearing aid amplification in common room, strobe light smoke alarms and fire alarms. The campus will feature a community room with a kitchen, elevator, beauty parlor, library/business center, exercise room, storage units, laundry room and underground parking. Cardinal will work with an Iowa deaf services agency to develop a supportive services plan for the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind population that will live there. The goal is to enable deaf seniors to age in place, and receive assistance with any area of their life that might threaten their independence in their homes. The unit mix is designed to serve low to moderate income deaf seniors at or below 60% of the county median income level, with rents ranging from $500 to $900, depending on the size of the unit, and amount of household income. For more information, please contact: Katie Voss, VP/TTY 1-888-532-4135, or by email at kvoss@cardinalcapital.us Charlotte Kinney VP 1-888-532-4141, V 414727- 9902, or by email at Ckinney@ cardinalcapital.us CALENDAR OF EVENTS FAILED APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES — INTEPRETING SERVICES FEES Our agency has been receiving calls from indi- viduals with regard to receiving bills from den- tists, doctors, hair salons, etc. charging for missed appointments including interpreting ser- vice fees. In the past few years, more and more service providers and businesses have been setting up policies about missing appointments and cancellation fees due to the economy as a way to keep from going out of business or los- ing services. Here is an example of policy infor- mation: CANCELLATION POLICY In our efforts to pro- vide quality dental care to your child and our other patients, we believe that keeping appoint- ments and arriving at those appointments in a timely fashion is essential. We would appreciate it if you would call us at least 24 hours prior to your child’s appointment to either cancel or re- schedule. We understand that children fall ill and emergencies arise but generally speaking, if missing or breaking appointments becomes a habit (i.e., occurs twice), unfortunately, we will no longer be able to treat your child. Addition- ally, not providing adequate notice of your in- ability to keep an appointment is expensive for this practice to endure. Regrettably, this is a cost that we would unfairly be forced to transfer to the rest of our patients via increased fees for service. As such, if you do not call our office to let us know that you are unable to keep your appointment and simply do not show up, 8/9: 10 AM—1 PM Deaf Services Commission of Iowa’s Commission Meeting located at Al- toona Public Library, 700 8th Street NW, Al- toona 8/11: 8:30—10 PM Relay Iowa Summer Splash, Mason City Aquatic Center. Enjoy swimming in this beautiful facility, compliments of Relay Iowa. FREE Food & Refreshments! Bring your family and Friends! Receive Give- aways and a chance to win Door Prizes! For more information contact Lori Sporrer, Relay Iowa Outreach Project Manager, at 712.653.2440 V/TTY or lori.sporrer@hamiltonrelay.com Welcome to Deaf Services Commission of Iowa SIGN of the TIMES “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” AUGUST 2008 we will have to enforce a “failure to contact fee.” Clients are asked to cancel any sched- uled appointments at least 24 hours in ad- vance to avoid paying a cancellation fee. As a result, if a deaf patient or client requests an interpreter and missed the appointment, the patient/client is responsible to pay for the failed appointment fee and the service pro- vider/business is responsible for the interpret- ing fees. In order to avoid this situation, it is best to take on the responsibility of keeping track of your appointments and if an urgent situation or an emergency comes up, please take a few minutes to contact them to cancel the interpreter. The interpreters too have can- cellation policies. Hopefully this information will help everyone involved. If you have ques- tions or need more information, contact DSCI. Visit the DSCI website: http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/ds/index.html Questions or Comments? Email us at dhr.dsci@iowa.gov or call 515-281-3164 V/TTY or Toll-Free: 1-888-221-3724 V/TTY INFORMATION CALENDAR OF EVENTS FAILED APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES — INTEPRETING SERVICES FEES Our agency has been receiving calls from indi- viduals with regard to receiving bills from den- tists, doctors, hair salons, etc. charging for missed appointments including interpreting ser- vice fees. In the past few years, more and more service providers and businesses have been setting up policies about missing appointments and cancellation fees due to the economy as a way to keep from going out of business or los- ing services. Here is an example of policy infor- mation: CANCELLATION POLICY In our efforts to pro- vide quality dental care to your child and our other patients, we believe that keeping appoint- ments and arriving at those appointments in a timely fashion is essential. We would appreciate it if you would call us at least 24 hours prior to your child’s appointment to either cancel or re- schedule. We understand that children fall ill and emergencies arise but generally speaking, if missing or breaking appointments becomes a habit (i.e., occurs twice), unfortunately, we will no longer be able to treat your child. Addition- ally, not providing adequate notice of your in- ability to keep an appointment is expensive for this practice to endure. Regrettably, this is a cost that we would unfairly be forced to transfer to the rest of our patients via increased fees for service. As such, if you do not call our office to let us know that you are unable to keep your appointment and simply do not show up, 8/9: 10 AM—1 PM Deaf Services Commission of Iowa’s Commission Meeting located at Al- toona Public Library, 700 8th Street NW, Al- toona 8/11: 8:30—10 PM Relay Iowa Summer Splash, Mason City Aquatic Center. Enjoy swimming in this beautiful facility, compliments of Relay Iowa. FREE Food & Refreshments! Bring your family and Friends! Receive Give- aways and a chance to win Door Prizes! For more information contact Lori Sporrer, Relay Iowa Outreach Project Manager, at 712.653.2440 V/TTY or lori.sporrer@hamiltonrelay.com Welcome to Deaf Services Commission of Iowa SIGN of the TIMES “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” AUGUST 2008 we will have to enforce a “failure to contact fee.” Clients are asked to cancel any sched- uled appointments at least 24 hours in ad- vance to avoid paying a cancellation fee. As a result, if a deaf patient or client requests an interpreter and missed the appointment, the patient/client is responsible to pay for the failed appointment fee and the service pro- vider/business is responsible for the interpret- ing fees. In order to avoid this situation, it is best to take on the responsibility of keeping track of your appointments and if an urgent situation or an emergency comes up, please take a few minutes to contact them to cancel the interpreter. The interpreters too have can- cellation policies. Hopefully this information will help everyone involved. If you have ques- tions or need more information, contact DSCI. Visit the DSCI website: http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/ds/index.html Questions or Comments? Email us at dhr.dsci@iowa.gov or call 515-281-3164 V/TTY or Toll-Free: 1-888-221-3724 V/TTY INFORMATION