About Deafness

Fight for Equal Access Does Not End After Retirement

2009-11-28T10:15:18Z

"Devoted Son" on the forum is asking for help with getting interpreting services for a parent in a retirement home. "Devoted Son" apparently has already tried contacting the ADA Hotline, without getting much help. Does anyone have any experience or advice for "Devoted Son?"

Meanwhile, I did some research myself to try to find out how the ADA applies to retirement communities. In this document from the state of Massachusetts, I found this statement:

...retirement communities are covered by Title III, if, they provide significant enough level of social services that they can be considered social service establishments. Social services in this context include medical care, assistance with daily living activities, provision of meals, transportation, counseling and organized recreational activities.

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Fight for Equal Access Does Not End After Retirement originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Saturday, November 28th, 2009 at 10:15:18.

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Nine Years Old - Hearing Loss

2009-11-27T18:14:06Z

Just approved a new posting to the Readers Respond page on parents' reaction to hearing loss. "Guest Carrie" writes that her nine-year-old son was recently identified with a hearing loss, and she wishes that she had been more insistent with his doctors when he was younger.

Nine Years Old - Hearing Loss originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 18:14:06.

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Snap!VRS and Viable Union - Threatened?

2009-11-26T11:19:01Z

According to the Gazette, a Maryland newspaper, the planned union of Snap!VRS and Viable may not happen because of the recent VRS indictments. The Gazette goes on to quote Snap!VRS as saying it was "disappointed at the magnitude" of the fraud. The article also has additional details on how the scheme worked.

Snap!VRS and Viable Union - Threatened? originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 11:19:01.

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Is It Serious or Is It Casual?

2009-11-25T09:22:02Z

"Hopeless Romantic" on the forum has a question about the I Love You sign - in what context is it casual or serious? Here is "Hopeless Romantic's" question:

I am hearing and I started seeing a deaf man recently. I am learning ASL and we have really been connecting. So, we were parting ways and he was getting into his car, and he threw up the "I love you" sign. I know some signs can be interpreted differently, depending on context. I was wondering if this is one of those times. Could he be saying "love ya" or is it really a more serious thing? As with any dating situation I don't want to ask him and make an issue out of nothing. Help?

Can you explain to "Hopeless Romantic" about the I Love You sign so she doesn't get unnecessary stars in her eyes?

Related: I Love You Handshape

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Is It Serious or Is It Casual? originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 09:22:02.

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Vietnamese Teacher Loses Speech, Becomes Teacher of Deaf

2009-11-23T22:22:30Z

A friend and I both enjoyed this story about a teacher in Vietnam who loses the ability to talk. After losing her speech capabilities, she becomes depressed; eventually she begins to work again (but not as a teacher). Several years later, she decides to try to learn sign language. Not only does she learn sign language, she winds up becoming a teacher again - this time of deaf people.

Vietnamese Teacher Loses Speech, Becomes Teacher of Deaf originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 22:22:30.

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Potential Sweetie Has Hearing Aids

2009-11-22T09:15:45Z

Sophia1970 on the forum has run into what must be a common dilemma for hearing people:

"I have just met a very attractive man who is wearing hearing aids and visibly feels a bit uncomfortable about it. I had not noticed, could not really care less but I am not comfortable either pointing the finger nor pretending they are not there..."

Read the rest and reply to Sophia1970 on the forum.

I wonder, are there similar dilemmas when sighted people meet blind people? Are blind people ever self-conscious about their canes?� After all, when you see someone with a "blind cane," you immediately know the person is blind.

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Potential Sweetie Has Hearing Aids originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 09:15:45.

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What Do You Think of the VRS Arrests?

2009-11-20T19:18:47Z

What do you think about the recent indictments of 26 people for stealing millions of dollars from the telecommunications relay services funds? There has been a lot of emotions expressed over this; share your thoughts on the forum. Incidentally, someone asked if I had any relationship to two of the men arrested, because my last name is the same as their last name. I would like to publicly state that I have no relationship to them. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on the forum.

What Do You Think of the VRS Arrests? originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 19:18:47.

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Way to Go, Google! Thanks for Automatic Captions!

2009-11-19T18:23:01Z

You could literally FEEL the joy today in the deaf community when Google announced it was introducing automatic captioning on Google-owned YouTube! As explained by deaf Google Software Engineer Ken Harrenstien, it works this way:

Google has a technology called automatic speech recognition (ASR). ASR borrows the capabilities of Google Voice, a voice recognition technology. At the same time, YouTube already has a closed caption display feature. All Google had to do was marry them, and voila! Automatic Captions.

Plus, Google is also introducing an automatic caption timing technology that will make it VERY easy for anyone to caption a YouTube video. All the YouTube video creator has to do is upload the text of the words spoken in the video, and Google's technology will "listen" to when the words are spoken and create captions!

According to the Official Google Blog, automatic caption timing capability will be available systemwide, but because bugs still need to be ironed out in automatic captions, initial availability will be limited to a few channels on YouTube. The list is on the Official Google Blog.

The importance of Google's accomplishment can not be overstated. The HR 3101 bill's internet captioning requirements do not apply to user-generated content such as that on YouTube. Google has solved that problem for us! The National Association of the Deaf echoed my thoughts when they said:

"Yes, we still need HR 3101! Google's technology is an awesome first step. We look forward to seeing the same initiative from other companies. HR 3101 does not cover user-generated content so Google is a boon to that glaring need. The goal for NAD is 100% access where we are not an afterthought and this is precisely why we need legislation such as HR 3101 to spur on such commitment, quality, and innovation."

The deaf blog community (to say nothing of Twitter) was overjoyed when the news was announced. (Google is posting the captioned video of today's introduction event on its public policy blog). See below who has blogged thus far on Google's newest innovation:

AbledBody
Grumpy Old Deafies - from the UK, which shows the international importance of Google's announcement
Bionic Ear

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Way to Go, Google! Thanks for Automatic Captions! originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 18:23:01.

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South Africa's Deaf Community

2009-11-18T21:18:45Z

Now that Darren Rajbal, a deaf dancer, has won South Africa's Got Talent show, there may be increased interest in South Africa's deaf community. Did you know for example, that there are companies offering specialized tours of South Africa for deaf and hard of hearing people? Maybe we will get lucky and Gallaudet's Dance Company can bring Darren to the United States for a performance.

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South Africa's Deaf Community originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 21:18:45.

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Wyoming Wants Only Zombies to Get CIs

2009-11-17T20:25:09Z

Apparently, the state of Wyoming's Equality Care program believes that only zombies qualify to receive cochlear implants. Why do I say this? Today CD posted a follow-up to her earlier blog post about being denied for a cochlear implant. In this follow-up, CD posted a response from Wyoming Equality Care. A quoted segment: "the client must be unable to communicate through speech or other means to make their medical or basic needs known."

How else to interpret that statement other than that Wyoming's Equality Care Program wants to give only adult zombies cochlear implants?? No speech is clear, but what does "other means" mean? Do they mean that the candidate for a cochlear implant must be unable to read and write? Unable to use sign language? What does it mean? There is no possible interpretation other than that Wyoming's Equality Care wants only zombies to receive the cochlear implant. Correct me if I am wrong, please.

Unfortunately, it looks like the letter CD got is quoting the Wyoming Equality Care rules. I hunted for and found on page 74 of this Professional Covered Services and Limitations Module PDF from Wyoming Equality Care the exact same language under criteria for adults:#2: Must be unable to communicate through speech or other means to make their medical or basic needs known.

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Wyoming Wants Only Zombies to Get CIs originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 20:25:09.

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