Not recieving the next available appt due to lack of accomodations available:

Well its been a while since I've been on here. Today, on my mind is, the struggles that we face trying to obtain interpreters.

Usually we face obstacles in obtaining them, and recently we faced one, where one was forced upon us, blocking us from having instant access as a hearing person would have. Heres what happened:

One day, I walked into an office and requested an appt, and it was 2 weeks away...I requested an appt as soon as possible:
they say "Im sorry but we can't give you the next available appoiintment, you will have to wait 2 weeks so we can secure you an interpreter".
Me: "I am willing to forgo an interreter, I want the next available appointment". Them: "I am sorry, we cannot obligue you, as the law says we must provide you with an interpreter".
Me: "yes, when I request one, and when appointments are made in advance. However, I am in need and I have the same right as any person to have the next available appt and waive my right for an interpreter at this specific appointment".....

So annoying. Then, more recently, I went in to make an appt for my sister at her doctors because they were not answering the phone. I requested the next available appointment which was "tmw morning".....but they disagreed and said they need 2 weeks notice to provide an interpreter.
Me: "She is sick, she doesn't need to wait 2 weeks, she is willing to waive the right to an interpreter for this certain appointment".
Them: "Im sorry but deaf folks have been forcing us to follow the ADA Law, so we are required to provide an itnerpter"
Me: "Yes, you are, upon request. We are not requesting an interpreter--we would like one but we know its probably impossible to get an intepreter at this late of a notice, but she is sick and needs to be seen".....

Talk about the frusterations! If I culd only educate everyone! I am only one person. We can only educate one at a time, one by one. Even when workshops are given, they do not comply. Sometimes you just can't win. But educating little by little, eventually we will win.

Oklahoma is one of those who is very behind.
I lived in Oregon for a year and a half and did not have this struggle.
Our pastor and his wife moved here from New York City, and they said they too did not face this struggle.

Heres to educating OKLAHOMA!

Deafness--with Family and Friends

My eyes are my ears. With my eyes, I "hear" the world. The other nite, I visited old friends--those I grew up with--when i could hear. Before my hearing was totally lost. Back in the time, when hearingaids were useful. Then, my hearing gradually declined, and I drifted apart, allowing my hearingloss to come between me, my family and my friends. Even tho I made new ones that I culd talk to more, I missed my friendships of young.

This past month, I got to renew these friendships. Staying int ouch is a great thing. I stopped for a quick visit with my grandma--who I struggle so hard to understand--I don't get to visit with her when my family gets together--they're all busy talking, and I cannot hear.

So last Friday, I visited for 45 mins. Alot of it was "lost", hard to follow, but still enjoyable--even though awkward. This is what I mean by drifting apart and allowing it to come between us. Then....I made a stop---to my childhood best friends house--I was nervous. I knew I wouldn't be rejected---but its soo hard to have a conversation continuously when no sign language is present.But I love her, and I missed her, and I wanted to make an effort to stay in touch, for my family and my childhood best freinds mean the world to me. So I stopped by. Somehow, we managed. 30 mins, a few repeats, but all went well :) Then...in the next town over, I stopped by her sisters, my other equally best childhood friend. Her sister---culd fingerspell and knew a few words in sign---so we visited for 2 hours!

I've learned cherish what we have. Hearingloss shldn't get in the way of family and friends. I've missed alot of time with my family, because I'm really shy, and I don't speak up, because of my hearingloss. I am trying to learn to live without regrets. Missed opportunities--we learn from them.

I don't regret being deaf. I recently learned my mom didn't want me to get the cochlear implant. She was told I would lose what I already had. So she made a wise decision. I am greatful. I love being deaf--I have no complaints. It doesn't matter that I miss out on wonderful sounds---like my childs voice--I miss it--I didn't get to hear his voice become deeper as he changes into a teenager.....like family conversations---but thats life, and we learn to deal with it, and we become positive about other things.
Thats my outlook on life, and I'm sticking to it. Make the best of what you have. The glass is half full-not half empty! :)