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 FEBRUARY 2008 COMMISSIONERS’ INFORMATION NEWS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES UPDATES by Dr. James Grover Reduced Time on the Waiting List! Last month, IVRS released everyone from all its Waiting Lists for the first time in several years. This is exciting news. If you apply for VR services for new hearing aids or college tuition, or other services, your VR counselor will first see if you are eligible. And if you are, you may still need to go to a waiting list for a short time. But now, newly eligible Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients could be released within a few weeks for vocational planning and services! If you are looking for a job, or a better job, or training, or hearing aids, or other services leading to work, be sure to check with your area VR office for details. IVRS Self-Employment. You may not know that VR has a program to help you start or expand your own business. If you have a business idea, check with a VR counselor to see if it meets VR guidelines. If so, VR has business consultants to help you find out if your business idea will make money for you, and then help you write a business plan. VR will also pay about half of your startup costs. How much money? It depends on how much you need, and how much money or in-kind property you have to match. If you are on SSI or SSDI, you may not want a big business. Maybe just a small business, so you keep your insurance. That is okay too. The IVRS Numbers. IVRS is a big agency. As you know, Iowa VR helps people with all kinds of disabilities prepare for work, and find work. At the end of 2007, VR had over 13,000 people on its caseload. Over 3600 of these are in college or technical schools. Over 1000 of these are in jobs and nearly finished with VR. But most exciting of all, 363 people in the last three months of 2007, were successfully employed and closed from VR services. Again, if you have questions about VR, check with your area VR office. If you want to know where your area office might be, call 1-800-532-1486 (voice/TTY). The VR motto is “Finding Solutions. Generating Success.” JUNIOR COMMISSION PROGRAM CAMP JUNE 15—21, 2008 APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/ds/Webpages/NEW.JCP.htm OR CONTACT DSCI 1-888-221-3724 V/TTY or dhr.dsci@iowa.gov “Things are going awesome in my life and I am so thankful for everything you guys taught me at DSCI! I have learned so much from being a better advocate for myself! I am the first deaf person on campus and I am going to try to make a difference here on campus!.” “This was a great learning experience for me. I am so glad I had this opportunity to come and to be here and learn something. All of your staff have been wonderful.” DOLLIVER STATE PARK This camp offers a unique opportunity for leadership development, learn new leadership skills, develop self-advocacy skills through team-building and problem-solving activities, make new friends, and most importantly, this program opens communication among Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, Late Deafened and Hearing teens. This camp is available to any student who enrolled in an Iowa school in grades 7 through 12. Students may be Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, Late Deafened or Hearing. Former participants include those interested in Deaf Culture, hearing loss, pursuing a career in the field of Interpreting or Deaf Education, a KODA/CODA (Kid/ Child of Deaf Adults), have a cochlear implant, speak American Sign Language, use Signed Exact English, use real-time captioning, use assistive listening equipment, etc. The deadline for registration is May 16th, 2008. No applicant will be discriminated against because of race, religion, color, age, gender, national origin, or disability. 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 March issue is February 28th. Send e-mail submissions to the editor dhr.dsci@iowa.gov Photos accompanying submissions are encour- aged. For instructions on how to submit photos, contact the editor at the address above. SUBMITTING RECENT EVENTS OR INFORMATION TO E-NEWS NEW 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 SIGN of the TIMES “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” FEBRUARY 2008 NEWS FEBRUARY 2/9 10 am — 1 pm DSCI Commission Meeting at Mercy Medical Center, Education Center— East Tower, Conference Room A0002, 1111— 6th Ave, Des Moines 2/9: 12 pm Cedar Rapids Association of the Deaf is hosting the 18th Annual 9 Pin Tourna- ment at May City Lanes, 1648 Trent St. SW, Cedar Rapids 2/18: 10 am Iowa Board of Sign Language In- terpreters and Transliterators Board Meeting, Room 526, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines. CALENDAR OF EVENTS FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT Hearing Aids and Audiological Services for Children http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iaehdi/parents.asp. There are two documents, an announcement and an application available on this website. Funding Announcement – Hearing Aid and Audiological Services: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iaehdi/common/pdf/ha_s ervices_ann.pdf Hearing Aids and Audiological Services Application: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iaehdi/common/pdf/ha_s ervices_app.pdf GOOD NEWS Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge have pro- posed an increase of $8,000 for DSCI starting July 1, 2008. This is so that DSCI can have quality vid- eophone service in our offices. Now we need to get the Legislature to approve the Gov/Lt. Gov’s recommendations. If you want to see this for yourself, go to this web- site http://staffweb.legis.state.ia.us/lfb/docs/BudgAnalys is/FY2009/LAGAR_FY09.pdf and our information is on page 62. Please encourage people to let their legislators know if they support this or don’t support this in- crease in funding for videophones. They need to hear from the community. Photos accompanying submissions are encour- aged. For instructions on how to submit photos, contact the editor at the address above. SUBMITTING RECENT EVENTS OR INFORMATION TO E-NEWS NEW 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 SIGN of the TIMES “Equal Communication, Education, and Access” FEBRUARY 2008 NEWS FEBRUARY 2/9 10 am — 1 pm DSCI Commission Meeting at Mercy Medical Center, Education Center— East Tower, Conference Room A0002, 1111— 6th Ave, Des Moines 2/9: 12 pm Cedar Rapids Association of the Deaf is hosting the 18th Annual 9 Pin Tourna- ment at May City Lanes, 1648 Trent St. SW, Cedar Rapids 2/18: 10 am Iowa Board of Sign Language In- terpreters and Transliterators Board Meeting, Room 526, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines. CALENDAR OF EVENTS FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT Hearing Aids and Audiological Services for Children http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iaehdi/parents.asp. There are two documents, an announcement and an application available on this website. Funding Announcement – Hearing Aid and Audiological Services: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iaehdi/common/pdf/ha_s ervices_ann.pdf Hearing Aids and Audiological Services Application: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iaehdi/common/pdf/ha_s ervices_app.pdf GOOD NEWS Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge have pro- posed an increase of $8,000 for DSCI starting July 1, 2008. This is so that DSCI can have quality vid- eophone service in our offices. Now we need to get the Legislature to approve the Gov/Lt. Gov’s recommendations. If you want to see this for yourself, go to this web- site http://staffweb.legis.state.ia.us/lfb/docs/BudgAnalys is/FY2009/LAGAR_FY09.pdf and our information is on page 62. Please encourage people to let their legislators know if they support this or don’t support this in- crease in funding for videophones. They need to hear from the community.