A deaf family appears tonight on CSI: NY in its Silent Night episode. If you miss it, just be on the look out for this episode title during reruns.
In the episode, an intruder breaks into a home, shoots the teen daughter and almost kidnaps the baby without the mother hearing a sound. The entire family is deaf. The CSIs search for the intruder with the mother’s help.
It stars Marlee Matlin and Sasha Cohen. Ironically, you can watch a video preview… without captions. The other deaf actors are Amber Stanton and Troy Kotsur.
CSI: NY Silent Night
Help for the Eyes… Finally
I whined and moaned in this entry about the problem with my eyes aching and feeling pressure. My regular doctor told me to see the ophthalmologist rather than my optometrist (Talked to him, too).
She said all my symptoms pointed to dry eye syndrome. First thing to try was adding tears (eye drops) four times a day and then an eye gel at night. After two weeks of that, I didn’t feel better. The office did a test on my eyes at that appointment and the results stated I had severely dry eyes.
The doctor put in plugs (didn’t bother me at all) and I will continue my routine (if she hadn’t put in plugs, I would’ve had to put tears in EIGHT times a day). All About Vision has a great entry about dry eyes complete with animation showing how plugs get inserted. The entry says that Dallas/Fort Worth is one of the top 10 cities named as a dry eye hot spot.
After reading up and talking to the doctor — It’s no surprise that I had serious dry eye problems as I had LASIK in 1999, took meds that can lead to dry eyes, and being a woman (hormones can cause dry eyes). But my eyes never felt dry and she said that can happen — maybe I adjusted.
Anyway, there you have it. If you hear someone is having problems and can’t find answers — here’s one possibility to check into. While this has nothing to do with deafness, I had people asking me if it could be related. So it isn’t related in my case.
Two more pages with good info. One from Mayo Clinic and the other from The Eye Digest.
Gallaudet Interim President Selected
Gallaudet University announced the selection of Robert Davila as the university’s interim president. As interim president, “The Board expects the interim president will serve on an interim basis only, for a period of eighteen months. The Board and the interim president, by mutual agreement, may extend this period for an additional six months if needed.”
As for the permanent president, “The Board expects to announce a separate search process for the permanent president, after an interim president has been selected.”
One person commented he didn’t want Davila for president. Well, this is just interim and it doesn’t guarantee Davila will continue on as permanent president.
The Washington Post reports on the story.
DeafNation
DeafNation updates visitors on the happenings in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. It also provides coverage of events such as Deaflympics and World Federation of Deaf. The site is behind DeafNation Expo, an exhibition celebrating culture, exhibiting technology and providing networking opportunities at no charge to attendees. The Expo is like a traveling showcase that visits many locations throughout the year.
Employers and Deaf Employees
How to Calm a Nervous Employer provides suggestions on how people with hearing loss deal with interviews and telephone calls. I especially appreciate the “Left Out” section as that’s been a life-long challenge.
I have a contact number for my business, but I also link to an entry on how the relay service works. I’ve tried to keep the contact process and relay information simple. Ever since I first entered the workforce, I’ve constantly searched for ways to explain the relay process in as few words as possible. I hope this process works in helping current and potential clients feel comfortable about working with me and contacting me.
Gallaudet Down to Final Three Candidates
Gallaudet University reports the Interim President Selection Advisory Committee has three men (no women — will this start another protest?) standing in line for the president position. One of those is Robert Davila. I remember him well from when I worked in Washington, DC for the government. I contacted his office once, but I don’t remember why. He has an impressive background and sounded liek a likeable person.
Weiner got his Ed. D. from my school at the same time I graduated with my BA — The American University. He also worked at the Texas School for the Deaf.
All three have been involved with Gallaudet. So the first thing I wonder — do students who know them, like them? JKF worked there and that’s one of the things that started the whole protest — she wasn’t likeable among other things. The candidates look good on paper, but what about off paper?
A long weekend waits the committee as they plan to make a final decision.
The Open & Closed Project
To keep things simple in explaining this important project, I’ve listed the bullets from the Open and Closed Project Web site.
1. Write standards for the four fields of accessible media — captioning, audio description, subtitling, and dubbing — based on research and evidence.
2. Conduct research when the existing research or evidence does not exist or is insufficient.
3. Test standards for a year in the real world, make any changes necessary, and publish them.
4. Develop training and certification programs for practitioners.
While all of the above happens, they will also do the following two things:
1. Design and test improved fonts for captioning and subtitling (already underway).
2. Develop and test file formats for the four fields of accessible media.
Joe Clark is looking for supporters to donate small amounts of cash — micropatronage, as he calls it — to start up this project.
Guide for Dads with Deaf Children
DeafBlog reports on a guide for dads for deaf children is available for free from the UK. I don’t know if those outside of the UK can get a copy or not. Contact Leigh Holdway on 020 70141113 or e-mail leigh@ndcs.org.uk for a copy.
Though my mom did the driving to get me to speech therapy, my dad was the hardware guy. He tested my hearing aids, bought batteries, and kept them in working shape. But he surprised me one day when I heard a story of what he told a former teacher of mine. An improved version of this story apeears in Stories of Strength.
How Relay Services Work
Various relay service providers exist, but they all work similarly. A person who is deaf, has speech challenges, or has visual impairments contacts a relay service through a TTY, special phone, web site, or instant messenger where an operator acts as a go-between.
A person calls the relay using a preferred method (TTY, online, etc.). The operator answers and asks for the phone number. The person provides the phone number and any other relevant information, if needed.
The operator calls the number and explains the relay service to the person called. The person called answers normally and says, “Go ahead,” when finished responding.
The operator types the response to the caller who types, speaks, or signs (depending on the type of service used) a reply in which the operator repeats to the person called. The conversation continues using this process until the end.
The call doesn’t cost anything (except for long distance and cell phone charges) as the funding comes from other sources. Long distance calls made online typically don’t involve charges.
Contacting Meryl
I have a phone number that reaches me through AIM (AOL instant messenger). When the caller calls me, it’s almost like making a regular call except with delays between caller and person called speaking. The relay service requires patience, but I want to be available for clients and prospects.
Some people find the process tedious and prefer to use email, instant messaging, or another means to communicate with the caller. I try to make the communications process as easy as possible for clients and potential clients. Unfortunately, sometimes I can’t reach people because they hang up on the service thinking it’s a telemarketer.
Working with Managers and Employers
How to Calm a Nervous Employeer offers advice on how to prepare for a job interview or prepare a potential client by explaining technology and ASL. As a result, I plan to add information about using the relay service on my About page.
More on this in a past entry.