21 + only • 8pm till closing time2416 Bay Area Blvd. Houston, TX 77058 • 281.461.24702 • //website • //direction • //detailed info…

21 + only • 8pm till closing time2400 University Blvd. #200, Houston, Tx 77005 • 713.529.2739 • //website • //direction • //detailed info…

Here is the execrpt from the deafhouston.org

“Welcome to the Houston Deaf Forum!!!

What is the Houston Deaf Forum?  It is a forum where we the deaf and hard of hearing Houston citizens are now gathering to work toward to one common goal.  To establish an organization that will become a better voice, unity, and advocacy for the deaf/hard of hearing citizens of  Houston and surrounding areas.

So we will be hosting our FIRST Town Hall meeting on August 15th, 2009 at St. Dominic Center for the Deaf. The address is 2403 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77021 from 12 to 4pm.  We will soon be creating a mailing list – to make sure you are INFORMED when something is going on.  Remember “WE, THE DEAF COMMUNITY” can’t succeed without your participation!”

As a dphhh.com article contributor, I would strongly encourage you to inform others who might not be reading the dphhh.com article and let them know about the Houston Deaf Forum. It will be a great opportunity for you to express your thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Help spread the word and like Billy said, “Together we stand, divide we fall.”

You can follow the Houston Deaf Forum in different ways, they have a website up at deafhouston.org , a Facebook Fan page at Deaf Houston Forum Fan Page, and you can participate on Twitter at @HouDeafForum .

Comments/Concerns are welcomed!

I want to address a few concerns by those in the deaf and hard of hearing community. While we condemned the abuse by the scammers using the ip-relay. We want the community at large to understand that while we conduct business or personal calls through TTY (Telephone Typewriter) ip-relay (internet), Video Phone, or VRI (Video Relay Interpreter). There will be a concern among those in the community at large on whether a relay call would be legitimate or a scam.

This scam reflects poorly on the deaf and hard of hearing community and we strive to fight against the abuse of our services. The purpose of using an relay service provides us the independence in order to function within the hearing community. In fact, there are two devices that provides us the giant leap when we socialize with those in the community at large. First is a relay service which a deaf person has access to and currently the three most common “phones”  are: TTY, ip-relay (internet), and Video Phone. Second is the use of pager/cell phone with a QWERTY key (virtual or physical) in order to communicate with other people.

Let’s put some of the technology we use in a nutshell.

TTY is an age-old technology which unfortunately many of them are still in use within the business community. It is quickly becoming an obsolete device very much like the VHS tape of the old days. You can still find many of them within the government sectors and hospitals. Personally, every time I go to a hospital and I say, “Can I make a phone call? I am Deaf and do you have a device I can use?” The first thing the staff would say, “Yes, we have a TTY.” *record scratching* NOOOOO! Come on! Upgrade already!

Ip-Relay has been around since the 1990’s and is still in moderate use. The most common method of an ip-relay is when we are on our cell phone or pager that has a AIM or an Internet connection. For example, on my iPhone, I use AIM to conduct calls via sprintip and it enables me to make calls quickly anywhere as long as my iPhone is connected to a wifi or a 3G network. Unfortunately, ip-relay is one of the most abused by scammers because it is relatively easy to use and requires no knowledge of sign language in order to communicate. All the scammers have to do is type on a keyboard and communicate with anyone under secrecy. To my understanding, the FBI task force is aware of this abuse and there have been raids in some parts of country, more on that later.

Video Phone is a newcomer and is one of the fastest growing segment in regards of deaf and hard of hearing customer’s preference. It requires the knowledge of sign language to communicate in order to use Video Phone. Also, it is one of the most saturated in the market because there are more competitors than the device themselves. You have competitors such as HOVRS relay, CSDVRS, Viable, SNAPVRS, Sorenson, and Sprint whom are competing for the deaf customer’s business. In regards to the device that is used to conduct Video Phone, is it an ever changing environment because new technology are coming out every year.

The FCC pays for all of those device and the services that is being provided for those in the deaf and hard of hearing community, increasingly, I have been noticing that more and more deaf and hard of hearing individuals are now preferring to purchase the device themselves and do not need the FCC to purchase them for the deaf and hard of hearing community. That will be another story to write about later.

I want to emphasize to the community at large, many of us in the deaf and hard of hearing community condemned the abuse of our relay service and we hope that this communication access will not set us back when we try to call anyone in the community due to the concerns on whether a relay call is legitimate or a scam. Of course, there are preventable measures and the only way to fight against  the scammers is by educating everyone on this issue. Everyone is responsible in educating each other whether you are hearing or deaf in knowing what service is legitimate or not.

Education is the key in exposing awareness of the needs of those in the deaf and hard of hearing community.

By the way, I encourage many in the public, private, and the government sector to take a serious look at VRI (video relay interpreter). It is the new kid on the block and it enables many of those in the community to quickly have a communication access with those whom are deaf and hard of hearing. It is a lot cheaper than having a real interpreter being present and reduced the delay of having an interpreter to show up. For an illustration of an VRI, click here.

Comments/Concerns are welcomed!

Correction: Please note, VRS (Video Relay Service) is a free service that is provided for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and VRI (Video Relay Interpreter) is a pay-per-use service that provides an intermediate interpreting between two parties in the same room. Sorry for the confusion!

Granted, if it was any dog then I can understand but this dog was a service dog.  Da Marco was WRONG for refusing service to this deaf individual.  I really do hope this deaf individual steps up and files legal action vs. Da Marco.  By the ADA law, she should have been allowed the opportunity to bring her dog in.

Hopefully action will be taken in regards to this – and they are educated on this issue that this will not happen again.

~B

21 + only • 8pm till closing time2306 Brazos St, Houston, TX 77006 • 713.522.1041 • //website • //direction • //detailed info…

http://www.montrosecounselingcenter.org

*Additional Info: *This FREE* confidential group will be open to all
Deaf who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. No one
will be identified as HIV– or + and you do not have to be a client
at MCC. The group’s facilitator (LBSW) is hearing but is fluent in
American Sign Language. This group will consist of up to ten (10)
participants who may join at anytime during the 8 week group duration.
Participants will sign agreement of confidentiality upon entering the
group meeting.

Montrose Counseling Center
401 Branard
Houston, Texas 77006

*Donations are welcome.

Leann Randolph
Email: interpreters@montrosecounselingcenter.org

Last night meeting at Woodhaven church served a constant reminder of the issues that many deaf/hoh face after a long sought settlement between the Department of Justice and the City of Houston.

The truth is the City of Houston has continued to fail in the requirement that has been outlined in the settlement when it comes to meeting the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing individuals. That was one of the main reason to have the March, to bring awareness to the city council of Houston. Brian and Kathy and the other co-founders hope to bring that awareness to the City of Houston and ensure that the requirements are met in the 1998 settlement.

There were about 40 people at the meeting, and some were able to watch the meeting online. Some were there to prepare for the March and others were there to question the integrity of the March and the co-founder’s preparedness. In the meeting, there were more questions than answers and many felt uneasiness in the way the March has been planned. From our observations, we could see many of the audience members did not receive a satisfied answer and was more puzzled than before. However, the March Founders was adamant to go on with the March regardless and mentioned that Brian will be having a meeting with the ADA Coordinator, Robby Laws on the issue of the settlement agreement.

Some has expressed concerns on facts and evidence that could be presented to the City Council in regards to our situation.  Others has expressed that this issue is really a two way street, not just necessarily the City of Houston failure to meet our needs but because we had no one to really follow up with the City of Houston.

So as a result, many of those in the audience had the renew call for an establishment of an organization. An organization that will meet the needs for everyone in the deaf/hoh community. We ask for those to continue to participate and bring more awareness/voice in the establishment for a organization. Please keep an eye on the update on DPHHH.com for information.  Remember this is not about you, but about the deaf/hoh community as whole.  Updates will be coming soon about upcoming meetings in regards to the deaf/hoh community.