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Social Security Administration’s Disability Service Improvement has announced that the final rule establishing a new disability determination process is on public display at the Office of the Federal Register. This is for those who receive or need to receive supplemental security income (SSI).
Mary Chatel (Mary.Chatel at ssa.gov), Executive Director of Disability Service Improvement, is available to discuss this.
In the Sign-language takes to the web interview, the CEO of SignPost suggests that live sign language would be more beneficial than subtitling. People who use sign language are supposed to learn how to read and write in the official language of wherever they’re from. Subtitles reach a far wider audience than sign language.
However, I understand the preference of “live” sign language as it’s faster in a live situation. But when it’s possible to choose one of the two, subtitles is the better choice as many employees don’t have sound turned on to avoid disturbing office mates. So subtitles aren’t just for deaf folks.
Students, staff try being deaf for a day isn’t unusual as many schools have diversity programs where students learn what it’s like to deal with various challenges from not being able to walk to not being able to see. Integrating such lessons in the school curriculum will go a long way in helping kids become sensitive and understanding of differences.
In a world where kids are being desensitized to violence, we need all the help we can get. My children’s elementary school has International Day once a year and it’s a fun day where the kids learn about a few countries.
Do you know about diversity programs? If so, how do they work? Make it part of the curriculum?
Tara Rose McAvoy didn’t have to die. She wasn’t even ON the railroad tracks, but near them. Obviously she and many others didn’t know that walking a a couple of feet away from the track could be dangerous. Gerri Hall, president of Operation Lifesaver said, “Many people do not realize there is at least a 3-foot overhang of a train on both sides of the tracks.”
Because McAvoy couldn’t hear the train’s horn, she didn’t know a train was coming and that she was in harm’s way. Operation Lifesaver sent out a press release stating they’re working to educate deaf and hard-of-hearing people about walking near the tracks.
The organization has 3,000 certified presenters in the U.S. and Canada who give free safety presentations to community groups and organizations. Let’s hope McAvoy’s death means saving many lives as people learn about the dangers of walking alongside the train tracks.
Synagogue offers sign language interpreter to help its deaf congregants follow services. I don’t like going to services. It was torture to sit there for hours staring at the ceiling. As a result, I don’t last long in services or lectures where I can’t follow what’s going on.
Why don’t I sit in the front? Doesn’t make a difference. I’m a religious person and I do care — just not about services. Why don’t I skip them? Tradition. Seriously. It feels wrong not to. I remember one service that I enjoyed. I attended a women’s conference and the services were easy to follow and a joyous experience thanks to the attendees.
If I work harder to follow services, I know I’ll be worn out within 30 minutes — an hour at the most. Services are rarely that short!
Wired article on preventing hearing loss talks about music, headphones, and speakers and how they affect hearing. The second page of the article provides tips for preventing hearing loss. A lawnmower is 85 - 90 dB. Here’s a list of sounds and how loud they are.
Dangerous Decibles is working to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss. It has an interactive Virtual Exhibit that’s worth checking.
Olympian Vonetta Flowers Deaf Son Hears Cheers after receiving a rare auditory brain-stem transplant in Italy, a surgery that’s not approved in the United States. Flowers gave birth to twins who arrived prematurely. The daughter has normal hearing while the son has bilateral atresia (underdeveloped outer ears).
A cochlear implant doesn’t help people with a damaged cochlea or auditory nerve. So the option of simulating the brainstem with the auditory brain-stem transplant works for some people who fall in this group and Jorden was one of them.
A Danville, Kentucky, resident wrote a letter to the editor in support of a deaf candidate for mayor. Couldn’t find more info on the Web other than short excerpts essentially saying the same thing.
Thanks to Codeman38 for pointing out these articles from MSNBC regarding the lack of captions or transcripts on online videos. It’s a fast-growing frustration especially with video in iPods, PDAs, and another portable players. I can’t download TV shows and enjoy them like most of the public.
Subtitles: Deaf to the Problem
iPod screens too small for captions? Please. I’ve used a PDA since 1995 and have had no problem reading the smaller text that appeared in many apps when I reviewed PDA software.
I’ve just completed judging of many high quality Web sites and the number of sites that bothered having captions or a script was less than the fingers on one hand. Most of these sites had video, audio, or both.
I didn’t know about Harkle.com. It searches for captioned media. I came across AOL’s Video Search tool and for the heck of it, entered “close-captioned.” The results were pitiful listing about four pages worth of documentaries.
I like documentaries as I regularly watch Food Network and caught an interesting program on The History Channel last night. But these weren’t up my alley. I don’t think too many people are interested in “Managing Rodents and Mosquitoes through Integrated Pest Management.” The video is from 2003 and is targeted to those in the pest control industry.
Thanks to MSNBC for noticing the problem. Captions aren’t just for those with hearing problems, you know?
Bad news: Miss Deaf Texas Struck and Killed By Train in Austin. Apparently she was walking alongside of the tracks where she was close enough to get hit. Hearts and prayers go out to her family.
More articles on Miss Deaf Texas and one from CNN.
Updated on March 15, 2006
“DPHH Austin wants to make announcement that DeafCities.com just launched Tara Mcavoy Memorial Website where you can find information, news, photos, guestbook and other such. You can see it live at:
“Tara Mcavoy Memorial Trust Fund information is available on the web site.
“Any photos you want to add, please send to deafcities@deafcities.com and they will add it for you. If you have poems or anything, please go to the guestbook and write them. Within 60-90 days, we will hand over the website to Tara’s family for their memorial.
“As you know, our special event on April 8, 2006, we were suppose to have a surprise guestspeaker, this was for Tara Mcavoy that we are to donate money to support for Miss Deaf America, but with this tragic death, we feel deep hurt and sad, please give prayers for Tara and we will never forget her. We will contiune to donate the money to Miss Deaf Texas to compete for Miss Deaf America and to Tara Mcavoy Memorial Trust Fund.
“Please give them your support, they will be fully appericated.”
Thank you.
Regards,
DPHH Austin
Updated on March 14, 2006
From Deafnetwork: IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE!
“We are saddened to announce the death of our Miss Deaf Texas 2005-2007, Tara Rose McAvoy. She was killed on Monday, March 13th in Austin, Texas. Her friends and family will sorely miss Tara. Tara will always leave behind a legacy that will always be remembered. She represented Texas with dignity and pride and that will never be forgotten. Tara will always hold a special place in our hearts. Tara will be honored at the Miss Deaf America Pageant this summer in Palm Desert, California during the final night of the pageant. We want to express our deepest sympathy to Tara’s family during this time of loss.
“As we remember Tara, our 1st runner-up, Johanna Valenta of San Antonio will now assume the role of Miss Deaf Texas 2006-2007. She will represent the Lone Star state of Texas at the Miss Deaf America Pageant this summer. Johanna has willingly accepted this role to continue the legacy of the pageant, as Tara would have wanted.
“Please continue to support the pageant and support Johanna as she prepares to assume a big responsibility in such a short time. We, the Miss Deaf Texas Pageant committee and the Texas Association of the Deaf would appreciate your continuous support of the Miss Deaf Texas pageant. Contributions may still be given to help us send Johanna to California.”
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Loeb Hill
Miss Deaf Texas State Pageant Director
Poem In Loving Memory of Tara Rose McAvoy
Farewell, Our Texas Rose
by Kathy Walters
It seems just like the other day,
That you began your reign.
You were our Miss Deaf Texas,
Our smiling Rose and Queen.
You wore your crown with pride.
Reflecting lights of grace and dignity;
On all of us radiating in your beams.
In so short the time you were our Queen.
You left behind devastated hearts,
Of those whose lives you touched.
Someday we will understand,
Why you were snatched from us.
We’ll miss the twinkle in your eyes,
And your sweet and dimpled smile.
Your kind and loving heart,
Was more than Texas-sized.
And now we must say farewell,
To our beautiful Texas Rose.
Your memory will always live inside,
Our heavy hearts as we sadly say goodbye.
By Kathy Walters
Deaf History Month runs from March 13 through April 15. The March issue of Captioned Media’s ezine has a wealth of information on deaf history.
From National Association of the Deaf release:
“A program highlight will be the introduction of a kit designed to provide information and resources for the nation’s libraries across the country for celebrating Deaf History Month. The kit includes: Program Planning Suggestions; Resources (deaf professional services, library membership organizations; 2006 annual deaf-related events, notable deaf pioneers; Library References; and Glossary of Terms Related to the Deaf Identity; and the National Deaf History Resolution approved by the American Library Association in 2005. The website of the Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action makes the kit available online at: http://www.folda.net (click on “Library.”) Celebrate Deaf Legacy Kit
Doctors training in sign language isn’t an ordinary sign language course, but one that focuses on medical terms. This could be something we’ll see more of in the future… sign language tailored to specific professions — at least the critical ones like medicine. The article explains that more than one-third of hard of hearing patients didn’t understand their conditions because of communication barriers.
I never leave the doctor’s office without being clear on what came of the visit. When it was more important, I usually bring Paul or Mom with me. Sounds childish, but health is important and we don’t want to misunderstand when it comes to that.
Fomdi lists Captioned Movies playing around the US. Just enter your zip code, how far you’re willing to travel, and when you want to see a movie. Very nice resource. Typically, I go to AMC Theaters and look under Dallas. It’s the only chain that cares enough to provide captioned movies.
I’ve written to another chain with a theater that’s walking distance from my house and the reply not too friendly. The gist is that the chain doesn’t do it and won’t do it in the near future.
Paul was at the mall and saw a girl wearing hearing aids with colorful earmolds. Intrigued, I did a search and it’s amazing what you can get today. My implant does come with changeable color covers. I was excited about them, but never switch colors. Just wearing silver all the time.
Not only do colorful molds exist, but also glitter and even animals are available. A few pictures show hearing aids in the shape of an animal. Man, quite a far cry from the boring tan hearing aids I had for years. It wasn’t till I had the implant that I got something different. The main part of it is silver. First, they got me brown, but corrected the mistake and got silver. The following pages demonstrate the wild world of hearing aids and implants.
Hearing aid choices for babies has colorful molds and hearing aids, clips, a children’s book, and a few other things. Babies and kids aren’t the only ones who like a splash of colors. Us adults, too!
Westone displays a diversity of ear molds, clips, and stylish gear.
Colorful hearing aids from Eurion.
Hearing aids with patterns have more than just a splash of color.
This is freaky. Silicone impressions that fit inside the ear.
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match with Oticon Color MatchMaker.
Karma, karma… chamelon ear plugs and swimplugs. Colorful molds aren’t just for the hearing impaired.
Tour of 20th century hearing devices.
I admire the Deaf Skydivers folks simply because I’m afraid to do such a thing! Paul would like to try it, but I’ll stay firmly grounded, thankyouverymuch. Guess you wouldn’t call me a daredevil. Scariest thing I did was rappel down a mountain and it was not that steep.
I love indoor rock climbing, though. That I do. No bungee, parachuting, or anything along those lines for me. That’s why I’d never try out for Amazing Race. I’d freak out on too many of the events. Besides, those long car trips would not work out well.
I never thought about becoming a pilot nor the challenges that come with it because of communications between pilot and air traffic control. In spite of the barrier, Stephen Hopson passed his oral and flight exams making him the first deaf person to get an instrument rating from the Federal Aviation Administration. He is allowed to flight in low visibility conditions. Here’s another article about him.
In researching this article, I discovered the Deaf Pilots Association, which says somewhere between 100 and 120 deaf people are pilots. It has fly-in every year and its FAQ explains how deaf pilots fly without being able to hear the radio. Gotta be impressed with these folks. I am.
