DRM Deaf Services

07/26/2025

There’s an entire month dedicated, in part, to celebrating the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it has helped people with disabilities. So, what is the ADA, why is it so important, and what rights are covered by it?

Slide 2: The ADA is a piece of civil rights legislation meant to protect people with disabilities in the U.S. from discrimination based on their disability. This document is important because it provides protection for people with disabilities in many different aspects of life. The Rehabilitation Act is another important disability law that was passed before the ADA.

Slide 3: The ADA has five titles that detail the rights that come with different aspects of life: Title I is Employment, Title II is State and Local Governments, Title III is Public Accommodations, Title IV is Telecommunications, and Title V is Miscellaneous Provisions.

07/09/2025

Register now for Maine Deaf Culture Festival!

Deaf Culture Festival Online registration is now open!
www.deafmaine.org/dcf/

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our DCF chairperson, Emily, at dcf@deafmaine.org

(ID: Light turquoise background, fonts are written in dark turquoise. The graphics include ASL signs for "connect," "social," and "enjoy."

Maine Association of the Deaf Presents
DCF 2025 (printed three lines in fading turquoise colors)
Call for Vendors and Sponsors (written over the DCF 2025)

Deaf Culture Festival
September 27, 2025
Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm
1 Mackworth Island, Falmouth, ME 04105
Questions: Contact Emily at dcf@deafmaine.org.)

07/02/2025

Reminder! DRM is hosting our annual disability pride event on July 18th at Mill Park in Augusta from 11am to 2pm. There will be speakers, resources, art, music, and dancing. Come celebrate the ADA’s 35th anniversary and join in community!

Not able to make it in person? DRM will be live-streaming the speaker portion of the event and will be hosting several virtual webinars about disability rights later in July. Visit https://drme.org/event/disability-pride-2025/ for more information

06/26/2025

Upcoming events of interest at the Bangor Public Library! ASL confirmed today and on to 7/24!

Today at 12: Break Up With Meta

Thursday, July 10 at 12: Break Up With Amazon

Thursday, July 24 at 12: Break Up With Google.

Available in-person or online via Zoom.

Register by calling 207-922-6055 or at bangorpubliclibrary.org.

05/30/2025

SUN Bucks is back this summer! SUN Bucks help to ensure that kids get the nutrition they need to thrive over the summer while school is out. Each eligible school-aged kid receives a one-time $120 EBT benefit to spend on groceries.

Keep an eye out for a letter in the mail! Most eligible kids will be automatically enrolled. Learn more about SUN Bucks and your child’s eligibility at: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement/sun_bucks

05/29/2025

The next MaineHealth Behavioral Health June Stakeholder Meeting is coming up on June 2nd, 2025, from 9 to 10 a.m.

MHBH Deaf Services invites the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and DeafPlus communities to participate.

The meeting will focus on Maine’s Deaf community model, Deaf services integration with state agencies, and identifying service gaps to report to the Department of Health and Human Services.

ASL interpretation will be provided.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99129059010, Meeting ID: 991 2905 9010.

Contact: Sarah Roller at sarah.roller@mainehealth.org with questions.

05/27/2025

05/27/2025

Maine DHHS’s Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace is working with Pan Atlantic Research to learn more about women’s healthcare in Maine. The Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace runs coverME.gov. Read more below for more information and the link to see if you qualify! If chosen to participate, they will reach out to you to share more information, answer your questions, and you can tell them any accommodations you need to participate.

They are looking for women to join a 90-minute online group in early June. If you are picked, you will get a $125 Visa gift card as a thank-you.

You may be able to join if you:
• Are between 18 and 54 years old
• Live in Maine
• Have MaineCare, CoverME.gov, or no health insurance
• Have a phone, tablet, or computer with internet for a video call

Want to join? Fill out this short form to see if you can:
https://www.research.net/r/QNCJLV7

If you are picked, Pan Atlantic Research will contact you. There are only a few spots, so not everyone will be chosen.

Your answers will stay private. No one else will see your name or personal information. Joining is your choice and will not change your health coverage or benefits.

Have questions? You can contact Jason Edes at Pan Atlantic Research:
Email: jedes@panatlanticresearch.com
Phone: 207-221-8877 x1

05/15/2025

Join us on May 19th from 3-5pm in Newport for our next Deaf Rights Group meeting, at the Newport Cultural Center! Park in the back parking lot and enter through the back entrance. :)

Deaf Rights Group is an open meeting for all to come and share information about the needs and accomplishments of the Deaf Community in Maine. Celebrating 30 years, since 1995!

Share community concerns and barriers, and learn about resources. Come be part of the conversation! DRG serves as the advisory committee to the DRM board, as other constituent groups do, and helps to set priorities for DRM Deaf Services.

Contact: Michelle Ames, mames@drme.org or VP 207-805-7024

05/02/2025

05/02/2025

MaineHealth Behavioral Health Deaf Services is inviting the Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind/DeafPlus community to join their inaugural stakeholder session via Zoom.

This event is this Monday morning, May 5th, at 9am!

The session will highlight gaps in support, services/programs, barriers/challenges which will be reported to DHHS.

ASL will be provided.

Questions? Contact: Sarah.roller@mainehealth.org

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/99129059010

05/01/2025

Don't forget!DRM is inviting Mainers to submit a design for our 2025 Disability Pride Banner! The winning design will also be used for our 2025 Disability Pride t-shirt and in DRM materials promoting Disability Pride. Second and third-place prizes will also be given.

Theme: Disability Justice and the ADA

Submission Deadline: May 30th, 2025
Announcement of Winners: June 20th, 2025

For complete rules, visit: https://drme.org/event/disability-pride-2025/