And the sky was endless... @sevendaysky - Tumblr Blog

Keep on swimmin’ Roger!

kimrhodes4

“just”....

“It’s just a dog.”

Anyone who has ever cradled the body of their best friend or wept to the point of not being able to breath after hearing news they couldn’t bear from the vet has had this in their brain. Someone says it or we feel it. Then we reject it.

A dog is an angel in fur. It reflects our deepest connection with our highest selves. A dog laughs without a voice, comforts without words and holds us without any of that opposable thumb-ness that so often gets in the way of administering care. They are pure feeling and they encourage the same from us.

I have a friend named José who knows all of the gods that exist, some that don’t, and they all like him. He says, “Life is experience. As soon as we try to put that experience into words, we lose a piece of it. Stay in the feelings and you stay in life.” A dog is pure life.

This is why a dog can be behind bars at a high-kill shelter as the clock counts down and still be joyously barking for attention. It isn’t five minutes into the future, leaving this world too soon. It is here and now in the present, whatever that present may look like.

Usually, and I use that word with great pain, they die.

But sometimes there is a miracle, and they are spared.

“She’s just a lost cause.”

Men and women behind bars are the opposite. Most of them cannot find a way to be in their experience because it is too painful. They are too laden with guilt from the past and to paralyzed with fear of the future. They may not have a literal death sentence, but they have lost their lives. Eventually their time is served and they are free.

Usually, and I use this word with great pain, they return.

But sometimes there is a miracle, and they are spared.

New Leash on Life, USA is one of the miracles that happens. They adopt dogs who are often moments away from dying and bring them to men and women in prisons who are eternities away from living. There, both dogs and prisoners receive training and rehabilitation that create active, productive members of society. Their experiences join in a way no other program can do. It has been proven. The recidivism rate among graduates of the program is drastically lower than the national average. As is the adoption rate, which is running at a hundred per cent.

Most of us have the option of coming back to this moment in our lives. Sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it is glorious. But it is always improved when we help another achieve the same place.

Take a moment. Even if you don’t like dogs, be in a little bit of dog-osity right now. This is where you are. You are safe. You are loved. And if you so choose, you can help another spirit feel that way. There is no “just” when we are talking about this life.

http://bit.ly/s_kt

#WWAF #WaywardDog #be better than you were #believe

On top of all of this, there is a special place for service dogs and the people that train them. The trainers work hard to hone the dog’s natural instincts in ways that help others, and then they have to give them up to new homes. Sometimes they never really know what happens to them after that; the lucky ones get pictures, letters, emails, a constellation of points on a map that, connected, show them where their beloved ones have gone.

And the dogs work hard day in and day out, not because they must, but because they want to. They are happy to be helpful and to be loved. Some of them come out of places like New Leash on Life (and similar programs); some of them are bred specifically for purpose and never know hardship. Others appear out of shelters, out of the fog of unknown pasts - glimpses that we as their partners only see when conditions are just so. All of them have immense hearts and drive, and they are truly the best friends we can have in life.

The dogs in programs like New Leash on Life work on their humans just as much as the humans work on them. If you have committed a crime, there is a penalty to pay, to be certain; but at the same time, must that crime forever lock you into a box of if-then? People can change, it is true, and sometimes it is adversity that forces that change. Sometimes, though, that change comes through the weight of a warm soul that wants nothing except your love. Have we, the members of the SPN family, not seen this for ourselves?

We are not dogs, but as a family, our love supports and provides for each other in ways we never dreamed possible when we started out on this road. It was a lonely road when you stepped onto it, barren blacktop in the middle of nowhere - but now that you are here, we have become a great parade, joined not by chains but by the ties of common understanding and fellowship.

The people in these programs give of themselves so that someone else can be happy. They experience the heartbreak of separation and the frustration and struggle of trying to teach something to a creature who does not understand logic (such as a 45 pound dog who decides they are a lap dog, damn the physics). They do this by choice. No one forces them. Along the way they learn something about themselves and learn to be different - to be better than they were. Criminals once, certainly, but still people, and their willingness to change, to improve themselves is deserving of our respect and support.

Oh, and the pups are cute, too. Pulled from dark places, uncertain futures, and given what they need: love, safety, a new family, a chance to shine. So yeah, even if you don’t have the money (like me) to buy a shirt, to donate, you can support them in other ways. Spread the word of mouth, shine a light on the things that matter, because those lives -- canine and human alike -- are so important. Maybe not so important in the grander scale of the world or even the country, but they are important. Ripples spread further and further, and you never know where they may go or the lives they may cross. It might be you. It might be someone you know. It could be your grandchildren, down the way; go forward with faith in a better future and your belief will help make it so.

It’s not just about the dog. It’s not just about the prisoner. It’s about the big picture. It’s about love, hard work, sacrifice, and a safe place to fall. It’s about learning about who you are, learning that the world can be a kind place. It’s about believing, with the entirety of your battered, bruised, scarred heart that there can be a better day, a better way. One dog, one person, at a time.

And now I’m going to shut up and go cuddle my service dog. She thinks I’m upset and doesn’t understand the concept of happy tears... or the fact that 45 lbs is not really lap sized.

#SPNFamily #signal boost #help please

Contest voting assistance, redux

Signal boost please guys. :( So that contest I’m in? Have to get into top 3 of votes… top one has 512. I have… 55. Please share this around and try to help boost me up! Would really, REALLY super appreciate it. The link is here: http://tinyurl.com/ya6usgt8 - just do a user name search for Winchester and you can find my entry. It only takes a moment and you can vote every 24 hours, so please vote and signal boost if you can.

Many thanks and mad love for my SPNFamily and GISHpeeps.

marciaillust

“All I’m getting from you is…colors.“ Dean got the colors long time ago pass it on

Contest voting assistance, redux

Signal boost please guys. :( So that contest I’m in? Have to get into top 3 of votes... top one has 512. I have... 55. Please share this around and try to help boost me up! Would really, REALLY super appreciate it. The link is here: http://tinyurl.com/ya6usgt8 - just do a user name search for Winchester and you can find my entry. It only takes a moment and you can vote every 24 hours, so please vote and signal boost if you can.

Many thanks and mad love for my SPNFamily and GISHpeeps.

Vote assistance requested please

Hi guys long time no typey. I lurk a lot. Anyway, I’m here to ask for your help. Don’t worry, it’s not EMERGENCY help, but a moment of your time. I’m in a contest to try and win a drone (for GISHWHES of course) but it’s by popular vote (bOO) So, if you go here https://display.engagesciences.com/display/container/d/84b98433-a774-44e8-a9a2-a723df3b021e/gallery?ngxItemID=248177853&r=529a9842986b3f9f74392e93781d9bad and then “sort by popular” (hit button twice until it shows high to low) “show more” and then you can do a browser “find/search” for “winchester” and it should take you to the matching picture. Alas I can give you nothing in exchange except digital doggy kisses and hugs of love and gratitude from one human being to another. (I promise I’m not Keplerian) Spread the word! Make this your random act of kindness today!

Creation Entertainment has been criticized by the Deaf community for its handling of accessibility, drawing attention to a broader issue.

This is a messed up situation and it sucks that Creation was shitty to all their d/Deaf convention attendees.

My sister is deafblind I’m a teacher of the deaf and we both love supernatural so this issue is kinda personal to me. That being said, this just reinforces to me that choosing to only learn sign language is limiting for deaf people. I’m not at all excusing the actions of Creation but I do think that going forward with hearing aid and cochlear implant technology, this will hopefully happen less often.

We attended SPN NJ con in 2016 and had no issues with accessablility, and she brought her guide dog (with a license plate taped to her harness for an impala cosplay!)

With all due respect, I have been a cochlear implant user ever since I became deaf 9 years ago, and I do not hear with it nearly as well as one would need to in order to follow panels at a convention or even understand someone at photo ops or at the autograph table. For every 1-hour panel I attend, I can probably understand only 4 or 5 WORDS.

Also, I know for a fact that the majority of the people interviewed in the article are hearing aid users. I know some of them personally and they speak English as well as sign ASL. Technology may enable some of us to do things like carry one-on-one spoken conversations, but many of us still require additional accommodations (like captionists or interpreters) for things like conventions. We have literally done everything we possibly can do on our end.

Moreover, the lack of accessibility options for non-signing deaf people (like CART or captioning - I know people have requested that but I can’t think of a single con where Creation has provided it) is part of the reason I learned ASL in the first place. So I don’t know where you got the idea that any of this has to do with “choosing to only learn sign language.”

Lastly, let’s not assume that everyone is a candidate for cochlear implants/hearing aids, or even wants them, or that those who sign ASL are unable to communicate in any other language. There will always be people who require interpreter services and they/we should not be overlooked.

I never said that anyone interviewed made that decision, just that issues like this (which I still totally think was terrible on the organizers part) reinforce to me that relying on people to accommodate you (even though we all know they legally, morally and ethically should) opens yourself up to that disappointment when people let you down.

I’m not saying that anyone who uses interpreters/captions should be overlooked (hell I use captions when I can) , just that choosing to practice and work at honing listening skills, especially for kids who are growing up with the newest technology should be just as important.

I agree that captioning panels and providing interpreters is something they should do. I just also think that working (when possible) working on your listening and comprehending skills is something you (not you personally, us as the other end of the paradigm) should do too.

I am also curious about your experiences with your implant, if you’d be willing to talk about it at all :)

I know you mean well and that you’re not referring to all deaf people, but what you’re saying is still problematic and perpetuates harmful ideas that disabilities can be overcome with “practice.” I get that honing listening skills is a thing for CI users; been there, done that, could talk about it for days. But effort can only take you so far (and for me and many others, that’s really not very far at all).

What’s more important is that we recognize the physical limitations posed by disabilities which can never be overcome by any sort of effort, that we recognize the societal barriers faced by PWD that were established by design and push forward in creating more accessible options, and listen to and believe PWD when we say what our needs are.

(And maybe not pressure PWD to conform to society’s idea of what’s considered normal, because, y’know, disabilities are as natural as anything, will always exist, are just differences in human experience, and everyone can benefit from a society that is adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives.)

Thats not my point at all. I completely agree that society should be adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives, and I respect everyone’s right to make their own choices with their lives. My goal was never to down play the challenges of people with disabilities. In fact I applaud you for your self advocacy, something everyone needs bit especially if you have a differing ability to the typical population.

However I disagree that working on a skill that would open up communication to a wider swatch of the world is “problematic” (honestly the word problematic rubs me the wrong way, it’s been co-opted by the crazy branch of SJWs. But that’s another story). I don’t think that advocating for self improvement in any way is problematic. The thing with deafness in particular is that you don’t really hear with your ears, you hear with your brain. Brains adapt, brains are awesome and can learn to work in new ways with practice. I think that it’s a limiting belief to say that “effort can only take you so far.”

Maybe it’s just me being a realist/pessimist, but I know that just counting on people to do what they are supposed to do to accommodate disabilities will often leave you frustrated and excluded. People, including those with disabilities need to work to be as self sufficient as possible. I think that a two pronged approach is best, change societal opinions of course! Go advocate, be the change and all that, but also strive to better yourself. Because you can.

Also to jump back to my original comment, I spoke about in the future this kind of thing happening less often but only if younger generations work towards both goals.

Stepping right the fuck in here. I’m the “Winchester” that article refers to. You are using this issue as a platform for YOUR issue, which is entirely separate, controversial, and completely irrelevant to the actual situation. That’s pretty darn rude of you. And looking at what you keep saying, you are so incredibly biased. I have hearing aids, have a consult in progress for CIs and will probably be rejected (for a reason I’m about to explain). “Work on being self sufficient”? There are absolute limits to what you can do independently. I have an auditory processing disorder on top of my physical hearing loss. That means that at 33 years old with HAs for 32 of those - with them in, I approach nearly normal hearing levels, but I cannot understand what I hear. You could be standing behind me and talking. I could hear you, but wouldn’t be sure if you were even talking, much less what you were saying. I’m an excellent lipreader (there’s that whole “teach yourself to be self-sufficient” thing you keep yapping about) but that is imperfect and incomplete and inadequate in SO many ways and conditions. When I go in for my CI consult, I realize that one of the conditions is that I must be able to identify sounds with a certain percentage of accuracy, and I expect I may fail that. Then what are you going to say to me? I didn’t practice, or try hard enough because I didn’t “train my brain” to “hear and listen”? That whole “hearing and listening” shit is BULLSHIT on so many levels, and for me to go into it here would make this both a super long post and detract from THE ACTUAL ISSUE. The actual issue, in case you forgot, is that human beings are being denied equal access to events. In some cases, there are laws - in some cases there are not. The law should not matter. People should look at it as a basic human right to grant access even if the law does not demand that they do so. Take your “hear and listen” and get the hell away from me with it. Go find some other issue to staple it to, because I am having none of it here.

So you just glossed right over the fact that I emphatically said multiple times that I agree with you. Advocating for people to better themselves is ableism now? Yeah ok

It is when you keep repeating it as you are, and acting like every Deaf person (or any person with disabilities really) has the exact same ability and capacity to “better themselves”. If you even stop and think about it, it’s blatantly impossible for that to be true. And you act like it’s our fault, because we didn’t “better ourselves” enough to be able to NOT need to ask for accommodations. THAT is ableism.

Ableism is thinking that disabled people are inferior. Stop putting words in my mouth. I never said “everyone has the exact same capacity to better themselves.” Nor did I ever imply that anything was your fault. In fact I denounced creation several times in my first response and haven’t changed my tune since then. I keep repeating myself because it appears that im being misunderstood and people are putting words in my mouth.

You used the example of D/deaf people as an example for the later issue of accessibility, and I said multiple times (scroll up) that accommodations should be made for people with disabilities. But until the day comes when we live in a perfect world where everyone does what they are supposed to, I’m going to advocate for both companies/events to be held responsible and everyone working towards being the best version of themselves.

The best version of themselves, as judged by whom exactly?

By themselves. No one can judge you except yourself

While I realize the range of human experience varies, it’s really disappointing to hear you tell people with disabilities that they need to work harder to better themselves... when the only judge you’re advocating for (At least out loud) is the person themselves. Do you really think that the person in front of you isn’t trying their best, from day to day, to make the best of their lives? If so, you ARE judging. Look, it’s fine and okay to say that accommodations should be offered (As you have). Don’t mar that by then saying “oh but at the same time WORK HARDER!” Keep that in mind when you are talking to people with disabilities. It’s one thing to offer ENCOURAGEMENT if they are currently and actively working toward some goal or another (comprehension training for CIs, for example, or learning to use a new piece of medical equipment) but if they’re just chillin’ and livin’ their lives (as people do) don’t. Just... don’t.

Creation Entertainment has been criticized by the Deaf community for its handling of accessibility, drawing attention to a broader issue.

This is a messed up situation and it sucks that Creation was shitty to all their d/Deaf convention attendees.

My sister is deafblind I’m a teacher of the deaf and we both love supernatural so this issue is kinda personal to me. That being said, this just reinforces to me that choosing to only learn sign language is limiting for deaf people. I’m not at all excusing the actions of Creation but I do think that going forward with hearing aid and cochlear implant technology, this will hopefully happen less often.

We attended SPN NJ con in 2016 and had no issues with accessablility, and she brought her guide dog (with a license plate taped to her harness for an impala cosplay!)

With all due respect, I have been a cochlear implant user ever since I became deaf 9 years ago, and I do not hear with it nearly as well as one would need to in order to follow panels at a convention or even understand someone at photo ops or at the autograph table. For every 1-hour panel I attend, I can probably understand only 4 or 5 WORDS.

Also, I know for a fact that the majority of the people interviewed in the article are hearing aid users. I know some of them personally and they speak English as well as sign ASL. Technology may enable some of us to do things like carry one-on-one spoken conversations, but many of us still require additional accommodations (like captionists or interpreters) for things like conventions. We have literally done everything we possibly can do on our end.

Moreover, the lack of accessibility options for non-signing deaf people (like CART or captioning - I know people have requested that but I can’t think of a single con where Creation has provided it) is part of the reason I learned ASL in the first place. So I don’t know where you got the idea that any of this has to do with “choosing to only learn sign language.”

Lastly, let’s not assume that everyone is a candidate for cochlear implants/hearing aids, or even wants them, or that those who sign ASL are unable to communicate in any other language. There will always be people who require interpreter services and they/we should not be overlooked.

I never said that anyone interviewed made that decision, just that issues like this (which I still totally think was terrible on the organizers part) reinforce to me that relying on people to accommodate you (even though we all know they legally, morally and ethically should) opens yourself up to that disappointment when people let you down.

I’m not saying that anyone who uses interpreters/captions should be overlooked (hell I use captions when I can) , just that choosing to practice and work at honing listening skills, especially for kids who are growing up with the newest technology should be just as important.

I agree that captioning panels and providing interpreters is something they should do. I just also think that working (when possible) working on your listening and comprehending skills is something you (not you personally, us as the other end of the paradigm) should do too.

I am also curious about your experiences with your implant, if you’d be willing to talk about it at all :)

I know you mean well and that you’re not referring to all deaf people, but what you’re saying is still problematic and perpetuates harmful ideas that disabilities can be overcome with “practice.” I get that honing listening skills is a thing for CI users; been there, done that, could talk about it for days. But effort can only take you so far (and for me and many others, that’s really not very far at all).

What’s more important is that we recognize the physical limitations posed by disabilities which can never be overcome by any sort of effort, that we recognize the societal barriers faced by PWD that were established by design and push forward in creating more accessible options, and listen to and believe PWD when we say what our needs are.

(And maybe not pressure PWD to conform to society’s idea of what’s considered normal, because, y’know, disabilities are as natural as anything, will always exist, are just differences in human experience, and everyone can benefit from a society that is adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives.)

Thats not my point at all. I completely agree that society should be adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives, and I respect everyone’s right to make their own choices with their lives. My goal was never to down play the challenges of people with disabilities. In fact I applaud you for your self advocacy, something everyone needs bit especially if you have a differing ability to the typical population.

However I disagree that working on a skill that would open up communication to a wider swatch of the world is “problematic” (honestly the word problematic rubs me the wrong way, it’s been co-opted by the crazy branch of SJWs. But that’s another story). I don’t think that advocating for self improvement in any way is problematic. The thing with deafness in particular is that you don’t really hear with your ears, you hear with your brain. Brains adapt, brains are awesome and can learn to work in new ways with practice. I think that it’s a limiting belief to say that “effort can only take you so far.”

Maybe it’s just me being a realist/pessimist, but I know that just counting on people to do what they are supposed to do to accommodate disabilities will often leave you frustrated and excluded. People, including those with disabilities need to work to be as self sufficient as possible. I think that a two pronged approach is best, change societal opinions of course! Go advocate, be the change and all that, but also strive to better yourself. Because you can.

Also to jump back to my original comment, I spoke about in the future this kind of thing happening less often but only if younger generations work towards both goals.

Stepping right the fuck in here. I’m the “Winchester” that article refers to. You are using this issue as a platform for YOUR issue, which is entirely separate, controversial, and completely irrelevant to the actual situation. That’s pretty darn rude of you. And looking at what you keep saying, you are so incredibly biased. I have hearing aids, have a consult in progress for CIs and will probably be rejected (for a reason I’m about to explain). “Work on being self sufficient”? There are absolute limits to what you can do independently. I have an auditory processing disorder on top of my physical hearing loss. That means that at 33 years old with HAs for 32 of those - with them in, I approach nearly normal hearing levels, but I cannot understand what I hear. You could be standing behind me and talking. I could hear you, but wouldn’t be sure if you were even talking, much less what you were saying. I’m an excellent lipreader (there’s that whole “teach yourself to be self-sufficient” thing you keep yapping about) but that is imperfect and incomplete and inadequate in SO many ways and conditions. When I go in for my CI consult, I realize that one of the conditions is that I must be able to identify sounds with a certain percentage of accuracy, and I expect I may fail that. Then what are you going to say to me? I didn’t practice, or try hard enough because I didn’t “train my brain” to “hear and listen”? That whole “hearing and listening” shit is BULLSHIT on so many levels, and for me to go into it here would make this both a super long post and detract from THE ACTUAL ISSUE. The actual issue, in case you forgot, is that human beings are being denied equal access to events. In some cases, there are laws - in some cases there are not. The law should not matter. People should look at it as a basic human right to grant access even if the law does not demand that they do so. Take your “hear and listen” and get the hell away from me with it. Go find some other issue to staple it to, because I am having none of it here.

So you just glossed right over the fact that I emphatically said multiple times that I agree with you. Advocating for people to better themselves is ableism now? Yeah ok

It is when you keep repeating it as you are, and acting like every Deaf person (or any person with disabilities really) has the exact same ability and capacity to “better themselves”. If you even stop and think about it, it’s blatantly impossible for that to be true. And you act like it’s our fault, because we didn’t “better ourselves” enough to be able to NOT need to ask for accommodations. THAT is ableism.

Ableism is thinking that disabled people are inferior. Stop putting words in my mouth. I never said “everyone has the exact same capacity to better themselves.” Nor did I ever imply that anything was your fault. In fact I denounced creation several times in my first response and haven’t changed my tune since then. I keep repeating myself because it appears that im being misunderstood and people are putting words in my mouth.

You used the example of D/deaf people as an example for the later issue of accessibility, and I said multiple times (scroll up) that accommodations should be made for people with disabilities. But until the day comes when we live in a perfect world where everyone does what they are supposed to, I’m going to advocate for both companies/events to be held responsible and everyone working towards being the best version of themselves.

The best version of themselves, as judged by whom exactly?

Creation Entertainment has been criticized by the Deaf community for its handling of accessibility, drawing attention to a broader issue.

This is a messed up situation and it sucks that Creation was shitty to all their d/Deaf convention attendees.

My sister is deafblind I’m a teacher of the deaf and we both love supernatural so this issue is kinda personal to me. That being said, this just reinforces to me that choosing to only learn sign language is limiting for deaf people. I’m not at all excusing the actions of Creation but I do think that going forward with hearing aid and cochlear implant technology, this will hopefully happen less often.

We attended SPN NJ con in 2016 and had no issues with accessablility, and she brought her guide dog (with a license plate taped to her harness for an impala cosplay!)

With all due respect, I have been a cochlear implant user ever since I became deaf 9 years ago, and I do not hear with it nearly as well as one would need to in order to follow panels at a convention or even understand someone at photo ops or at the autograph table. For every 1-hour panel I attend, I can probably understand only 4 or 5 WORDS.

Also, I know for a fact that the majority of the people interviewed in the article are hearing aid users. I know some of them personally and they speak English as well as sign ASL. Technology may enable some of us to do things like carry one-on-one spoken conversations, but many of us still require additional accommodations (like captionists or interpreters) for things like conventions. We have literally done everything we possibly can do on our end.

Moreover, the lack of accessibility options for non-signing deaf people (like CART or captioning - I know people have requested that but I can’t think of a single con where Creation has provided it) is part of the reason I learned ASL in the first place. So I don’t know where you got the idea that any of this has to do with “choosing to only learn sign language.”

Lastly, let’s not assume that everyone is a candidate for cochlear implants/hearing aids, or even wants them, or that those who sign ASL are unable to communicate in any other language. There will always be people who require interpreter services and they/we should not be overlooked.

I never said that anyone interviewed made that decision, just that issues like this (which I still totally think was terrible on the organizers part) reinforce to me that relying on people to accommodate you (even though we all know they legally, morally and ethically should) opens yourself up to that disappointment when people let you down.

I’m not saying that anyone who uses interpreters/captions should be overlooked (hell I use captions when I can) , just that choosing to practice and work at honing listening skills, especially for kids who are growing up with the newest technology should be just as important.

I agree that captioning panels and providing interpreters is something they should do. I just also think that working (when possible) working on your listening and comprehending skills is something you (not you personally, us as the other end of the paradigm) should do too.

I am also curious about your experiences with your implant, if you’d be willing to talk about it at all :)

I know you mean well and that you’re not referring to all deaf people, but what you’re saying is still problematic and perpetuates harmful ideas that disabilities can be overcome with “practice.” I get that honing listening skills is a thing for CI users; been there, done that, could talk about it for days. But effort can only take you so far (and for me and many others, that’s really not very far at all).

What’s more important is that we recognize the physical limitations posed by disabilities which can never be overcome by any sort of effort, that we recognize the societal barriers faced by PWD that were established by design and push forward in creating more accessible options, and listen to and believe PWD when we say what our needs are.

(And maybe not pressure PWD to conform to society’s idea of what’s considered normal, because, y’know, disabilities are as natural as anything, will always exist, are just differences in human experience, and everyone can benefit from a society that is adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives.)

Thats not my point at all. I completely agree that society should be adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives, and I respect everyone’s right to make their own choices with their lives. My goal was never to down play the challenges of people with disabilities. In fact I applaud you for your self advocacy, something everyone needs bit especially if you have a differing ability to the typical population.

However I disagree that working on a skill that would open up communication to a wider swatch of the world is “problematic” (honestly the word problematic rubs me the wrong way, it’s been co-opted by the crazy branch of SJWs. But that’s another story). I don’t think that advocating for self improvement in any way is problematic. The thing with deafness in particular is that you don’t really hear with your ears, you hear with your brain. Brains adapt, brains are awesome and can learn to work in new ways with practice. I think that it’s a limiting belief to say that “effort can only take you so far.”

Maybe it’s just me being a realist/pessimist, but I know that just counting on people to do what they are supposed to do to accommodate disabilities will often leave you frustrated and excluded. People, including those with disabilities need to work to be as self sufficient as possible. I think that a two pronged approach is best, change societal opinions of course! Go advocate, be the change and all that, but also strive to better yourself. Because you can.

Also to jump back to my original comment, I spoke about in the future this kind of thing happening less often but only if younger generations work towards both goals.

Stepping right the fuck in here. I’m the “Winchester” that article refers to. You are using this issue as a platform for YOUR issue, which is entirely separate, controversial, and completely irrelevant to the actual situation. That’s pretty darn rude of you. And looking at what you keep saying, you are so incredibly biased. I have hearing aids, have a consult in progress for CIs and will probably be rejected (for a reason I’m about to explain). “Work on being self sufficient”? There are absolute limits to what you can do independently. I have an auditory processing disorder on top of my physical hearing loss. That means that at 33 years old with HAs for 32 of those - with them in, I approach nearly normal hearing levels, but I cannot understand what I hear. You could be standing behind me and talking. I could hear you, but wouldn’t be sure if you were even talking, much less what you were saying. I’m an excellent lipreader (there’s that whole “teach yourself to be self-sufficient” thing you keep yapping about) but that is imperfect and incomplete and inadequate in SO many ways and conditions. When I go in for my CI consult, I realize that one of the conditions is that I must be able to identify sounds with a certain percentage of accuracy, and I expect I may fail that. Then what are you going to say to me? I didn’t practice, or try hard enough because I didn’t “train my brain” to “hear and listen”? That whole “hearing and listening” shit is BULLSHIT on so many levels, and for me to go into it here would make this both a super long post and detract from THE ACTUAL ISSUE. The actual issue, in case you forgot, is that human beings are being denied equal access to events. In some cases, there are laws - in some cases there are not. The law should not matter. People should look at it as a basic human right to grant access even if the law does not demand that they do so. Take your “hear and listen” and get the hell away from me with it. Go find some other issue to staple it to, because I am having none of it here.

So you just glossed right over the fact that I emphatically said multiple times that I agree with you. Advocating for people to better themselves is ableism now? Yeah ok

It is when you keep repeating it as you are, and acting like every Deaf person (or any person with disabilities really) has the exact same ability and capacity to “better themselves”. If you even stop and think about it, it’s blatantly impossible for that to be true. And you act like it’s our fault, because we didn’t “better ourselves” enough to be able to NOT need to ask for accommodations. THAT is ableism.

catleecious

Because I am all hot and bothered and needed a cute.

Creation Entertainment has been criticized by the Deaf community for its handling of accessibility, drawing attention to a broader issue.

This is a messed up situation and it sucks that Creation was shitty to all their d/Deaf convention attendees.

My sister is deafblind I’m a teacher of the deaf and we both love supernatural so this issue is kinda personal to me. That being said, this just reinforces to me that choosing to only learn sign language is limiting for deaf people. I’m not at all excusing the actions of Creation but I do think that going forward with hearing aid and cochlear implant technology, this will hopefully happen less often.

We attended SPN NJ con in 2016 and had no issues with accessablility, and she brought her guide dog (with a license plate taped to her harness for an impala cosplay!)

With all due respect, I have been a cochlear implant user ever since I became deaf 9 years ago, and I do not hear with it nearly as well as one would need to in order to follow panels at a convention or even understand someone at photo ops or at the autograph table. For every 1-hour panel I attend, I can probably understand only 4 or 5 WORDS.

Also, I know for a fact that the majority of the people interviewed in the article are hearing aid users. I know some of them personally and they speak English as well as sign ASL. Technology may enable some of us to do things like carry one-on-one spoken conversations, but many of us still require additional accommodations (like captionists or interpreters) for things like conventions. We have literally done everything we possibly can do on our end.

Moreover, the lack of accessibility options for non-signing deaf people (like CART or captioning - I know people have requested that but I can’t think of a single con where Creation has provided it) is part of the reason I learned ASL in the first place. So I don’t know where you got the idea that any of this has to do with “choosing to only learn sign language.”

Lastly, let’s not assume that everyone is a candidate for cochlear implants/hearing aids, or even wants them, or that those who sign ASL are unable to communicate in any other language. There will always be people who require interpreter services and they/we should not be overlooked.

I never said that anyone interviewed made that decision, just that issues like this (which I still totally think was terrible on the organizers part) reinforce to me that relying on people to accommodate you (even though we all know they legally, morally and ethically should) opens yourself up to that disappointment when people let you down.

I’m not saying that anyone who uses interpreters/captions should be overlooked (hell I use captions when I can) , just that choosing to practice and work at honing listening skills, especially for kids who are growing up with the newest technology should be just as important.

I agree that captioning panels and providing interpreters is something they should do. I just also think that working (when possible) working on your listening and comprehending skills is something you (not you personally, us as the other end of the paradigm) should do too.

I am also curious about your experiences with your implant, if you’d be willing to talk about it at all :)

I know you mean well and that you’re not referring to all deaf people, but what you’re saying is still problematic and perpetuates harmful ideas that disabilities can be overcome with “practice.” I get that honing listening skills is a thing for CI users; been there, done that, could talk about it for days. But effort can only take you so far (and for me and many others, that’s really not very far at all).

What’s more important is that we recognize the physical limitations posed by disabilities which can never be overcome by any sort of effort, that we recognize the societal barriers faced by PWD that were established by design and push forward in creating more accessible options, and listen to and believe PWD when we say what our needs are.

(And maybe not pressure PWD to conform to society’s idea of what’s considered normal, because, y’know, disabilities are as natural as anything, will always exist, are just differences in human experience, and everyone can benefit from a society that is adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives.)

Thats not my point at all. I completely agree that society should be adaptable to a wide variety of needs and perspectives, and I respect everyone’s right to make their own choices with their lives. My goal was never to down play the challenges of people with disabilities. In fact I applaud you for your self advocacy, something everyone needs bit especially if you have a differing ability to the typical population.

However I disagree that working on a skill that would open up communication to a wider swatch of the world is “problematic” (honestly the word problematic rubs me the wrong way, it’s been co-opted by the crazy branch of SJWs. But that’s another story). I don’t think that advocating for self improvement in any way is problematic. The thing with deafness in particular is that you don’t really hear with your ears, you hear with your brain. Brains adapt, brains are awesome and can learn to work in new ways with practice. I think that it’s a limiting belief to say that “effort can only take you so far.”

Maybe it’s just me being a realist/pessimist, but I know that just counting on people to do what they are supposed to do to accommodate disabilities will often leave you frustrated and excluded. People, including those with disabilities need to work to be as self sufficient as possible. I think that a two pronged approach is best, change societal opinions of course! Go advocate, be the change and all that, but also strive to better yourself. Because you can.

Also to jump back to my original comment, I spoke about in the future this kind of thing happening less often but only if younger generations work towards both goals.

#ableism #hell to the fuck no #human rights

Stepping right the fuck in here. I’m the “Winchester” that article refers to. You are using this issue as a platform for YOUR issue, which is entirely separate, controversial, and completely irrelevant to the actual situation. That’s pretty darn rude of you. And looking at what you keep saying, you are so incredibly biased. I have hearing aids, have a consult in progress for CIs and will probably be rejected (for a reason I’m about to explain). “Work on being self sufficient”? There are absolute limits to what you can do independently. I have an auditory processing disorder on top of my physical hearing loss. That means that at 33 years old with HAs for 32 of those - with them in, I approach nearly normal hearing levels, but I cannot understand what I hear. You could be standing behind me and talking. I could hear you, but wouldn’t be sure if you were even talking, much less what you were saying. I’m an excellent lipreader (there’s that whole “teach yourself to be self-sufficient” thing you keep yapping about) but that is imperfect and incomplete and inadequate in SO many ways and conditions. When I go in for my CI consult, I realize that one of the conditions is that I must be able to identify sounds with a certain percentage of accuracy, and I expect I may fail that. Then what are you going to say to me? I didn’t practice, or try hard enough because I didn’t “train my brain” to “hear and listen”? That whole “hearing and listening” shit is BULLSHIT on so many levels, and for me to go into it here would make this both a super long post and detract from THE ACTUAL ISSUE. The actual issue, in case you forgot, is that human beings are being denied equal access to events. In some cases, there are laws - in some cases there are not. The law should not matter. People should look at it as a basic human right to grant access even if the law does not demand that they do so. Take your “hear and listen” and get the hell away from me with it. Go find some other issue to staple it to, because I am having none of it here.

sixpenceee

“A house I pass on the way to work has this sculpture in its yard. Its about 8 feet tall.”

(Source)

geostatonary

“HELLO NEIGHBOR STEVE, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO BARBEQUE ON THE EVE OF THE BLOOD MOON. I FEEL WE GOT OFF TO A BAD START.”

“NEIGHBOR STEVE, DO YOU NOT WISH TO PARTAKE OF THE UNCLEAN FLESH-MEATS OF PIGS AND THE POLLUTED ESSENCES OF TOMATO? PERHAPS YOU ARE A CAROLINA STYLE MAN, NEIGHBOR STEVE?”

“PUT THE GUN AWAY NEIGHBOR STEVE, YOU KNOW I SHALL ONLY RISE AGAIN WITH THE DAWNING OF THE MOON. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS MANY TIMES.”

“LOOK AT THIS PICTURE MY SON DREW OF YOU AND CHILD TIMMY, YOUR SON. ARE THEY NOT THE PICTURE OF PACT-MATES? THIS COULD BE YOU AND ME, NEIGHBOR STEVE.”

“YOU MISSED THE UNHOLY NEXUS OF POWER THAT IS THE KEY TO MY CORPOREAL FORM, NEIGHBOR STEVE. YOU WILL NEED TO RELOAD NOW, SO I WILL GO INSIDE TO MY HELL-WIFE AND PUT YOU DOWN AS A SOLID ‘MAYBE’.“

I have the feeling that the families get along great except for Steve. Like, the wives are baking (questionable) brownies together, the kids are playing together, Antler Guy occasionally takes Son and Timmy to school (no car, just carries them in huge swinging strides through a nexus of ungoldly sights in a swirling netherworld shortcut. Sometimes they stop for McDonalds). Hell-wife gave them a potted Audrey Jr., Steve’s wife (who I now christen Sharon) gave them a begonia.

One time Steve tries throwing holy water but all Antler Guy does is thank him, saying that no, Antler Guy isn’t Catholic but it’s the thought that counts, he is so kind to water his creeping deathshade vines regardless.

For Christmas Antler Guy gives Steve a case of ammunition. To be funny/sarcastically mean Steve gets Antler Guy the world’s most hideous Christmas sweater, singing light-up reindeer included. He immediately regrets it because not only does Antler Guy love it and wears it for several months, it will never need batteries because Antler Guy powers it with his own eldritch aura.

When they come back from a holiday to Hawaii, Steve is horrified to find out Sharon bought them matching Hawaiian shirts. He is even more horrified that his wife means it that if he doesn’t wear it he will forever sleep on the couch.

acaffeinejunkie-deactivated2019

I want to expand on this, since I see it’s still passing around and the ideas have grown in my brainmeats.

What drives Steve up the wall and down the other side is how… normal… everyone treats the Abominations. (Yes, that is their last name. No, it is not a joke. Son was asked his last name for the standardized testing at school, had a quick conference with Timmy, and decided that Son Abomination sounded good, “Since my dad calls your dad the Abomination anyway and we can paint it on your mailbox just like the Henderson’s did theirs!”. Antler Guy agreed and did a lovely rendition of it for the mailbox, with only a few glyphs of soul-rending terror added to keep up to snuff.)

The Great Plant Exchange went beautifully, though the Audrey Jr. (named Aubergine for the lovely shade of purple poison that drips from her fangs) is on a diet at the moment. She was in cahoots with the cat and the dog to get into the good people food and ate two frozen turkeys all herself. Now she’s restricted to the hallway table to answer the phone and the door. (Steve actually likes her, and keeps slipping her hotdogs when Sharon isn’t looking. Their door-to-door salesman rates have dropped dramatically since she changed abodes.) Hell-wife has almost gotten the begonia to bloom and say it’s first words.

The homeowner’s association just loves the Abominations. All paperwork stamped and dotted, in on time and in triplicate. Antler Guy likes filing, says it reminds him of his old job. There is a resident who spent 20 years as a lawyer and they have long, animated conversations about all sorts of things that make Steve swear to never need legal counsel.

Hell-wife joined the PTA and spearheaded a committee to fundraise in the fall with a haunted house. It was a county-wide hit, though the claims that a particularly rowdy group had been deliberately lost in a timeslip to the Outer Doors Of Chaos was firmly rebuffed. Most young people nowadays, it was agreed, just couldn’t appreciate flute music.

Antler Guy really does try to connect with Steve. The surprise birthday party was perhaps a bit much, given that most participants do not have the ability to suddenly materialize in front of the guest of honor to give them a hug. Sharon assured them that Steve normally screams on his birthday, and the remains of the cake were heartily enjoyed by all. (A plate was saved for Steve once he came down from the treehouse.)

After the Hawaii trip (which was a present for his birthday) and the Matching Shirt Ultimatum (which was Sharon’s attempt at patching things up with Antler Guy, he really was sad about the birthday screaming), Steve finally grabs his courage in both hands (plus the shotgun, which let’s face it is about as useful as a teddybear at the moment but it does comfort him) and confronts Antler Guy, about why such a group of……Abominations could possibly come to his quiet slice of suburban bliss.

“……BUT NEIGHBOR STEVE, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE.”

“No no no, I read it in a book! Don’t you have to be invited or something?!”

“WELL YES, TO THE HUMAN WORLD. BUT THIS IS NOT THE HUMAN WORLD AS YOUR THREE-DIMENSIONAL BRAIN PERCEIVES IT.”

“What the hell does that mean?!!”

“DID YOU NOT KNOW, NEIGHBOR STEVE? LEGALLY SPEAKING, ALL OF THE VASTNESS OF HUMAN SUBURBIA IS, IN FACT, A PART OF HELL.”

“……..”

“THE FLAMINGOES ARE THE BOUNDARY MARKERS. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE FLAMING SKULLS WERE TOO KITSCHY FOR MODERN TIMES.”

Reblogging cause I kind of want more of this….

ripped-up-jeans-and-glitter

Since you asked nicely ^_^

Antler Guy, as one may have noticed, is a calm sort of fellow. In the face of human atrocities he displays a curious Zen sort of state of mind. Timmy asks Son if he’d ever seen his dad angry, and Son hasn’t. (When asked, Timmy says that yeah his dad gets mad, but it’s like the Fitz-Simmon’s chihuahua down the street- mostly high-pitched noise and occasionally TV remote chewing. Sharon replaces the poor thing every 3 months or so.) When pressed (gently, at the monthly book club, and with many cups of tea and at least one daiquiri), Hellwife admits that this comes from serving many years at his old job.

After the revelation of the nature of his neighborhood, Steve has not been overtly mean to Antler Guy. Not yet in the realm of friends, but vastly better than before. No more holy water, no more shotgun blasts. (Still the occasional jumpscare, but Antler Guy really can’t help that part.) They even occasionally share news over the fence as Antler Guy trains the creeping deathshade vines in proper oral hygiene, and Steve waters his lawn (and occasionally slips a goldfish cracker to a deathshade vine that looks particularly adorable. Aubergine has trained him well.)

Which is how Antler Guy learns about the peeping tom that’s been plaguing the adjacent streets. Apparently the pervert has been getting bolder, and rattling doors. He almost broke into one apartment, whose occupants were a single mother and her daughter, Mildred. Millie, a shy girl who is a great horror fan and firm friends with Timmy and Son, had missed school because of it.

Steve knew because Sharon had told him, on her way to deliver a tuna casserole and a double batch of brownies to the pair. (Sharon has been dubbed the unoffical mob boss of the Mother’s Mafia. She is quite pleased with this title.) He tells her to wait, confers briefly with Aubergine, and sends her along with, “Only as a loan, you know, but Auby wants to stretch her roots and she’d probably like getting all ribboned and curled anyway. Little girls still do that, right?” She has strict orders to bite anyone that makes Millie or her mother cry. (Steve is dubbed the official neighborhood marshmallow for this. The bookclub buys him a jar of marshmallow fluff in commemoration.)

He turns to look at Antler Guy, and freezes, much as a chihuahua will when faced with a hungry hellhound.

“You….you alright there buddy?”

“Ň̵̴̫̫̙͙̻̞͈̫̥̪̱͈͈̯̍̀̀͆ͫ̒̿̄͗͘͡͝ͅO̊͑̑͒̎͑̃ͬͭͮ̅̔̆̃̉ͯ̇͗̀҉̵̻̜̞͉̟͙͚̻̪̼̖̀͟ͅ.̵͈̣͈̙̣̜̻̭̩̝̠̞͗ͤͥ̓͗ͬ̓̄͊̓̅̐ͩͮͧͤ̽̐ “

“Uh, yeah, I guess not. Did you, uh, know you’re kinda fuzzing at the edges, there?”

“Ň̵̴̫̫̙͙̻̞͈̫̥̪̱͈͈̯̍̀̀͆ͫ̒̿̄͗͘͡͝ͅO̊͑̑͒̎͑̃ͬͭͮ̅̔̆̃̉ͯ̇͗̀҉̵̻̜̞͉̟͙͚̻̪̼̖̀͟ͅ.̵͈̣͈̙̣̜̻̭̩̝̠̞͗ͤͥ̓͗ͬ̓̄͊̓̅̐ͩͮͧͤ̽̐ “

“Right. Um. Well.”

Steven makes a very ungraceful exit when space starts bending around Antler Guy’s still, unmoving form.

When Steve sees a shadowy form in his back yard when he gets up to pee that night, there’s no hesitation. He grabs the shotgun from the cabinet and peeks out the back door window.

Just in time to see a nebulous form of soul-wrenching terror engulf the man reaching for the door handle. A sliver of moonlight reveals a very familiar eyesocket. After a moment (and a sincere prayer of thanks that he had already peed, cause otherwise he’d have done it then and there) Steve opens the door. The nebulous form freezes, reality bending around the edges.

“Nice night for it, huh?”

“…..Y̮̮͍͔͇͙͙̟̐͌͛̓̏͞͡Eͩͭͮ̓̍ͯ̀ͧ͏̵̴̛̺̠̱͕̕ͅS͈̹̮̟̳̪̩̘͍̤̲̻͈̱̳̽̋́ͩ̃͋̎ͩ̈͆̀͘͢͢͟ͅ.̧̢͈̭̝̥̦͚͍̇ͫ̃̓͆̿̇ͪ͊ͧ̃͛͌͜͢ “

“Guy won’t scare anymore litttle girls, will he?”

“Ň̵̴̫̫̙͙̻̞͈̫̥̪̱͈͈̯̍̀̀͆ͫ̒̿̄͗͘͡͝ͅO̊͑̑͒̎͑̃ͬͭͮ̅̔̆̃̉ͯ̇͗̀҉̵̻̜̞͉̟͙͚̻̪̼̖̀͟ͅ.̵͈̣͈̙̣̜̻̭̩̝̠̞͗ͤͥ̓͗ͬ̓̄͊̓̅̐ͩͮͧͤ̽̐ “

“Good. G’night then. Oh, and if Hellwife has an extra Audrey Jr. that needs a home, let me know. Millie likes Aubergine a lot but Augy’s just too big for the apartment. Dunno if they come in miniatures though.”

“ I̴̛̟̭͉̮̜̩̬̮̣̘̰͚̩͙̟̳͔̜̙͑̂̆̆͗͒̀ ͖̖̰͉̥͖͔̙̤̺͍̳͈̹͙̣̞̇̇ͤ͒̅̈́͆̽ͧ́̚̚̕͘W̶̶̱͈̞͖̼̟̣̮̌͂͒̈́͑͌͒͋̍ͮ͗̈ͣ̓ͤ͘͟I̴̶̞̥̩͇̔ͩͦ̇̉̾ͣͬ̀̀̒͒ͧ͛͌͛͆̚͘͢ͅͅL̠̟͕̠̟̪̰̻ͯ͂͊ͥ̍̏͋̐ͬ̉̆̈̀͠L̸̞̭͔̮ͦ͑̉ͮͩ́ͬͨͣ͘͜.̴͈͎̮͇͓͖̱̻̣͊͊ͤͩ͊̑͗͞ ̸̡̩̖̞̩̻̩̪̭͙̳͚͇̟̺͖̑͊ͫ̀͆ͨ̉̔̓̂̓̋T̷̷̟͉̟̻̻̪̞̰̯̻͈̣̰̬̻̾͐́ͭ̓̅́͡H͇̬̪̩̬̝̣͍͈͇ͯ͛̏͌ͮͧͭͦ͟͜A̴̴̤͕͈̤̮̞̱̯͔͕̙͔͖̰̬̰͈̠ͥ̏ͥ̍̽ͧ̀͝N͗̓͋̃̈̑̀̅ͣ̽̒̂̄ͯͩͤ͏̢͢͏͈̯͎̪͇̟̠͔̯͓͓̰̠̱̠̳͕̳͝K̢̓ͧ͛͛ͣ̄̓̓ͯ̍̈̈́̌͂̔͟҉̛̘̥̖̤̦̻̳͙͟ ̢̢̻̥̹̣̞͉̘͇͚͍̖̯̘͚͔̗̩͓͐ͮ͂͂̀̚͘͠Y̜̞͇̳̗̬͎̰̙̜̩̪͎̞̙̠̔͂̌̃́̀O͇̺̲͙͍̬̳̘͈̱̜̝͔̖̊ͥ̿ͫͤͫͫͩ͋̓̃ͦ̈̄͢͟Ū̢͖̲̦̠̤͎̙͉̦͖̖͓͍̺̺ͪͯ͐͆͆ͭͯ͗ͦ̄̅̌̈̃̾ͭ̋ͧ͢͢͠͡.̶̸̞͓̞̹̗̻̣͈͕̠̬̦ͫ̆ͤͬͨͦ͒͂ͨ̿ͩͪ͘͞.ͧ͛̒̂̂͗ͨ̌͆ͥͭ͒̉͘͜͏̙͖̰̝̙̲͓̙͕͍̥̳̩́͠.̶̷̮͎̱̼̬͖̰͎͚͙̥̓͋͋ͦ̓̓ͯ͆͛̏ͫ̅ͯ.̨̧̙̤̳̮̺̙͖̞͔̗͎͍̑̆ͮ͐ͩͦ̌̽̾̏͘͠.̹̖͕̮͕̞̰͍͚͖̌ͪ̃̐̐̌̌̅̉͑ͧͪͪͬ̓͐́͛̿͘͞ ….NEIGHBOR STEVE.”

“Anytime.”

There are no more peeping reports. Millie brings back Aubergine and spends an entire afternoon teaching Steve the particulars of Augy’s new “hairstyle” (a gravity-defying mass of teased tendrils, ribbons, and barrettes) in between games of tag and hide-and-seek with Timmy and Son.

When Antler Guy and Hellwife present her and her mother Beatrice with a tiny Audrey Jr. (”pOOr ThinG Is a ruNT And wOn’T geT MorE Than A FooT taLL, BEa, aNd NeeDS a New FRiEnD”, assures Hellwife), both mother and child burst out crying. Millie names it Bella, after Bella Lugosi, and shows it to the excited group of boys (Steve and Augy included).

IT GOT SO MUCH BETTER!!!!