Learning to read if deaf—how?

[First of all, I am not completely aware of the politically correct terms of people with different disabilities, so I'm just using the word I know here, deaf. If some of you feel it is offensive, please forgive me. I mean no offence.]

I've been wondering about this for a while, but... how do the deaf learn how to read? Lately I've been studying reading in literature (which is my minor) and learning to read was one part of those studies. The POV varied from a child with no disabilities all the way to children with mild-to-mildly-serious mental disabilities, but deaf children were omitted. read more

Defying deafness

Born hearing-impaired, the 21-year-old Mei Mei, as she is affectionately known, has not allowed deafness to stop her from pursuing her dream of studying overseas.

“Many parents of the deaf do not send their children abroad for studies because they are afraid the deaf won’t be able to cope. I am thankful that my family, mentor and friends were very supportive of my dream to study in Canada,” she says.

Disability Studies at the college is a two-year diploma course that focuses on integrating the disabled into the community. Subjects include advocacy and communication, and leadership skills as well as nutrition, health and fitness.

So far, Mei Mei has completed subjects on the mentally challenged, the physically handicapped and those with learning disabilities. read more

Nice Pro-Gun Article in Worcester Telegram

NEADS, Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans, is a nonprofit organization established in 1976 to train and provide rescued dogs and donated puppies to assist people who are deaf or physically disabled in leading more independent lives at work, home or school. With headquarters in Princeton, NEADS has trained approximately 800 assistance dogs since its inception.

Those who would like additional information about the program, or who would like to make a donation, can contact NEADS by visiting the Web site www.neads.org or by calling (978) 422-9064 (voice or TDD) or by writing to NEADS, P.O. Box 213, West Boylston, MA 01583. read more

Activities expand at Aspen camp for deaf kids

ASPEN — Kids psyched up for an adventure speak the same language, and “Me first!” looks the same in American Sign Language as it sounds coming in shrieks from an 8-year-old who wants to climb a sheer rock wall.

The Aspen Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Old Snowmass is celebrating 40 years of getting deaf children involved in those and other activities. The camp is also entering something of a new era of expansion into winter and opening its door to more campers. read more

109 Deaf Girl Gives a Speech

It was the first time I used Power Point. Of course I was very nervous, and when I gave the speech I had lost most of my hearing in both ears due to allergic reactions to the ventilation systems at IUSB… my Eustachian tubes were blocked, preventing airflow to the middle ear, and so the ear drums weren’t working. I could barely hear myself talk.

I kept thinking this whatever it was would clear on its own. I didn’t have an ear ache an either ear, until one day, after I had let it go on for two months, I had excruciating pain in my left ear, and then stuff came oozing out. I rushed to the doctor to find my left eardrum had ruptured. That was scary. I got on some allergy medicine and began to heal. Little did I know that wouldn’t be the last major ordeal with my ears, or that they would cost me my career dreams. read more

Former Hofstra professor, activist dies

Frank Bowe, a celebrated Hofstra professor and activist who championed for the rights of the disabled and helped draft the legislation that led to the Americans With Disabilities Act, died Aug. 21 of cancer. He was 60 years old.

Bowe, who was deaf, served as the executive director of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities from 1976 to 1981. In 1977, he helped direct a nationwide sit-in that pushed legislators to implement Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, the world's first civil-rights provision for the disabled. Section 504 was the forerunner of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. read more

BIG 92.7 FM celebrates Sports Day with hak De?girl

Bombay Institution of Deaf & Mute is one of the many schools that undergo School Health Education Programme (SHEP) by the Aga Khan Health Service India and is a functionary of the Aga Khan Development Network. The primary focus of the organization is towards the under-privileged population and it works in partnership with the government and other health providers. read more

Mark your Calendar

Aquarium caters to deaf visitors

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher will offer programs tailored especially for the deaf and hard of hearing on Saturday.

Sign language, captioning or scripting will enhance most of the activities of the day - animal feedings, live-animal presentations and films - and interpreters will assist visitors at the admissions lobby, snack bar and selected exhibits.

An interpreter will be available periodically at the Coquina Outcrop touch pool and the "Let's Talk Turtle" loggerhead sea turtle booth. read more

Workshop discuses problems of hearing disabled

The first workshop in Yemen to address the problems of people with hearing disabilities was held this week at the Taj Sheba Hotel.

“This workshop is the first of its kind in Yemen to specialize on the auditory disabilities, we will try to discuss all its different issues,” said Eman Hashem Enqadh, the chairman of the Al-Eman Center for Hearing and Speech Therapy. The workshop was called Early Diagnosis of Audio Disability and Proper Training and their Impact on the Evolution of Language in Children with Auditory Disabilities.

“The audio disabled can easily integrate in the society if we choose the best training and qualification program, because his mental and physical abilities are right,” she said. “It is not the first workshop but they will do other workshops that specialize in audio disabilities.” read more