[NFB-DB] Fwd: Now Hiring - Please Share

Wed Mar 16 01:37:25 UTC 2022

Hi Chris,
 Thanks.
Kind Regards,
Tracie

On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 9:01 PM Chris Westbrook via NFB-DB <
nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Wow Tracie, it sounds like you have a great family. It is nice to see
> others out there with CI's, there is only one other blind person in my
> state who has one and he doesn't come to meetings any more. I wish I had
> gotten my CI earlier, but I'm glad I got it now. I think my success is due
> in part because I grew up with speech and speaking through my "good" left
> ear. Even that ear is not great. Good luck to you all.
>
> On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 8:45 PM Tracie Inman via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Rod & Scott:
>>  I'm okay with that. We can respectfully agree to disagree, and we can
>> identify how we choose.  Rod, I would love to read your paper.  BTW, I was
>> born Blind (to a mom who is also DeafBlind). I have a daughter who is
>> DeafBlind and another daughter who is Blind.  The youngest of my 3
>> daughters is Visually Impaired, so Blindness is a part of our family. I
>> have two Cochlear Implants as does my daughter.
>>   I was raised in the Blind Department of the Florida School for the Deaf
>> & the Blind. Thus, I have been a member of the Blind Community all my life.
>> Unfortunately, due to my hearing loss I never fit in with my hearing Blind
>> peers. I began to learn ASL when I was 8, and by the time I was in middle
>> school I was using ASL interpreters. It wasn't until 2007 when I
>> received my second CI that I was reintroduced to the English language. If
>> you know Joe, he'll tell you the story of when we first met in 2004 I
>> couldn't communicate with home without an interpreter. The new technology
>> opened new doors, and opportunities for employment & education, for me.
>>   In 2019 I began to learn PT. Due to deteriorating vision I once again
>> found a sense of freedom from isolation and empowered independence. It is a
>> joy to have the access to knowledge of my surroundings and what is going on
>> around me. Earlier this month Florida DeafBlind Association held its
>> first-ever PT - Style State meeting free from access barriers.  What a
>> blessing that was for us! Amazing!
>>   If you are interested in reading the newsletter I co-write with another
>> wonderful DeafBlind Lady, Theresa Wells, please feel free to read and
>> share.  There are lots of great stories from the Sunshine State.  We just
>> released our Spring issue. Enjoy!
>> http://fldeafblind.org/newsletter.html
>>
>> Kind Regards,
>> Tracie
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 6:51 PM Scott Davert via NFB-DB <
>> nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Rod.
>>> Would it be possible for you to share the paper? I'd be very curious
>>> to read it now in 2022. To give a little context, I was 7 when you
>>> wrote that paper, and doubt I have matured at all since then. Smiles.
>>> I think in the same way that Rod writes deaf-blind, everyone is free
>>> to use whatever form of the word they wish to identify. I think Rod is
>>> saying that it's ok to write and identify yourself however you wish. I
>>> don't read too much into a label, really, which is my choice and I
>>> absolutely respect that people have other ideas on this than I do.  I
>>> tink agreeing to disagree is the best thing, but also to try to
>>> support people with their own choice in how they are identifying.
>>>
>>> Just my thoughts,
>>> Scott
>>>
>>> On 3/15/22, Rod and Ele Macdonald via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> > Tracie,
>>> >
>>> > Thank you, you did a fine job of expressing your identity.
>>> >
>>> > I apologize if use of the term "baggage" was offensive to you. I meant
>>> it as
>>> > a figure of speech, a metaphor.
>>> >
>>> > I suggest that while you "became" deaf-blind when you were very young,
>>> you
>>> > nonetheless came from a background - possibly blindness, possibly
>>> deafness,
>>> > possibly sighted-hearing - that you brought forward to your identity
>>> as a
>>> > DeafBlind person.
>>> >
>>> > In the 1989 paper I referred to, I said that, left to themselves,
>>> deaf-blind
>>> > people might develop their own language. I do not claim to have
>>> "predicted"
>>> > PT, but a consumer-developed language was part of that vision of
>>> deaf-blind
>>> > culture.
>>> >
>>> > But ... you are asking me to change how I spell the name of my
>>> identity to
>>> > agree with yours? That is not embracing our unity of diversity is it?
>>> > Because the hyphen is what I have lived with since becoming blind at
>>> age
>>> > three, becoming hard of hearing at age 10, and profoundly deaf by the
>>> time I
>>> > was 30 - and I am now almost 81.
>>> >
>>> > I live in Hawaii, where the hyphen is used both in regulations and by
>>> the
>>> > deaf-blind community - I am acting President of the Hawaii Association
>>> of
>>> > the Deaf-Blind. PT is not used in Hawaii.
>>> >
>>> > I agree with almost everything you wrote, but - and this is a big
>>> "but" -
>>> > why do I have to change? Why can't our identity embrace three
>>> spellings of a
>>> > word ("Deafblind" is still used in places) if we can also embrace
>>> multiple
>>> > languages and multiple methods of communication?
>>> >
>>> > Rod
>>> >
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> > From: Tracie Inman via NFB-DB  <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>> > To:  nfb-db at nfbnet.org
>>> > CC: tracielinman at gmail.com
>>> > Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 10:43 am
>>> > Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Fwd: Now Hiring - Please Share
>>> >
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> Hello:
>>> >>  Please remove the hyphen between the words "Deaf" and "Blind". We no
>>> >> longer use it. We are DeafBlind. A couple of thoughts on your
>>> statements
>>> >> come to mind. First, I am a bit offended by your statement of
>>> "bringing
>>> >> baggage from my former life" when I became DeafBlind. For me, I was
>>> much
>>> >> too young to remember life before becoming DeafBlind, so how could I
>>> have
>>> >> "baggage"? One does not carry "baggage" into a disability. Maybe that
>>> is
>>> >> your perception, but it is not mine.
>>> >>   PT (ProTactile) is itself now a language of the DeafBlind. It is a
>>> >> language unique to the DeafBlind. None of the concepts of PT are
>>> >> "borrowed" from either the ASL or the English languages. It is a
>>> language
>>> >> of tactile communication providing visual and auditory information to
>>> the
>>> >> DeafBlind.
>>> >>   That said, we have not two, not three, but four languages. TASL
>>> (Tactile
>>> >> ASL) must also be counted.
>>> >>   The DeafBlind world is a "melting pot" of culture, language, and
>>> >> lifestyles unique only to our community. Joe Naulty once explained it
>>> this
>>> >> way: (We love you Joe and your unique perceptions are so awesome!)
>>> "The
>>> >> DeafBlind community is like a pretzel: there are many parts in the
>>> whole
>>> >> pretzel"
>>> >>   The challenge we face is full inclusion and integration in our
>>> >> communities.  We have so many barriers to overcome.  We are, in so
>>> many
>>> >> ways, a "forgotten" minority.  We face so many isolations and
>>> obstacles.
>>> >> Yet, when we come together we are joyful. We can "touch" each other
>>> in a
>>> >> positive way to communicate directly with one another in a language
>>> that
>>> >> is ours.
>>> >>   I believe with all my heart that our community is special. We are
>>> >> unique. We have a lot to give back to society. We show people, and the
>>> >> world around us, that we, too, can live the life we want - with joy,
>>> love,
>>> >> and peace - together through touch, through total communication, and
>>> >> through peer support.
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> Kind regards,
>>> >> Tracie
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 4:03 PM Rod and Ele Macdonald via NFB-DB
>>> >> <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> Hello Scott,
>>> >>
>>> >> The situation is not likely to improve much until someone who actually
>>> >> wants "the job" challenges the discriminatory practice.
>>> >>
>>> >> The underlying issue is that blind people regard themselves to be
>>> part of
>>> >> a community, while Deaf people regard themselves to be part of a
>>> culture.
>>> >> There is a big difference. When a blind person or a Deaf person
>>> "becomes"
>>> >> deaf-blind, that person brings baggage from their "former life" into
>>> a new
>>> >> identity.
>>> >>
>>> >> I wrote a paper in 1989 entitled, "Deaf-Blindness: An Emerging
>>> Culture?"
>>> >> That paper introduced the "possibility" that a culture unique to
>>> >> deaf-blind people exists, or at least was in the process of
>>> developing.
>>> >> "Deaf-Blind Culture" was a controversial topic back then, but it is a
>>> >> cherished belief among many now. The question is - is there a
>>> >> comprehensive culture of deaf-blind people?
>>> >>
>>> >> I know of no other culture that has TWO languages - and both English
>>> and
>>> >> ASL are not "ours" but are borrowed from hearing people and Deaf
>>> people,
>>> >> and that does not even take PT into account. We do not even have a
>>> unified
>>> >> means of receiving and expresssing our language, even assuming we came
>>> >> from one sid3e or the other. Braille can be a "natural" means of
>>> accessing
>>> >> written information, but ASL does not have a written component and
>>> those
>>> >> who grew up relying on visual ASL find it hard to learn or feel
>>> >> comfortable with braille.
>>> >>
>>> >> I think that at some point we - us, not professionals who serve our
>>> group
>>> >> - need to decide: do we embrace the concept of an umbrella culture we
>>> all
>>> >> belong to, a culture with two languages and many, often competing
>>> needs?
>>> >> Or are we to go for two separate groups based opon language needs?
>>> >>
>>> >> I am wholeheartedly in favor of the "umbrella". I think we are too
>>> small a
>>> >> group to divide into sub-groups. I think we share toomuchtogether to
>>> focus
>>> >> on how we are different.
>>> >>
>>> >> One can be blind and become deaf, and one can be deaf and become
>>> blind.
>>> >> The new person ... physically there is no difference, but culturally?
>>> The
>>> >> baggage from our "former" life will dictate our outlook, needs and our
>>> >> approach. I am all for an identity that embraces who we have become,
>>> and
>>> >> not who we once were.
>>> >>
>>> >> Rod
>>> >>
>>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>>> >> From: Scott Davert via NFB-DB  <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>> >> To:  nfb-db at nfbnet.org
>>> >> CC: scottdavert at gmail.com
>>> >> Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 8:08 am
>>> >> Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Fwd: Now Hiring - Please Share
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> Hi Rod.
>>> >> It's very concerning. Unless PA has another form of service delivery
>>> >> for those who are "ASL illiterate?" I find the entire thing sad and
>>> >> agree 100% with your views on this subject. This is a sad example of
>>> >> how far we have not progressed.
>>> >>
>>> >> Scott
>>> >>
>>> >> On 3/14/22, Rod and Ele Macdonald via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> >> Scott,
>>> >>
>>> >> You are spot-on in my opinion.
>>> >>
>>> >> The deaf-blind "culture" - I introduced this concept over 30 years ago
>>> >> and
>>> >> still believe in it - is the only culture I know of with TWO
>>> languages,
>>> >> neither of which is "ours". (We borrow English from hearing people and
>>> >> ASL
>>> >> from Deaf people, then try to adapt as best we can.) I believe that
>>> any
>>> >> person who is (1) blind, has low vision, or has tunnel vision AND (2)
>>> is
>>> >> deaf or hard-of-hearing, is a deaf-blind person, and any attempt to
>>> >> provide
>>> >> services to this group should take into account the needs of the
>>> entire
>>> >> population to be served.
>>> >>
>>> >> I would presumably be a consumer of such services if I lived in the
>>> >> service
>>> >> area, but I neither use ASL nor have usable hearing: What should the
>>> >> hiring
>>> >> authority put in the job description such that my communication needs
>>> are
>>> >> "covered"?
>>> >>
>>> >> It is a challenge, but an issue that should be challenged.
>>> >>
>>> >> Rod
>>> >>
>>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>>> >> From: Scott Davert via NFB-DB  <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>> >> To:  nfb-db at nfbnet.org
>>> >> CC: scottdavert at gmail.com
>>> >> Date: Monday, March 14, 2022 12:52 pm
>>> >> Subject: [NFB-DB] Fwd: Now Hiring - Please Share
>>> >>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Passing along. I noticed there is no mention of the requirement
>>> forhard
>>> >>> of
>>> >>> hearing culture and that ASL fluency is required. I guess they only
>>> want
>>> >>> a
>>> >>> someone who is DEAF STRONG for this. Maybe my impression is off? I'm
>>> >>> passing this along as FYI...
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Scott
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Begin forwarded message:
>>> >>>
>>> >>> From: Richard <prmcgann at comcast.net>
>>> >>> Date: March 14, 2022 at 10:47:04 EDT
>>> >>> To: NADBAmericans at groups.io, aadb-l at googlegroups.com, "Professionals
>>> >>> Serving DeafBlind Consumers (PSDBC)" <psdbc at googlegroups.com>
>>> >>> Subject: [AADB-L] Fwd: Now Hiring - Please Share
>>> >>> Reply-To: aadb-l at googlegroups.com
>>> >>>
>>> >>> ?
>>> >>> to all,
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>> passing around.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>>> >>> Subject:     Now Hiring - Please Share
>>> >>> Date:        Mon, 14 Mar 2022 10:39:02 -0400
>>> >>> From:        SSP Program <ssp at deafstone.org>
>>> >>> To:  SSP Program <ssp at deafstone.org>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Hello!
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Please share the following open positions:
>>> >>>
>>> >>> * Director of DeafBlind Services - West PA
>>> >>> * Director of DeafBlind Services - East PA
>>> >>> * SSP Coordinator - East PA
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Job descriptions attached in Word and PDF documents.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Thank you,
>>> >>> Jessica K Adams, CI & CT
>>> >>> COO
>>> >>> Email: JAdams at DeafStone.org
>>> >>> Phone/Text/FaceTime: 412-616-0400
>>> >>> Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
>>> >>>
>>> >>> www.DeafStone.org
>>> >>> --
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>>> >>
>>> >> --
>>> >>
>>> >> Tracie Inman
>>> >>
>>> >> ===231197443961970ÚH
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> *Tracie Inman*
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
*Tracie Inman*
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