Gracias VRS News» Puerto Rico

Deaf Awareness Week in Puerto Rico

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:22:05 +0000

The week of september 25th to october 1st is very special in Puerto Rico due to the celebration of the Deaf Awareness week. This event has been celebrated together with the Deaf March during the last 10 years. The Deaf march will take place on September 24, 2011 at 10:00 am. The March will depart from the Hiram Bithorn Stadium and will arrive at Colegio San Gabriel where a representative from the Governor will establish the week of September 25th to October 1st as the Deaf Awareness Week in Puerto Rico.

Gracias VRS, ASL Services and ASL Services Latino are proud of it’s deaf employees and recognizes their commitment and contribution towards the development of our corporations. We congratulate the Deaf Community and wish many more years of collaborative work towards the development of better services and communication accesibility both in Puerto Rico and the United States.

Hurricane Guide for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:48:48 +0000

With the Hurricane Season here, this site provides the important educational video from Miami Dade Government.

(The video is in ASL and captioned)
Click Here: Hurricane Guide for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Educational Forum in Morovis, PR

admin — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:54:24 +0000

The ADA Series: “What’s in it for You the Deaf Consumer” continues. Last Saturday, January 29th, 2011 we payed a visit to Morovis, Puerto Rico, a city well known for it’s hospitality.

After a brief welcome message, we began detailing the ADA and it’s benefits towards the Deaf Community, focusing on their workplace and upon requiring public services such as with government agencies.

Attendees were surprised when they noticed that one of the guest speakers was Karen Simonich, a Deaf Activist from San Diego, California. She is also a Interpreter for the Deaf-Blind.

The last part was a series of two dramatizations in which the proper way to ask for an Interpreter was portrayed. This was especially helpful when asking for private and public services that require having an Interpreter present. This was of great help and we hope that the locals will start implementing this on their daily lives.

LET’S HEAR OUR ATTENDEES NEEDS

WITH KAREN SIMONICH, DEAF ACTIVIST AND INTERPRETER

Event Followup: S.O.S 15th Anniversary

admin — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:26:17 +0000

Over 150 people attended Deaf Services (S.O.S) anniversary dinner party. The party was held this past Saturday the 18th at San Gabriel College.

HPC WITH “ABABABA” AND JOSE BERTRAN, FOUNDER OF S.O.S.

After a delicious meal, a local group of ASL performers known as “Hands Performance Group” or “HPC” entertained the audience with an array of popular songs, going from romance to comedy and in between.

As the evening can to an end, the spotlight was on Alan Abarbanelle a.k.a. “Abababa”, a CODA performer who shared with us his fun moments and experience while growing up with two deaf parents and their wonderful legacy pass down to him.

In all, a very meaningful and fun night where Deaf and hearing alike shared and enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Surely, the next anniversary will be even better. Can’t wait!

HPC: HANDS PERFORMANCE CREW

OUR PROUD SPONSORS (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): JOSE PEREIRA FROM ASL SERVICES LATINO, INC., LILLIAN RIVERA FROM SORENSON VRS & RICARDO ORTIZ FROM PRRID.

AND NOW, FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT, HAND PERFORMANCE CREW!

ALAN ABARBANELLE, A.K.A. ABABABA NEXT TO ONE OF THE ATTENDEES, MARTIN ORTIZ.

Annual Deaf March in Puerto Rico

admin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 23:27:23 +0000

In an effort to raise Deaf awareness the local Deaf community will be having their annual march this weekend 09/25/10 at San Gabriel College, Rio Piedras,PR. Gracias VRS will be there and posting live Facebook updates from the event! Click “Like” below to join in and become a fan!

Silent? No More: The Government Listens to the Deaf

admin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:29:24 +0000

Last Saturday, September 11,2010, Torres along with representatives from the Office of the Solicitor for Handicap (representing our Governor Luis Fortuño), the CEO of the Senate’s Social Well-being and representatives from the Office of Elderly Affairs were all gathered at “Sol” Theater in San German, PR. They were part of a discussion panel meant to explain how each of them can aid as well as have a positive influence for the Deaf, which responded by asking question after question and exposing both general and personal problems that affect them as a collective and as individuals.

Gracias VRS Marketing Team

Aside from the discussion panel, the attendees also enjoyed an ADA Talk (Americans with Disabilities Act) given by Irlanda Ruiz, from Cornell University, which was focused on how it protects their rights and generated a lot of questions and comments for the discussion panel to attend to.

Gracias VRS Interpreting for the Audience

Such events gives us a glimpse of how ASL Services Latino & Gracias VRS are deeply committed with the Deaf Community, gaining access to where everyone though was impossible, opening door to people who can really make a difference. People who believe in empowering rather that facilitating. It’s a matter of acting rather that “waiving”. Of this we are confident.

Gracias VRS: Always With You.

A Simple Sign Means the World

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:34:17 +0000

News Article from Puerto Rico written by Karol Joselyn Selpuveda for Primera Hora on September 2nd 2010, about an upcoming event related to the Deaf.

They learn the non verbal language that not many know, and they fight for their right to be accepted in a society that, on many occasions, treats them as “invisibles”. They are the Deaf community.

To help this community learn about their rights, there will be a conference-forum entitled ‘The ADA Law and its accessibility for the Deaf’ which will be held this Saturday September 11th at 2:00pm at the San German Sol Theater.

The discussion will be conducted by Irlanda Ruiz, Esq. with the support of the Cornell University.

Jose Bertran, consultant of ASL Services Latino and Gracias VRS – companies that provide services for the Deaf community, described to Primera Hora: “The event will have two parts: the first part will be to explain the ADA Law in public and private places, so people can learn their rights and be ready to protect them. During the second part, the forum, Deaf people will have the opportunity to express their arguments in front of representatives of the Governor, of the Judicial Department and the Commission of Civil Rights”.

The ADA Law (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1900) or the Law for People with Disabilities provides the opportunity for the Deaf community to have a better quality of life.

During the Puerto Rican Deaf Community Week, on September 25 there will be a march that will begin at 10:00am at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium and will end at San Gabriel School for Deaf Children in Puerto Nuevo.

“It is said that deafness is an invisible disability, but it’s not until you see the person signing that you notice it. That day we will make the Deaf community visible” stated Bertran.

The best qualified

ASL Services Latino offers interpreting services for Deaf people and also teaches sign language courses.

On the other hand, Gracias VRS is dedicated to video relay services for the Deaf. The Deaf person has a video phone at their house and through it they contact the video interpreter, which then connects to the hearing person.

Both companies were founded by Angela Roth, born in New York to Puerto Rican parents.

“She began interacting with Deaf people and became a professional interpreter. She came and founded the companies in Puerto Rico because there is a large Deaf community here” said Bertran. Gracias Video Relay Call Centers are located in San Juan, Hatillo and Aguadilla. This service is free of charge to the Deaf community by ADA Law and the FCC regulations.

“Many people ask why they have an FCC fee in their cell phone bills. Well, here is where that money goes to” explained the psychologist.

He emphasized that Puerto Rican interpreters are the best qualified “because the majority of them are trilingual and in the United States that is hard to find”.

He also mentioned that a group of interpreters of the state of Florida are assisting to create an exam that will help validate the skills of the sign language interpreters here in Puerto Rico.

Fascinated with signs

Jose Bertran’s interest in helping the Deaf Community was born in the 70s, when he was fascinated to see Aida Luz Matos in the extinct news broadcast Panorama Mundial.

“She motivated me to learn sign language… she would resume the daily news in five minutes for the Deaf community. I always waited until the end of the program to see her”, the Washington DC Gallaudet University graduate told us. Gallaudet University is the only University in the world which courses are designed for Deaf people.

This institute admits a small group of hearing people each semester, and they must have ASL (American Sign Language) skills.

Bertran, who 15 years ago founded the non-profit organization Servicios Orientados al Sordo, will begin sign language courses this Saturday at San Antonio School in Rio Piedras.

Classes will last for 14 weeks and the cost of the course includes text book and materials. Each session is two and a half hour long. For more details, call (787) 530-7464.

Emergency Situations: Observe, Understand and Act

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 19:53:29 +0000

On May 15th, 2010 Gracias VRS will have a special event regarding the adequate use of the Emergency services in Puerto Rico. We will also have a First Aid conference to help the deaf community understand how important is to do the right thing at the right time to save a life. The event is titled “Emergency Situations: Observe, Understand and Act”. We will also have representatives from the State Patrol, The Fire Department and the Medical Emergency Services Department as exhibitors during the event. The Ombudsman for People’s with Disabilities will also have a both there to provide orientation about the rights of Deaf people during an emergency. We will also have entertainment, a Raffle and Gifts for all the people attending. The event will be held at the Francisco Deidá Sports Facility in Hatillo Puerto Rico on the 15th of May 2010. The event will start at 1:00 p.m. and will end at 5:00 p.m. The Whole community is invited to this great event. Come and support the Deaf community!

Mr Rogelio Figueroa visits Gracias VRS Hatillo Call Center

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:39:09 +0000

On February 5th, 2010 Mr. Rogelio Figueroa, Environmental Activist and Governor Candidate for the PPR Party (Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico) arrived to the Gracias VRS Hatillo Call Center. As he toured the premises, he admired the building and its presentation. He recognized the significance of our competent and professional interpreters for the Deaf Community. Mr. Figueroa expressed that Gracias VRS and ASL Latino “are opening doors for the communication and education of the Deaf Community”.

Company Director and Call Center representatives answered his questions about the interpreting field, ASL Services: Latino, and shared our company’s history as well the achievements of it’s president and CEO Angela Roth.

Mr. Figueroa also had the opportunity to experience a VRS call from one of PR’s Deaf leaders.

Mr. Figueroa commended Gracias VRS and ASL Services: Latino for the educational and informative role to hearing society. His general impression was, that we are fulfilling our purpose, as we become the access point for the “voice” of the Deaf Community, so they can be heard through us.

Bridging Deaf Cultures in Puerto Rico

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:09:17 +0000

 On Saturday, February 6, 2010, from one to four PM, the Deaf Library Friends: Puerto Rico will present a deaf cultural program in American Sign Language (ASL), “Bridging Deaf Cultures in Puerto Rico.” ASL/Spanish Interpreters will be provided.

Co-sponsored by the St. Gabriel School for the Deaf and Gracias VRS (Video Relay Service), the program will be held in the auditorium of the St. Gabriel School for the Deaf. The address is Prolongación Calle 19 N.E. Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico 00920.

Jose Carrasquillo, the school principal, will greet the audience. Three guest speakers will give a brief history about these two American schools for the deaf.

Edgardo Figueroa, Vice President, SOS Inc, will narrate Laurent Clerc and Thomas H. Gallaudet’s 52-day ocean voyage from France to America. Clerc and Gallaudet, along with Dr. Mason F. Cogswell, co-founded the American School for the Deaf in 1817. This was the first permanent school for the deaf in the West Hemisphere.

Alice L. Hagemeyer, President of the Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action (FOLDA), will invite deaf audience members to share their cultural experiences, describing what happened when they first learned ASL. Alice Cogswell, daughter of Dr. Cogswell, first learned signs from Laurent Clerc. Alice wrote later about this thrilling moment. She said, “My heart glow”.

Juan A. Lopez, School Librarian, will display pictures on the history of the first school for the deaf in Puerto Rico – San Gabriel School for the Deaf, founded in 1904. Lopez believes that if the deaf community does not know its own history, there can be “no school future”. Libraries in Puerto Rico can make a difference.

In closing, there will be a special workshop. Anthony “Tony” Eaddy, a deaf library friend, will share his experience with computers. He and Alec McFarlane will discuss technologies used in communication among deaf and hearing people. Gracias VRS will also explain how the technology works and available services.

Deaf Library Friends’ mission is to promote library access and quality deaf resources in local Puerto Rican communities. The program has been developed to facilitate cultural exchange and to raise appreciation for the deaf cultures and libraries that make America great.

Contact
Alec McFarlane, President
Deaf Library Friends: Puerto Rico
Phone: 866-791-8535

Submitted by Alice L. Hagemeyer
E-newsletter: Deaf Community and Library News
www.folda.net