Gracias VRS experienced a brief service interruption on Monday, April 9th 2012 between 12:05pm and 1:23pm. During this time the PSTN lines were interrupted and corresponding parties associated with monitoring these lines were immediately contacted. The colo location hosting the PSTN lines was contacted and the server was rebooted and this resolved the problem.
We thank our clients for their patience during this time!
As of this past August, the state of Florida’s Unemployment Compensation (UC) program became completely automated. People can only apply online over the Internet and not by phone or with paper forms anymore. People have to take a skills test online and people have to report work search with five employers each week online. While the toll-free call centers still operate statewide, it is sometimes hard to get through to a live operator and they don’t offer much in the way of individualized assistance over the phone when you do get through. Additionally some people are being directed to visit One-Stop centers (or other Regional Workforce Boards such as Worksource) for in-person interactions with DOE where accommodations for computer access are rarely provided. Further, there seems to be no notice about how one would request such accommodations.
With so many people out of work, the UC program needs to operate at peak efficiency and accuracy. Putting everything online was supposed to make it easier and faster for clients, but unfortunately, as often happens, the agency did not think through how to provide individualized service to people with a need for an accommodation, including those with disabilities or an inability to read or understand English, Spanish, or Creole.
On behalf of a Miami non-profit, Florida Legal Services filed a federal administrative complaint against the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), which runs the UC program. The complaint says the UC program discriminates against unemployment claimants’ civil rights because the online system is too difficult for applicants with disabilities or limited English proficiency to use. The complaint is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor.
If you know an individual who had difficulty interacting with the UC system after August 1, 2011, we would like you to contact us so we can let the Department of Labor know how the program affects actual people. You can reach us at:
Valory Greenfield, Florida Legal Services attorney
Phone 305-573-0092 ext. 205 (Voice only)
valory@floridalegal.org
OR
Cindy Huddleston, Florida Legal Services attorney
Phone 850-701-1814 (Voice only)
cindy@floridalegal.org
We are interested in your feedback even if the client has already been assisted and the problem has been resolved. Thanks for any information you can provide.
NOTE: The particular complaint we are working on does not address employer-related discrimination against persons with disabilities. For example, employer-related discrimination would be when an employer tells a job applicant “we don’t hire people in wheelchairs” or says “we have no ASL interpreter so we can not interview deaf people for jobs.” For employer-related discrimination, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at http://www.eeoc.gov/ or the Florida Human Relations Commission at http://fchr.state.fl.us/.
We have probably heard our parents, teachers and family members say that if you eat too much sugar you will get Diabetes. While this is a myth, in the United States 25.8 million people suffer from Diabetes, which includes children and adults. This means that 8.3 percent of the population of the United States has Diabetes. 18.8 million people are currently diagnosed but is calculated that about 7 million more are undiagnosed. This means that Diabetes is a very serious condition that can have a life changing impact on yourself and your family.
What is Diabetes? When we eat a sugar called glucose it enters the blood stream to “fuel” our body and give it energy. Once in the bloodstream it needs a hormone produced in the pancreas called insulin to take that glucose from the bloodstream and put it in our muscles, fat and liver cells so that we can use the “fuel”. People with Diabetes have high levels of sugar because their bodies don’t make enough insulin or their cells do not respond to insulin normally.
There are 3 types of Diabetes. Diabetes type 1 can occur at any age but appears usually in children, teens and young adults. These people need daily injections of insulin. Diabetes type 2 often occurs in adulthood and is often related to obesity. Gestational Diabetes is a high blood sugar level that develops during pregnancy in a woman who normally would not have Diabetes.
The symptoms for Diabetes include Blurry vision, excess thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, hunger and weight loss. But be aware because Diabetes type 2 develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar have no symptoms, so it is estimated that over 40 million Americans have pre-diabetes (early type 2 diabetes).
So what can you do? It is very important that you visit your Medical Doctor and be tested for glucose levels. There is no cure for Diabetes. Usually the treatment involves diet, exercise and prescribed medication to control blood sugar levels. There might be support groups for the deaf within your community. Information is the best weapon against the effects of the Diabetes. That is why it is so important for you to ask for an interpreter when you visit your Doctor’s office. Make all the questions you can think of and don’t leave until you are 100% sure you understand the treatment and what you can do to feel better and be healthy.
If you feel you have been discriminated by a medical doctor or a Hospital , this is YOUR time to speak up and let your Deaf voices be heard.
No matter where you live on the island, Come this Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 to Starbucks Café at the corner of Juan Calaf and Costa streets in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico( next to Plaza las Americas). We will have the special visit of Mr. Frank J. Musumici, Supervisor Equal Opportunity of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights, along with Fernando Morales, theRegional Civil Rights Counsel for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The event will start at 7:30 with a brief introduction of the guests followed by a short orientation about the work they do enforcing all the Federal Laws and regulations regarding accessibility for the Deaf Community. After that, they will be available on a table to have a one on one conversations with any of the Deaf individuals there to listen to their concerns.
“This is your opportunity to let federal government know your concerns. Tell them about your experiences, such as no interpreters hired by hospitals or doctors’ offices, forcing family to interpret for you, your need for 24/7 access at hospitals, need for Spanish/ASL/English interpreting Services, the need for qualified professional experienced interpreters, (not people who took a basic sign language course or two and now some just fingerspell) and any other communication/access related to your medical problems you have”.
This is your chance to be heard and to make a difference not only for you but for all the Deaf Community. Please be there.
The Federal Communications Commission, FCC, wants the opinion of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community regarding the changes planned on the way the Video Relay Service is paid and provided. Recently, concerned about the TRS Funds usage among other issues, the FCC decided to start a reform process and is seeking people like you to guide them in the process. Even though this is under a limited time opportunity to have a say in the matter, please still make your comments today!
The information from the FCC is available in ASL, English, and now it is also available in Spanish.
Gracias VRS noticed that the materials were only in English and conscious of the needs of the Latino community in the United States and Puerto Rico, asked the FCC to provide an accessible Spanish translation of the materials regarding the new reform. We would like to take the opportunity to express our thanks to the FCC commissioners who made the texts available for Spanish speaking individuals.
Access the following links below and see videos in ASL and English captions as to what the proposed VRS reforms are and why the FCC is considering these reforms. Also we have provided the Spanish links in case you have someone who can benefit from those. Remember, you can send your comments in English, Spanish and ASL. Do it now!
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/vrs-reform
Spanish Links:
Spanish html: http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/spanish/videorelayreform.html
Spanish pdf: http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/spanish/videorelayreform.pdf
Spanish directory with links to these: http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/spanishlinks.html
Cholesterol is a fat produced by the liver and it’s extremely important for normal body functioning. There are two types. The good cholesterol (HDL) prevents arterial disease and helps the body get rid of the bad cholesterol. The “Bad” cholesterol (LDL) carries the cholesterol from the liver to the cells. Sometimes too much is carried and then too much is accumulated. This increases the risk for arterial damage. It is very important to watch what we eat because it could affect our “bad” cholesterol level. Also family genetics, alcohol, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle (lying and sitting too much!) could affect our cholesterol level. High levels of “bad” cholesterol could cause a heart attack, a stroke and other heart related conditions.
So what can you do? First you must consult with your doctor so you can be tested if you think you might have high cholesterol levels. Other recommendations include, exercise, eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats and good quality fats(olive oil for example) Also you must avoid food with high levels of saturated fats. Also it is very important to keep a healthy bodyweight and to stop smoking and alcohol.
Gracias VRS Cares so please watch yourself so you can live a long and healthy life. Remember to call your family and friends to tell them about this interesting information.
On March 10th 2012 the Austin Interpreters for the Deaf and Gracias VRS are presenting the conference “Leadership: The Way to Success”. This conference will be presented by José Bertrán M.A., Psy.S a licensed psychologist and Interpreter from Puerto Rico. The event will be held at the Austin Community College Highland Business Center from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. The workshop will help the participants discover the leader within and use those attributes or “distinctions” to move to the next level on their life. The workshop has 0.7 CEU from RID and BEI. All interpreters are invited to attend. Please contact Monica Gallego, AID vice-president at austin.interpretersvp1@gmail.com.
Please find the flyer attached
for download here.
Gracias VRS stands for the equality and dignity of all human beings. Señas de Amistad Beyond Borders (Signs of Friendship Beyond Borders) is an event that addresses that issue in a very special way. They plan to unite about 600 people right at the border between the US and México to share their culture, their language and the one thing that binds them all; that they are human beings!
This event has been happening since 2009 but Mr. Daniel Watman, one of the main coordinators of the event, informed Gracias Spotlight that this year it will be organized in a way that will allow even more people to attend and enjoy. Señas de Amistad, Beyond Borders 2012 will have salsa music in Spanish and English, Art shows and communication via binoculars so that both sides can see each other and even though the border divides them physically, they can feel united by sharing their culture and uniqueness as Deaf Latino’s.
The Señas de Amistad Beyond Borders will be held March 31st, 2012 from 12 midday to 4 pm pacific standard time. All of those that want to attend should contact Mr. Daniel Watman (San Diego) at (619) 954-9710 or Miriam Quino (Tijuana, México) at (664) 294-6848.
Gracias VRS is really pleased that the Deaf and Hearing Latino Communities at the border are making headway with events like this that really portray the best of what inclusion is all about. We congratulate all the organizers of this event and hope it will be a success!
Remember that Gracias VRS is here 24/7, 365 days a week to do just that, unite people and communities through our warm, friendly and professional Video interpreters. Family is at the very core of our company so everyone that calls through Gracias VRS is treated like a Family member who just came back home. Try us today, we can do Spanish, English and ASL and remember… WE ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU!
Please watch out our Facebook and Twitter so that you see more updates related to this event.
Press Notice
For immediate release
Show your support for the binational deaf community and come to this great event!
Make friends across barriers!
In the current divided and limited world it’s easy to get used to these conditions and slowly loose the the real significance of the cultural richness and diversity all around us. One of the groups affected by these marginalizations are deaf people who for years have suffered in silence in trying to express their worries and needs and ending up being left out because of linguistic, work, and social differences.
In search of real change, a growing group of people and organizations commited to the deaf community is uniting as a cultural and communication bridge between deaf and hearing people and their efforts have been focused around the ¨Señas de amistad beyond borders¨ wich will take place on Saturday, March 31st at the binational friendship park on the beach on the US side and on a lookout on the Mexican side. It will be at 12pm. Deaf and hearing people from both sides of the US and Mexican sides of the border arrange to meet at this location, with the purpose of creating friendship across the border fence, using sign language as a literal and symbolic unity that overcomes barriers through this common interest.
We would like to invite the deaf community of Tijuana and San Diego and the surrounding area including family, friends, bosses, and all others who want to support the binational deaf culture, to attend this event in order to learn how to help break down barriers and take a great step toward unity and equality.
Contacts:
Daniel Watman Coordinator (San Diego) 619 954 9710
Miriam Quino Coordinator (Tijuana) 664 294 6848
Support binational deaf community, enjoy this great event!
High blood pressure is called “The silent killer” because many people suffer from it and don’t even know they have it. High blood pressure also known as hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries carry blood from the heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure is not necesarrily caused by emotional factors but it can help increase it. Normal blood pressure is considered below 120/80. Blood pressure consistently between 120/80 and 139/89 mean you could be starting to develop high blood pressure. If it is above 140/90 it is considered high.
Gracias VRS cares and wants each of you to be healthy. Please go to your local pharmacy or clinic and have your blood pressure level checked. It could save your life! Also call all your family and friends and tell them the ” Silent Killer” could be affecting their health. Always visit your doctor for your regular checkups and ask for an interpreter so you can be 100 percent informed about your health. High blood pressure is not a game. If you already have it take your medication regularly so you can have a long, healthy and happy life.
In the closed caption menu you can select your favorite language including Spanish in the area where it says “auto translations.”
Reviews