AIM has a long relationship with the deaf culture and through its 30-year history has provided services and programming in education; advocacy; rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act; information about, and temporary provision of, assistive technology; self-advocacy; and information and referral.
By appointment with the Deaf Coordinator Ray Parks, the following are offered to the deaf and to other interested parties: individual advocacy; trainings to empower the deaf in self-advocacy; presentations for assistive technology, interacting with deaf culture, educating youth on deaf culture, deaf support groups and deaf club. Please contact Ray Parks, AIM Deaf Coordinator, at TTY 607-962-8225 and Sorenson at 607-215-7836 in the City of Corning to schedule an appointment. Dr. Parks can also be reached through New York Relay at 711.
For the hearing that are interested in interacting with Dr. Parks, please do contact him through New York Relay at 711. For your face-to-face meeting, AIM will provide an American Sign Language interpreter or assistive technology (UBI DUO) that will allow Dr. Parks to converse with the hearing.
Several years ago, through meetings with the Deaf of Chemung County, AIM learned that the three greatest concerns of the deaf were 1.) having hospitals provide an interpreter for the deaf when the deaf are taken to, or admitted to, a hospital; 2.) interacting with law enforcement during traffic infractions; arrests; and in cases of domestic violence, especially where hearing children are used by law enforcement during a domestic violence call to the home; and 3.) the school system not interacting with deaf parents by TTY in cases of emergency or to relay information that is being relayed to hearing parents.
To purchase any of the following DVD's in their entirety, please visit the fund-raising page.
In response to these concerns, AIM gained funding from various sources to produce three DVDs that detail ways in which to address these concerns. Clips from these DVDs follow:
Please, cut out and use this deaf card:
Click Here To Download Deaf Card!
During the filming of the law enforcement series, AIM constructed a DEAF CARD that can be
placed in the visor of the deaf person's car, and taken down and shown to law enforcement
during a traffic pullover - just as is shown in the DVD. For purposes of making sure the
deaf have this card, please
Can AIM Deaf Services find me a job?
No. You will be referred to VESID.
(click here
to visit the VESID page).
Can AIM fix my video phone?
No. You need to contact the company who owns the video phone.
Sometimes I don't the understand letters I get
in the mail. Can AIM help me explain what it means in the letter.
Yes. Contact us for an appointment.
Will AIM staff show up for me
in court or at a school CSE meeting or any other meeting?
Yes. AIM staff will come with you as your advocate, but you must make an
appointment with AIM to discuss what you need as soon as you know you will
have a court date or CSE meeting. Do not wait to call AIM - call right away
so you are sure AIM can give you someone to work with and has plenty of
time to help you get your information in order. In addition, during these
meetings, you, as an adult or as a parent, still have the power to make
decisions and the final say in what it is that you want. AIM acts as a support
to you during this time.
Can AIM help pay my rent or bills?
No. We do not give out money.
How can I be a part of AIM's Support Group meetings and Deaf Club?
Contact Ray Parks at TTY 607-962-8225;
or by Sorenson at 607-215-7836
Will AIM loan me deaf equipment?
AIM used to loan great amounts of equipment to the deaf. Because so much of the
equipment was not returned, AIM only loans equipment in very special circumstances
through its TRAID program. Call the Deaf Coordinator, Ray Parks, for more information
on how to loan equipment through TRAID.
Click here to access the world deaf directory.