(This is not my blog, I am posting for you to read--this is NAD's letter to Netflix on their refusal to caption the wizard of oz. Way to go NAD!)
Renee'
Letter:
NAD Calls Out Netflix on CaptionsOn September 9, 2009, the National Association of the Deaf requested that Netflix provide a captioned version of “The Wizard of Oz” movie that Netflix made available online, for free, for everyone on October 3, 2009. Netflix disregarded the NAD request along with thousands of letters, emails, comments, and tweets urging Netflix to caption the movie. Today, the NAD expressed its dismay at the lack of any response from Netflix and its failure to make this 70th anniversary celebration of “The Wizard of Oz” accessible to 36 million deaf and hard of hearing viewers.
Here is what the NAD said:-------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, October 5, 2009
Catherine FisherDirector, CommunicationsNetflix,
Inc.cafisher@netflix.com
Ms. Fisher –
On September 9, 2009, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) wrote to you in response to Netflix’s announcement that “The Wizard of Oz” would be freely available to everyone on October 3rd, the 70th anniversary of this classic film. We requested that Netflix enable people to choose to view a captioned version of this classic film by placing a "CC" icon on your webpage linked to the captioned version. We urged Netflix to take advantage of this unique opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to providing accessible entertainment to 36 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans.
See http://www.nad.org/node/442. In addition to the NAD, Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin and many other people appealed to Netflix to caption “The Wizard of Oz.” The process of captioning “The Wizard of Oz” is technically possible and relatively simple to achieve. The television version and the DVD version of the film have already been captioned. Captions can be programmed into the Microsoft Silverlight application that Netflix uses for its Watch Instantly feature. Captions have been included in videos, programming, and movies made available for viewing online. See, for example, http://www.hulu.com.
We received no response from Netflix. Our request for a captioned version of “The Wizard of Oz” on October 3rd was not honored. Unlike the characters in “The Wizard of Oz,” Netflix looks like it is still searching for its brain, heart, and courage. We view Netflix’s lack of response and lack of captioning for “The Wizard of Oz” as a blatant statement by Netflix that 36 million deaf and hard of hearing people are second class citizens. This is the message that our community received from Netflix.
Netflix must commit to a policy and timetable to provide captions for its online movie service to ensure equal access to this service by Netflix account holders who are deaf or hard of hearing. Such a policy is a not only a good business practice, it's the right thing to do. In addition, we ask Netflix to meet with NAD representatives, and the courtesy of a response to this invitation.
Rosaline CrawfordDirector, Law and Advocacy CenterNational Association of the Deaf8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820Silver Spring, MD 20910 Advocates need to continue to request captioning on Netflix Watch Instantly movies by sending messages to Netflix by Twitter via the Netflix twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/netflix or @netflix and http://www.twitter.com/netflixhelps or @netflixhelps, via the Netflix Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/netflix, by posting comments on the Netflix blog at http://blog.netflix.com/, and contacting:Catherine FisherDirector, CommunicationsNetflix, Inc.cafisher@netflix.com408-540-3847 Netflix Customer Service1-866-716-0414Source: http://www.nad.org/news/2009/10/nad-calls-out-netflix-captionsNetflix: Wizard of Oz - 70th Anniversaryhttp://www.netflix.com/wizardofozYahoo Tech:http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/57543/deaf-association-to-netflix-why-no-captions-during-free-online-showing-of-oz/HackingNetflix.com:http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2009/10/netflixs-wizard-of-oz-showing-upsets-national-association-of-the-deaf.html
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Miss. Deaf USA
Today I saw something new in Deaf America. This is what I will call the deaf in America--Deaf America. Because I can. So news today in Deaf America, is that there is Miss. Deaf USA---a new pageant to be hosted in Las Vegas Nevada in 2010.
I ofc am wondering what NAD thinks of this? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? We have Miss. Deaf America---hosted by the state pageants in each state, then you win the title Miss. Deaf America when all the states gather. But this is where it stops. There is no interational pageant.
The Miss. Deaf USA will be international. No state pageants to determine Miss. USA? Instead any girl/woman that fits the criteria can run? Then go to international?
I haven't decided yet what my thoughts are. I think its good in some ways. A nice chance to have an internatinal pageant. Except, who do they represent? If its not affilated with NAD, can they still represent all of us who are state members or national members? How does this work?
So I have alot to learn, as I reserach on this and gateher thoughts and opinions.
This will include bathing suit competition--since they said it on their site www.missdeafusa.com NAD does not have this. Thank goodness, because as a former Miss. Deaf Oklahoma, I don't think I would've been comfortable prancing around in my bathing suit.
But, to me it sounds like Miss. Deaf USA is almost equivelent to Miss. USA so this can be a good thing right?
So here I am, curiuos to find out what the thoughts of others, that are not affiliated.
More details later.
I ofc am wondering what NAD thinks of this? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? We have Miss. Deaf America---hosted by the state pageants in each state, then you win the title Miss. Deaf America when all the states gather. But this is where it stops. There is no interational pageant.
The Miss. Deaf USA will be international. No state pageants to determine Miss. USA? Instead any girl/woman that fits the criteria can run? Then go to international?
I haven't decided yet what my thoughts are. I think its good in some ways. A nice chance to have an internatinal pageant. Except, who do they represent? If its not affilated with NAD, can they still represent all of us who are state members or national members? How does this work?
So I have alot to learn, as I reserach on this and gateher thoughts and opinions.
This will include bathing suit competition--since they said it on their site www.missdeafusa.com NAD does not have this. Thank goodness, because as a former Miss. Deaf Oklahoma, I don't think I would've been comfortable prancing around in my bathing suit.
But, to me it sounds like Miss. Deaf USA is almost equivelent to Miss. USA so this can be a good thing right?
So here I am, curiuos to find out what the thoughts of others, that are not affiliated.
More details later.
Monday, September 21, 2009
CODA--& Abababa!!!
Okay--more news on the deaf world in Oklahoma! Deaf Awareness week is getting in full swing everywhere! Ofc, I'm from itty bitty town Sulphur--so nothing going on here.
I am gonna try to kick my DAW week off with Celebration Service at BattleCreek in Tulsa on Wednesday then drive to the city afterwards and crash for the nite---then get up and head to the State Fair of Oklahoma for Thursdays DAW events!
Ofc I gotta leave early cuz my litle one has a ballgame that nite--but thats okay! :)
And0000I gotta announce today,that our ticket sales are a go! Alan Abarbanell-(known as Abababa)-A one man CODA comedian--is giving a show in OKC on Dec 4th! I'm excited! This will be my 3rd time to see him--and its always a laugh a minute!
CODA- Child of Deaf Adult --okay heres some links--if you odn't know Abababa--you gotta check him out! www.abababatour.com/ and heres a link for a preview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNRPdEQNMKM -
So if you live in Oklahoma--or nearby Dallas--come and see him!
Also coming up is a Abababa CODA Cruise! I'm excited! I am hoping to be able to go. This shld be fun!
I am gonna try to kick my DAW week off with Celebration Service at BattleCreek in Tulsa on Wednesday then drive to the city afterwards and crash for the nite---then get up and head to the State Fair of Oklahoma for Thursdays DAW events!
Ofc I gotta leave early cuz my litle one has a ballgame that nite--but thats okay! :)
And0000I gotta announce today,that our ticket sales are a go! Alan Abarbanell-(known as Abababa)-A one man CODA comedian--is giving a show in OKC on Dec 4th! I'm excited! This will be my 3rd time to see him--and its always a laugh a minute!
CODA- Child of Deaf Adult --okay heres some links--if you odn't know Abababa--you gotta check him out! www.abababatour.com/ and heres a link for a preview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNRPdEQNMKM -
So if you live in Oklahoma--or nearby Dallas--come and see him!
Also coming up is a Abababa CODA Cruise! I'm excited! I am hoping to be able to go. This shld be fun!
New Blogspot--
I have created a new blogspot. I want to seperate my deaf blogs from my random daily life blogs, so i will get this in order. The new blogspot is posted as www.puresapphire.blogspot.com i think this will help alot so people following information about deafness--will not have to read "personal life" stuff. :) So I'll keep this one for deafnes and switch over to the other blogspot for my own life or thoughts, or randomness or whatever. Feel free to follow!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Relay Interpreting
As a formerly hard of hearing person--I liked the use of TTY's, as I could type my own words and not depend on the interpreter interpreting for me. Or better yet, the voice carry overs. (VCO) Where I could use my own voice, and still read what the interpreter was saying. They do still exist---mine just quit working. :( Or in the latest few years-the online relay options were terrific! (which are now pretty much exinct)
VideoPhones are the latest "new" thing over the past 4-5 years. Like wine, they get better with age. New features are always coming out. They're faster, more convient than the old way of typing.
They also have that VCO feature, so I need to give that a try. I think I'll be much happier--though I hate voicing for myself--because I cannot hear myself. VCO--All for the simple reason of: I want my words to be spoken the exact same way I sign it.
It amazes me how the interpreters can change a simple english sign or even sentence around by rephraseing it to mean the same thing, in an entirely different sentence. I do not get this. I sign exact english or ASL in english order--and they still manage to rephrase it. What--did ya'll take "rephrase" class or something??
I only RECENTLY let me emphasize RECENTLY started using Video Phones for my personal phone calls when they took the typing ability away from us. Why? Because of the above problems. The interpreters have improved TREMENDOUSLY yes--since the requirement levels have went up. Its "satisfactory" for the most part. I still perfer my own words though.
In the beginning when I gave Video Phones a try alot of things like this happened:
Me: "Dad, my I think my oil is still dripping. Its low again"
Interpeter: (who knows that the heck she said here)
Dad: "What? it cant be running out renee. it might be just leaking a little bit, im sure it still has oil in it"....(bec he had just worked on it a week or so before)
my dads reply tells me the interpreter was WAY OFF! I tell dad that I'll just call him on the slow relay (which is what we called the tty or online relay)
Another example:
Me: "Tell pawpaw i will be there in about an hour"
son: "Grandma? Who's grandma? momma, when you will be here?"
(Didnt I just already say this?...and....grandma?!)
Me: Brandon-Tell PAWPAW , Me-Momma, will arrive in one hour.
(I rephrased to see if the interpreter would catch that simple signing word for word)
Son: "momma, meme is not here"
Can I scream now please????. So theres a wasted few mintues. So I have to CALL my dad on the cellphone, and HOPE he picked up and hears my voice when I say "dad I'll be there in an hour"......
So today, things seem to be better. They seem to be getting it right---just not in the sentences I want. Okay let me also say--it works great for some. Especially for those ASL deafies. I dont' know many who share my frusterations. Mostly its just the hard of hearing or exact english deaf individuals that share the same frusterations as I do.
VCO will solve this. I'm gonna give it a try. I just truly dislike voicing for myself. I find myself occasionally stumbling over words. Happes when you've been deaf for almost 10 years.
And yes, I have perfect (well almost perfect) speech. One doesn't lose their speech overnight--if u were to become deaf tomorrow--you would still have your speech. Thats me. But if I don't use it--yes, I'll lose it. (well at least that almost perfect sounding speech anyway)
Thats it for this blog.
VideoPhones are the latest "new" thing over the past 4-5 years. Like wine, they get better with age. New features are always coming out. They're faster, more convient than the old way of typing.
They also have that VCO feature, so I need to give that a try. I think I'll be much happier--though I hate voicing for myself--because I cannot hear myself. VCO--All for the simple reason of: I want my words to be spoken the exact same way I sign it.
It amazes me how the interpreters can change a simple english sign or even sentence around by rephraseing it to mean the same thing, in an entirely different sentence. I do not get this. I sign exact english or ASL in english order--and they still manage to rephrase it. What--did ya'll take "rephrase" class or something??
I only RECENTLY let me emphasize RECENTLY started using Video Phones for my personal phone calls when they took the typing ability away from us. Why? Because of the above problems. The interpreters have improved TREMENDOUSLY yes--since the requirement levels have went up. Its "satisfactory" for the most part. I still perfer my own words though.
In the beginning when I gave Video Phones a try alot of things like this happened:
Me: "Dad, my I think my oil is still dripping. Its low again"
Interpeter: (who knows that the heck she said here)
Dad: "What? it cant be running out renee. it might be just leaking a little bit, im sure it still has oil in it"....(bec he had just worked on it a week or so before)
my dads reply tells me the interpreter was WAY OFF! I tell dad that I'll just call him on the slow relay (which is what we called the tty or online relay)
Another example:
Me: "Tell pawpaw i will be there in about an hour"
son: "Grandma? Who's grandma? momma, when you will be here?"
(Didnt I just already say this?...and....grandma?!)
Me: Brandon-Tell PAWPAW , Me-Momma, will arrive in one hour.
(I rephrased to see if the interpreter would catch that simple signing word for word)
Son: "momma, meme is not here"
Can I scream now please????. So theres a wasted few mintues. So I have to CALL my dad on the cellphone, and HOPE he picked up and hears my voice when I say "dad I'll be there in an hour"......
So today, things seem to be better. They seem to be getting it right---just not in the sentences I want. Okay let me also say--it works great for some. Especially for those ASL deafies. I dont' know many who share my frusterations. Mostly its just the hard of hearing or exact english deaf individuals that share the same frusterations as I do.
VCO will solve this. I'm gonna give it a try. I just truly dislike voicing for myself. I find myself occasionally stumbling over words. Happes when you've been deaf for almost 10 years.
And yes, I have perfect (well almost perfect) speech. One doesn't lose their speech overnight--if u were to become deaf tomorrow--you would still have your speech. Thats me. But if I don't use it--yes, I'll lose it. (well at least that almost perfect sounding speech anyway)
Thats it for this blog.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Still learning! :)
I am still learning to blog, so bear with me, and check back here often :)
This is a place where I will share my thoughts, mostly on deafness, deaf culture, my way of life, etc. These are mine and mine alone. Others may not share my opinions. But we are free to express them how we want. I will try my best to not misguide. :)
This is a place where I will share my thoughts, mostly on deafness, deaf culture, my way of life, etc. These are mine and mine alone. Others may not share my opinions. But we are free to express them how we want. I will try my best to not misguide. :)
Cochlear Implants
Tonight, I had a conversation with a friend about...Cochlear Implants. Once upon a time, this is something I truly wanted for myself. Cochlear is not widely embraced by the deaf community. But before you all (deafies) start getting mad at me, or pointing fingers-- this is not something I want now.
One would have to put themselves in my shoes to understand my former desires. If a hearing parent with a deaf BABY were to come to me now. I have no clue truly how I would reply. But I would be honest about how I wanted one when I was a teen. and how I do not want one now and I'm glad I never recieved one. I see, know and understand the pros and cons of cochlear implants and I understand why latened deaf adults want them. We shldnt criticize. Many deaf haven't gotten to experience our way of life.
I wasnt always deaf. I was born hearing...my views through the years have changed as I have grown and gained knowledge. When I was 16--I begged my parents for a cochlear. I wanted one so bad. I was seriously afraid of becoming deaf--even though I was attending a deaf school.
Not that there was anyting wrong with being deaf--i loved my school, and I loved my friends! But--I relied sooo much on my hearing.
You see, At the age of 5- I had to wear hearing aids, because my hearing was slowly going away. When I say slow--I mean extremely gradual. When I was 16, I was wearing ONE hearing aid in my left ear. I could still talk on the phone, and undersatnd a conversation over the phone. I could hear birds singing, Ic ould hear my mom hollar at me from the next room over, I could sort of follow a conversation if too many people were not talking at once, AND if I knew what the topic of the conversation was.
I cried everytime my hearing got worse and worse. How would I be able to live life without being able to hear? But u know? Its not so bad at all!
I became Miss. Deaf Oklahoma in 1993. I attended college. I had jobs. I have and continue to live a full life. Today, I am happy that my parents couldn't afford the cochlear in the 80s. I'm a very good eligibility for cochlear to be sucessful if i were to accept it now. But you know? I am just fine without it.
I consider myself an asset to the deaf community. With or without a cochlear.
But let me say this. EVEN if i were to get a cochlear--the deaf community would still be a part of my life. I wouldnt get a cochlear--so I could be "hearing" again. I wouldnt be getting it to leave the deaf world and become a "hearing person". No. Just to hear sounds again, and hear my sons voice again. But thats okay no worries because its not gonna happen :)
As a deaf person without cochlear, I consider myself sucessful. A full time mom, an advocate, a deaf interpreter, a QAST Evaluator for the State of Oklahoma, and much much more.
Just for any moms out there reading this--theres nothing wrong with the deaf way of life. :) Even if ur considering cochlear for your child-let them be a part of the deaf community in some way. This could turn out to be a positive experience, for you, and for your child.
With much love. :) I'll always be in full SUPPORT of ASL. But if a hearing parent wants to give their child a cochlea implant--we can't stop them---we can embrace their decision--and encourage them to support ASL and be a part of the deaf community somehow.
Your thoughts and opinions are welcome :)
One would have to put themselves in my shoes to understand my former desires. If a hearing parent with a deaf BABY were to come to me now. I have no clue truly how I would reply. But I would be honest about how I wanted one when I was a teen. and how I do not want one now and I'm glad I never recieved one. I see, know and understand the pros and cons of cochlear implants and I understand why latened deaf adults want them. We shldnt criticize. Many deaf haven't gotten to experience our way of life.
I wasnt always deaf. I was born hearing...my views through the years have changed as I have grown and gained knowledge. When I was 16--I begged my parents for a cochlear. I wanted one so bad. I was seriously afraid of becoming deaf--even though I was attending a deaf school.
Not that there was anyting wrong with being deaf--i loved my school, and I loved my friends! But--I relied sooo much on my hearing.
You see, At the age of 5- I had to wear hearing aids, because my hearing was slowly going away. When I say slow--I mean extremely gradual. When I was 16, I was wearing ONE hearing aid in my left ear. I could still talk on the phone, and undersatnd a conversation over the phone. I could hear birds singing, Ic ould hear my mom hollar at me from the next room over, I could sort of follow a conversation if too many people were not talking at once, AND if I knew what the topic of the conversation was.
I cried everytime my hearing got worse and worse. How would I be able to live life without being able to hear? But u know? Its not so bad at all!
I became Miss. Deaf Oklahoma in 1993. I attended college. I had jobs. I have and continue to live a full life. Today, I am happy that my parents couldn't afford the cochlear in the 80s. I'm a very good eligibility for cochlear to be sucessful if i were to accept it now. But you know? I am just fine without it.
I consider myself an asset to the deaf community. With or without a cochlear.
But let me say this. EVEN if i were to get a cochlear--the deaf community would still be a part of my life. I wouldnt get a cochlear--so I could be "hearing" again. I wouldnt be getting it to leave the deaf world and become a "hearing person". No. Just to hear sounds again, and hear my sons voice again. But thats okay no worries because its not gonna happen :)
As a deaf person without cochlear, I consider myself sucessful. A full time mom, an advocate, a deaf interpreter, a QAST Evaluator for the State of Oklahoma, and much much more.
Just for any moms out there reading this--theres nothing wrong with the deaf way of life. :) Even if ur considering cochlear for your child-let them be a part of the deaf community in some way. This could turn out to be a positive experience, for you, and for your child.
With much love. :) I'll always be in full SUPPORT of ASL. But if a hearing parent wants to give their child a cochlea implant--we can't stop them---we can embrace their decision--and encourage them to support ASL and be a part of the deaf community somehow.
Your thoughts and opinions are welcome :)
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