Hi Everyone. DEAF, Inc. staff had training on the office safety guidelines last week. DEAF, Inc. wants to ensure a safe and healthy environment for everyone. Reopening will proceed slowly and safely. Please note that DEAF, Inc. reopening phases are subject to change. Public health data trends indicating significant increases in viral transmission, and/or increased absence of DEAF, Inc. staff could result in fewer open days or closing the agency that week.
Read the TranscriptDEAF, Inc.’s Phase 3 will not begin. We will stay in Phase 2. This means all DEAF, Inc. offices throughout eastern Massachusetts will remain open two days a week by appointment only. Phase 2 will continue through December 2020. DEAF, Inc. wants to ensure a safe and healthy environment for everyone. We are still available to provide both remote and in-person services.
DEAF, Inc. reopening phases are subject to change, depending on public health COVID-19 datatrends. We will continue to share new office reopening updates. Stay healthy. Stay safe. Continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Wes: Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well. As Board President I, along with the Board of Directors at DEAF, Inc., are announcing the upcoming retirement of Sharon Applegate, Executive Director effective August 31, 2021. It has been a privilege to work with Sharon to advance the mission of DEAF, Inc., and congratulations to Sharon on her upcoming retirement! I will turn it over to Sharon to say a few words.
Sharon: Hello! As Executive Director of DEAF, Inc. for the past 18 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve DEAF, Inc.
Independent living is about having and taking control of your life. Like the individuals we serve, we know at DEAF, Inc. we can’t do what we do alone. With our many partner agencies, we have worked together towards success. Together we are stronger!
Over the years at DEAF, Inc. I have been honored to meet and work with many wonderful people; staff and Board members, as well as colleagues and foundations, members of the Deaf community in Greater Boston and throughout Massachusetts, and the wider community. I am proud of DEAF, Inc. and all we have been able to accomplish towards our mission to inspire Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened people to achieve their personal and professional goals, and the bridges we have built across communities.
Wes: We are grateful for the incredible leadership and inspiration that Sharon has provided to our organization throughout her time as Executive Director. She leaves DEAF, Inc. in a position where we can continue to provide the life changing services that benefit the Massachusetts Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened community. The DEAF, Inc. Board is committed to finding a new Executive Director who will continue Sharon’s legacy and capably lead the agency into the future. The Board has already begun the process of looking for a new DEAF, Inc. Executive Director. We will share those updates soon.
Sharon, thank you, and we will miss you when you retire.
Hello Everyone!
DEAF, Inc. is looking for a professional job coach, 10-12 hours a week for 3 months, on a contract basis. The Job Coach will support and train an employee “on the job” one-on-one to develop skills to be able to complete their job duties independently. Please check our website for more info about the position.
We are still looking for DBCAN providers. Providers work with DeafBlind consumers to support them in going out for errands, doctor’s appointments, and other outings. There is a need for providers all over Massachusetts, in the Northeast, Southeast, Greater Boston, and Western regions. No experience necessary, just a willingness to learn. We will offer a full training for those who want to become providers. If interested, you can find the job description and application on our website. www.deafinconline.org/jobs-positions/dbcan-provider
Workshop Announcement!
Join us on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 from 2:00PM - 3:00PM EST for our "Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine" workshop! Everyone is welcome!
Topics include:
1. How to find out when you can get the vaccine
2. How to make an appointment
3. What to expect during the appointment and afterwards
The workshop will be over Zoom: Zoom ID: 918 8838 8357 Passcode: brainfood
Need accommodations? Email our Front Desk, frontdesk@deafinconline.org
There are now just 28 Massachusetts cities and towns at the highest risk of coronavirus transmission, a drop of more than 200 from its peak in mid-January. Please continue wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining social distancing. Stay safe and healthy.
Acushnet, Ashburnham, Blackstone, Brockton, Chicopee, Cohasset, Fall River, Freetown, Haverhill, Lakeville, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Methuen, Middleborough, New Bedford, Peabody, Plymouth, Revere, Rutland, Southampton, Southbridge, Springfield, Taunton, Templeton, West Bridgewater, Westminster and Weymouth.
Hello! My name Elaine Ducharme.
I am the director for the DeafBlind Community Access Network - DBCAN. This program provides services for DeafBlind individuals.
Did you know there is a DBCAN opportunity that enables DeafBlind individuals to become independent? DBCAN is looking to fill the Assistant Director position! The position is 30 hours per week with great benefits.
The responsibilities include:
Qualifications include:
For more information, check out our website! https://www.deafinconline.org/jobs/job-opportunities
Apply today!
Hello everyone!
My name is Robbie. Today I wanted to talk about different scams related to COVID-19.
As we know, the COVID-19 vaccine is being disseminated throughout the US. However, there are scammers out there taking advantage of the situation. I’m going to tell you three way you can avoid being scammed:
1: You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. That’s a scam
2: You can’t pay to get early access to the vaccine. That’s a scam.
3: Nobody legit will call you about the vaccine and ask about you credit card information, bank account number, or social security number. That’s a scam.
If someone contacts you asking for personal financial information, ignore them. It’s a scam. For more information, visit these two links:
Now I’d like to discuss COVID-19 contact tracing scams. If you have contracted COVID-19, your state health department may call you. However, scammers are pretending to be contract tracers as well. I’m going to tell you five important things you need to know to be able to identify a scammer.
1: Real contact tracers won’t ask for money. That’s a scam.
2: Real contact tracers won’t ask for your bank account information. That’s a scam.
3: Legitimate contact tracers won’t ask for your social security number. That’s a scam.
4: Your immigration status doesn’t matter for contact tracing. If someone asks about this, it’s a scam.
5: If you receive a text or email with a link, don’t click it. It is likely a scam.
If you experience any of these scams, report them to your state.
Now I will discuss stimulus check fraud. The FTC issued warning signs about possible scams related to the stimulus checks.
1: The IRS will not text you regarding stimulus checks. That’s a scam.
2: The IRS will not send you mail with a password on it. That’s a scam.
3: The IRS will not send you an overpayment check. That’s a scam.
Other types of scams include economic impact payments. That’s a scam. Do not apply if you already filed your 2019 taxes. Stimulus checks will be sent automatically. If you have not yet received a direct deposit in your bank account, a physical check will come in the mail. For social security recipients, no action is needed. Watch out for overpayment from the IRS. They won’t ask you to send money back. The IRS will not contact you through phone, text, or email asking for your bank account information. If you are contacted in this way, it is a scam.
Now I will discuss scams related to online dating. If an online love interest asks you for money, it is a scam. Scammers know that millions of people use online dating sites. Scammers set up online dating profiles and are hidden amongst the websites. Here are three signs of potential scammers:
1: If someone suddenly confesses their love for you, it may be a scam.
2: If someone asks you for money, it is a scam.
3: If someone claims to need money for an emergency, hospital bill, or travel, it is a scam.
Romance scammers also ask their targets for money to:
1: Pay for their plane ticket or other travel expenses.
2: Pay for surgery and other medical expenses.
3: Pay customs fees to retrieve something.
4: Pay off gambling debts.
5: Pay for a visa or other official documents.
Please be careful of these online dating scammers.
The FTC reported $201 million lost since 2015 due to scammers. Here are four tips on what you can do about scammers:
1: Slow down – scammers tend to rush their targets. If someone is rushing for you to give them money, it’s a scam.
2: Never transfer money from your bank account, buy gift cards, or wire money to someone. You won’t get it back.
3: If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately and they will help you through the process.
4: If you have experienced a scam, report this to the online dating site, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint, and the FBI at ic3.gov.
Scammers ask people to pay them via wiring money as well as gift cards. For example, gift cards from Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, or Steam. Scammers will ask you to load money on these types of cards. Please avoid and report this. It is a scam.
Now I will be discussing scams related to unemployment. Scammers have been sending forms to companies’ human recourses (HR) departments. HR provides information and contacts employee to let them know about the fraudulent claim.
Sometimes employee gets mail from DUA on their unemployment benefits, with information on how to join the health connector, and a flyer for Mass Hires. This is a national scam.
It is believed that the scammers have used stolen personal information from previous data breaches of large companies to file for the fraudulent benefits.
Now – DUA needs added identity verification measures that will temporarily delay the payment timeframe for many unemployment claims in Massachusetts.
Some people who are filing for unemployment may be asked for additional identity information to verify their claim.
What to do if you receive notice that you are a victim of this scam:
Your HR or DUA says claim made in your name and you did not file –
Important to report this right away.
You must report this as well as your HR department. Let them know you were scammed. Run a credit check on yourself to make sure your finances are in order.
If you discover that your finances have been tampered with, report it to these three companies:
1: Equifax
2: Experian
3: TransUnion
You can request your free credit report copy by contacting these 3 credit card companies. They will help you.
That concludes this informative video related to scams and fraud. Please, be careful moving forward and be on the lookout. Have a good day!
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