[NFB-DB] Looking For Methods To Help The Deaf-Blind At meetings

Wed Apr 4 19:08:59 UTC 2018

Hi Louis.
The simple answer is that no one solution will work for every person
who has a form of deaf-blindness. I have spent years wishing for such
a system, but it does not exist. If you are a low vision person, or if
you were at one point, the analogy I'm presenting may help. With folks
who are low vision, some prefer less lighting in a room, while others
need more. Some may prefer a specific type of contrast for printed
materials. All people with low vision see differently and thus require
different types of accommodations. The same is true with people who
have varying degrees of both vision and hearing loss, yet it's even
more complicated because you have 2 different variables to contend
with. For example, if I'm a low vision user who is also totally deaf
and has been using ASL all of my life, typed English is probably not
going to work for me because English is not my first language. ASL has
an entirely different grammatical structure than English. As Roxè
pointed out, there are also people who prefer ASL only for their
preferred method of communication. At the same time, if another person
comes to a meeting who is hard of hearing and has lost all usable
vision later in life, they may not be able to use braille or large
print. They may require the use of an assistive listening device. The
best advice I can give is to approach each situation on a case by case
basis.
As a side note, it is not possible to connect multiple braille
displays through Bluetooth to one device. However, on the Mac
operating system, you can connect over 20 different braille displays
through USB at the same time. Which would be great, but think of all
of those wires. Smiles. I understand that I and all the others who
have replied have turned what seemed like a simple question in to a
very complex answer, but I hope you have found the info helpful.

Best of luck,
Scott
Sent from my iPhone

On 4/4/18, Louis Maher via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Thank you Marsha.
>
>
> Regards
> Louis Maher
> Phone: 713-444-7838
> E-mail ljmaher03 at outlook.com
>
> From: Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 12:13 PM
> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Louis Maher <ljmaher03 at outlook.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Looking For Methods To Help The Deaf-Blind At
> meetings
>
> The only software you mentioned below that is accessible on an iphone or
> idevice is Skype Business, otherwise none of those things are accessible.
>
> So a few other thoughts, Deafblind persons who have a more hearing loss, who
> also use ASL or tactile ASL will require interpreters. Intrepretors can be
> expensive, and have to be scheduled through an agency or contracted
> privately with. Again, this option is for folks who use sign language for
> communication. Others have used CART, Communication access in real time,
> this also contracted out, but does cost a fee. There are agecyies that can
> have the CART output to a braille display. This would require that the
> person who is DeafBlind know braille. In some cases the person who is
> DeafBlind only needs an SSP. That person then repeats the spoken language. A
> meeting setting would not be appropriate for an ssp to interpret, especially
> if there are financial and or business information included. There are
> intrepretors called voice interpretors, someone who is trained to repeat
> word for word the spoken language. An SSP can help with not only meetings
> but all the other things that go along with meetings, like sighted guide,
> going to and from the bathroom, setting and gathering environmental
> information and much more. But not all DeafBlind persons need that. I have
> also seen and experienced meetings in places where there was a induction
> loop, so that those persons with T-coils in there hearings aids can hear
> when a person speaks into a microphone. Again this requires that the room be
> already fitted for a inductive loop and that there is an audio person who
> can set this up, maintain the system during the meeting and can help with
> passing the microphone. this also requires that persons, if they want to
> speak have to have the mic, if persons speak over each other they are not
> heard by the DeafBlind person. I have also seen other DeafBlind persons who
> have used FM systems that also tie into their hearing aids. As well as other
> listening devices. In some cases a DeafBlind person who uses hearing aids
> might solve their problem of not hearing everyone too. Each of these
> solutions have good and bad things about them.
>
> I Hope that helps
>
> Marsha drenth
> email: marsha.drenth at gmail.com<mailto:marsha.drenth at gmail.com>
> Sent with my IPhone
> Please note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As
> such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors.
> Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as necessary.
>
> On Apr 3, 2018, at 4:43 PM, Louis Maher via NFB-DB
> <nfb-db at nfbnet.org<mailto:nfb-db at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for a method to help the deaf-blind participate in meetings.
>
> It has been proposed to have a person type the speakers words in real time
> and send the written speech output to linked computers using Braille
> displays.
>
> I am not sure how to do this.
>
> I believe that Bluetooth can connect several computers at a time; however, I
> am unsure how to have the deaf-blind see the output of one
> Typist using a bluetooth system.
>
> It has been suggested that I I Use Collaboration software such as
> Microsoft teams,
> Slack,
> go to meeting, or skype for business.
>
> Has anyone linked a system of computers to help the deaf-blind attend
> meetings?
>
> Does anyone have an opinion on what the best software would be?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
>
> Regards
> Louis Maher
> Phone: 713-444-7838
> E-mail ljmaher03 at outlook.com<mailto:ljmaher03 at outlook.com>
>
>
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