Sands Expo and Convention Center
201 Sands Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89109

GraciasVRS and ASL Services, Inc. Expo times: Monday July 19th-Saturday July 22nd 9am-5pm

Cost to the public: FREE

The 2010 DeafNation World Expo will be held at the Sands Expo Center, the perfect place to truly bring the Deaf together under one roof. The World Expo will take place at Sand Expo’s 200,000 sq. feet exhibit hall, where exhibitions, workshops, entertainment, sporting activities, activities for the children and so on will come together to provide four full days’ worth of many hours of presentations, education and socializing for the attendees. The best thing about the World Expo, aside from the socializing and cultural/language opportunities, will be the free admission to all events.

The Deaf Nation World Expo philosophy is that free admission brings a diversity of attendees who can share our culture, needs, language, and information. Overall, their goal is to give everyone the chance to meet new people from all the corners of the world, ranging anywhere from historical regions like Europe, the Americas and Africa to exotic regions like Asia and Australia, and learn new languages, new cultures and new traditions, which will be all done under one great roof.

Gracias VRS and ASL Services, Inc. support that philosophy and will be participating at the event. Come stop by our GraciasVRS booth and take a memorable picture with Elvis and friends. Also be sure to stop by our ASL Services, Inc. booth to get the latest information on innovative technology for VRI (Video Remote Interpreting) Services. VRI supports the needs for Professional Sign Language Interpreters to be available through technology to interpret for Deaf Clients. Professional Sign Language Interpreting Services are now available within minutes not only locally, but throughout United States and around the globe.

Make your plans right now and come be a part of the DeafNation World Expo, the largest Deaf event there is in the world!

Official site is here.

RID Submits Comments to FCC on VRS Rates Proposal

May 11, 2010: RID submitted comments on Public Notice DA-761A1.doc regarding payment formulas and rates for VRS. RID emphasized that highly qualified interpreters, safe working conditions and the delivery of quality interpretations for relay calls should not be sacrificed as a result of any rate reduction. Read the full comments>>

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the RID Government Affairs Program at tschultz@rid.org or govtaffairs@rid.org.

Additionally, the FCC requested that RID share the information below with the membership:

May 10, 2010: A Message from the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau to the VRS Community

You may have seen claims that the video relay service (VRS) program is threatened. This is not true. The FCC is committed to ensuring the provision of high quality VRS to all individuals who need this service. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires telecommunications access that is functionally equivalent to voice telephone services for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities. The FCC continues to believe that VRS is the most functionally equivalent form of relay for people who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). We stand ready to meet our obligation to preserve and protect the VRS program so that ASL users and hearing people can communicate with each other over distances. This was the goal of Congress in passing the ADA and it continues to be our goal.

Here are the facts: On April 30th, the FCC released a Public Notice (DA-10-761A1.doc) asking the general public for feedback on what VRS providers should be paid to handle VRS calls for the next year. The Public Notice seeks comment on reimbursing providers based on the actual costs that VRS providers themselves claim to have incurred over the past few years to provide VRS. The only way to safeguard the VRS program is to adopt reasonable rates for all forms of relay services. Thus, it is our goal to adopt rates that are rationally based on the reasonable costs of actually providing VRS. We welcome all comments on our Public Notice, and will take all feedback into account to determine the next VRS rates. The VRS program will continue to provide the excellent communication service that you need.

Joel Gurin, Bureau Chief
Karen Peltz Strauss, Deputy Bureau Chief

News Submitted by www.deafpeopleofcolor.org

The Second National Deaf People of Color Conference is slated for June 25 through 27, 2010, in Portland, Oregon. This exciting event will feature workshops, presentations, and a banquet gala (with entertainment).

Because of the current economic crisis and the hardships it’s caused for Deaf people of color, the Conference registration fee has been reduced from $400 to $250. The registration deadline has been extended to May 30, 2010.

Yes, that’s right–only $250 for registration!

Rooms at the DoubleTree Portland can be reserved until May 23, so please don’t delay.

To save even more money, you can share a room at the DoubleTree. Two persons can comfortably share a single room, bringing down the cost per person to a reasonable $75 per night.

Please share this with the members of your organizations. There IS strength in numbers, and by being there, we’ll make history.

Tell your members, colleagues, and friends about the Second National Deaf People of Color Conference. Register by May 30 to save money. Again, the registration fee is only $250.

http://www.deafpeopleofcolor.org

Come visit us at the DeafNation Expo in Phoenix this weekend!

Saturday, March 6, 2010 @ Phoenix Convention Center – Hall F100
North Third street Phoenix, AZ 85004
COST: FREE ADMISSION
HOURS: 9:00AM-5:00PM

View Our Flyer for our special presentation!

Gracias VRS presents: It’s a Matter of Life and Deaf

Come visit GraciasVRS Booth and Stage presentation:

“It’s a Matter of Life and Deaf”

Stage presentation at 2:30-3:00pm
DeafNation Expo Phoenix
Saturday, March 6, 2010

Phoenix Convention Center – Hall F
100 North Third street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
COST: FREE ADMISSION
HOURS: 9:00AM-5:00PM
FREE CHILDREN ACTIVITIES

For Immediate Release:
February 25, 2010

Washington, D.C. — Today, as a step toward comprehensive reform of Video Relay Service (VRS), the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued a Declaratory Ruling to reaffirm the FCC’s rules and policies concerning VRS reimbursement and calling practices, and maximize efficiency and effectiveness of this program to ensure that the communications needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers are met.

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We’re a little late but wanted to share some great candid photos of the Gracias VRS team from the FRID 2009 Conference in Orlando. Check them out and leave us some comments!

Over 700 pictures of all the beautiful people that came by to see us at MATA!

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This is just a public service announcement about an organization many of you may not have heard about.

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is an international non-governmental organization representing approximately 70 million Deaf people worldwide. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of these 70 million live in developing countries, where authorities are rarely familiar with their needs or desires. Recognized by the United Nations (UN) as their spokes-organization, WFD works closely with the UN and its various agencies in promoting the human rights of Deaf people in accordance with the principles and objectives of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other general acts and recommendations of the UN and its specialized agencies. When necessary, WFD uses special, legal or administrative measures to ensure that Deaf people in every country have the right to preserve their own sign languages, organizations, and cultural and other activities. Most important among WFD priorities are Deaf people in developing countries; the right to sign language; and equal opportunity in all spheres of life, including access to education and information.

More information at the World Federation for the Deaf website.