[nfb-db] My trip to Seattle for the Washington deaf blind citizens ...

[Cherifields at aol.com]

Hi Randy, this revelation isn't that different from most other deaf  
culture.  Regardless of disability we all have to accept who we are.   If given 
the chance to receive a cochlear implant most ASL deaf will decide  against 
it.  
Where can we find common ground to help both the ASL DB and the DB?   We 
both have similar needs.  We need to work together.
Blessings,
Cheri
 
 
In a message dated 4/17/2014 8:30:25 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
randy.pope at aadb.org writes:

(Sorry  to send this message before its time. Randy)

Hi Maurice and  all,

About HKNC itself, it really depends on the DB person who  attended.  A good
number of HOH DB did have good experience with HKNC  along with a very small
DB who's language is ASL.  Like many agencies  there is always problems
arising and HKNC is no exception.

Rox has  pretty much explained the situation in regards of inclusion of DB
people in  the workplace.  However the core or heart of the problem is
service  delivery for those ASL DB.  One is communication, lack  of
understanding and respect of the Deaf culture's way of life as DB  people.
In other words, there is a large group of ASL DBs who are proud  of
themselves of being DB.  I'm not saying that they want to be DB but  giving
the circumstances the feeling is that they have no choice but to  accept
being DB as a culture group and be proud of it.  On the other  hand, a good
number of HKNC staff tends to see DB as a medical condition  that need
fixing. 

Seattle is one of several DB communities who  believe DeafBlindness as a
culture.  Many of the DB in Massachusetts,  Minnesota, DC and several other
DB communities also hold the same values as  Seattle.  I'm one of those
people who hold the same values and proud  of it, simply because it is who I
am being a DB person.

I do see a  few progress being made and hope it will continue.  At the same
time I  have seen that HKNC made one step forward and two steps backward.
It's my  hope that the new ED will continue to move  forward with  new
strategies that will benefit both HKNC and the DB people and not  maintain
the status quo.

Hope this help.

With  regards,
Randy Pope
randy.pope at aadb.org

-----Original  Message-----
From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of  maurice mines
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 12:08 AM
To: NFB Deaf-Blind  Division Mailing List
Subject: [nfb-db] My trip to Seattle for the  Washington deaf blind citizens
meeting.

Hello, I just wanted to drop  everyone a line letting you know how a trip to
Seattle Washington went on,  this was to attend the Washington state deaf
blind citizens general  meeting.

I just would like to share some thoughts and asked a couple of  questions of
the group to gain some understanding of a couple of issues.  One I found
everyone to be very cordial. I found the volunteer interpreters  to be
extremely helpful at times. Now onto the first of my two questions,  is it
normal to have major problems toward applying people to find  qualified
medical interpreting? My next question takes on a potentially  much larger
issue, if one goes to the   website,  www.deafblindpower.com ,  what do you
think of the site? Also is there  really a large problem with Helen Keller?
Because if I'm reading the site  right, the deaf blind coalition is
advocating for a deaf  blind  executive director? Any thoughts on this one?
Also a lot of the updates on  the site there's some discussion about the US
Department of Education as it  relates to Helen Keller international, I know
that there are always two  sides to every story, is there another side to
this story?

Aside  from the things I've already mentioned, I noticed that the meeting
were  quite in-depth on Washington state citizens internal operations. I
really  do think this is a good thing. In closing, it is a very good thing
that I'm  learning sign language, because before the afternoon session ended
the  battery on my Bluetooth system that allowed me to hear the  voice
interpreter using the PA system, the battery ran out. This of course  left 
me
with hearing that some pieces of the voice interpreter and reading  what the
interpreter was signing to me tactfully, of course since I am just  learning
I missed quite a few signs, but put together with what I could  hear of what
was going on I seem to keep it all straight in my mind. This  also begins
what I think is the in-depth education on current depth  blindness issues at
the Washington state level. I have already possibly,  gotten approval to get
preliminary approval to attend their October  meeting.

I hope all is well with everyone on the list, and I will be  reading your
responses? Now here comes my signature file.

Sincerely  Maurice mines.
Student accessibility aid.
Voicemail phone,  360-524-0791.
School/work email address, Maurice.mines at PCC.edu.
Amateur  radio call sign, kd0iko.
Note I'm using Dragon dictate version 3 for the  Mac to dictate the contents
of this document, or email.
Please excuse  any errors as they may be the result of the software, or the
dictation  process.


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