Deafness, Chiropractic care, and a Black American Business Owner in 1895

In 1895, there was a doctor by the name of Daniel David "D.D." Palmer who thought he had the cure for Deafness by chiropractic care. How so?

Mr. Harvey Lillard, a deaf, African-American owner/janitor of a janitorial company that maintained the building in which Dr Palmer was an occupant, came to the doctor complaining of back pain and hearing loss. As doctors do, Dr. Palmer commenced asking questions (eg: how long have you had this problem, what was the onset of this problem, etc--nothing stipulates HOW this communication took place). Lillard explained that he had been deaf or had a hearing loss for approximately 17 years. The incident: "in a stooped position, he heard something 'pop' in his spine and immediately suffered a loss of most of his hearing."


"Palmer felt that Lillard's hearing loss was due to a blockage of the spinal nerves which control the inner ear. Ultimately, this nerve blockage and bone misalignment 'vertebral subluxations', lessend the body's ability to function by disrupting communication over the nerve system. When Palmer corrected the misalignment by pushing the vertebrae back into place, the nerve pathways were reopened and thus Lillard's hearing was restored. "

Supposedly Dr Palmer adjusted Mr. Lillard's back and, Viola!, hearing restored. Dr. Palmer reportedly THOUGHT he had a cure for deafness. However, this was untrue. He reopened pathways for the pathological hearing loss to be restored.

For me this was an interesting find. First of all because some sources claim Mr. Lillard (African-American in 1895) was the owner of a janitorial company. Secondly, this is supposedly the first instance of chiropractic care. Thirdly, this is a good example of the difference between Deaf and deaf.

What is the difference? If a person is Deaf, the focus is their culture (residential schools, visual language for communication, a social network of people who use sign language, thinking "Deaf" etc). Yet if a person is deaf, their focus is hearing loss.


Please note, I am NOT an expert on anything noted here. This is just interesting information that was brought to my attention thanks to Chiropractor, Dr. Graux in Bowie, MD.

Details of this story were from: http://www.drjagger.com/lillard.html

Thanks for visiting!

Erika Peters

Erika was a friendly person who wanted the best for her kids. Erika was always working to improve her and her family's lot in life.

To Erika Peters' family and friends: The grief is indescribable. Please know that you are in our thoughts and efforts of support.

The Father of tender mercies does not act wickedly and therefore did not plan for this to happen, but comforts us in all our tribulation.

We hope that this is a source of encouragement.

You are in our hearts and minds,

***KISIS***
kis@att.blackberry.net

FREE TAX PREP @ GALLAUDET

This information is posted at Gallaudet (as of 3/25/2009):



Free tax prep. Gallaudet University, Business Department. Ely Center 202D. March 26, 27, and 28, 2009, Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, 2009 hours are 10am-5pm. Saturday, March 28, 2009 hours are 9am to 1pm.



Not sure if this is only offered to Gallaudet students, alumni, staff or offered to all. Not sure. Please confirm.




Also, there is a posting at Gallaudet for a presentation entitled, "Erase theHate; Enough isms"! This will be at Gallaudet Wednesday, April 8, 2009 6pm at Foster Auditorium.





***KISIS***

FOOD BANKS

News reports show Food Banks have seen an influx of people in need.  You may know of people in need.  Here are a few listings:

CAPITAL AREA FOODBANK

645 Taylor St NE

Washington, DC 

202 526 5344 xt230

FAMILY CRISIS CENTER PG CTY

9020 Stevens Lane

Lanham, MD  20706

301 731 1203

FAMILY SERVICE CENTER FOOD BANK

6411 Ager Road 201

Hyattsville, MD  20782

301 559 8804

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

8402 Rambler Drive

Adelphi, MD  20783

301 422 4952

AGER ROAD UM FOOD PANTRY

6301 Ager Road

Hyattsville, MD  20782

301 937 2074

Please contact phone numbers FIRST before going to these facilities.

***KISIS***

A DEAF MUSEUM?

Yes, Gallaudet's Class of 1958 is taking the reins of a museum project that was started a while ago.  The proposed museum was described as, "a museum on Kendall Green ...related to Gallaudet life and the wider deaf community....".

Very interesting!  How to make donations to this effort?  Maybe contact Dr Jane Norman, Professor, Communication Studies Department or Mr. Bill Terrell, Fundraising Chair for the Class of 1958.  Maybe Gallaudet has better contact info if you are interested in donating to this cause.  Gallaudet's main switchboard is 202 651 5000.  

Where else would you like to see a museum of this sort?

This information was published in Gallaudet Today (Winter, 2009).

SEARCH FOR GALLAUDET'S TENTH PRESIDENT

According to Gallaudet Today (Winter, 2009), a Presidential Search Advisory Committee has been established to facilitate search efforts for presidential candidates.  The plans were to have a "presidential search web site in January, 2009, and review applications through the Spring".   

The PSAC is comprised of faculty, alumni, staff, students, administration, and others.  Seems like this body is a cross section of Gallaudet's stakeholders.

An invitation will go out Fall, 2009 to the candidates to meet.  Thereafter,  feedback will be collected by PSAC from Gallaudet's community.  Final decision will be announced in October and new President duties begin January 1, 2010.  

The article gives an email address for comments and/or concerns:  psac@gallaudet.edu.

Who will it be?

Bilinguality and Bilingualism--Clarification

The previous post attempted to define bilinguality and bilingualism. However, one reader stated what was posted was incorrect. The presenter was contacted and here is clarification:


"Bilinguality is the situation in which a person uses more than one language. Bilingualism is the situation in which more than one language is used in an institution or in a country (though not necessarily by the same people).


So the concepts are not about oppression, but simply describe two different ways to think about bilingualism."--Robert E. Johnson, Professor, Department of Linguistics, Gallaudet University.


Professor Johnson responded that bilingualism is NOT part of the negative "isms" in society.


Thank you to the reader who caught this discrepancy. KISinterpretingservices.blogspot would especially like to express gratitude to Professor Johnson for taking the time to clarify matters.



***KISIS***

Deaf Bilingual Education--Bilinguality vs Bilingualism

At Gallaudet, February 4, 2009, Mr Robert Johnson presented research that explored bilinguality, bilingualism, and Deaf education. Please note that this blog is not exact representation and is just this attender's understanding.

Mr. Johnson presented that bilinguality focuses on a person's ability to use two languages; whereas, bilingualism, is an institutional suppression (or non recognition) of one's native language and an institutional dominance of the majority language. (How many of us know of individuals who may use Spanish fluently but because of being in an English-dominant environment, suppress their Spanish)? Seeminly bilingualism is yet another negative "ism" in society.

Then Robert Johnson discussed the difference of a minority bilingual and an elite bilingual. Society negatively views a Deaf person whose primary language is ASL with English as a secondary language as a minority bilingual. Whereas, society views positively a non Deaf (hearing) person whose primary language is English but may have acquired or learned American Sign Language as a secondary language. This is the elite bilingual.


When it comes to communication and language access, there is now pressure to attend to the needs of immigrants here in America rather than just letting them sink or swim. This requires a paradigm switch from the "ethical" dialogue to education; specifically "Communication Education".

The reason there needs to be a switch, Mr. Johnson argues, is that with "ethical" dialogue all one needs to do to throw a monkey wrench into the mix is to say, "Well, I disagree with your ethics," and well, that's the end of the issue. Efforts to overcome barriers would have come to a screeching halt. Therefore, "Communication Education" is the counter.

VERY INTERESTING!!!!!!!


What do you think? Let us know by commenting here: kisinterpretingservices.blogspot.com.

If you are interested in obtaining Sign Language Services, please send a text message to 301 213 8653.


***KISIS***

ADA Compliance Tax Deductions for Any Size Business

The previous entry had information for tax credits for small businesses. Here is information for tax deductions for businesses of any size.


Although Section 44 of the IRS Code allows a tax credit for small businesses, Section 190 of the IRS Code allows a tax deduction for ALL businesses. The latter is available to all businesses with a maximum deduction of $15,000 per year.


Please note: A tax credit is "subtracted from your tax liability after you calculate your taxes", whereas a tax deduction is "subtracted from your total income before taxes, to establish your taxable income" (http://www.library.findlaw.com/).


Please contact DOJ or the ADA website for more information.

The goal of this blog spot is to provide practical resources and solutions. We hope you found this helpful. Please let us know and visit us at kisinterpretingservices.blogspot.com again! ---KISIS

Tax credits and deductions for complying with the ADA

What relief is there for a small business that wants to continue to provide services to its consumers and patrons? What does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) say about the responsibility of small businesses?

For now a website that may be of help is http://www.ada.gov/. This website has publications that may answer many of your questions. Please note, it may be wise to periodically check the Internet for updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Here are some gems plucked from the pot:

Q: As a small business, what financial relief or assistance is offered when we foot the bill for providing accommodations?

A: "Tax Credits and Deductions To assist businesses with complying with the ADA, Section 44 of the IRS Code allows a tax credit for small businesses and Section 190 of the IRS Code allows a tax deduction for all businesses. The tax credit is available to businesses that have total revenues of $1,000,000 or less in the previous tax year or 30 or fewer full-time employees. This credit can cover 50% of the eligible access expenditures in a year up to $10,250 (maximum credit of $5000). The tax credit can be used to offset the cost of undertaking barrier removal and alterations to improve accessibility; providing accessible formats such as Braille, large print and audio tape; making available a sign language interpreter or a reader for customers or employees, and for purchasing certain adaptive equipment. The tax deduction is available to all businesses with a maximum deduction of $15,000 per year. The tax deduction can be claimed for expenses incurred in barrier removal and alterations. To learn more about the tax credit and tax deduction provisions, contact the DOJ ADA Information Line (see Information Sources for the numbers).


Same website, similar question:



"Q. Are businesses entitled to any tax benefit to help pay for the cost of compliance?


A. As amended in 1990, the Internal Revenue Code allows a deduction of up to $15,000 per year for expenses associated with the removal of qualified architectural and transportation barriers. The 1990 amendment also permits eligible small businesses to receive a tax credit for certain costs of compliance with the ADA. An eligible small business is one whose gross receipts do not exceed $1,000,000 or whose workforce does not consist of more than 30 full-time workers. Qualifying businesses may claim a credit of up to 50 percent of eligible access expenditures that exceed $250 but do not exceed $10,250. Examples of eligible access expenditures include the necessary and reasonable costs of removing architectural, physical, communications, and transportation barriers; providing readers, interpreters, and other auxiliary aids; and acquiring or modifying equipment or devices."




"Q. Are there any limitations on the ADA's auxiliary aids requirements?

A. Yes. The ADA does not require the provision of any auxiliary aid that would result in an undue burden or in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the goods or services provided by a public accommodation. However, the public accommodation is not relieved from the duty to furnish an alternative auxiliary aid, if available, that would not result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden. Both of these limitations are derived from existing regulations and caselaw under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and are to be determined on a case-by-case basis."



The goal of this blog spot is to provide practical resources and solutions. We hope you found this helpful. Please let us know and visit us at kisinterpretingservices.blogspot.com again! ---KISIS