Read an article of Hearld-Leader
December 12, 2006

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A Video Tribute to Gilbert Eastman, 72, ASD Alumnus 1952
Gilbert Eastman, 72, ASD Alumnus 1952, a professor in the Theatre Arts Department from 1957 to 1992 and professor emeritus of the department, and co-host of the award-winning "Deaf Mosaic" TV show from 1985 to 1995, passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2006. He is survived by his wife, June (AAS-'61), two daughters, Alison and Ingrid, four grandchildren, Jessica, Jordan, Daniel, and Emily, and many family, friends, and admirers.

A Video Tribute to Gilbert C. Eastman (6:04 minutes - Open Captions)

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NCCC - CEDHH Offers its Pilot Program at Capital Community College
June 16, 2006

Northwestern’s CEDHH establishes Pilot Program at Capital Community College Starting next fall, the Collegiate Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (CEDHH) Program, which has been housed exclusively at Northwestern CT Community College since 1974, will be, for the first time, also available to students at Capital Community College.

CEDHH has offered educational opportunity, optimism and academic excellence to students who are deaf and hard of hearing in CT. It is the only higher education program in the state that offers full communication access, developmental English and Mathematics courses, and comprehensive support services for deaf and hard of hearing learners.

CT Community Colleges Chancellor, Mark Herzog says, “This unique CEDHH program, a model of access and educational opportunity, truly exemplifies the mission of the CT Community Colleges.”

In November 2004, the CEDHH Advisory Board sub-committee voted unanimously to implement a five-year pilot program offering off-site courses and support services at a designated CT Community College, with a targeted implementation date of fall 2005. The rationale for the collaborative pilot program is to enhance equal educational opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing students who are unable or unwilling to commute to NCCC in Winsted.

Unfortunately, because of budgetary issues the CEDHH Collaborative Five-Year Pilot Program between Northwestern CT Community College and the now designated Capital Community College (CCC) was delayed, but is now slated to begin in fall 2006.

Current and prospective CEDHH students will now be able to attend NCCC or CCC. Mr. Arthur S. Moore, Chair of the CEDHH Advisory Board, says, “We are truly excited about the pilot program, which will help bring CEDHH closer to its requirement of being a state-wide Program.”

Moore states that CEDHH has, been offering quality support services, sign language interpreting courses and customized courses, since its inception, for deaf and hard of hearing students and has opened doors of opportunity for its students with the support of highly skilled staff members, “Listening to the deaf and hard of hearing community, the CEDHH Advisory Board and NCCC agreed to expand the program into the Hartford area, by collaborating with Capital Community College. In this way, it offers greater access to potential students especially workers and high school students.”

Mark J. Myers, NCCC Director of CEDHH states, “Both the NCCC and CCC administrations are working to provide an educational environment in which deaf and hard of hearing learners may engage in multifaceted self-directed learning. We are taking a closer look at deaf and hard of hearing students’ needs for equal educational opportunities and options in both Northwestern and Capital.

The CEDHH staff is a well-established group sharing common knowledge, history, values, and beliefs in their work experience with learners who are deaf and hard of hearing. They look forward to working for the CEDHH pilot program that will contribute to the greater needs of deaf and hard of hearing adult learners in the Connecticut Community College System.”

In the fall 2006 semester, the pilot program will offer developmental English instruction and tutoring in computer applications for deaf and hard of hearing students who are interested in attending mainstreamed classes at Capital Community College. For more info, please contact

Grantley S. Adams, director of Marketing & Public Releases - (860) 738-6333.

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NCCC – The small college that does great things


Suspension of Interpreter Preparation Program

UPDATE: NCCC decided not to suspend the IPP, and focuses on improvement of its marketing for recruiting new student interpreters. 5/06

As of Early Spring 2006 ,Northwestern CT Community College (NCCC) has already suspended the Interpreter Preparation Program WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATION OR EVEN INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY to our shock!

The program is being suspended for an indefinite time which is unrealistic at this point as they did not have any justified reasons for doing this. The suspension of the program came at the wrong time when the demand for interpreter requests are very high while the interpreter supply has dipped dangerously low. Everyone is a CONSUMER of the interpreting services; Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing, family, friends, agencies, professionals, community, etc...

We need to train more interpreters in CT state to help increase the pool of interpreters to meet the high demand of interpreter requests. It is not a "college issue" - it is a STATEWIDE issue because this interpreter preparation program is the ONLY ONE in the entire state of Connecticut and many of the professional interpreters in CT have been trained at Northwestern CT Community College!

With the interpreter preparation program being suspended for an indefinite time, we (the consumers) will face a severe emergency shortage of interpreters in this state!

What you can do to help support this Interpreter Preparation Program are TWO things at this point:
1) Send letters with your personal stories from your HEART to the people (see below)

President Bob Homas
Union Representative Dave Bosco (for NCCC)
SIEU Local 1973 (Congress of CT Community Colleges)
907 Wethersfield Ave.
Hartford, CT 06114
(860) 296-5172 V (860) 296-6219 FAX
Email: info@the4cs.org
www.the4cs.org

Chancellor Marc Herzog
CT Community Colleges System
61 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 244-7601 V (860) 566-6624 FAX
Email: mherzog@commnet.edu
www.commnet.edu

Board of Trustees
CT Community Colleges System
61 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 244-7600 V (860) 727-8735 FAX
http://www.commnet.edu/board.asp

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
55 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 808-5318 V (860) 808-5385 FAX

(Education Dept)
http://www.ct.gov/ag/site/default.asp

Governor Jodi Rell
Executive Office of the Governor State Capitol
210 Capitol Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 566-4840 V/(860) 524-7397 TTY
http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/site/default.asp

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Resource Source:
Grants to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss who use the auditory verbal method as their primary mode of communication. Recipients must be residents of the U.S. and attending school. Initial approach by letter stating need.

The Geoffrey Foundation; P.O. Box 1112; Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Application Address:
c/o Chester E. Homer III, President; 89 Ocean Avenue; Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Resource Source:
Grants to hearing impaired children only. Assistance is given for hearing aids, auditory trainers and other expenses related to hearing impairment. Applications accepted throughout the year. Initial approach by letter stating need.

Dorothy Ames Trust; c/o Key Trust Co. of Maine; Key Trust Company; 35 State Street
Albany, NY 12207

Application Address:
c/o Christina Cook; Key Trust Co. of Maine; P.O. Box 1054; Augusta, Maine 04332-1054

Legislation signed into law last year by Governor M. Jodi Rell is now enabling engineers working full time in the state to receive up to $5,000 to help pay off student loans.

"Engineers are crucial to Connecticut's growing economy," Governor Rell said. "If you have your engineering degree from any college in the United States and have been hired as a full time engineer in Connecticut after December 31, 2005, the state of Connecticut can now help you significantly." For more information, please visit www.ct.gov/governorrell .

IT IS FREE TO LOAN ANY CAPTIONED FILMS OR VIDEOS! Browse the website and be sure to sign up at www.cfv.org to receive this outstanding free service at your home. All postage is pre-paid, so there's never any cost to the viewer.

To celebrate, deaf Chinese dancers who visited Deaf Way II in 2002, performed in Beijing during the Spring Festival Celebration 2006. "Thousand Hand Guanyin" - Watch videoclip (5 minutes - Window Media Player)