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PRESS RELEASE: FCC ENDS PREDATORY PHONE RATES FOR DEAF PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS

August 9, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Talila A. Lewis w (202) 455-9278 w TL@behearddc.org August 9, 2013, Washington, D.C. – Eight months ago, Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf (HEARD) launched its Deaf Prisoner Phone Justice Campaign. Through this Campaign, HEARD lobbied the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to bring an end to exorbitant prisoner telephone rates that disproportionately … Continued

Radio Show Interview Interview with HEARD Founder

August 9, 2013

On the eve of the FCC’s historic vote to reign in sky-high prisoner telephone rates for prisoners across the nation, HEARD would like to share this interview. See you tomorrow at the FCC!!! HEARD’s interns have completed the transcription of Talila A. Lewis’ July 16, 2013 interview with Roach Brown on Crossroads Radio Show! “It … Continued

FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee Passes Resolution Addressing Deaf Prisoners

August 6, 2013

Huge Success for HEARD’s Deaf Prisoner Phone Justice Campaign!!! On August 2, 2013 the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee passed a resolution recommending that the FCC ensure reasonable rates for all prisoners; and accessible, proportionally discounted, longer TTY calls for prisoners who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind! View the PDF version of the Consumer … Continued

Deaf Prisoner Telecomm Injustice

August 5, 2013

This week, all eyes are on the Federal Communications Commission as it finally moves to issue an order to lower excessive prison telephone rates. I am confident that the Commissioners will ensure that justice will prevail. With the current rates, hearing prisoners’ telephone calls can cost their family members as much as $17 for … Continued

Florida DOC Proposes Rule to Prevent Prisoners from Educating the Public about Conditions

August 2, 2013

The Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) has decided NOT to address abuse of deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, elderly and disabled prisoners. Instead, the DOC has proposed a regulation that will prevent prisoners from using the internet to educate the public about what horrors are occuring behind its iron gates (prohibiting even the use of … Continued

9 Obscure Nights & 9 Obscure Days

August 1, 2013

Written by Anonymous Deaf Community Member It was night of unexpected incident. The July 30, 2013. I thought it was dreams. The dreams that we used to imagine like film. In the morning of July 31 I realized that it was surreal not a dream anymore. It was when the commissioner handed out a signed … Continued

23rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

July 23, 2013

Today is the 23rd Anniversary of the ADA. We celebrate this day while remembering that achieving equal opportunity for people with disabilities is an ongoing struggle. We have not yet arrived, but we are on our way & we shall prevail. Keep up the good fight!!! Take a look at Senator Harkin’s floor speech in … Continued

Empowering “Big Law” Attorneys to Effectively Represent the Deaf

July 18, 2013

Today HEARD provided Deaf Culture & Communication trianing for attorneys at Steptoe & Johnson, LLP to assist them in effectively representing deaf and hard of hearing clients.

Warden in Mich. Responds Positively to HEARD’s Concerns

July 12, 2013

Warden Millicent Warren responds positively to HEARD’s concerns about deaf and hard of hearing prisoner’s in Michigan. Take a look at this amazing response! Empowering through Education & getting Results!

HEARD Founder, Talila A. Lewis, Talks to the FCC about Deaf Prisoners

July 10, 2013

On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, HEARD’s Founder, Talila A. Lewis spoke on a panel at the Federal Communications Commission about deaf and hard of hearing prisoners at the FCC’s Reforming Inmate Calling Services Workshop. Click here to view photos; and here to view the captioned video of the workshop.