Thursday, October 2, 2008

30 more days to Deafhood workshop - have you registered? Cut off is October 15th!

***************************************************************************************************************

30 more days to Deafhood workshop - have you registered? Cut off is October 15th!

When: November 1, 2008 (Saturday) 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Where: GSLAD

2190 Creve Coeur Mill Road
Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043 (google for directions there)

Cost?: NO CHARGE! and lunch is included

Topic?: MoAD's Presentation: In Search of Deafhood

A Deafhood Vision for a World...

* Where being Deaf is celebrated and never condemned.

* Where academic excellence in a natural Sign Language is critical and never compromised.

* Where Deaf-related concerns are "heard" and never ignored.

* Where false divisions among Deaf people are discarded and natural diversity is embraced.

Embrace Deafhood....

So our future generations can dream big, think deep, sign freely, and walk proudly as Deaf people.

This workshop will be conducted in American Sign Language by internationally known experts on Deafhood, Ella Mae Lentz and Genie Gertz.

Registration Deadline: October 15, 2008 - E-mail your request to Beth Williams, Registration Coordinator at cewmew@charter.net - The seats are going fast... so hurry and register NOW! Make registration easier by registering before October 15th. We will e-mail you e-tickets for admission and lunch. No long lines needed. We e-mail you e-tickets between October 19th and 25th. Please bear with us as we process information and handling of e-tickets to a large number of attendees. We are excited about the upcoming workshop!

This Deafhood workshop is made possible by the following organizations listed:

* MoAD - Missouri Association of the Deaf - www.moadshowme.org

*MCDHH - Missouri Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - www.mcdhh.mo.gov

*MOVRS/CSDVRS - Missouri Video Relay Service / Communication Services For the Deaf Video Relay Service - www.movrs.com

*GSLAD - Greater St. Louis Association of the Deaf - www.gslad.org

*Deaf Images - www.deafimages.tv

*Deaf Interlink - www.deafinterlink.com

*Sorenson Communications - www.sorenson.com

*RTR/DCC - St. Louis Metro Round Table Representatives on Deafness/ Deaf Community Center - www.rtr-stl.org

*GSLC - Greater St. Louis Chapter of MoAD - www.moadshowme.org

*If you are interested in helping us defray the expenses as we keep the workshop open to deaf and hard of hearing people without charge to help us understand Deafhood. It is part of Missouri Association of the Deaf's objectives to help the deaf community be aware and be informed. MoAD has been actively and doing this advocacy since 1904. Please e-mail to Paul Kiel, Chairman at myfavaslworld@aol.com for consideration to help this project.

The Deafhood Committee of MoAD consists the following members:

Paul Kiel, Chairman
Beth Williams, Registration Coordinator
Mike Boyd, Logistics
Judy Benfield, Program Book
Nina Wilson, Hospitality
Ella Eakins, Finances
Missy Owoc, Committee member
Cathy Hall, Committee member

October 2, 2008


********************************************************************************************************************
###

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

SHOW ME DEAF INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2009 - October 1, 2 and 3, 2009







*** 2008 Public Service Announcement: ***

For widest possible distribution:

Release: October 1, 2008
Contact: Paul Kiel, SMDIFF Coordinator
E-mail: paul@deafimages.tv
Phone: Voice: 314-236-9048
TTY/Fax: 314-869-6161
VP: 314-664-8959 or pjkiel.myvp.tv

SHOW ME DEAF INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2009 - October 1, 2 and 3, 2009

St. Louis, Missouri, October 1, 2008 - SMDIFF has announced that we will have the second Show me Deaf International Film Festival scheduled October 1, 2 and 3 2009 to showcase independent American and International films. The festival will highlight the works of deaf and hard of hearing filmmakers. For updates, more information on festival, programming, tickets or travel, visit www.deafimages.tv

"I am pleased to say that we will have second film festival a year from today on October 1, 2009. It will be second time around and I did learn a lot from the first festival of its kind for deaf and hard of hearing. " noted Paul J. Kiel, SMDIFF Coordinator. "And we are pleased that the festival will again display the important works of deaf and hard of hearing filmmakers. I have received inquiries about displaying their films from India, Canada, Europe and Australia."

Also, Keith Wann will be performing on Saturday night, October 3, 2009. Come and watch his comedy show! He brought the house down last year and he is coming back for more on October 3, 2009.

If you would like to send your videos, please inquire for Film Submission Rules and Regulations forms. Please send your videos to have the festival committee review them and consider for the festival by August 15, 2009.. If you have any questions about submission or anything, feel free to e-mail to Paul at paul@deafimages.tv.

We welcome sponsors to help underwrite the film festival.

Come one! Come all!

Let's enjoy the Show Me Deaf International Film Festival 2009!

###

Monday, September 22, 2008

DEAF MISSOURIANS NEED YOUR HELP FINDING QUALIFIED PERSON FOR DMH JOB!!

DEAF MISSOURIANS NEED YOUR HELP FINDING QUALIFIED PERSON FOR DMH JOB!!

Missouri Deaf Community is very disappointed and is questioning DMH's motive in hiring a sign language interpreter for the Director position at Department of Mental Health. Historically the deaf community does NOT trust an interpreter in any positions of any work. The Deaf community prefers that a non-interpreter be in a position. There is no confidence in the process of selection and hiring.

DMH is again abdicating its responsibility in meeting the needs of our deaf community. They went ahead and selected a sign language interpreter to fill in the post of Director of Deaf and Multi-Cultural Services.

It is them doing the window dressing all over again. They are still playing the shell game. They are trying to use plantation mentality in telling us to go to the Legislators who determine the budget. It is like saying, "There is candy in that store. Go there!... It is like they are trying to move the funds around and around to satisfy the hearing people's wishes rather than helping us. I have said months ago that it is time to initiate the lawsuit. We are not going to wait another day. We have suffered for the last few years without any proper mental health services for the deaf.

I do applaud the deaf leaders for making presentations last week at DMH, but the buck stops at DMH's desk. It is not the legislation nor outsiders of DMH. DMH has the money and they are still playing the shell game. We need the services now. Not two years from now! More Deaf are falling through the cracks now and the next two years. Where is our safety net?

We need to read between the lines over and over! It is simple that DMH is again bluffing us!

Those who are interested in serving mental health services for the deaf, please let me know. I will be happy to move the mountains and the buildings to see that a qualified person gets the job. We sincerely hope the interpreter can turn down the job as it is not qualified for that person.

I have checked the deaf media resources and I did not see any posting so I am including this posting. I warn you that the person I e-mailed a few months agao never answered my question about the degree requirements. She failed to answer my question so be it! E-mail me your resumes and I will forward to the right people on the grassroots committee.

E-mail to me at myfavaslworld@aol.com

Thank you,

Paul Kiel
St. Louis, Missouri


attached:

Job Announcement from DMH:

Director of Deaf and Multi-Cultural Services

The Missouri Department of Mental Health has an immediate opening for an individual to provide leadership in the development of appropriate mental health services for individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing, or, who have other unique cultural/linguistic needs.

The successful incumbent will:

Provide leadership and oversight for the implementation of the strategic plan for deaf services within the Department of Mental Health;

Work with members of the deaf community to identify the available resources and unmet needs relative to mental health;

Work with leadership within the Department to develop an awareness of the unique needs of the deaf population;

Develop systems within the Department and its administrative agents to appropriately address the mental health needs of the population;

Work closely with the Missouri School for the Deaf to assess and address the mental health needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Assess the system capability in Missouri to address the mental health needs of the multi-cultural population of the state (Hispanic, Bosnian, Asian, etc.)

Work with leadership within those communities to develop a strategic plan to address the mental health needs of these populations.

This is a Merit System Position- Mental Health Manager B2. Applicants must be registered with the Missouri Merit System. The Merit System application and Assessment may be found at HYPERLINK "http://www.ease.mo.gov" www.ease.mo.gov

EEO/AA Employer

Salary Range: $44,340 - $73,704

Availability: Immediate

For More Information or to Submit a Letter of Interest and Resume Contact:
Ms. Kelly McDonald of the Missouri Department of Mental Health
kelly.mcdonald@dmh.mo.gov

###

40 DAYS LEFT FOR DEAFHOOD WORKSHOP

*** 40 DAYS LEFT FOR DEAFHOOD WORKSHOP ***


What: MoAD's Presentation: In Search of Deafhood

When: November 1, 2008

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Place: GSLAD Hall
2190 Creve Coeur Mill Road
Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043

(You can google information and directions to the GSLAD Hall)

Admission: NO CHARGE

Lunch: Lunch will be provided to the workshop participants: (sandwich, chips and a cookie) - Those who reserved by October 15th will get lunch. Those who reserved after October 15th may or may not get lunch.

Please register with Beth Williams at cewmew@charter.net

The deadline to accept registration is October 15, 2008.

Seating is limited!

There will be several free door prizes announced during the day and a major door prize after the workshop.

--Those who have registered for workshop will be getting printed tickets in e-mail during the week of October 19 and 25. This will help avoid long lines for registration. We are making registration simple for those who have made registration by October 15th.--

The workshop is made possible by the following sponsors -

* MoAD (Missouri Association of the Deaf)

* MCDHH (Missouri Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)

* GSLAD (Greater St. Louis Association of the Deaf)

* MOVRS/CSDVRS (Missouri Video Relay Services/Communication Service for the Deaf Video Relay Services)

* RTR/DCC (St. Lous Metro Round Table Represenatatives on Deafness, Inc / Deaf Community Center)

* GSLC (Greater St. Louis Chapter of MoAD)

*Deaf Images

If you would like to help sponsor or donate to cover the free admission, food and other expenses, please contact Paul Kiel, Chairman at myfavaslworld@aol.com.

Thank you,

Deafhood Committee

September 22, 2008

###

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

"TO BE DEAF OR NOT TO BE DEAF" COMING OUT DEC 5th











A DVD/video storyof a deaf man raised in hearing society until he discovered American Sign Language. For more information, e-mail to myfavaslworld@aol.com.

** 50 MORE DAYS TO DEAFHOOD WORKSHOP **










Hello, I am Paul Kiel, Chairman of Deafhood workshop for MoAD. MoAD is Missouri Association of the Deaf Inc. The workshop will be on November 1, 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri. It is titled,"MoAD's Presentation In Search of Deafhood" The presentors are Ella Mae Lentz and Genie Gertz. I want to thank the sponsors for helping us get this far. MoAD, GSLAD, Deaf Images and MCDHH. MoAD - Missouri Association of the Deaf Inc., GSLAD - Greater St. Louis Association of the Deaf, Inc. MCDHH is Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.


The cost of admission is FREE. No charge as the sponsors help cover the costs. The lunch is included. Please register with Beth Williams at cewmew@charter.net. The seating is limited. Register before October 15, 2008. There are hotels around the deaf club for out of towners. If you have any questions or concerns, e-mail to me at myfavaslworld@aol.com.


See you on November 1, 2008! =)

Saturday, August 23, 2008

OBAMA SIGNED "THANK YOU" TO DEAF MAN!

I was watching Obama's rally in Springfield, Illinois on CNN.

I caught him signing to deaf man who told him congratulations in sign language.

It is nice to know that Obama replied in sign language to deaf man.

I want to vote for change!

This means Obama-Biden!

Paul K.

DMH is playing the shell game with Missouri Deaf Community.

*Paul's note - this e-mail was sent to Bill McClellan, the columnist of St. Louis Post Dispatch. This is to recruit him to help us to expose the bull about DMH and the deaf programs. There will be posting about seeking attorney to help expedite the process to provide mental health services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Missouri. - DMH does not have money in 2008 and 2009 for the programs we need for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They are working on 2010 budget. It is like they are playing shell game with us. It is time to STOP it and demand services NOW!


August 22, 2008

Bill McClellan
Post Dispatch Columnist
St. Louis Post Dispatch
e-mail: bmcclellan@post-dispatch.com

To Bill McClellan:

I have read your column the past Sunday, August 17, 2008 when you wrote about "where mental health system fails, there's always jail." I find it interesting and there is another venue going on where the deaf community is suffering.

I would like to ask you to help the Missouri Deaf Community get long overdue services from the Missouri Department of Mental Health. They have been window dressing and playing the shell game with Missouri Deaf Community for many years.

We need them to stop playing games with the Deaf Community. We are ready and considering legal lawsuit against the Department of Mental Health. It is time to expose them for failing to provide mental health services for the deaf and hard of hearing. They have wasted millions of dollars and they have not listened to what the deaf committee proposed that DMH set up a 10 bed ward in at least 5 locations throughout the Missouri state. This is to be equal communication access and deaf friendly.

It is a long story about what had transpired the last ten years. Two program administrators had to leave DMH as the superiors at DMH continue to play the games. The buck keeps being passed around all these years.

The deaf community at large is suffering from lack of services that are sorely needed. Our proposal fell on their deaf ears. Pardon the pun! It worked in South Carolina and Alabama. This is how and why we would like DMH to accept our proposal to have the mental health services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

So, Mr. McClellan, will you help us expose their dirty laundry? We plan to take legal action so with your help, it will make our job easier in pursing legal avenue. We do not have the funds yet, but we will try. We are seeking a lawyer who can do pro bono to see that the DMH meet the needs of the Deaf and Hard of hearing right now. Not next year or in 2010 as they keep putting it off every year for many years.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Paul J. Kiel
St. Louis, Missouri
e-mail: myfavaslworld@aol.com

Friday, August 8, 2008

Paul's Commentary seen on CNN/iReport



Paul's commentary about the Department of Mental Health was broadcasted on CNN through iReport.

Click on link

This is part of deaf advocacy at work!

=)


Thursday, August 7, 2008

DMH: The clock is ticking!







DMH: The clock is ticking!

Given the whole dilemma going on at DMH, the recent breaking news story about deaf man from Springfield, Missouri is enough to shake the foundations of DMH.

There is lawsuit needing to be initiated and get the ball rolling. The first step as per legal scholars suggested is to go to Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services. (MO P & A).

Their website is at http://www.moadvocacy.org.

The wheels of justice is slowly moving into the right direction.

Who wants to help file lawsuits against Department of Mental Health? Time is now!

We cannot afford to wait for DMH to finish its window dressing and play chess games with us.

It is time to say "CHECKMATE"!

The game is over!

Too many Deaf and Hard of hearing have suffered without mental health services! My heart bleeds every minute that there is no mental health services for deaf and hard of hearing people in the community. I did not have good sleep for the past year knowing how many are suffering. I have met some who are suffering. Some are suicidal and some are hell-bent angry. Where are the services? Zilch! Nada! Nothing!

Why wait for DMH to address those issues when they knew very well what we wanted years ago when Steve Hamerdinger presented the plan for professional mental health services for the deaf and hard of hearing. If DMH had adopted and followed through what Steve Hamerdinger and the deaf committee had proposed. that deaf man from Springfield, Missouri would not suffer!

It does NOT take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

It is the management at the top of DMH who are playing with numbers and the politicians have told us that the ball is in DMH's court. They provided the money so it is DMH who is being targeted.

DMH should be in the Deaf Community's crosshair until they have satisfied everything that the Deaf committee proposed few years ago.

Shall we begin the process of lawsuit against DMH?

Sincerely,

Paul J. Kiel

August 7, 2008



Tuesday, August 5, 2008

SEE YE! SEE YE! DEAF MAN FELL THROUGH CRACKS AND WAS IGNORED BY DEPT OF MENTAL HEALTH!






SEE YE! SEE YE! MISSOURI NEEDS YOUR INPUT! HELP SADE LOPEZ!

There is a growing controversy brewing in Missouri in all many towns! Many deaf and hard of hearing clients are falling through the cracks of the Department of Mental Health. This has been going on for years and years. Now the straw has broken the camel's back. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!



Please review the video done in Springfield, Missouri! ** view this video now!



Please e-mail your thanks to Angie Weidinger for exposing the story about lack of mental health services for the deaf in Springfield. It is only the tip of iceberg. A lot of people tried to kill that story. It shows the reins of AUDISM trying to stop her from exposing the truth. email your support to her now!



I am enclosing this vlog I made last Spring about Department of Mental Health and how it treated us.


Watch this video!

Here is attached my response to the television story



This is nothing new about how DMH treats deaf clients. This has been going on for too long time and it is time to get DMH accountable for the needs of deaf and hard of hearing clients.



This is getting old about the lack of services as we have been to Jefferson City numerous times in the last 30 years. It is someone at the top at DMH who is selfish. DMH can be sued real soon if they do not clean up their act. We have been waiting for the last ten years for real action.



No, it is bureaucratic nightmare and the lack of respect from them. They wasted millions of dollars on other things. They knew what we want and yet they blew us away!



They do not make any REAL efforts to get serious about providing mental health services for the deaf and hard of hearing in Missouri.



It is high time for legal action against DMH for many cases like that deaf guy in your news. That guy is NOT alone. There are many more throughout Missouri. It is just a tip of iceberg.



Why don't you investigate DMH? You can expose fraud, corruption and the likes in there.



Thank you for bringing that story to our attention! It is NO EXCUSE for what DMH did to deaf clients.



Paul Kiel


St. Louis, Missouri

Sunday, August 3, 2008

ABUSES, BRAINWASHING AND CORRUPTION ARE PART OF AUDISM PRACTICES!






Abuses, brainwashing and corruption are audist tools used since 1880. This is as result of greedy hearing people who want to "rape" deaf people in all walks of life. It has happened everywhere from sea to shining sea.


For the last 40 years since I got interested in Deaf advocacy, I have seen many and many stories about how hearing people tend to abuse deaf people. I have visited many rural towns, small towns and cities. I have come across many stories because I was looking for truth.


Many oral programs have higher rate of abuses due to frustrations, demands of parents and ignorance.


The stories come from many Deaf people who grew up with anger, hatred and mistrust


Stories like Jack are very common.


Hearing people have been sweeping the stuff under the rug. They felt good knowing deaf people were stupid and too ignorant in speaking out.


What goes around will come around!


In the picture above, it is pure example of how audists abuse children everywhere in the ivy halls in most public oral programs as well as private oral programs.


Hearing people including parents tend to ignore our complaints or concerns about the abuses.


Oralism is a false facade for hearing people to continue abuses!