Hearing Loss Association plans walk

Eleven years ago, Warren suddenly became deaf -- the result of surgery to successfully remove a brain tumor.

"I came back to Odessa, and there was nothing in the Permian Basin to help me," she said. " I spent a couple of years not really functioning, until an audiologist in Houston told me about the Hearing Loss Association of America.

"I wrote them and through correspondence found out there were chapters functioning in Texas and that there was going to be a five-state conference in Amarillo. I flew to Amarillo, even though I couldn't understand what was happening on the flight because I couldn't hear announcements about my stop or about connections. When I got to the hotel, I realized I didn't know how I was going to get up in the morning because I used to rely on wake-up calls."read more

Deaf Culture

Imagine living in a world in which you have not heard a single sound, not even lyrics from romantic songs. Imagine describing your feelings with only hands. Loud claps are replaced with waving hands. Imagine not having a verbal voice. Imagine learning about the world, how things work, chemical reactions only through your eyes. Imagine being in a world that is muted and loud. How is it possible to have a world that is muted and loud? It is possible because not a word is spoken from tongues but expressed in rapid movements of the hands.
Our body language is loud and sprinkled with facial expression. We have a language of our own that is a treasure to our culture. The world I am speaking of is the Deaf Culture. Deaf Culture, like other cultures, has it's own tradition, moral,values, etiquette, and beliefs. The people in Deaf Culture call themselves Deaf, note the capitalized D. I will update my blog often with more information on Deaf Culture in America and ASL.
I am proud to be a Deafie! For more information contact me at my email mentioned in my profile.

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Deaf and blind bicyclists help each other enjoy ride

When John Lee Clark is not busy publishing poetry, studying as a full-time student at the University of Minnesota or raising three sons, he spins on long-distance treks.

A man with a wicked sense of humor, Clark, 28, of St. Paul, Minn., has loved cycling since he was a kid and especially likes socializing with other cyclists. Being deaf and blind doesn't make a difference.

"I want to show people that there is nothing special about being deaf-blind. We are ordinary people, too," he said.

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