Welcome to Deaf Services Commission of Iowa “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” Welcome to Deaf Services Commission of Iowa “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” SIGN of the TIMES MAY 2008 GREAT NEWS! At the very end of session, Senator Jeff Danielson, Black Hawk County, amended the budget bill to include increases for the divisions in Department of Human Rights (DHR). This includes the $8,000 request for internet access for videophones at DSCI. The bill passed both the House and the Senate! We will have the increase beginning July 1st. Thanks to everyone for lobbying your legislators and educating people on this issue. It does make a difference! This statement was in the House Democratic Caucus Staff News Brief: Senate File 2400 appropriates $96 million in general fund money to several state agencies to fund their operations and programs. Most of this budget funds the expenses incurred to provide a wide variety of services to Iowans and to ensure that the citizens of Iowa have access to state government. However, some funding is provided for specific programs that will benefit Iowans. Highlights include an increase of $360,000 to the Office of Drug Control Policy to support drug taskforces across Iowa; an increase to all divisions within the Department of Human Rights to allow them to more effectively address the needs and concerns of all Iowans to ensure that every Iowan is equally protected and respected; start-up funding for a new division in Human Rights – the Commission on Native American Affairs. ANNOUNCEMENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS New Interpreter Training Program Des Moines Area Community College Steve Young MA H.Ed. CI/CT, ASLTA Qualified Level Certification- Program Chair American Sign Language Professor American Sign Language Interpreter Program 2006 South Ankeny Boulevard Ankeny, Iowa 50023 VRS # - 1-866-327-8877 (give the interpreter my voice number as listed below) 515-964-6524 Voice Toll Free Number: 1-800-362-2127 ext. 6524 styoung@dmacc.edu 5/2: 6 - 10 pm ASL Social Event hosted by Deaf Awareness and Des Moines Area Community College at in- Play in Des Moines at 615 – 3rd Street 5/3: 10 am 14th Annual Dart Individual Tournament, South Port Sports Bar, 1101 Army Post Road, Des Moines 5/15: 6:30 pm Central Iowa HLA (Hearing Loss Association, Meeting at Scottish Rite Park, 2909 Woodland Ave, Des Moines 5/30: 7 pm ASL Film, “Wrong Game” located at Kirkwood College at Cedar Rapids. Movie Admission: $5.00 For more information, contact: GRETL88@yahoo.com or DIAAbuse@gmail.com 5/31: 7 pm ASL Film, “Wrong Game” located at Des Moines Area Community College, DMACC, Building #6, Ankeny, Movie Admission: $5.00 For more information, contact GRETL88@yahoo.com or DIAAbuse@gmail.com 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 The deadline for submission to the June issue is May 30th. 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 TO E-NEWS 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 SIGN of the TIMES “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” MAY 2008 FOR YOUR INFORMATION Exciting Options for Captioned Telephone The Captioned Telephone looks and works just like a traditional phone, with one difference: the CapTel phone has a bright, built-in display screen which displays captions of everything the other party says during a conversation. The captioning service is one of the Relay Iowa services available to Iowans through the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). Recently, the IUB has implemented new changes to the CapTel program in Iowa. CapTel phones can now be obtained in two ways – by voucher (through Telecommunications Access Iowa) or by direct purchase. In addition, businesses, agencies and schools, as well as individuals who wish to purchase a second phone, may now purchase a CapTel phone. CapTel services allows individuals with hearing loss to view word-for-word captions of their telephone conversations. For a limited time, CapTel phones are available for just $99.00 (normal retail value of $495). This offer comes with a 90 day trial period, which guarantees that if the customer is not entirely happy with CapTel s/he can return the phone for a full refund within 3 months. To obtain a CapTel phone, customers complete an order form available through Relay Iowa Customer Service. The $99 offer is available only to individuals who are purchasing their first CapTel phone. Want to try CapTel or learn more about the service? Contact Relay Iowa at 712-653-2440 V/TTY or Customer Service at 888-516-4692 V/TTY or online at http://www.relayiowa.com/.