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! :)

NAD Letter to Netflix Re: Wizard of Oz

(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

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.

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!

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!

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.