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Monthly Hearing Loss Association of Houston Newsletter
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CHAPTER OFFICERS Co-Presidents: Teri Wathen: [email protected] Paula Holzband:
Vice President:
Treasurer: Allan Ofield: [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Mary Honomichl: [email protected]
November 2009 Volume 10, Number 11
HLAA (formerly SHHH) is the largest consumer
organization dedicated to the well being of people with
hearing loss. We believe people can help one another,
be helped, and participate successfully in society. Our
primary purpose is to educate ourselves and those
around us about the causes, nature and complications
of hearing loss and what can be done to help. To join
the local chapter, please write us at the above address
or come to one of our monthly meetings. Our meetings
have the following facilities available to attendees:
Real Time Captioner and Induction Loop System.
We now meet at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Room R23. The ad-dress is 3471 Westheimer at Edloe, Houston, TX 77027. This is a second floor location and there is an elevator if you need it.
Hearing Loss Association of Houston (Formerly SHHH Houston Chapter)
PO Box 572091
Houston TX 77257-2091
Website!!: www.hearingloss-houston.org (Be sure to type the dash between loss and Houston)
Note: The site is now the ONLY Authorized HLA Hous-
ton website and has no advertising Pop-ups. Best
viewed with Internet Explorer Browser.
We are an affiliate of Hearing Loss Association of
America based in Bethesda, Maryland.Website:
http://www.hearingloss.org
November 14, 9:30 AM. Monthly Meeting at St.
Luke’s, Room R23. Our Speaker will be Jeanette
Faris, whose current Button Collection is on display
at the Mamie George Library in Stafford.
MORE THAN GRANDMA' S BUTTON BOX
Collecting antique sewing buttons is a fascinating
hobby for both men and women that is colorful, fun
and educational, You learn about the materials, the
construction and the many categories you can col-
lect. They range from the incredibly beautiful to the
plain old ugly! Come see!
November 21 & 22-Via Colori at Sam Houston park,
110 Bagby St.. See Page 3 for details. Come support
the Center for Hearing and Speech as they have sup-
ported us!
November 26: Thanksgiving Holidays: On this day,
let us give thanks for the miracles of technology
which have given us hearing aids, assistive devices
and cochlear implants to help us hear better! Have
a great holiday!
December 6, 2009. Holiday Party at Teri Wathen’s
house. See Page 4 for time & directions.
Come on out! Saturday, November 7, 2009-4th Annual Walk4hearing at Tom Bass Park Section 3, Pavillion 6. Regis-ter at 8, walk at 9 a.m. Stay after-wards for socializing! Please go to the website at www.walk4hearing.org , select the Houston walk, start your team, or join one, and watch the ther-mometers rise! See Map on Page 2 to get to the park. We have scheduled a Moonwalk and Face Painter for your children! Water and snacks provided!
2
Correction:
FM 865
South Sam Houston Tollway
Hiway 288
Take 288 South from Central Houston, keep going past 610 South
Loop to the South Sam Houston Tollway exit. Turn left at the sig-
nal and stay on the feeder to Cullen Blvd aka FM Rd 865. Turn
right on Cullen , past Fellows Road to the entrance for Section 3.
We will post some signs.
Walk is at Pavil-
ion 6 which is the
SECOND pavil-
ion on your right
after you enter
the park, across
from the Park
Office.
Cullen
Blvd
3
Houston Via Colori® 2009
Benefiting the Center for Hearing and Speech
Houston Via Colori® 2009, presented by El Paso Corporation
and Quantum Energy Partners and produced by The Center for
Hearing and Speech, is a FREE, two-day street painting festi-val in Sam Houston Park, and the surrounding streets of Allen
Parkway and Bagby. Watch the progress of colossal-sized
works of art, completely created in pastels, by more than 200
artists. There is also live music, food and children’s activities.
Proceeds from Houston Via Colori support CHS’ mission to
teach hearing impaired children to listen, speak and read.
Event Details 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday November 21
& Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, November 22
Sam Houston Park
110 Bagby
Houston, TX 77002
Informational Links: http://www.houstonviacolori.com
http://www.centerhearingandspeech.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/houstonviacolori/
www.facebook.com/HoustonViaColori
www.twitter.com/Via_colori
http://www.centerhearingandspeech.org/widgets/dow
nload.aspx?file=%2ffiles%2fDocuments%
http://www.centerhearingandspeech.org/page.aspx?id
=202310
***Additional info: If you are interested in sponsoring a
square, please contact Natalie at 713-523-3633 or
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE ANNUAL
HEARING LOSS ASSOCATION
HOUSTON CHAPTER HOLIDAY PARTY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2009
2:00—5:00 P.M.
AT THE HOME OF
RAY AND TERI WATHEN 12115 VALENCIA
MEADOWS PLACE, TX 77477 281 933 6537
POT LUCK
RSVP: [email protected]
TAKE 59 S. TO W. AIRPORT EXIT
TAKE FIRST RIGHT AT W. AIRPORT
GO THRU THE LIGHT AT KIRKWOOD AND
COUNT 3 STREETS ON RIGHT SIDE ONLY
TURN RIGHT ON MULHOLLAND
TAKE IMMEDIATE RIGHT ON TO
MEADOWCREST
MEADOWCREST WILL CURVE TO THE
LEFT AND BECOME VALENCIA
WE ARE 4TH HOUSE FROM THE END ON
THE RIGHT
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Visual smoke alarms now a state law!
(From the Texas Association of the Deaf Newsletter,
Fall 2009)
If requested by a tenant, a landlord must install a vis-
ual smoke detector that is capable of alerting a person
with a hearing impairment of the presence of smoke.
Effective: Jan. 1, 2010.
It was late at night in January 2005 when Tyrus and
Sephra Burks, both deaf, were asleep in their apart-
ment after celebrating the birthday of one of their four
children. A fire broke out and the living room was in
flames before Tyrus, who had fallen asleep on the
couch watching TV, woke up. He was able to save two
of his children, but the fire had grown too large for
him to pass in order to reach Sephra who was sleeping
in the bedroom upstairs and his other two children.
Sephra and two of their children died in the fire that
night. A visual smoke alarm in the bedroom might
have prevented their deaths. The tragedy that led the
Texas Legislature to pass SB 1715 is worth remember-
ing. To honor the Burks family that lost so much, SB
1715 is now known as the Sephra Burks' Bill.
As of January 1, 2010, landlords of dwelling units in
Texas, such as apartment complexes, will be required
to purchase and install visual smoke alarms upon re-
quest for their deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind ten-
ants. These visual smoke alarms must be installed in
the bedroom where a deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-
blind person will be sleeping.
The law applies to any "home, mobile home, duplex
unit, apartment unit, condominium unit, or any dwell-
ing unit in a multiunit residential structure." It also ap-
plies to "one or more rooms rented for use as a perma-
nent residence under a single lease to one or more ten-
ants."
For Deaf-blind individuals who cannot see the flash-
ing component, the landlord should provide a smoke
alarm bed shaker.
The landlord is responsible for the purchase and instal-
lation of the visual smoke alarm, just as they are re-
sponsible for traditional, audible smoke alarms.
Generally, you should put your request in writing and
inform your landlord that you (or someone else living
with you) are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind, and
that you need a visual smoke alarm because you can-
not hear the audible smoke alarm. The landlord should
purchase and install the visual smoke alarm within a
reasonable amount of time after they have received
your request. If you need a specific type of visual
smoke alarm, such as a bed shaking smoke alarm, you
should include that in your request and explain why.
Be sure you keep a copy of your request. Generally,
the landlord should purchase and install the visual
smoke alarm within a reasonable amount of time after
receiving a request.
The landlord may ask you for such proof, which might
include a statement from a doctor or audiologist. How-
ever, the landlord cannot ask for other medical history;
the request must be limited to just that information
required to show the hearing loss.
Landlords should treat the provision of visual smoke
alarm the same as they do for the other smoke alarms
they provide. If they do not require a deposit from
their hearing tenants for the smoke alarm, then they
should not require you to pay a deposit for the visual
smoke alarm.
If you have children who are deaf, the landlord must
provide a visual smoke alarm in their bedroom(s).
If the landlord does not grant your request (after the
law takes effect in 2010, you should contact the Advo-
cacy, Inc., office nearest you. Our locations and con-
tact information can be found at
www.advocacyinc.org. Additionally, your landlord should contact the Texas Apartment Association
(www.taa.org) to get more information on their obli-gations under SB 1715. This information has been
provided by Advocacy, Incorporated and is not legal
advice. Please consult an attorney if you have any
questions. Advocacy is a federally funded, non-profit
agency that provides legal and advocacy services on
behalf of people with disabilities.
Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-21533-Dallas-
Disability-Examiner~y2009m10d23-Visual-Smoke-
Alarms-now-state-law-in-Texas Information provided Courtesy of Deaf Network of Texas
5
CAPTIONED ENTERTAINMENT Check http://www.moviewatcher.com/jsp/amg.jsp to find
titles and dates of OC and CC movies at AMC theatres. AMC Studio 30, Willowbrook AMC 24, Deerbrook 24, Katy Mills 20, Gulf Pointe 30, First Colony 24 also have Rear Win-dow Captioning. Be sure to request the closed captioned show when you buy tickets.
AMC is no longer listing the upcoming captioned films on
their main website. Now you have to check each theatre
individually to locate the time of any films!
Edwards Greenway Palace 24 , 3839 Weslayan, have also
been showing OPEN captioned movies. They are showing
the ‘OC’ in front of the movie that is captioned, so check
www.REGmovies.com and input ‘Houston’ in the search
field, or the daily newspaper for movie dates & times.
You may link to the open captioned movies in Texas at :
http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/opencaptionedsho
wtimes.aspx#TX
Stepfather-11/3 to 11/5
Where the wild Things Are-11/6 to 11/9
Cirque Du Freak-11/10 to 11/12
Another source of captioned movie listings is
http://www.fomdi.com/ You will need to input your
zip code.
New source for captioned movies:-go to
www.captionfish.com and click on ‘change Search”
Button. Then enter your city and state & click ‘Go’.
IMAX @ Museum of Natural History-Rear Window Cap-
tioning- Anytime –Ask for the device at the door. Not all films are captioned so please ask before you buy tickets.
Alley Theatre-615 Texas Avenue,
For tickets to the Alley Theatre call the Box office at
713 228-8421 (voice) through Relay Texas.
www.alleytheatre.org -Click on “Education and Commu-
nity” on top bar, then click on “Programs for the Audi-
ence” then on “Access Services”. **Discounted tickets are
available from Illuminations Arts: (713) 529-6910
Voice/FAX (813) 529-6909 TTY**.
Captions are provided at the Saturday matinee perform-
ance during the preview week.
Toyota Center: For non-Rockets events, captioning re-
quests should go through Guest Services @ 713-758-
7230. They will make arrangements for seating and accom-
modations for the captioner.
Broadway Series-see www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/houston for shows at the Hobby Center for the Performing
Arts. Only one show of each performance is captioned.
The TDD# for tickets is 800-755-6244, or phone (713) 627-
3570. Be sure to request tickets in the best spot to read the
captioning. Please confirm this when you call to request
tickets).
Theatre Under the Stars: Check www.tuts.com for details and ticket information.
Single tickets are available at 713-558-8887 or online, or at the TUTS box office, M-F 9am-6 pm; Sat.-Sun 11am-4 pm.
A.D. Players -Captioned Plays: ( www.adplayers.org )
Call the box office at 713-526-2721. 2719 West Alabama.
Be sure you request a seat with the best view of the caption-
ing bar.
New Venue!!! Houston Family Arts Center at Barker Cy-
press and 290 plans to caption all its plays. The center, also
known as Berry Center, is located at 8877 Barker Cypress,
Cypress, TX 77433 . The website and tickets can be found
at: http://tickets.houstonfac.com/
**********************************************
IN-SYNC CAPTIONING
2009-2010 SCHEDULE
November 5, 2009, 8:00, MARY POPPINS, Broadway
Houston
November 22, 2009, 7:30, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Alley
Theatre
December 1, 2009, 7:30, THE SANTALAND DIARIES,
Neuhaus Theatre
December 20, 2009, 7:30, SOUND OF MUSIC, TUTS
January 9, 2010, 2:00, A CHORUS LINE, Broadway Houston
January 16, 2010, 2:30, WONDERLAND, Alley Theatre
January 23, 2010, 2:30, MRS. MANNERLY, Neuhaus Theatre
February 21, 2010, 7:30, MISS SAIGON, TUTS
March 6, 2010, 2:30, ALFRED HITCHOCK’S THE 39
STEPS, Alley Theatre
March 21, 2010, SOUTH PACIFIC, TUTS
April 10, 2010, 2:00, IN THE HEIGHTS, Broadway Houston
April 17, 2010, 2:30, HARVEY, Alley Theatre
May 9, 2010, 7:30, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRE, Tuts
May 22, 2010, 2:30, INTELLIGENCE-SLAVE, Neuhaus
Theatre
May 29, 2010, 2:00, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Broadway
Houston
June 6, 2010, 2:30, BOEING-BOEING, Alley Theatre
July 3, 2010, 2:00, WICKED, Broadway Houston
July 22, 2010, 8:00, WICKED, Broadway Houston
Provided by In-sync Captioning service and Teri Wathen.
Go Green! We have a number of members who receive our newslet-
ter via email. If you would like to receive it in email
please email the editor at [email protected] with your email address.
**********************************************
6
STAP The Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program
(STAP) was devised to assist individuals with disabilities
to obtain a specialized telecommunications device or ser-
vices to facilitate access to the telephone system. STAP
provides a voucher to eligible individuals that may be ex-
changed for specialized telephone equipment or ser-
vices. Communication Axess Ability Group provides an
equipment demonstration room conveniently located at
our North Loop office. You may schedule an appoint-
ment by calling 713.807.1176 or you may e-mail the
STAP Specialist, Chris Conway, at
HOH
Communication Axess Ability Group proudly offers Hard
of Hearing Services (HOH) through a grant from the De-
partment of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
- - Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. The
basis for HOH is to eliminate communication barriers and
to facilitate communication access through projects to
expand or otherwise improve the provision of service to
individuals who are hard of hearing, late deafened or oral
deaf. To schedule a speaking engagement, seminar or
conference, call 713.807.1176 or e-mail the Houston
coordinator, Teri Wathen, at [email protected] .
HEARING SYSTEMS INC. NEW LATEST DIGITAL HEARING AIDS
Widex, Oticon, Seimens, Phonak, Unitron
Demonstration Room / Large Stock of TTY’s
And other Assistive/Alert Device
Audio Loop, FM and Infrared Systems
Earmolds - Batteries - Testing - Assistive Products - Hearing Aids
Max McCarthy, M.A., CCC-A Les Callaway
(281) 855(281) 855--8916 (Voice/TTY) 4654 Hwy 6 N, Ste. 2018916 (Voice/TTY) 4654 Hwy 6 N, Ste. 201
www.hearingsystemsinc.com Houston, TX 77084
Disclaimer: Mention of goods or services in articles or advertisements
does not mean HLA Houston endorsement, nor should
exclusion suggest disapproval. Please let our advertisers
know that you appreciate their interest in our group.
Mary Dopico Reporting Services 6142 Southwell Lane League City, Texas 77573
Mary C. Dopico, CSR, RPR, CRR TCRA LEVEL IV CART PROVIDER
O 713/520-0084 Fax 713/521-1118 H 281/316-0260 Fax 281/316-0261
C 713/829-2599
YOUR ad could be here. Contact the chap-
ter mail address to place an ad. Please in-
clude a scannable business card, or email a
jpg file to the editor.
7
HLAA MEMBERSHIP Hearing Loss Association of America, (formerly SHHH -
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People Inc.), is a national
organization headquartered in Bethesda, MD.
You are invited to join the national organization. HLAA
dues, payable annually in the month of joining, are $25 a
year and include a subscription to the bi-monthly, award
winning Hearing Loss Journal, which is always filled with
interesting and pertinent articles on hearing loss. Renewals
of National membership dues are billed directly by
National HLAA.
Name_________________________________________
Address_______________________________________
City___________________________________________
State___________________Zip____________________
Email:_________________________________________
Annual Dues:
Individual $35.00 _________________
Couple/Family $45 __________________
Student $20 ________________________
Professional $60 _________________________
(Benefits include being in the online catalog)
Non-Profit Org & Libraries $50 _________________
Corporate $300 ________________________
(with upgraded benefits)
Check benefits for each level at www.hearingloss.org/membership
Make Check Payable to “HLAA” and Mail to:
Hearing Loss Association of America
7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 1200
Bethesda, MD 20814
Or you may join online by credit card at :
http://www.hearingloss.org
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
****************************************** Chuckle Corner - Hymn # 365
A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With
great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world.
I'd take it and pour it in the river."
With even greater emphasis he said, " And if I had all the
wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it in the river."
And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he
Said, " And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take
it and pour it in the river."
Sermon complete, he sat down.
The song leader stood very cautiously and announced
with a smile, nearly laughing, "For our closing song, let
us sing Hymn #365, “Shall we gather at the river." .
Hearing Loss Association of Houston (formerly SHHH Houston Chapter) HLA Houston Chapter is an affiliate of Hearing Loss Association
of America. Please remember that making a donation to the
Houston chapter does NOT automatically make you a member of
HLAA. We encourage you to join both so you may receive maxi-
mum benefit from your membership. Membership donations for
the Houston chapter are $12 per year for individuals, or $20 per
year for a family, which includes a subscription to the monthly
newsletter.
Date____________________
Name___________________________________
Street_____________________________________
City__________________State________Zip______
Home Phone: ( )________________________
Circle: V or TTY or both
Business Phone: ( )______________________
Circle: V or TTY or both
Fax: ( )_________________________________
E-Mail Address:________________________________
Would you like your Email address added to the chapter
group list on Yahoo Groups? Yes or No
Would you prefer an email newsletter in place of the paper
copy? Yes or No
Would you like to include your above personal information
in the membership directory? Yes or No
HLA Houston Membership – includes
newsletter subscription:
Individual ($12) $______________
or Family ($20) $_____________
National’s Founder’s Day
contribution (voluntary) $_________________ Additional Tax Deductible Local contribution –
helps pay the newsletter and outreach expenses
(voluntary) $________________
Total enclosed $________________
Make checks payable to: HLA Houston Chapter
and mail to: PO Box 572091
Houston, TX 77257-2091
Reminder: We welcome your donations in memory
of , or in honor of, a loved one, or to commemorate
any life event.
8
HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON CHAPTER MEETS ON SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, except for June and December, at 9:30 AM., At ST. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer at Edloe, Houston, TX 77027. Room R23. Park behind the church and walk through the fenced garden. We will try to have a sign pointing the way.
HLA of HOUSTON CHAPTER PO BOX 572091 HOUSTON TX 77257-2091
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 11
November 2009
Calendar:
November 7, 8 a.m. WALK4HEARING
@ Tom Bass Park Section 3. Register at 8,
walk at 9! See Map to park inside.
November 14, 9:30 a.m. Monthly meeting.
November 21 & 22-Via Colori at Sam Houston
Park
November 26-Happy Turkey Day!
December 6: Holiday Party at Teri Wathen’s
house. See Flyer inside!
