Community Newsletter

November 25, 2020
IMPORTANT SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS




Peter Bailey,
Head of School
Update from PSD
With the current situation, we have made the decision to start the 2020-2021 School Year with virtual learning for Middle School and High School until January 2021. Only Community Preschool, Elementary and all self-contained classes will continue with in-person programming on campus.

We will also continue to monitor the situation and will make changes to the reopening plans as necessary to follow the guidance of state and federal officials and to protect our students.

Masks in public spaces and when people cannot maintain social distancing are required. PSD will limit access for any nonessential visitors or volunteers, and cancel activities involving external groups or organizations until further notice.
PSD Choir to Participate in
Thanksgiving Virtual Parade!
11.26.2020

¡El coro de PSD participará en el
desfile virtual de Acción de Gracias!

This is PSD's 20th year to participate in the oldest Thanksgiving Parade in America (101 years), airing on November 26th, Thanksgiving morning on 6ABC! Along with Sandy Patty, PSD's Thanksgiving Choir and the Children's Youth Choir will be performing her song, "Love in Any Language."

Look for one of our seniors, who will also be soloing alongside Sandy Patty. What a great way to celebrate PSD's 200th year!

For more information on the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade,
please CLICK HERE.

 ¡El coro de PSD participará en el desfile virtual de Acción de Gracias!

Este es el vigésimo año de PSD para participar en el desfile de Acción de Gracias más antiguo de Estados Unidos (101 años), que se transmitirá el 26 de noviembre, la mañana de Acción de Gracias en 6ABC. Junto con Sandy Patty, el Coro de Acción de Gracias de PSD y el Coro Infantil Juvenil interpretarán su canción, "Love in Any Language".
 
Busque a una de nuestras personas mayores, que también estará solista junto a Sandy Patty. Qué gran manera de celebrar los 200 años del PSD!
 
Para obtener más información sobre el desfile de Acción de Gracias Filadelfia, haga clic aquí.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Go Panthers!!
Easy as 1, 2, 3!

How to Sign Up:
1) Visit smile.amazon.com

2) Choose your charity: Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

3) Make a purchase! --PSD will automatically receive 0.5% from AmazonSmile for every eligible purchase you make! 

Thank you!
COMMUNITY EVENTS, ACTIVITIES
AND INFORMATION
ASL Video for Kids

In this fun video with ASL teacher Edna Johnston, you will learn ASL signs for November and about the history of the Thanksgiving holiday!



Download the
COVID Alert PA App
The COVID Alert PA app notifies you if you have had a potential exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 

The more Pennsylvanians that download the app, the more successful we will be in stopping the spread of the virus.
Theatre Competition Intent to Participate Deadline:
November 30, 2020 CLICK HERE!!!!!




If you have further questions please reach out to Sheri Ramirez at sherir@usdb.org.
We hope you can join us!!
Disability Pride Philadelphia Inc. is proud to host Thrive Aid- The Art of Protest on December 3, 2020 at 7 PM, The International Day of Disabled People, to celebrate the lives and contributions of disabled people through disability art and culture, and in protest of the stigma towards disabled people worldwide. Thrive Aid is a 2 1/2 hour international premiere on Zoom during COVID. This is a collaboration between the United States of America, United Kingdom, and Australia. The overall message is that we are creative, resilient, and we will thrive and survive with equal access to support.
 

Here's your chance to go to college–
learn skills, build independence, and live a self-determined life.

 Leadership & Career Studies
Leadership & Career Studies–L&CS–is a four-year college experience for students with intellectual disability and autism. The program is run by the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University.

OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, December 10, 2020
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

L&CS students enroll in courses, attend enrichment workshops, and participate in social and extracurricular activities, all with the support of coaches–current Temple students.

If you:
  • have an intellectual disability or autism (documented in the county where you live);
  • are 18-26 years old;
  • can pay for classes through service funds, grants or privately;
  • can commute to Temple’s main campus;
  • can attend day and evening classes; and
  • can participate in extracurricular activities at least 10 hours a week,
…then you can apply to attend college at Temple University in L&CS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Titania Boddie–Program Director
215-204-1356 (voice) - 215-204-1805 (TTY)
College of Education and Human Development
1755 N. 13th Street Student Center 441S, Philadelphia, PA 19122   
Learn about the PA ABLE Savings Program!
Free webinar for individuals with disabilities, families and professionals.

A PA ABLE Savings Program account gives individuals with qualified disabilities (Eligible Individuals), and their families and friends a tax-free way to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses while maintaining government benefits. The state and federal tax-free investment options are offered to encourage Eligible Individuals and their families to save private funds to support health, independence, and quality of life.

To help you learn about the important features and benefits of PA ABLE, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department is hosting free webinars.

Some of the topics that we will discuss include: eligibility requirements for opening a PA ABLE account, the federal and state tax benefits of PA ABLE, and how PA ABLE account interacts with current benefits.



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Employers and HR professionals can participate in an overview webinar about the PA ABLE program, learning:
  • What PA ABLE is
  • Who is eligible
  • How employees use accounts
  • How to set up payroll deduction

Offer PA ABLE Savings Program to Your Employees For FREE:
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
AND INFORMATION
Serving Berks County and surrounding communities since 1989

Keep up with the latest updates from Abilities in Motion.
Join our email list to receive our monthly newsletter and other important updates.

The Salvation Army Christmas Assistance program is available to accept applications for assistance. 

To apply for the general Christmas assistance program, please go to https://saangeltree.org/ and input your zip code. For families without internet or smartphone access, please call your local Salvation Army.

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El programa de Asistencia de Navidad del Ejército de Salvación está disponible para aceptar solicitudes de asistencia. 
 
Para solicitar el programa general de asistencia navideña, visite https://saangeltree.org/ e ingrese su código postal. Para las familias que no tienen acceso a Internet o teléfonos inteligentes, llame a su Ejército de Salvación local.
ccabviNEWSflash
Chester County Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Disability Advocacy, Health, Safety, Jobs, Funding & Events
 
If you MUST travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, check out these CDC GUIDELINES FOR TRAVEL

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FREE THANKSGIVING DAY MEALS IN PHOENIXVILLE
PACS & Ann's Heart are partnering with Uncle B's BBQ & Your Mom's Place to provide two FREE meals on Thanksgiving Day at the HEART Kitchen (30 Hall Street, Phoenixville). 
 
Your Mom's Place will continue their annual Thanksgiving Tradition of providing FREE breakfast to anyone in need on Thanksgiving morning from 8AM - 12PM. This time from the HEART Kitchen - lower level of the HEART at 30 Hall Street. No reservations required.
 
PACS & Ann's Heart, in partnership with Uncle B's BBQ will provide FREE Cooked Thanksgiving Day dinners (turkey and two hot sides) for individuals or families for pick up from 10 AM to 12 PM at the HEART Kitchen. Reservations preferred.
To reserve call the Ann's Heart office at (484) 393-2407 or fill out an online reservation form at  https://forms.gle/LMpBWpPQixAZwdAH6
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HUNGER SURVEY INVITATION
Chester County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
71 S. 1st Avenue, Coatesville, PA 19320
(610) 384-2767     info@chescoblind.org
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
https://www.phfa.org/

Francis House is now leasing! There are 33 studio/efficiency units available. Francis House is located in Philadelphia County. There are 6 accessible units and 2 h/v units available.

Francis House 4460 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Philadelphia County, General Occupancy                  
 
Income limits per person: 30%-$20,300, 50%-$33,850, 60%-$40,620
 
Rent amount: 30% (AMI) -$507, 50% (AMI) - $846, 60% (AMI) - $1015
 
Francis House features a fitness room, sunroom, dining room, sitting area, parlor and full size kitchen. There are on-site laundry rooms as well. The application is attached.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Latesha Saunders, Property Manager. She may be reached at (267) 838-3580 or LSaunders@mmsgroup.com.
Things to consider
when supporting a
Deaf-Blind
individual during
COVID-19

Good News: CDC temporary halt in residential evictions
 
Effective through December 31, 2020, there is a temporary halt against residential evictions of persons earning no more than $99,000 a year to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

SIGN VOTE 2020 is designed to help inform and increase voter engagement among the deaf community throughout the 2020 elections, SignVote is a nonpartisan platform that spotlights and features accessible voter content and resources made available in American Sign Language (ASL).

The National Deaf Center has a wide range of materials that are great for working with the deaf population. Please visit the website: https://www.nationaldeafcenter.org/

Hamilton Relay is available at no cost, 24 hours a day, every day – making it possible for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking to communicate over the telephone.
 
We invite you to register for PA Relay/PA Captioned Telephone Relay Statewide Webinars. Our December webinars will focus on scholarships and awards from Hamilton. The link provided below for anyone to register and join.
 NEW DATES!
Pennsylvania Relay Awards & Scholarship Webinars
Dec 1, 2020 10:30 AM,
Dec 8, 2020 4:00 PM,
or Dec 15, 2020 11:00 AM

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
 
Brought to you by GoToWebinar®
Webinars Made Easy®

Sudan N. Bradley | Hamilton Relay
Our phone displays big, easy-to-read text that automatically captions your
conversations. It dials, rings, and works just like a regular phone.
• Easy to use
• Captions turn on or off as needed
• Captioned voice messages included
• No cost if you have hearing loss and need captions to use the phone efficiently

Do you have trouble hearing on the phone? You may be eligible for no-cost telephone captioning from CaptionCall.

ASL Interpreted Facebook videos

CaptionCall.com | 877-557-2227
PA Office for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Melissa A. Hawkins MS, MHR | Director
PA Department of Labor & Industry | Office for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
1521 North 6th Street | Harrisburg, PA 17102
Phone & TTY: 800-233-3008 (PA only) | Phone & TTY: 717.783.4912
Fax: 717.783.4913, mehawkins@pa.gov
PA Department of Human Services
Emergency Assistance Program
Has your family lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Apply for emergency assistance at www.compass.state.pa.us

Kids Stories Collection on Deaf Professional Arts Network - The Sign Language Channel (website and app offering signed and closed captioned news and entertainment videos)
Melissa Draganac-Hawk, President, NAD


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COVID 19 Resources for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Families

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The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (PhilaOEM) has a text alert system all about COVID-19. Text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to receive updates to your phone. Message and data rates may apply.

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CLICK HERE FOR SEPTA
UPDATES AND ALERTS
Cap4Kids Updated Link to the website for services and resources including food, housing, utility, self care, etc.

As always, to sign up for Cap4Kids emails, click here:
Catholic Deaf Philly
Our Daily Hope – Vlog Reflection


Sr. Kathleen Schipani, IHM
Director, Office for Persons with Disabilities & Deaf Apostolate
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
222 N. 17th Street, Philadelphia PA 19103
215.587.3913 phone /267.507.1215 video phone

Consider a gift today to help PSD continue the important work we do for our Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students.

United Way #737
Combined Federal Campaign #87714
or click below.

We thank you for your support!

Please forward comments and announcements for posting considerations to:
Karen Leslie-Henry, Community Relations Coordinator: klesliehenry@psd.org
Content Disclaimer
The information contained in the e-newsletter is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the newsletter or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the e-newsletter for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this e-newsletter. Through this e-newsletter you are able to link to other websites that are not under the control of PSD. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.