[nfb-db] Deafblind Group Communication

[Mussie]

I agree with you, John, regarding the arrangement of chairs. Many places 
have even tables and chairs attached to the floor, forcing the deaf-blind to 
look for alternative seating.
It is a common misconception that by simply stating you are deaf-blind, most 
people will assume that you are totally incapable of hearing and seeing. For 
that reason, I would simply tell Haben that the way communication 
accommodation is provided depends on degree of deaf-blindness, leaving out 
the need to describe the various modes and instances of communication. From 
my understanding, the majority of deaf-blind individuals actually use 
tactile American Sign Language (TASL), and so communication that places so 
much emphasis on typing messages may not be an ideal solution. The DeafBlind 
Communicator even greets the hearie-sightie with something like, "I am blind 
and can't hear" (which is much more salient) than simply saying, "I am 
deaf-blind," (which is more confusing). That is apparently because most 
hearing people have enver encountered a deaf-blind and all too often assume 
that deaf-blindness connotes total loss of vision and hearing. That has been 
the problem between me and hearing people.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Lee Clark" <johnlee at clarktouch.com>
To: "'NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List'" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 11:58 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Deafblind Group Communication


> Haben:
>
> No.  This chain relay interpreting is ideal for small groups.  Larger 
> groups
> would result in "telephone line" lags and errors.  Most large groups, in
> meetings or for presentations, would have many different things going on.
> Some will watch the presenter directly, sitting up close.  Others may join
> groups of four or five people who watch one relay interpreter.  some would
> have tactile interpreters.  Others listen to ALDS or read large print or
> Braille feeds.  For this reason, the ideal venue is an open floor and 
> chairs
> that you can arrange in any kind of way.  Places with chairs fixed to the
> floor are bad.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of Haben Girma
> Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 11:24 PM
> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Deafblind Group Communication
>
>
> So at the AADB meetings, is that how they communicate to the whole
> group. So if one person is presenting, do the people next to her relay
> the message around the circle?
>
> Haben
>
> Mussie wrote:
>> Haben,
>> I was once asked this question, although I generally only work on
>> one-on-one training sessions. Sign language is not the only group-wide
>> communication. I am sure there will be much simplier way to
>> communciate in groups in the future, like there will be cell phone
>> based video conversation via ASL in situations where it may not be
>> possible to see one's signing. But for the deaf-blind, there are other
>> options, including networked communication options (Face to Face and
>> the DBC can permit this), though it may not be an they may not be an
>> ideal solution in some situations. I also used to do group tactile
>> signing in which what one is saying at the other end is relayed
>> through the person or persons close to the receiver of the signing.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Haben Girma" <habnkid at aol.com>
>> To: "NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 2:03 AM
>> Subject: [nfb-db] Deafblind Group Communication
>>
>>
>>>
>>> John, you mentioned somewhere that your wife is not your interpreter.
>>> I imagine that you do find yourself occasionally in large social
>>> groups. What do you do in these situations? Do you just sign to the
>>> people next to you? Does your wife really not interpret at all what
>>> the people across the table are signing? Of course if your wife were
>>> your interpreter she would not get a chance to participate in the
>>> conversation herself, but then how can you participate in the large
>>> group conversation if someone does not interpret for you? I'm curious
>>> specifically about informal groups of 4 to six friends.
>>>
>>> Haben
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-db mailing list
>>> nfb-db at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>
>>
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