MINNEAPOLIS, Sept 30, 2009 -- Celebrating the stories, culture and heritage of America's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, Purple Communications(TM), Inc. (PRPL) will honor cancer survivor, community activist and deaf healthcare advocate Anita Buel.
The Greater Minneapolis community is encouraged to join in the celebration on October 3, 2009 at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South, 7800 Normandale Boulevard in Minneapolis, MN. The event will feature former Miss Deaf America, Lauren Teruel Ridloff, as emcee of the festivities, which include an onstage interview with Anita Buel and 'Q&A' session from 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm, CDT. Purple will also host onsite workshops earlier that day, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, which include topics on local number registration and a product demo on its P3 optimized Purple Netbook.
The Dream Bigger campaign recognizes trailblazers in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community and aims to celebrate the advances they have made. Whether it has been breaking down barriers or establishing new status quos, these Trailblazers have improved the overall quality-of-life for all members of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community. Anita Buel along with nine other visionaries in the in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community have been chosen as one of this year's finalists. Each finalist was awarded a $1,000 cash prize from Purple Communications to be donated to a non-profit organization of their choice and in their name as a way of paving the road for the next generation of trailblazers in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community. Buel chose Pink Deafies, an organization she founded to support deaf cancer patients and survivors whose voices were sometimes unheard due to their disabilities.
In October 2009, Purple Communications will announce the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year, one of the 10 finalists, at the Dream Bigger Gala in Washington, D.C. The Trailblazer will best represent the essence of the Dream Bigger initiative, and will receive $10,000 to be donated in their name, to their non-profit organization of choice, as well as an all-expenses-paid vacation. The individual will be chosen by online voting at www.purple.us/dreambigger.
Anita Buel was initially stonewalled by her primary care doctor when she asked for a referral for a routine mammogram. After finally securing the referral and getting the test she learned she had Stage 3 breast cancer. In the years that followed, Buel was put through an obstacle course by insurance and healthcare workers who treated communication with her as more of a hassle than a necessity.
Having celebrated twenty-five years of living cancer-free, Buel has turned her passion for life into a passion for advocacy. Committed to not letting other deaf cancer patients feel as isolated as she, Buel founded Pink Deafies, a cancer support group focused entirely on supporting deaf women fighting cancer and educating doctors, nurses and others of their obligation to inform deaf patients of their treatment and treatment options every step of the way.
"Any health problem is frightening and patients are looking for answers and support. Despite the communications barrier that might exist between deaf patient and doctor, deaf patients still deserve the same dignity and options as hearing patients," said Buel. "Throughout my own personal heath care battle, I knew that I wanted to make the path easier for other deaf cancer patients. I hope to continue to help bridge the gap between quality of care of deaf patients and hearing."
"Anita's commitment to make other deaf cancer patient's lives easier and educating doctors on how to better communicate with deaf patience is the essence of what a true Trailblazer is. She has taken her experience battling cancer and now works to empower others as they battle the disease," said Brandon Arthur, Vice President of Marketing Communications of Purple Communications. "The Dream Bigger campaign is all about recognizing community visionaries who have the tenacity to fulfill personal dreams and lead the way for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people everywhere to pursue theirs. Purple has always focused on creating cutting-edge technology services that make communication more convenient for its customers."
To learn more about the Dream Bigger campaign, find out dates and locations for all events, view and read Trailblazer stories, and vote for the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year, visit www.purple.us/dreambigger. Also, be sure to follow the Dream Bigger campaign on Twitter -- www.twitter.com/idreambigger and Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Purple-Communications/42541479161.
About Purple Communications
Purple Communications is a leading provider of onsite interpreting services, video relay and text relay services, and video remote interpreting, offering a wide array of options designed to meet the varied communication needs of its customers. The Company's vision is to enable free-flowing communication between people, inclusive of differences in abilities, languages, or locations. For more information on the Company or its services, visit www.purple.us or contact Purple Communications directly by voice at 415-408-2300, by Internet relay by visiting www.i711.com or www.ip-relay.com, or by video phone by connecting to hovrs.tv.
To view this press release in video format please click here: www.purple.us/Press/Buel.
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