#deafstruggle

[nonutlet]

I always get excited when I see people with hearing aids or CI. It makes me feel closer to them. But since I don‘t use those they can‘t identify me as hoh. I never know how to drop that fact in conversation because I also don‘t want to reduce them to their disability when we are having a conversation

[nonutlet]

I never notice that my 'disability' is an issue until I am back to formal educational institutions...

[nonutlet]

Hi everyone,

I want to organize an international exchange project for hearing disabled people, and I would love to get your thoughts!

The project would be 2 weeks with young adults staying together in one house and having an organized schedule of activities. The project would be fully funded by the European Union, and we would be able to hire sign language translators as well.

MY QUESTION IS

Have you ever participated in an international exchange for hearing disabled ?

How was it organized logistically ? (Eg did every person have their own translator, or was there one translator per country)

What was the content of the exchange ?

If you had the opportunity to take part in an international exchange - what would you like to be the content ? (E.g. sharing and exchanging your personal backgrounds, using different art forms to connect, exchanging how the different countries deal with disabilities, learning each other‘s sign languages, making study visits to institutions that are good examples of including hearing disabled)

Would you want ALL participants to be hearing disabled, or would you be okay with mixing up with hearing people who are interested to learn more ?

[thedeafstruggle-blog]

Deaf patients struggle to get adequate interpretation services in ERs

Deaf patients say video interpretation services, often used in emergency rooms, may not work well, keeping them from participating fully in their care.

“Jebian, who is deaf, said a nurse struggled to set up the [video phone] equipment as he anxiously wondered whether he was suffering a heart attack.

‘I was panicked,’ said Jebian, 46, recalling that July 2012 day. ‘I didn’t know if I had to have surgery. Everything was going past me. I didn’t know what was happening, when it was happening.’ 

With the minutes ticking by and staff still unable to operate the video interpreting service, the hospital turned to another option. For the next six hours or so, while undergoing tests and hooked up to IVs in both arms, Jebian said he wrote notes back and forth to doctors with his limited English — he communicates primarily through ASL. He was lying down on a hospital bed with his arms out, so he couldn’t see what he was scribbling.

‘I wished I had four arms at the time,’ he said. ‘They were saying, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t find your vein,’ while I’m trying to write them notes, trying to guide them.’

A STAT review of hospital inspection reports and court records found dozens of instances around the country when deaf patients said they were not provided adequate interpreter services.” This disgusting treatment is seen time and time again. With our healthcare system already failing so many, it’s despicable to see people in such vulnerable spaces being dealt with little to no thought. Communication is a right, just as much as health care and education. Not having access to such basic things is proof that the system we currently live in is obviously not working. 

[thedeafstruggle-blog]

Deaf Man Fatally Shot by North Carolina Trooper Mourned at Memorial Service

Daniel Harris was shot dead after a trooper tried pulling him over for speeding

Daniel Harris was a young man who was Deaf. As he was driving home one day he was speeding and a police officer tried to pull him over. Yet Daniel didn’t pull over right away. In fact, Daniel didn’t hear the siren at all and for some reason, didn’t see the cop at all. He went home with the officer in tow and as he was getting out of his car the cop shot him. Police shootings are quite high among marginalized folk and it is no different within the Deaf community. Police stations have been doing more work on better training police to deal with Deaf and other people with disabilities, but this does not bring back the dead. 

[nonutlet]

I applied to get a college dorm room, and ticked the box where it says "deaf/hard of hearing", and now I got a room offer. But guess what - she told me to call her this afternoon.

Now me personally, I am able to do phone calls, but she doesn't know that about me. If I was completely deaf I would have gotten the same answer. I'm glad I got an insight into the small struggles of deaf people's life.