text: Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? Shop Harris
  Communications and save 10% at our Storewide After Holiday Sale! Save
  on vibrating alarm clocks, signaling devices, sign language books and
  much more. Hurry, this special sale is only for two days, December 28
  & 29.
  
  Remember there is free ground shipping in the contiguous U.S.
  whenever you order from Harris Communications. If you are not happy
  with the product, contact us and receive free return shipping!
  
  Be sure to check our special clearance prices on Holiday Décor. Save
  up to 30%-while supplies last!
  
  TV stations in Cebu City (the Philippines) are now required
  to have their TV news interpreted (at the corner of the screen).
  
  A team of students at a university in Dubai is working
  together to develop a new app in sign language to
  benefit the deaf of the United Arab Emirates.
  
  George Stailey is coming back home. He formerly served
  Indiana School for the Deaf as superintendent (1995-2005)
  before moving on to other endeavors. He is back at
  the school as the new CEO. His first day on the job
  is January 11, 2016. It is unusual for a retired
  superintendent to return to his old school in
  a different capacity.
  
  A blog mentioned Gallaudet as part of elite
  company with other DC universities – Georgetown University and Howard University.
  Georgetown is the nation’s oldest Jesuit
  university; Howard as one of the best
  Historically Black Colleges and
  Gallaudet as the world’s first advanced academic institution for the deaf.
  
  The Kyebi School for the Deaf in Ghana
  has a continuing problem. When electricity
  is available, the school is open. But when
  electricity is cut off, the school closes.
  
  Unlock the phone with CapTel® Captioned Telephone! CapTel shows word-for-word captions of everything a caller says over the phone, letting you read everything that they say. Like captions on TV = for the phone!
  
  Captions are provided by a free service, no monthly fees or contracts required. For more information or to order call 1-800-233-9130 V/TTY or visit http://www.weitbrecht.com/captel.html
  
  For more info about CapTel or any of the many assistive listening devices we offer, email: mailto:sales@weitbrecht.com
  
  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
  
  CapTel® Captioned Telephone – See What Everyone is Talking About!
  
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  A SURPRISE FINGERSPELLING AT STARBUCKS
  A deaf person goes to the same Starbucks place
  for a long time. The staff knows him, knows his
  favorite coffee and knows his habits.
  Suddenly one morning, one of the staff people,
  beautifully fingerspelled –
  
  how do you want your coffee?
  
  It was a surprise because the staff member never
  fingerspelled. And she also beautifully signed
  thank you.
  Did that person know signs for a long time but
  hid it from the deaf person? Or did that person
  attend sign language classes recently?
  
  A TALE OF TWO DEAF SONS OF TWO BIG MANUFACTURERS
  Why are some deaf people successful in moving up
  the job ladder while other some deaf people are not
  successful?
  It may be just one word – attitude. One deaf son,
  after graduating from college, was hired by his
  father. He told the son to start at the bottom and
  to learn his way up. He did – and many years later
  he is the company vice president.
  Another deaf son, after graduating from college,
  told his father he must start at the top and said
  he did not go to college to learn how to sweep the
  factory floors. To this day, this deaf son is still
  jobless, after many years.
  Very important for deaf people to have good
  attitudes.
  
  complained a director of interpreting services at a
  service agency for the deaf:
  
  clients think all interpreters are available on
  5-minutes notice
  
  COMMENTS FROM A CART OPERATOR – continuing series
  
  As we begin 2016, we find changes and new laws being implemented in different areas of our lives. One change that affects broadcast and CART captioners is a change in the certifications of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).
  
  As a result of an increase in the demand for captioning training, NCRA has developed the new Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) certification and workshop. Members will be able to receive captioning training as well as resources they need to transition to captioning.
  
  All current Certified Broadcast Captioners and Certified CART Providers will be transitioned to the new Certified Realtime Captioner status on January 1, 2016.
  
  According to NCRA’s website, this program has been designed to complement other NCRA programs and to increase realtime proficiency. The ultimate goal is not only to certify more individuals but also provide the tools necessary to be successful in the field. To earn the new certification, candidates will be required to attend a captioning workshop provided by NCRA that includes a written exam. They will also be required to successfully pass a skills exam.
  
  A PET PEEVE OF BEING DEAF
  
  the room is too dark, preventing us from clearly
  seeing friends’ faces
  
  New York City has been slapped with a lawsuit by
  a deaf woman, who was arrested by police and
  held for over 24 hours without an interpreter.
  
  This is the second “no-interpreter” lawsuit
  filed against the city by a deaf person.
  
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  News of the Week – Looking Back 10 Years Ago:
  
  Today is Christmas. And is Vonage discriminating
  against Deaf Children?
  Well, Vonage, a web telephone service, has come up
  with an innovation that allows Hearing Children
  to keep track of the whereabouts of the Santa Claus.
  Vonage is not captioned, hence discrimination
  against Deaf Children!
  Deaf Children and Hearing Children equally love the
  Santa Claus.
  
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  News of the Week – Looking Back 5 Years Ago:
  
  In Uganda, there is a cost war between several
  telecommunication carriers, in hopes of attracting
  more customers.
  
  This cost war is not helping the deaf because text
  messages are priced higher than voice messages.
  
  This issue was raised by Joseph Mbulamwana, an
  officer with the Uganda National Association of the Deaf
  
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  Deaf Apocalypse of the Week:
  
  Do a hearing person become deaf because of a
  fake hearing aid being sold by a hearing
  aid provider? It has become the basis of a
  lawsuit, not in USA, but in India!
  
  Is it possible the hearing person has become
  deafened and out of frustration, blamed
  his hearing aid, saying it is fake?