Delaware Association of the Deaf (DAD)

May 31, 2020

Hotel Survey

Hello! My name is Courtney—I am a HOH undergraduate researcher at Penn State.

I am conducting research on the accommodations for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing individuals in hotels. This research study was made to determine whether Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals want to see more accommodations in hotels, and the findings will be reported to the lodging industry at-large. The goal of this is to make sure that hotel owners and operators understand the needs and desires of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community.

Would you be willing to take this 7-8 minute survey?

Also, if you have any Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing friends or family members that would be interested in participating in this anonymous survey, please share this link with them.

https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3C28VzsXOPl2Spf

May 30, 2020

Wavello by Sorenson

Wavello showing regular VRS call and hearing person too! At Sorenson, we believe in the value and importance of communication – it is the foundation of human connection.

This month, we are announcing a new feature – Wavello that allows a Deaf person, a hearing person, and an interpreter to all see each other on a Sorenson Relay call. What does this mean for you and your clients – especially during this pandemic, when many students and workers are not gathering in traditional settings? It means, going forward, when you need to communicate with your clients, there’s now an option for Deaf and hearing people to conference together during a Sorenson Relay call!

We originally planned to release this feature later this year, but now, because human interaction has been drastically limited due to coronavirus (COVID-19), we’ve been working night and day to get this feature to you sooner.

For Deaf users, this feature is already built into Sorenson’s ntouch suite of products. Hearing callers will be able to download the Wavello app, which is available at no cost for iOS and Android platforms through the App Store or Google Play. Once hearing callers download the app and register their phone number, they can receive video requests from Deaf people with whom they are speaking on a Sorenson Relay call.

We love Wavello and think you will, too!

For more information about Wavello, please see the press release at https://www.sorenson.com/about/press/. To schedule an interview of Deaf and hearing Wavello users, please contact me.

Ann Bardsley
PR Director
Sorenson Communications
abardsley@sorenson.com
801-287-9897

Wavello – https://www.sorenson.com/GetWavello.

May 8, 2020

Delaware Elections Update

Governor John Carney on Thursday signed the fifteenth modification to his State of Emergency declaration, rescheduling Delaware’s presidential primary for July 7. The Delaware Department of Elections will mail absentee ballot applications to all registered Democrats and Republicans in the State of Delaware, providing all eligible registered Delaware voters the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot in the presidential primary election.

Eligible Delaware voters will be permitted to select the “sick” or “temporarily or permanently physically disabled” options on their absentee ballot application to cast a vote in the presidential primary election, even if they are not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Voters must return the application to the Delaware Department of Elections or complete the process online to receive an absentee ballot. The Delaware Department of Elections will operate at least six polling places in each county to allow voters to cast ballots in person should they choose not to vote by absentee ballot.

Governor Carney’s order on Thursday also reschedules school board elections for July 21, and places additional requirements on municipalities that are conducting elections. The order requires districts and municipalities to enforce social distancing during elections, require face coverings, and limit crowds to 10 or fewer people at polling places.

Governor Carney’s State of Emergency declaration – including the stay-at-home order and mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers – remains in place and carries the force and effect of law. Violations of the order, or any of its modifications, constitute a criminal offense.

Full State of Emergency Modification

Information comes from Governor Carney via Email. More information contained in links as well.