William H. Dyer, Jr

My grandfather passed away recently after a long drawn-out illness, which is partly why I have been away from my little blog. During this time, I also had my last few ASL classes and a final presentation to conjure up. I am happy to report that I got a 93% on my final story presentation and an A in the class.

Grandfather was a strong supporter of higher education. His influence was part of the reason I decided to go back to get a degree. It was very hard for me to muster the energy and enthusiasm to attend my final class. In the end, I knew Grandfather would be quite disapproving if I opted to sit home grieving rather than finishing my class.

I will continue to miss him and draw on his encouragement as I push forward with ASL104 in the Spring.

Kickbacks to Doctors for pushing CIs

A good friend of mine, who is Deaf, sent this to me today. It is from the blog Grumpy Old Deafies. The words are not mine, but I agree with the sentiment...

Cochlear's dirty marketing tricks

We've been told that a complaint was filed in USA earlier this year against Cochlear. Upon investigation, we found out that the case focused on Medicare and exaggerated claims made by providers and possible competition practices.

Background
So what's this about? Someone called Brenda March worked as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Cochlear from 1998-2004. She became a whistleblower, and filed a complaint (with the US government) [PDF], via her lawyers. This case has now been referred to the US HHS Office of the Inspector General, by the US Department of Justice. Whilst this complaint focuses on specific American laws around Medicare, and the fairness of payments, it also contains useful facts about how cochlear implants are sold and marketed.

Incentives to use Cochlear's products (implant CIs)
In 1997 Cochlear established a 'Partners Program' (and subsequent schemes), which gave surgeons 'points' each time they implanted a CI. A points programme worked in the same way as rewards programmes you would get at your local supermarket. E.g. when you go shopping in Sainsburys you can get Nectar points. Get enough points and you can get some freebies or rewards. Shop elsewhere, and perhaps you can collect Air Miles, AAdvantage etc. The company buys in your loyalty, thus you feel obliged to buy from them. Its a clever marketing technique, and most of us will participate.

The okay thing about all the above marketing, is you are making decisions which affect *your* life, and *your* finances, and that is where it ends. You are fully aware this is happening, thus able to make an informed decision. Secondly, it usually has no direct implications on anyone's health.

The case of Cochlear points, works in a similar way. Surgeons, audiologists and other front line staff would get points each time their service brought a CI from Cochlear. In other words, the more Cochlear implants a surgeon implanted, the more 'points' they would get, and thus bigger and more freebies from Cochlear.

Purchasing these devices for medical staff, was not for personal use, but they would then need to sell the benefits of a CI to a deaf person or parents of deaf children to get rid of the device, so in turn they could buy more CIs from the manufacturer, and get more points or bigger freebies.

Freebies
Freebies included (to woo medics and encourage cochlear implantation):
- golf tournaments- first class airfares and also for spouses or guests

- exotic holidays- all expenses flights/trip to Australia twice a year, with significant free time & recreational activity

- payment of salaries of employees, and general operating expenses of clinics (which means more profit for physicians or practices)

- free products (which they could then sell on - device costs £16,500, so that much free money)

- direct cash payments

On a points system, these freebies would increase the more CIs implanted. Implant more, and you get a bigger personal prize.

To quote from the complaint brought by the US government and a former Vice President of Cochlear: "The express purpose of such payments are and were to encourage Physicians to direct hospitals ... to purchase Cochlear Implant Systems".

Other dubious practices
Other marketing techniques included such people involved must agree to purchase between 5-10 implants to attend an event. You would obviously then need to pass on this purchase decision to a deaf person, by marketing or selling the idea of a CI to them.

In addition, Cochlear required provide certain outcome evaluations i.e. make sure the results were favourable to Cochlear. Perhaps modify statistics or influence these, and lack impartiality.

Unethical?
See the mentality here? Lets sell the benefits of a CI to deaf people, perhaps tap into their vulnerability, so I can have some more freebies. Perhaps tell them they won't get through education (I've been told this) if they don't have a CI. Abuse and play on fear. Perhaps tell parents that alternatives such as sign language is a bad, and their child will never be normal (again I've seen it happen in clinical situations).

The problem with this, is two things:

- there is a conflict of interest between a surgeon getting a reward, and what is in the best interest of the patient. A surgeon might want some freebies, thus could go for a hardcore marketing technique (implant will really change your life etc), whether it is good for the patient or not. This brings the medical profession into disrepute.

- who is in control? When you go shopping at Sainsburys, you make an active decision to do this, and making an informed decision. The process is more transparent. How many end users are aware of the above?

Cochlear has publically stated that it wanted a 20% target growth internationally, and has beaten these targets, thus one can only assume that such aggressive marketing techniques (and what I would call unscrupulous), are happening elsewhere including the UK. For an international company, it would not single out one country in terms of incentives.

Who is protecting deaf people?
Okay, exactly what are deaf organisations doing about this? Pussyfooting around in case they offend someone, as they have done so for years? Too scared to jeopordise their positions, and put their neck on the line?

Do they receive money too or some other incentive to shut the hell up? Balanced information cannot exist just by taking CI information vs cultural information, money and power structures get in the way.

Hmm ...
A good example of money being the root of all evil?

For the record, if an adult wants an implant then they can have 100 for all I care. However, the over marketing strategies has always scared the hell out of me. It plays on fear of being in a minority and seeks to makes millions from this.

As for Cochlear shareholders, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. The sad thing is, due to how society is constructed, these people will probably think its an ethical investment.

Thanksgiving

There are so many things to be thankful for, not just on Thanksgiving. I am thankful for the obvious things...the health of my family and friends, food in the fridge, a job that pays the bills. I am also so very thankful for my good friends, far and near. From MLG to my north, to KAG to the south - my dear friends help get me through the most trying of times. They are my sounding boards, my safe harbor, and my sanity. Thank you so very much.

Although I do not show it or express it nearly enough, I am thankful to my wife JAL. She does so much for the kids and I, things I do not even think of or realize. She keeps me stocked on my favorite chewing gum while managing to keep the cabinets and fridge full our varied needs and requests. She runs the kids around, takes the animals to the vet, and manages to work 40+ hours a week while helping kids with homework and juggling multiple loads of laundry. It is my generous wife who has made it possible for me to go to school 2 nights a week to purse my passion for ASL.

Speaking of ASL, I find that I am thankful for the numerous good friends I have made in and around the Deaf community. You have been inspirational teachers, wonderful mentors, and now cherished friends. I am so happy to have been embraced into your community and given the opportunity to learn your language and culture.

Safe travels to everyone as they venture far and near this holiday...

Factoids

50 random thoughts and facts about me...

1. I have stuck my arm inside the back end of a horse – with an elbow-length glove – to help deliver her foal.

2. I am terrified of snakes, spiders, and needles

3. My tonsils were removed when I was 6

4. Red wine makes me vomit

5. So does cottage cheese and yogurt

6. I cannot play any musical instruments

7. I can talk to people who cannot hear

8. My sister and I were jilted when it came to body distribution – I have too much butt and she has too much boob. She got the better end of the deal.

9. I detest bologna

10. No matter how hard I try, I cannot stop chewing on my fingernails

11. I am too lazy to shave my legs in the winter

12. I like the aroma of vanilla, but the smell triggers a migraine for me

13. My hair started turning gray at age 23, half way through my first pregnancy

14. I am a sushi-wimp – I will eat the tempura but the really raw slimy stuff stays on the plate

15. Beer – yuck – never touch the stuff

16. When I was skinnier, I did not snore

17. I wish I had more friends

18. Spiders are best sucked up by a vacuum cleaner

19. I am allergic to bee stings

20. Snow is pretty to look at, but I do not want to be in it

21. My favorite color is red, but I cannot wear it because it clashes with my hair

22. I am a very shy person – I have no public speaking aspirations what so ever

23. My son and I are now the same height – 5’10”

24. I am fascinated by ASL, but do not know what to do with the skills I have

25. Cheese is my favorite food group

26. Growing up I could not stand Barbie Dolls – I preferred to rip their heads off and float them in the toilet

27. I preferred to play with cars - hmmm no wonder I became a lesbian

28. My eyeliner is tattooed on

29. I do not like the way I look in videos

30. Reading at night makes me sleepy

31. I am a terrible housekeeper

32. My right wrist has tendonitis

33. Vodka and whisky are lost on me – I prefer rum drinks

34. I am jealous of the Deaf community because they have very close relationships

35. Sometimes I wish I lived alone

36. I am afraid to play blackjack because counting under pressure intimidates me

37. Writing is the one area of school I enjoyed and excelled in

38. I was a pretty good artist back in the day

39. Diamonds match every outfit

40. I enjoyed watching Barney with my young son

41. I come from a very Masonic family

42. OJ was guilty – period

43. I confess to watching Survivor

44. I was married before I could legally drink

45. Hilliary is not the person I will vote for

46. I have two tattoos and one piercing (not my ears…)

47. I helped castrate a baby pig with a razor blade

48. Ancient Egypt fascinates me

49. I regret not getting a degree when I was younger

50. Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving are just wrong

ABC Story

I swear this has to be one of the hardest things to learn in ASL. The ABC Story is a staple of Deaf performance art, but I think you have to be Deaf to be successful at this naturally.

From the Color of Language:

"A treasured part of the heritage of the Deaf Community is their language, ASL. It is, as with any culture, an important part of their identity. One of the fun and special traditions enjoyed and shared by the Deaf Community is signing stories using Alphabet hand shapes. In these stories, various hand shapes do not stand for the letters themselves, but are used as signs or gestures to convey concepts. They are signed in alphabetical order, and used in amazing ways to sign or act out a story."

I will freely admit that I can't do this worth dog doo-doo. I get hung up on the handshapes or trying to correctly form the signs. The last time I had to do an ASL story was in my ASL3 class a few years ago. It was scripted for us so all we had to do was memorize the gestures. Having to come up with this from scratch is a bit more challenging.

Maybe there is some coincidence with the fast that ASL ABC Stories are gesture-based. I can't do Charades worth diddley doo either, unless I can use real signs.

My luck (and a prediction) we will have to submit an ASL story on video tape for evaluation. Perhaps I should start practicing now knowing this is a weak spot for me.

Attendance

I had to miss class last night - something I hate to do. My teenage son was sick and needed someone to stay home with him. Being a mom does not stop when the baby becomes 5'10" tall.

Apparently I missed some new games and practice opportunities. I am sure I will catch up, but I worry about the absence. Teacher has a policy of only 2 absences permitted. Last night was #3. He knows I am a serious and dedicated student so I am thankful to be able to continue in the class.

I am starting to think about Spring 2008 semester and what my next ASL course should be. I have two options - continue on to ASL 104 or stay in ASL103 for the second semester. I am not on any strict timeline for completing the ASL classes, so it would not be the end of the world to have a go at 103 again. The plus side is that I would have a head start since I already know the material and the class format. I think 2nd semester ASL103 has an additional assignment (book report) which is no biggie. The down side is that I don't want to necessarily take the "easy route" and become lazy or over-confident. Perhaps it is good to push on to ASL104 to continue challeging myself.

Perhaps a conversation with teacher is in order. He told me before that I was ready for ASL104, but I want to make sure that opinion remains the same after the submission of my recent video story and after missing class last night.

November Meetup

Tonight was my monthly ASL Meetup group at the local Starbucks. I was happy to spend time with several new and old friends playing an ASL handshape card game. Most of the folks are ASL1 students with a sprinkling of ASL2 students in the mix. Everyone told me they enjoyed the game and learned a bit of new vocabulary. It makes me feel good to be able to share some of what I have been learning all these years.

As I was posting the information for the December Meetup, I noticed that I started this group in March of 2006. My how the time passes quickly! The group has 81 registered members, although only 10-15 participate actively. I have made some very good friends through this group and hope to continue making more friends and sharing my knowledge of ASL.

Chimpanzee who knew sign language dies...

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS, Associated Press Writer Wed Oct 31, 7:13 PM ET

SPOKANE, Wash. - Washoe, a female chimpanzee believed to be the first non-human to acquire human language, has died of natural causes at the research institute where she was kept.

Washoe, who first learned a bit of American Sign Language in a research project in Nevada, had been living on Central Washington University's Ellensburg campus since 1980. She had a vocabulary of about 250 words.

She died Tuesday night, according to Roger and Deborah Fouts, co-founders of The Chimpanzee and Human Communications Institute on the campus. She was born in Africa about 1965.
She was taken to the veterinary hospital at Washington State University on Wednesday for a necropsy. Her memorial will be Nov. 12.

"Washoe was an emissary, bringing us a message of respect for nature," Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold, assistant director of the nonprofit institute, said Wednesday.

The Fouts went to Central Washington from Oklahoma in 1980 to create a home for Washoe and other chimps.

"The entire CWU community and the Ellensburg community are feeling the loss of our friend, Washoe, one of our daughters," said CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre.

Washoe also taught sign language to three younger chimps who remain at the institute, Central Washington spokeswoman Becky Watson said. They are Tatu, 31, Loulis, 29, and Dar, 31.

Washoe was the only chimpanzee at the institute born in Africa and was the matriarch of the chimpanzee family. She was named for Washoe County, Nev., where she lived with Drs. Allen and Beatrix Gardner of the University of Nevada, Reno, from 1966 to 1970.

In 1967, the Gardners established Project Washoe to teach the chimp ASL. Previous attempts to teach chimpanzees to imitate vocal languages had failed. Roger Fouts was a graduate student of the Gardners.

For Washoe to be considered "reliable" on a sign, it had to be seen by three different observers in three separate instances. Then it had to be seen 15 days in a row to be added to her sign list.
But there was controversy over whether the chimp was really using ASL. Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker has contended the notion that Washoe was the first non-human to acquire a human language was without scientific support.

Earthquake!

ASL class last night was certainly interesting. Right in the middle of learning how to express major life decisions, the earth moved. We could hear it before we felt it. The students had a few seconds to reconcile the sound of vibrating windows before the shaking started. Once Mr. G felt the movement (he can't hear the windows or the shaking furniture) he was under the desk in a flash.

For those of you who do not know the campus, we are in the Fremont hills. The building is older than I am, with one ancient elevator. My classroom is on the 4th floor, the top floor.

The movement felt like a shaking first, followed by a rolling motion. It seemed to last a very long time. I have lived in this area all of my life, and I can say this is the second largest quake I can remember. Thankfully nobody was hurt and I don't think there was any damage.

Mr. G dismissed class so we could get out of the building, in case of any significant after-shocks. Once we were outside, I tried to call family to report that I was fine. My cell phone kept giving me "network busy" errors. Once I got home, the news reports continued to highlight that many people did not have cell phone availability. I was able to make a call on a friend's Verizon phone, since my Sprint phone was out of commission.

Today my wife, who is from the Midwest, is freaking out about the possibility of another large quake on the Hayward fault. I think she is on her way to the emergency supply store as I type. I suppose it is good to be prepared since living in California means there will be more quakes. Nobody knows when, but they will happen.

I continue to be amazed by the power of Mother Nature.

Hiatus

I did not realize how long I have been away from my little blog. It has been a busy month for me. Aside from being on campus 2 nights a week, I have been attending a handful of deaf community events.



9/21 Deaf Coffee Chat

9/29 Deaf Awareness Day at Great America

10/5 Feast For The Eyes at CSD

10/12 DINGO at CSD and ASL Meetup

10/19 Deaf Coffee Chat

10/20 CSD Homecoming Game


Next weekend is the annual Deaf Expo at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. This is a huge event not only for the community, but also for vendors and communication services. On my list this year to buy is a linguistics book, an interpreting book, and any fun ASL swag I can find.


I promise to post more, even if it is just a snippet here and there...

Card Games

For class tonight we had a quiz (surprise) and then moved on to card games. The educational piece of this was to show how to explain rules in ASL. Rules could pertain to driving and roadways, customs, and... card games.

Mr. G taughts us to play Gin Rummy and Texas Hole 'Em. I have learned that deafies have a harder time keeping a straight face - likely due to their natural inclination for visual expression.

We divided into small groups and laughed as more than one person ended up with cards on the floor as they tried to shuffly a brand new deck. After 52-card pickup, we moved on to Gin. I actually won this game.

As for the poker, it was much harder to understand visually. Eventually we got the basics of it, complete with value-less chips to toss into the pot.

It was a fun way to pass the remainder of class...

September ASL Meetup

Last Friday evening was another great gathering at the Dublin Starbucks. We over 10 signers attending, from ASL1 students who are just learning their basic phrases to 2nd and 3rd year Ohlone students. The more advanced students had a good time chatting about our teachers and experiences with the beginning signers.

Towards the end of the evening a woman and her daughter happened into Starbucks. The little girl - age 7 - quickly noticed us all signing and motioned for her mother. It turns out that Mom (and Dad, not present) moved to Dublin fairly recently from Texas. They are both deaf, but their daughter is hearing.

Students at all levels in the circle were mesmirized watching this little darling (with the most animated face and deep dimples I have ever seen) sign faster than any of us. She was so excited to visit with us all. We were all astonished, and humbled, to see how fluently she signs at such an early age.

We explained to the new signers that the daughter was a CODA and that ASL is her first language. Her mom told us that she had started signing around the age of 7 months.

I continue to be amazed at this beautiful language and the genuine kindness of the Deaf Community members I am meeting...

Deaf Etiquette

I found this bit of info when searching online for information on Deaf Etiquette. It came from the Rochester Institute of Technology website. There is more than what I have copied below if you are interested...

http://www.rit.edu/~257www/tips/primer.htm

Communicating with Deaf People: A Primer

This is designed as a basic guide for hearing people who want to communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. It is condensed from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf's publication "Celebrate Diversity. "

Customs and Courtesies of Conversation

Deaf people appreciate the efforts of hearing people to learn and use sign. The slow communication speed is a common experience of anyone learning a new language. A deaf person will understand a hearing person's message even with mistakes, just as a hearing person will usually understand the spoken message of a person just learning English who makes some mispronunciations and grammatical errors.

Good lighting, unobstructed vision and a non-distracting, non-glare background are essential environmental conditions for successful and comfortable visual-based communication. A table in the middle of the room forces people to stand in a circle and provides them with a full view of each other. Loud noise interferes with successful and comfortable auditory-based interaction.

Facial expressions are a critical part of communication because they convey the emotions and tone of the conversation. Signing without facial expression is similar to monotone speech. Also, using voice and mouth movement helps a deaf person who has some lip-reading skills and/or residual hearing. However, a loud voice and exaggerated mouth movement interferes with understanding the voiced message.

Getting Attention

Some of the ways to get the attention of a deaf person are to tap the person on the shoulder, wave hands, flash lights or stomp feet on the floor. Deaf people may use these methods to get the attention of others. If one person can't get the attention of the intended person but does get the attention of someone near that person, the signaler may point to the person wanted and the nearby person may tap that person on the shoulder. Your shoulder may be tapped in the process of getting someone else's attention.

Interrupting a Signed Conversation

Deaf people usually do not have private conversations where they can be "overseen," so a deaf person knows it is OK to watch for a pause in a signed conversation, interrupt with a gesture, deliver the message and leave. Hearing people, however, will not watch what they believe to be a private conversation, and will stand by, waiting to be acknowledged. If you do this with deaf people, they will not understand your intention and will continue their conversation. To interrupt a signed conversation, make your desire known by eye contact and gesture without waiting for a pause, then stand by without observing until the person you want to talk to turns to you.

Animate, Elaborate…

Class last night was dreadfully hot - no air conditioning or fan, and the windows did not even open. Being stuck on the 4th floor of an old building with poor ventilation made it really hard to concentrate on the 3 hours of material presented.

We are working on classifiers in story telling. Mr. G's parting words were that we all needed practice. We need to be more animated when we describe situations and tell stories. We need to elaborate more and paint a colorful picture for our deaf viewers. Since they cannot hear the tone of voice or oral emphasis, we need to show this with our movements. This makes perfect sense, in theory. It is the execution that I struggle with.

I am generally an introverted person. You will never catch me as the center of attention in any situation. I hate it when people sing to me at restaurants on my birthday and I never speak in front of crowds. I have always tried to "blend in" and work better "behind the scenes" in situations. I clam up if more than 3 people are listening to me. It makes me very incomfortable to have all those eyes on me. I feel exposed and analyzed. I hate it.

Therefore, the thought of over-exaggerating my movements and facial expressions is something I struggle with. I am getting better with facial expressions. It is the body animation that I will struggle with. It is natural for deafies, but for a shy hearie it is all new. All part of personal growth I guess…

ASL103, Class 2

As I predicted, Ohlone takes their ASL really seriously! This class structure is much more focused and challenging than any of the other ASL classes I have completed. Aside from a strict attendance policy and twice as many Deaf Event requirements, we also have to log 20+ hours of lab time.

The instructor seems to be genuinely interested in the success of his students. I foresee him being rather strict, yet fair and personable at the same time. He came out of the gate with hands flying, but I have come to expect that. Every instructor I have had has started off their class at 110%. It was explained to me once that this tends to "weed out" the students who are not genuinely interested in the class. While I do not know if this is an intentional approach by my current instructor, it had that effect. There were quite a few students in the room with a "deer in the headlights" look. I will be curious to see how many people stick it out after tonight.

If I survive this class, I know I will learn a lot from him.

I think my lenghty and varied ASL experience should show I am serious about learning this language. I have always gone way above and beyond the requirements in my previous classes. I have read books not required and gone to classes and workshops on my own time and expense. I have invested a great many years into ASL. Funny thing is, I still don't have a reason WHY...

Read Any Good Books...?

For those of you who have asked me which books on ASL and Deaf Culture I own, here is a visual listing:

I have a few more not pictured. Somebody once called me a big "ASL Dork" - not sure if I should be insulted or complimented. One of my prior teachers told me I had more books on ASL and Deaf Culture than any hearie she knew. That one I will consider a compliment...

New Class Starts - ASL 103

Tonight starts my next level of ASL instruction. I will be at Ohlone every Tuesday AND Thursday night for class.

Last week I went to the campus to pick up my parking pass. Now understand it has been quite a few years since I have been on campus. I remember it was a bit of a hike up from the parking lot. OMG - it took me longer to climb the 157 steps than it did to drive to Fremont from Pleasanton! The 157 steps up was also from the closest empty parking lot. I think it is fair to assume I will not always get the first parking spot closest to the stairs in the closest lot. Perhaps if I don't have a heart attack, I may actually lose some weight this semester. Once is gets dark and rainy, it is really going to suck.

It was an odd reality to be up higher than the palm trees.

Tonight there are 5 of us who are supposed to be taking the class together. We were all classmates, and now friends, from our previous classes at Las Positas. It is comforting to be going into a new school already knowing a few people. We plan to carpool as much as possible. Plus I think there is safety in numbers as we leave the campus at night.

I have been told that the cirriculum at Ohlone is much more structured and challenging than that at LasPo or DVC. Hopefully I can keep up.

Deaf Coffee

Last Friday I went to my local Starbucks for the monthly Deaf Coffee Chat. There were only 8 people this time, and I am happy to report that I was the only hearie there. It was nice to have the smaller group and actually be able to visit and keep up with these native users.

The prior month, there were 33 people at Deaf Coffee! Over half of them were ASL 1 students who had to cram in a "deaf event" for their summer class. This is fine, as long as the visitors actually participate. Unfortunately, most of the visitors just sat there motionless. Worse yet, there were a couple who not only did NOT participate, but they started and gawked or chatted verbally with their friends.

Folks, Deaf Coffee is not the Zoo. Staring at or making fun of the deafies is so rude. It is the few people like this who ruin the fun for everyone. I now have seen for myself and understand why my Deaf friends tell me they do not enjoy it when the Baby Signers show up.

Lesson for today: If you show up to a Deaf event, remember you are a guest in their space. Be respectful and participate, with your hands. Talking to your friends can be accomplished some other time and place...

Deaf storyline on All My Children…

I originally read the below article and was thrilled to hear they would be featuring a deaf-focused storyline on AMC. Employing Deaf actors is a huge plus. Then I read on further to learn it was going to be centered around Cochlear Implants. Sigh...

Well, I guess any exposure is good exposure. At least they are going to hire Deaf actors...


All My Children will cast deaf actors and actresses surrounding a storyline about a toddler who becomes deaf as a result of a car accident, it was announced by Brian Frons, president Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group. As the parents cope with their son's condition, they will explore a variety of medical options, including Cochlear implants. In the episode to air on August 15, the show will introduce Walter Novak, its first deaf character for this story arc, who will be played by Bob Hiltermann, a deaf actor.

"This storyline gives us the opportunity to explore the emotional challenges and real-life decisions facing the parents of a child who has been permanently injured. We will go on a heart wrenching journey with our characters as they learn about the current medical options and obstacles facing their child who has become deaf. In the tradition of All My Children's hallmark storytelling, this is a story of strength, love and hope," says executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers.

One Life to Live star Kassie DePaiva has been consulting with All My Children, sharing her real life experiences raising her son, James Quentin ("JQ"), who was born profoundly deaf. At the age of 18 months, JQ received his first Cochlear implant, and received a second implant at the age of eight.

JQ is now 10 years old and attends mainstream schooling. As a part of All My Children ongoing commitment to this topic, JQ will guest star in episodes featuring Erica Kane's (Susan Lucci) talk show, New Beginnings, which will be dedicated to the theme of deaf children.

These episodes are set to air on September 20, 21 and 24. The show will also produce episodes featuring support groups for parents with deaf children. Deaf actors and actors who have received Cochlear implants will be cast in all applicable roles. The show will be consulting with the League for the Hard of Hearing and will air PSAs is support of the organization.

All My Children has established itself as a leader in daytime dramas as one that educates through entertaining. Over the past three decades, viewers have watched the characters deal with both social and personal issues, including abortion, HIV and AIDS, substance abuse, eating disorders and many more. In 2000, television history was made when All My Children became the first daytime drama to incorporate a lesbian character as a contract role. In 2003 another historic moment was made when the show aired daytime television's first same-sex kiss between two women in a loving relationship. In 2007 the show became the first to chronicle the coming out story of a transgender character.

All My Children celebrated its 37th Anniversary on January 5, 2007. The program has successfully maintained its popularity and continues to be one of daytime's most compelling dramas. All My Children took home the 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, the third time the show received this top honor, having also garnered the award in 1994 and 1992. In 2004 the show also received its third consecutive Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series Writing, its third Writers Guild Award and its fourth GLAAD Media Award in March 2007

Shortage of Interpreters (NY Times Article)

Saw this article in the NY Times about terps in the Court system. Seems like becoming an interpreter could be financially rewarding. Still, I don't know if I have the emotional detachment to robotically bridge the two languages.

The article shares information about the shortage of terps, a situation that is not specific to NY alone...



Judge Spotlights Shortage of Interpreters for the Deaf
New York Times
Published: August 10, 2007

The prevailing custom in the New York courts is for sign language interpreters to work in tandem: one translates the rapid-fire arguments of courtroom life, while the other gets to rest weary hands.

There is, however, a shortage in the courts of sign language interpreters, so this buddy system does not always work, according to court officials. Yesterday, a judge in Queens took note of the shortage, writing a memorandum that explained why he had awarded an interpreter who was forced to work alone twice his daily rate of pay.

The judge, Justice Charles J. Markey of State Supreme Court, gave the higher rate to Gabriel Grayson, a certified American Sign Language interpreter. It was after Mr. Grayson had translated for a deaf plaintiff at a six-day civil trial in June involving a personal injury case. Mr. Grayson had told the judge and other court officials in Queens of the normal two-interpreter setup, but agreed to work alone, for a bit more money, after officials could not find another interpreter to relieve him.

The judge’s memo was entirely self-motivated. No one at the trial — not the plaintiffs, Farrah and Bibi Wahid, nor the defendant, the Long Island Rail Road — disputed that Mr. Grayson should receive the higher rate.

In fact, in his 13-page decision quoting experts on the deaf (and a former lord chief justice of England and Wales), Justice Markey explicitly said that he was trying to call attention to what he considers a worthy cause.

The memorandum, the judge wrote, is intended to explain the court’s decision in signing the order for the increased pay “and to throw a spotlight on the disturbing lack of skilled ASL interpreters in the courts.”

That lack, according to research laid out in the judge’s memo, has a number of causes. First, he wrote, the court interpreters must often wait months to schedule an examination with their certifying body, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The exams are expensive, the judge wrote, as are the dues that interpreters must pay or else risk losing certification.

The court’s rate of $250 a day is not competitive compared with pay rates for similar duties in the private sector, he explained. Justice Markey also pointed out that interpreters are rarely given cancellation fees when they work in the courts, where hearings can be called off without notice at any given time.

Justice Markey noted the “explosion of employment opportunities” for the certified interpreters at video conferencing events — a much gentler form of work than the nonstop world of the courts. While there are no official studies of sign language interpreters in the New York legal system, Justice Markey quoted a study from Nebraska that said 65 percent of all assignments for American Sign Language interpreters in that state’s courts went unfilled.

Back in New York, he said, even in Rochester, which has the largest per capita deaf population in the country (the National Technical Institute for the Deaf is there), only a limited number of certified court interpreters are available.

Justice Markey made specific mention of Kathleen Rozanski, a deaf woman in Rochester who filed a federal complaint in 2002 related to the handling of her divorce.

Justice Markey wrote that Ms. Rozanski’s lawyer did not hire a certified interpreter, but instead relied on notes, telecommunications devices for the deaf and family members familiar with sign language to communicate with her in court. In her complaint to the Justice Department, Ms. Rozanski said these alternate methods of communication had led to higher legal fees. Federal officials agreed, finding in a settlement with the lawyer that attorneys must provide interpreters to communicate with the deaf.

Gordon Hewart, the lord chief justice of England and Wales from 1922 to 1940, once wrote, “A long line of cases shows that it is not merely of some importance, but it is of fundamental importance, that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.”

Justice Markey wrote, “With increasing societal awareness and sensitivity to the plight of deaf persons in the courts, we can add to Hewart’s famous dictum that justice, in the form of courtroom proceedings, must also be clearly heard and, for the hearing-deprived, must be unmistakably interpreted so as to be undeniably understood.”

Tutoring...

A big thank you to my former instructors for recommending me to tutor their current students! I have had numerous emails in the last week from ASL students wanting help preparing for their finals. This is wonderful for me for two reasons - I get to share what I have learned from my years of studying ASL & I get some cash out of the deal…

There are two students I have met with a few times now, and they seem to be inproving very well. When I first me them, before their midterm, they were on the cusp of failing. I am happy to report that they both scored over 90% on their midterms, after two meetings with me. I guess I am doing something right.

I am planning to meet two more students this weekend to prepare for their finals. Hopefully they get the same result…

Deaf Performing Artists Network

Fabulous Video for deafies and hearies both. Go see this...


http://www.d-pan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=45

Root Canal...

Ever had one? Unless you have, then you don't realize how badly it friggin hurts!

To compound my problems, the bad tooth is #3, which means it is an upper tooth in the back next to my already ringing ear. The pain and pressure from the tooth are now intertwined with the pressure and noise in my right ear. This week I am living on antibiotics and vicodin, counting the days until my endo appointment on Monday morning.

Those of you that know me well, know I absolutely love my ASL classes. Tonight I hurt so bad that I am missing my last class at Berkeley City College. There is no way I can sit upright, let alone sit through a ride on the BART. I certainly can't drive medicated.

Therefore I will go home and whimper to myself while I wait for the next dose of vicodin to kick in...

"MindField"

I am always looking for new books relating to Deaf Culture to add to my own little library. This book was referenced on a blog I read somewhere (sorry I can't remember where). Anyway, it arrived today. I am anxious to start reading it, especially since I am 3rd in line in my house to read Harry Potter...

MindField by John F. Egbert

What would happen if most American’s became deaf almost overnight? Chaos? Financial collapse? Both?

MindField is a thrill ride, an incredible message of hope within a Tom Clancyesque novel. Perhaps the world would be better if we all had to listen with our only our hearts.

Book Description

What would happen if most of the people in America became deaf almost overnight? Chaos? Financial collapse? Anarchy? None of the above?

MindField is a thrill ride with a message; a premise torn right out of today’s headlines. A terrorist cell ignites an aerosol dispersion of what is thought to be deadly bacteria—spinal meningitis. It quickly spreads from a small town in Montana to nearly 30 states, eventually affecting more than three million people—an epidemic of nation-threatening proportions.

However, the problem isn’t death—it’s deaf. The physical symptoms of the disease disappear after three weeks, the only remaining tragedy is all those who are stricken become permanently deaf—a common side effect of spinal meningitis.

The United States is turned inside out, now a country where millions of the inhabitants can’t hear. An underground government is formed deep beneath the NORAD facilities in Colorado. A catastrophe of unimaginable proportions—or is it?

MindField is a fast paced, plot driven suspense novel with a pleasant surprising, and incredibly potent message about the way we might live our lives if we all had to listen with our eyes and hearts, and how the world might be a much better place for it.

I will post more about it as I start reading...

Child Advocacy...

Recently I was very pleased to be invited to join a new nonprofit group called SNAPS...

Please join SNAPS -- Signing, Networking, and Advocacy of Parents and Siblings, a newly formed nonprofit group -- as we welcome you to a free workshop that will teach you specific strategies for successfully parenting children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and helping them feel like a part of the family. The event will be this Saturday, July 21st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rincon Valley Library in Santa Rosa.

Barbara Street, a Marriage and Family Therapist who is a parent and counsels children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing along with their families, will offer a free 2-hour workshop on how to improve communication within families with children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. At the same time, SNAPS will provide a supervised playgroup for your children (deaf and hearing) so you can focus your attention on the workshop.

Following the workshop, SNAPS will have an hour discussion for parents, teachers, other professionals and the deaf community about how our organization can better serve families with children who are deaf. Some of our ideas thus far include information regarding IEP support-learning, what you can ask for from the schools, IEP advocacy (a person to go with you to IEP meetings), sign language classes, parenting support groups, Cochlear Implant support groups, and after school care for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and their siblings. What do you need as a parent? How can we help you? Be a part of making SNAPS an organization that provides your family with what you need to thrive!

Unfortunately I am unable to attend this first event. I did tell the person who invited me that I am very interested in this group and the focus they are describing. Perhaps it will "catch on" and thrive enough to expand in to other geographic areas, like the Bay Area.

So I suppose if I am going to get involved with groups like this, I should temper my opinion on CI's. I still believe that deaf children need to be exposed to their Deaf community, from the earliest point possible. This means educating the parents on ASL communication and Deaf culture. I hope to someday be a bridge for these parents, helping them learn to sign to their babies and introducing them to the differences between the cultures.

Tinnitus…

Oh.My.God this is annoying! The constant buzzing and swishing sound in my right ear. The unbalanced feeling. The pressure. Learning to live with this continual background noise is becoming challenging...

Tinnitus: tin-night’-is or tin’-it-is (either pronunciation is correct)\ n. [L., tinnire to ring]: the perception of ringing, hissing, or other sound in the ears or head when no external sound is present. For some people, tinnitus is just a nuisance. For others, it is a life-altering condition. In the United States, an estimated 12 million people have tinnitus to a distressing degree.

Tinnitus comes in many forms:

* Some of the most common include a sound of crickets or roaring, bzzing, hissing, whistling, and high-pitched ringing.

* Other types of tinnitus include a clicking or pulsatile tinnitus (the noise that accompanies your heartbeat).

* The most common type of tinnitus is known as subjective tinnitus, meaning that you hear a sound but it cannot be heard by others.

It is especially bad in quiet environments - like trying to read or sleep. I am finding myself asking family to repeat themselves since I am just not hearing them. I need to be looking at the speaker now. I can't hear from across the room or down the hall anymore. Even if I do hear the sound from the other room, it is often mistaken for some similar word. The other day, Purina (as in cat food) sounded like urine. Also, medication became vacation. I am tired of saying "what did you say?"

I feel like I am listening to earphones with the right one malfunctioning. It is distorting the sounds I do hear. At least my exposure to deaf/hoh people has improved my natural communication patterns. I am already in the habit of looking at someone when I speak to them. I try very hard to maintain eye contact (which is hard for a hearie). I have stopped looking away when I am speaking or putting my hands on my mouth/chin. I rarely talk with gum anymore.

I already talk with my hands in loud environments where I can't hear easily (restaurant, amusement park, concert). It is just instinctual. Now I am doing it more and more. I also find myself naturally turning my head to the right, thus trying to listen with my left ear more.

I am not one to run to the doctor very often. Unless I am pretty sick, I avoid anyone who can stick me with a needle. This is getting to the point where I am going to have to break down and make that doc appointment. The pressure is giving me headaches, which I am already prone to.

I used to find a lot of comfort in locking myself in a quiet room to think or read or just nap. It was my rejuvenation. Now that is even interrupted by my noisy right ear...

Cochlear Implants in children…

This is such a debated topic in the Deaf Community. With that said, I know I have absolutely no rights or experience with which to base comments on this. My opinions are completely my own and I do not presume to judge anyone who does choose to implant their child. That said…

How on earth can people choose to cut open their child's head like that?

I do not profess to be a religious person, more of a spiritual person. I am of the belief that if _____ (insert your Deity of choice - God, Buddha, Mother Nature, etc.) wanted me to have a deaf child, then I am in no position to argue that destiny. I was blessed with two healthy children, now teenagers full of spunk and attitude. They are both hearing. Some say I should call myself lucky. I wonder sometimes, would I have done anything different of one of them had been born, or became, deaf?

No Way!

To me deafness is a character trait, like green eyes or left-handedness or homosexuality. It is part of who the person is meant to be. Does it make life harder - hell yes! I do not deny that at all. Even with the challenges deafness presents, I am still confident I would not cut open my child's head in an attempt to provide some artificial hearing. As a lesbian, my life is harder than many. I am discriminated against in many areas. But it is who I am and what my destiny is. My mother would not have put me through some unnecessary surgery to alter my hormones and make me desire men. Yes, being straight would make my life easier, but it is not me.

I have read the debates on both sides of the CI issue. I have watched "Sound & Fury" multiple times. I find it fascinating that the CI issue polarizes so many people in the Deaf community. I know the "optimum" time to implant a child is while they are young, but what if that is not what they would want? I know a few Deaf adults who were implanted as children. As soon as they could, they stopped using the CI. They told me that it was intrusive and painful. They resent their parents for destroying any residual hearing they may have had. As adults, they tell me they would have never chosen this for themselves.

Perhaps my opinion stems from the fact that I love ASL and the Deaf culture. I find it to be a robust and rich language and culture, full of life and color and history. I would be proud to have a child as part of this community. I do not see deafness as something to be fixed or cured or pitied. There is nothing WRONG with being deaf.

I wish more hearing parents would educate themselves on ASL and Deaf culture before they take the advice of medical professionals who claim a CI would make their deaf baby "normal" again. The CI does not make a deaf child hearing. The child will always be deaf. I think it does a disservice to these children to not expose them and their families to the richness that the Deaf community can provide. Not to mention, it will save them from having their skull cut open!

Teaching...

I am finding that many people assume I want to become a teacher when they find out I am taking additional ASL classes. I also know the idea of a hearie teaching ASL is a very touchy point for many deafies. Let me clearly tell you now - I do NOT want to teach ASL!

I do know that some hearies are wonderful ASL teachers. They are near-fluent in their ASL skills or are CODAs. They demand a "no-voice" classroom and provide an optimum ASL learning environment. I have no problem with this at all.

What does strike me as odd is the hearing teacher who takes a handful of ASL classes and then professes to be an ASL instructor.

My first two classes were from a hearing teacher who was not a native user. It was a noisy classroom with instruction often in spoken English. I know enough now to know that there is no way you can learn ASL properly if you are hearing English at the same time.

I have a deaf friend who teaches ASL. She is a native user and is a wonderful teacher. My friend expressed a common feeling among her community about hearies teaching ASL:

Some deafies are curious why hearies are learning ASL. Some may be offended if you want to teach at deaf school because they feel that hearies take away jobs from deafies. Sometimes I get irritated when some hearing ASL teachers who are NOT native ASL. They teach at public school or community college. That is not right. Just because they completed a few semesters of ASL classes does not mean they are Fluent.

However, I know a few hearing ASL teachers who are near native and do follow the NO VOICE philopsophy but most don't. What's the point of teaching ASL if English is used in the classroom??

I completely agree with her assessment. From a hearie student perspective, I can tell you that learning ASL in a no-voice environnment is the only way to do it right. I would never dream of attempting to teach ASL. I am not qualified nor would I want to take a job that a native user could do so much better.

So if I am not going to teach (which I am not) then the question remains. Why am I so drawn to ASL and why does it get under my skin so much? What am I going to do with the language skills I am learning…?

Check them off my list...

So the meeting with the Ohlone counselor turned out better than expected. She said that I was fortunate to have taken so many gen ed classes 20 years ago. All of my classes transferred and almost fulfilled all of my gen ed requirements. Thank God I finished the math, english, history, psych, etc. I do have to take about 4 classes (2 of which are PE - which is completely screwed).

Once those are done, I can focus on the additional ASL/Deaf Culture classes I need to get the AA in Deaf Studies. I am already 12 units into it, so it is better than starting fresh.

This Fall I am registered for ASL 103 on Tuesday AND Thursday nights. I am also taking a Nutrition class online since it meets a Science requirement. I will also need a Fine Art class (one of the online classes was History of Rock Music - how this will help me in my job I dunno...)

The remaining classes I need fall under Cultural Diversity, but those can be the two Deaf Studies classes I need anyway - Deaf History and Deaf Culture.

Still not sure if I want to pursue interpreting or perhaps something else related to working with the Deaf community. The Ohlone ITP Program is very intensive and not something I can do while working during the day. Plus, being a Terp does not feel do-able yet. Perhaps when I am more confident in my ASL skills.

It was nice to learn that this will not take me another 10 years to complete. The counselor said that I was in better shape returning after 20 years than anyone she has seen before...

Idioms...

Like any other thriving and evolving language, ASL has its own share of idioms.

Idiom - noun: A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements.

In English, we use idioms all the time. I never realized how often until I started learning ASL Idioms.

Imagine for a minute English was not my primary language. It would be quite hard to understand phrases such as:

bite off more than one can chew
don't count your chickens before they're hatched
make a mountain out of a mole hill

ASL idioms are no different. Idioms were the topic of my first two classes at Berkeley City College, as well as a 3 hour workshop I attended over the weekend.

I especially like learning the idioms because they are not in any of my textbooks. Knowing not only the specific signs, but also the meaning helps when I am at a Deaf Coffee night or some other event. If someone signs “train go sorry” or “funny zero” I now know what they mean. The idiom sings make sense if I am able to understand them conceptually, and turn off the English grammar in my head…

Alphabet Soup...

A.A.
B.A.
B.S
B.S.Ed
Ed.S
M.Ed
M.S.,
M.A.
Ph.D
M.A.T
M.A.T.E.S.O.L

MJ Bienvenu, Associate Professor of ASL & Deaf Studies; B.A., English, Gallaudet College, M.A., Linguistics, Gallaudet College, Ph.D., Union Institute & University; Special Student, Gallaudet University; Special Student, University of Maryland

John B. Christiansen, Professor of Sociology; B.S., Carroll College; M.A.T., Antioch College; M.A., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

Cynthia Edwards, Assistant Professor of English; B.S., State University of New York, at Geneseo; M.A., Ed.S., Gallaudet University; Ph.D., University of Maryland

Paige Franklin, Assistant Professor of English; B.A., M.A., Gallaudet University; M.A.T.E.S.O.L.; American University

Kurt Metz, Assistant Professor of Psychology; B.S.Ed., Shippensburg University; M.A., Gallaudet University; Ed.S., Auburn University; Ph.D., University of Kentucky

I am really struggling with this need for a degree. I know all the arguments – I work in HR. It all just seems akin to a hamster running on a circular wheel. I take all of these “general education” classes because some decision maker says I need them for my degree. I fail to understand what impact a class on astrology or bowling or history of rock music has on my daily life.

I have to spend my time and money on classes and be away from my children, just to tick a requirement off a sheet of paper. Tuition, books, parking, gas – all things I have to invest my limited resources in to meet this societal expectation.

It has been 20 year since I graduated from HS. I have had 20 years of life experience molding me into the tax paying citizen I am today. I have run a house, bought and sold property on my own, had children, accepted and declined jobs. I have single parented my children. I have been a nurse, a counselor, a chauffeur, and a cook – often times all in one day. I have no fancy piece of paper with my name on it and those coveted abbreviations. Is my life and my experiences and my time any less valuable than those highly educated folks above who do have the degree? Now don't get me wrong, I respect those people who have the drive and energy to continue learning. They work hard for their degrees and I applaud their accomplishments. I just think there needs to be some credit for "life experience" in the absence of the degree.

Working in HR, I see that many people hold degrees in fields of study that have absolutely nothing to do with their job. A close friend in the IT world has her degree in early childhood education. Perhaps the tolerance she learned at school while studying the best approach for teaching toddlers helps her with the stubborn IT egos in the office. My former Vice President for a medical IT solutions company had his degree in zoology. I can’t strike any parallel between selling hospital data infrastructure solutions with the study and care of zebras.

Yet I keep running up against the same wall – I need a degree in order to “progress” in my job. I need to get this damn piece of paper in order to gain the higher credibility and paycheck.

So tonight I am off to Ohlone to meet with a counselor. Hopefully some of the 38 units of school I finished almost 20 years ago will be transferable. It would be nice to have a bit of a head start ticking the classes off that requirement sheet.

Tonight I will talk with the counselor about their A.A. in Deaf Studies. Hell, if I do have to spend my time and money on the piece of paper it may as well be in something I value. Bossman would challenge why I would waste my time in Deaf Studies. He would probably prefer I take Business Administration classes or at least Liberal Arts. Screw that. Realistically the AA Degree will not benefit me in this current job at all. (HR VP even frowns on people who get a Ph.D. from University of Phoenix. It is not a “good enough” school)

At least the Deaf Studies focus will keep me in classes on a topic I care about. Then I can get that coveted piece of paper and perhaps move into a field that values me for more than answering the phone.

I love these lyrics from a song by the Indigo Girls:

I went to see the doctor of philosophy

With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee

He never did marry or see a B-grade movie

He graded my performance, he said he could see through me

I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind, got my paper and I was free.

Tonight I start on my journey towards that freedom…

Crossroads...

At the age of 38, I still don't know what I want to "be when I grow up." Is that normal? For various reasons having to do with money and family, I did not go to college right after high school. Rather I went to work full-time and took some junior college classes at nights. I was 18, and like most my age, thought I knew everything. I was making really good money and had my own apartment, plus a new car. Why on earth would I want to quit work and go to school full time?

Now I know why.

To go to school now is a pain in the ass! There is no winning lottery ticket in my pocket, so school has to fit around full time work and two teenagers. The thought of writing papers and researching and reading and studying - oy!

I did crank out about 38 units at the junior college, before I got married. At least SOME of it is out of the way. But - get this - I still need to take a PE class! Pleeezzz. Can't 15 years of chasing children count as phys ed?

I am really enjoying my ASL classes, and am starting to look at continuing education past the ASL classroom. I took the plunge and registered for ASL and something else this Fall. Cultural Anthropology. Apparently it is something I can mark off the requirement list somewhere.

So I finish the general ed classes I need for a 2-year degree - then what? My boss here in the HR department is not going to do anything different or pay me any more.

I need to find my passion, and then perhaps the required education will seem worth it. Maybe a mentor who can help me define what it is I want to do. For right now all I want to do is learn to sign...

Summer Enrichment 2007

Now that I have finished ASL 2B at LasPo, I have maxed out on classes available close to home. It is important to me to keep my signing skills current, so I enrolled again in a summer series at Berkeley City College. This is the same school had a vocabulary class with in Summer 2006, just a new name and fancy new building.

This class is intermediate level conversational skill building. The 5 week series is taught by Ramona Galindez, the same instructor I had for vocabulary class last summer. Ramona is like a Deaf Whoopi Goldberg, dreadlocks and all. She is funny and has the best facial expressions. I really enjoyed my classes with her last year, and look forward to this year as well.

I am taking the class with a very dear friend of mine. We spent the 45 minutes or so on the BART laughing and signing. We got a few looks from the weary evening commuters, but not many. Signing in public helps me to get more comfortable with my facial expressions and body language. I know that some people will be curious and look, which I am learning is fine. Since I am a basically shy and introverted person, it is a bit of a stretch for me to sit there making "funny faces" during my conversations.

Anyway, last night we covered ASL Idioms. I especially like learning things like this - things not in the text books. It is the "real life" slang and phrases that I want to understand. Helps me keep up with the conversations at Deaf events.

Next week is going to focus on fingerspelling and ASL numbering systems...

ASL 2B… (Rated PG for content)

Approximately 2 years from my return to Las Positas for ASL 1A, I started what would be my last class as LasPo. As it turns out, mine would be the only ASL 2B class as they are not keeping it available due to lack of enrollment. Spring 2007 rounded out my 4th formal semester of ASL, again with Melinda teaching.

This class was more challenging than the others, but then it should be. Melinda would remind us that we are in our 4th class and should be challenging ourselves!

The big shocker came when Melinda told the class that we had to do a midterm presentation to last 45 minutes! Okay so let me say now that I have NEVER stood up in front of a group and talked for 45 minutes, with my voice or hands. This freaked out a lot of the students, and was the first real assignment we have had. Melinda was pretty flexible on the topic and content. She wanted to see proper ASL grammar and signing (no voicing!). She wanted the presentation to demonstrate something and required it to have class interaction.

Most students chose to do a PowerPoint presentation with either still images of them signing (which was ineffective) or with video of them signing. A few of us stood up in front of the class and presented live.

Fortunately for me, I had recently attended a workshop by Sandra Amundsen on a topic that I could use for my midterm. (See Sandra's link in my Distractions section). So lucky me, I was the very first student to present and had to stand up in front of the class and demonstrate the material from the workshop.

My topic was “HANDSHAPES: COMMON MISUSES IN ASL” Below is the text from my midterm handout listing the signs I had to demonstrate and use in a sentence or story. I am amazed I was able to pull this off!

Sharing of information learned at “HANDSHAPES: COMMON MISUSES IN ASL” workshop. This workshop was taught by Sandra Amundsen, owner of Sandra’s ASL Services.

Sandra explained common misuses of handshapes, where the signs are similar but have hugely different meanings.

Please note: Some signs are of a graphic nature, but necessary to show the vastly different meanings for similar signs. If you are uncomfortable with signs of a graphic or sexual nature, you are welcome to skip this presentation.

Common Misuses of Handshapes

1. APPLE / COOL
2. BLACK / SUMMER
3. BREAKFAST / BITCH
4. CHEESE / MOVIE
5. CHURCH / CHOCOLATE
6. DUTY / DOCTOR
7. EXCUSED / EXCUSE ME
8. FRENCH FRIES / PEPPER
9. HUNGRY / HORNY
10. JAPAN / VAGINA
11. MEET / FUCK
12. MUMPS / MEASLES
13. ORANGE / BLOW JOB
14. PINK / PENIS
15. POPCORN / STRIPPER
16. RECENT, RECENTLY / SEX
17. RETIRE / VACATION
18. SALT / VOCABULARY
19. SHY / PROSTITUTE
20. UMBRELLA / MASTURBATE

Well I lived through the "colorful signs" and got the class to participate with me and sign sentences back using some of the words. Melinda gave me a near perfect score, which is always nice. More importantly, this presentation taught me that I could stand up in front of a group of students and spend 30+ minutes signing coherently...

Name Sign…

One thing that many hearing signers don't understand are the "rules" which govern the granting of an ASL Name Sign. Within the Deaf community, there are certain traditions and guidelines which must be respected. Name Signs are one of those things that hearing people absolutely should not take upon themselves to make up.

Following are two quotes which illustrate my point very well:

"Culturally, Deaf people are the only people who should make up any sign. It doesn't matter if it is a name sign or any other sign. We hearings are not natives to this language and should not take it upon ourselves to create any new words even if it is our own name. Culturally, Deaf people are the only ones who should give you your name sign. If you wait and get to know a Deaf person, then it will feel more special having your name sign come from someone who is a native speaker. Being an interpreter, I was taught about the importance of NOT crossing cultural lines in the Deaf community." --NTIDDEARIE

In the Deaf world, assigning name signs is generally considered to be the prerogative of Deaf people. The word prerogative means "an exclusive right or privilege held by a person or group" (dictionary.com). Which is to say, traditionally "Hearing people" should not give themselves name signs. Instead they should get their name sign from a Deaf person skilled in ASL and active in the Deaf Community. This helps insure that the new name sign doesn't conflict with existing local name signs. --Dr. Bill Vicars

So imagine my surprise one night in when Melinda referred to me with a name sign! I actually was not sure that is what she signed, so I emailed to ask. Since I knew the *rules* about name signs, I wondered if I had been officially granted my name sign. She said that she used it without even realizing it. ("I use it as you have a "Deaf Heart" and very passionate about learning our culture. That probably why I signed it without thinking it. Hope you liked it.") Melinda's comments made it all the more meaningful, especially since she was able to see how much ASL has grown to mean to me.

Now, over 20 years after I started learning this language, I officially had my own Name Sign. While there are others that select name signs for themselves for a variety of reasons, I respect the Deaf Culture and traditions enough to wait until I "earned" it from a member of the Deaf Community. It means much more to me that way. Of course that is just my perspective, but given the fact that I am an outsider in THEIR community, I would never presume to step on their customs or traditions...

ASL 2A...

Finally, Fall 2006 semester was open for registration. I was able to get back into my routine with the ASL 2A class back at Las Positas. Melinda was again teaching which was wonderful for me. I felt like I was just getting to know her, and looked forward to the review of materials learned in the ASL 2 combo class. Back at LasPo, the 2nd year of ASL is broken up into two semesters. I hoped to have a chance to dig deeper into the material from the spring class.

Melinda was charming and effervescent as ever. This class was much smaller and felt more connected. Some of the same ladies were still in the class with me, along with some new folks. Again, I hoped that the people taking their 3rd semester of ASL were in it for serious study. Most of them were.

We went through more of the vocab in the book, and spent time learning the associated signs for the Fall and Winter holidays. More Deaf Community events were required and an extra credit project. I did mine on a "Deaf Culture Trivia" type of slide show.

For our final, we had a written portion and then had to stand up in front of class and sign "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" This was not only amusing, but gave me a chance to compare/contrast my signing style and skill with my peers. Some students were really good at it, some sucked. I was starting to see that signing comes more naturally to some people, and thankfully I think I am one of them...

Summer Enrichment 2006...

I found myself really missing my ASL class once the Spring semester ended. Las Positas did not offer any ASL summer class at the 2nd year level (and goodness knows I didn't want to take ASL 1 for a 3rd time) so I started looking around for some ASL summer enrichment. I found it through Vista Community College's summer class series. The only down side was that the class was quite a way from home in Berkeley.

I enrolled in a "conversational vocabulary" class that met one night a week for 5 weeks. It was a no-credit class, but thought it was a good opportunity to keep practicing and keep my fingers limber. The class was scheduled to be taught by Jennifer Ann Cook (JAC) but ended up with some sort of scheduling change. I was delighted to meet Ramona Galindez, a wonderfully funny deaf woman.

The format of the class was to pick a topic each night, then brainstorm vocabulary related to that topic. One night was medical signs, the next legal, etc. There were no tests or homework, just a few hours to sit and learn some new vocab. I also got to meet some new students from another ASL program, and reconnect with a few ladies I had met previously at the ASL Immersion Weekend.

This week (tomorrow in fact) I start another summer enrichment series at the same school. This class is "intermediate conversational skills." Hopefully I can keep up! It is a good way to keep practicing over the summer months…

Meetup.com

A friend told me about a social group website called Meetup.com. There you can find a vast array of monthly social gatherings on tons of subjects right in your own area. I did a search on ASL and found a few different groups. One in Sacramento, but they meet for breakfast and that is too far to drive. There is another ASL Meetup in the San Francisco area, but again that is a bit far.

I registered on the site and asked to me notified if any new ASL groups were started in my area. Apparently there were about 35 other people that wanted an ASL Meetup in my area also. A few months went by, with all of us waiting for someone to start a group. I thought it would be a great tool to connect with other ASL students and kept hoping there would be enough interest to start a group.

I got tired of waiting, so I started it myself. (See link in my "Distractions" section)

Now I host a monthly ASL Meetup group at our local Starbucks. There is a nice group of "regulars" that tend to come, with some new folks sprinkled in from time to time. It also helps that Ed will give his ASL 1 students credit for showing up to fulfill their deaf event requirement.

At most of the gatherings, we sit and chat (in ASL) about what classes we are taking, talk about instructors, and answer questions from the new signers. Last month we all played an ASL card game loosely based on the game UNO. The two hours flew by while we socialized and learned more about handshapes and signs with this game.

I can't believe it was March of 2006 that the group started - time has passed so quickly. I am very thankful to have this group, as it gives me not only a place to practice, but an opportunity to meet some amazing people...