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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hello Heather,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I am hard-of-hearing as well. Fortunately, I have had fabulous experiences learning sign language. I utilized a tactile interpreter during class, and the interpreter was very kind to take her time. There were times when I could not keep up with the class, and my interpreter stepped outside of her role to make sure I signed correctly. During my senior year, I attend one-on-one classes at a local interpreting agency, and my teach was fantastic. He was a Deaf man with the patience of a saint. I am disturbed to learn many interpreters within the Deaf-Blind community do not have the professional etiquette to serve their clients, not themselves. I have had many encounters with interpreters who displayed unethical and unprofessional behavior toward their Deaf-Blind clients, and I no longer tolerate such complete disregard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>As for obtaining Braille copies of signs, I have not seen such transcriptions. However, I am located near a library for the blind that transcribes books into Braille. I wonder if they would be able to create raised versions of hand signs. This may be difficult, though.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Marisa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>heather albright<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 04, 2013 2:04 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfb-db@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [nfb-db] knew to the list<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Hello, I am taking my first ASL class at the community college! I am taking this course because I want to communicate with my deaf-blind friends and I myself have hearing difficulties! I wanted to know if there is a brailled manual for the letters! I received several audio books and one braille book however, they don't describe how to make the signs! I thought they would after all the materials are from a blindness organization! I tried to e-mail the Helen Keller foundation and never received a response! I have tactile interpreters for in class! However, I don't have anyone who can work with me outside of class! I have only been to the deaf-blind chat here in Austin once! It was not a pretty nice experience! The sighted deaf were talking amongst themselves and the so called interpreters for the deaf-blind were talking to themselves ignoring the people they were supposed to help! So my friends and I have not been back! We communicate with our braille displays on the note-takers for now! But I think there might be a better way! I also work with refugees who are deaf and found that Iwas the only one who wanted to take ASL so I could at least communicate with the deaf refugees! I already work with blind refugees, as a volunteer. Thank you, Heather Albright </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Heather Albright<br>"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another." Helen Keller <br>contact: voice and text: <br>512-680-3985<br>skype: cynterline<br>e-mail:<br><a href="mailto:heather.albright@g.austincc.edu">heather.albright@g.austincc.edu</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>