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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'>Janice,<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'>Your statement is mostly right. The heart of the problem is communication between the signers and non-signers. Learning ASL is a good start but not nearly enough to build strong relationships. Understanding the Deaf culture play a major part.<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'>Randy<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";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Janice Toothman<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 31, 2013 8:26 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [nfb-db] nfb-db Digest, Vol 57, Issue 12<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Heather I think a common problem with DB people willingness to come to Conventions (apart from finances) is whether their will have the accommodations they need to get the benefits of the convention. It is sad that many feel they do not have adequate support (e.g. SSP, alternative to listening devices) and people who are appreciative of their difficulties and willing to work with them rather than brush them off as a minority, who has to fend for themselves. I know that not everyone is rude but their are many people who do not understand our unique needs. National seems to think that they can offer listening devices and expect that they will work for the DB. I complained three times that I could not hear last July; they exchanged the listening device-with no improvement. They said try changing adjust my hearing aids but that was also unsuccessful. I gave up. I really needed to listening because of the resolutions that the DB Division had to have passed. It was frustrating. It costs money to invest in technology that will assist the greater needs of the DB rather than someone perhaps with mild hearing loss.<br>Janice<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 10/31/2013 2:28 PM, heather albright wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>I think I know 3 here in Austin! But the DB program in austin is a joke! I wish I knew someone who could make it better! Our state convention is next week, and I have not heard from any DB persons who are going to be there! Heather </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><pre>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>nfb-db mailing list<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>