Cartoon Features a Guest Who Is Deaf

PBS cartoon Maya & Miguel celebrates Deaf Awareness Week (September 24–30, 2006) by featuring a character who is deaf and uses sign language to communicate. The episode, “Give Me a Little Sign,” premieres on September 25 and runs daily until Friday, September 29. This episode will have open captions, a first for PBS KIDS GO!sm programming.
Captioned Media Program (CMP) provides two flyers.
Two-page flyer with an in-depth explanation of the episode:
http://www.captionedmedia.org/flyers/nadf131.pdf [pdf]
One-page flyer with several brief points about the episode:
http://www.captionedmedia.org/flyers/nadf132.pdf [pdf]

Dealing with Phone Reps and Recordings

While working for a company, employees received a letter from HR telling us we needed to call the voice automated system to confirm our accounts. It had to be “the employee” who does it. I asked the manager what I should do about it and she said to have Paul call.
I didn’t trust this process because I’ve gotten phone calls from my credit card company and other businesses that *must* talk to *me*. One time Paul and I were frustrated with a caller. I told the caller that I was Meryl and that she had permission to talk to Paul. It took a few repetitions to get through to her.
I appreciate that companies try to watch out for their customers in times of identity theft — but where can we find a happy middle between the company ensuring safety and getting what it needs while keeping the customer from getting frustrated with jumping hoops.

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Connecting Online

Did I tell you how much I appreciate the Internet? It’s the one place I rarely run into communication barriers. The only time that happens is when a site has audio or a video without captions (and it isn’t easy to tell what’s going on just by watching it). I posted entries on this over in meryl’s notes as I think online communication goes beyond making it easier on a deaf person like me to connect.

Gene Responsible for Hearing Loss

Researchers have found another gene that increases a person’s risk for hearing loss. The gene known as KCNQ4 may be the cause of “age-related” hearing loss rather than long-time noise exposure.
Here are previously mentioned genes also linked to hearing loss.

Misreading Lips: The Mahjongg Story

I play mahjongg once a week and love it. I, however, can’t imagine playing as fast as the regulars do especially since I have to look at every tile thrown. My group contains mostly beginners and we’re getting faster — but still a long way from the continuous clickety clickety clack game.
Anyway, we were on break after setting up the next game. My friend was studying her tiles while talking to herself. “Don’t cuss!” I said. She jumped out of her seat and glanced at me with a confused look on her face.
She didn’t cuss. She said something entirely different. [Blush]
Now she tells everyone the story and we have a good laugh. I forgot what she really said. Maybe it’s a good thing because obviously my lipreading skills were off.

Hearing Loss and Hearing Help

Here’s an excellent guide from The Hearing Journal. It discusses the price of not addressing the hearing loss and where to get help. There article also contains a long list of resources, which I’ve added here as a backup.

Organizations:

Companies:

Paying the Price for Not Being Yourself

Stephen Hopson, a talented person who is a pilot and former stock broker, shares an embarrassing experience that could easily happen to anyone who is deaf. I do what he did — answer “yes” or “no” when I’m not sure what someone said and I’ve already asked him to repeat. You just don’t want to be a bother by repeatedly asking, “What?”
A minor incident happened a few months ago. It worked to my advantage, but it also made me feel guilty. At the mall, I stopped to get a soda on my way out. I ordered and had money in hand. The guy at the counter asked a question. After two or three times of “What?” I finally said, “Yes.”
The cost of the drink was less than what I usually pay. Confused, I took my drink and left. Moments later I figured out what he asked. “Are you a mall employee?” Oy! I accidentally lied and felt rotten about it. I tried to make up for it by giving a tip next time.

Deaf Actress in Jericho

Shoshannah Stern, a deaf actress, is a cast member of Jericho, a new CBS TV show about the after-effects of a nuclear mushroom cloud appearing in the distance from Jericho, a small town in Kansas. Stern is a fourth generation member of a deaf family. Her brother and sister are also deaf.
She attended California School for the Deaf and Gaulladet University. Stern has guest-starred on Providence, Boston Public, and ER. She has a recurring role in Weeds, a Showtime show. She’s the only deaf actor to have a major role in two prime time TV shows in the same season.

Public Speaking

My sister told me about a conference scheduled for November here in Dallas and encouraged me to submit a proposal. I’m not afraid of public speaking, but rather others understanding me and hearing their questions.
A few years ago, I did a panel at sxsw and it went OK. I was the moderator, so I didn’t have to worry too much about interacting with the audience and panel members. But I think I’ll pass on any future panels — unless it’s people I’ve met in person and understand.
For this presentation, I plan to bring index cards so the audience can write questions. I haven’t decided whether I’m going to collect the questions or walk around and read them while letting the person read the question out loud. I did this once in college when I did a lesson plan with children (we all did short lesson plans). Barely can remember how it turned out, but it must’ve been fine as I would remember it if I struggled or ran into problems.
The hardest part isn’t speaking and listening, but creating a creative presentation instead of falling into the PowerPoint Trap. I plan to dig into Metaphorically Selling for some ideas.

News Links: 08-11-2006

* U.S. Army in Iraq and the International Kids Fund donate funds to help an Iraqi girl get a cochlear transplant.
* Discrimination in golf. Makes me grateful I never had a problem with sports or lessons and I’ve played or tried most of them (basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, tennis, golf, and racquetball).
* Two car racers, best buds.