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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Yes, I was able to receive a braille display from the deaf blind distribution program. It helps a lot especially when I cant understand what a text is saying or to many people in the room in zoom. Or if my speech is to loud off the pc. I have not had to take out with me because of covid, I do not go anywhere. I did bring it for a doctor;s appointment and wrote notes down with my iPhone and the display came in handy. That was when they were still packing us in the office. Thanks everyone, I did not want to be accused of saying something that was not correct. </p><p class=MsoNormal>Heather </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986">Mail</a> for Windows</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><b>From: </b><a href="mailto:kg6sxy@gmail.com">kg 6sxy (kg6sxy)</a><br><b>Sent: </b>Sunday, August 15, 2021 3:53 PM<br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">NFB DeafBlind Division</a><br><b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:kd5cbl@gmail.com">heather Albright</a><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [NFB-DB] Identifying as deafblind</p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Heather,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sorry to hear you are having these kinds of confrontations. I would definitely identify as deafblind in your case and think it is a little unfair to be told that you can't. What worries me at times is confrontations with people that don't realize that I can't hear what they are saying or even see them like at airports or places where security or law enforcement is involved. In the long run, I think it is more important to accept your situation without worrying so much about what others think. I'm still working on that.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Take care, <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Tony<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Aug 15, 2021, at 4:37 PM, heather Albright via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi, I was told by other blind persons that I cant identify as deaf blind because, I can still here. But, I cant travel outside alone as I cant hear the cars coming or hear others when I go out to places. I do not always hear my screenreader when it reads to me and someone always says to turn it down, it is to loud. So I use my braille display that I received to read. I am always asking people what over and over, and they get real annoyed with me. But, the same person says I cant identify as deaf blind. So my question is at what point can someone identify as deaf blind. I wanted a guidedog but, they will not put me in the class for deaf-blind and I am afraid I will not get all the information during the training if I do not get one on one training? Any advice?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Heather<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986">Mail</a><span class=apple-converted-space> </span>for Windows<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></b><a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">Ineko Gary via NFB-DB</a><br><b>Sent:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></b>Sunday, August 15, 2021 3:26 PM<br><b>To:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></b><a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List</a><br><b>Cc:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></b><a href="mailto:rubiigary@gmail.com">Ineko Gary</a><br><b>Subject:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></b>Re: [NFB-DB] Identifying as deafblind<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Rod<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I want to say thank you so very much for sharing your story. It touches a lot of people when I hear how some one pic came to identify himself or herself as a deaf blind person.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I am both deaf blind. I went blind at six months old. And as I was growing up a lot of people would ask my stepmom is she legally blind or totally blind. My mom would just say she’s blind. But I did not start to lose my hearing until I was the age 11 years old to the age of 14 years old. And I guess learn American Sign Language first. And tactile sign language that handover hand. Then later I learned braille. I only know a tiny bit of contracted braille. But I know way more of un contracted braille. And I read braille with my left hand. And I do sign language with my left hand. So yes I am a left-handed person. And I’ve been a guide dog users for 25 years and I’ve been a long white cane user for 30 years.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Lots of love always<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>INEKO<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> On Aug 15, 2021, at 4:14 PM, Rod and Ele Macdonald via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> Tony,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> I have been "legally blind" since I was three, but did not really identify as a "blind" person until much later. I went through that tinnitus phase and know exactly how you feel.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> After spending 12 years at Perkins I sort of knew I was "blind" but more often said I "don't see very well". I changed to "legally blind" about the time I joined NFB in 1973, when I was 31.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> Similarly, I referred to my hearing situation as "I don't hear very well." Since no physical defect could be found to explain my hearing issue, I was sent to a psychiatrist for six years to find out why I couldn't or wouldn't hear.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> In 1975 an audiologist told me for the first time that I was "deaf". I found that to be a big RELIEF - to know that there was a valid reason for my inability to hear - I hadn't been able to hear speech for years.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> And that was when I found my identity as both a blind person and a deaf person - now a Deaf-Blind person. The emphasis became on the word PERSON. No matter if I am blind, or bald, or deaf, or have a broken finger - yes, have had or do have all these things, but I am still a 100% human being, and no one can ever take that away from me.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> I also self-identify as "Deaf-Blind" because I self-identify as being from the Blind community AND a part of the Deaf community (but not the Deaf culture - I do not use American Sign Language). I hyphenate the two words because my two very-dissimilar disabilities are combined, not merged. I might use the analogy that I have a right hand and a left hand, but that does not mean I am ambidextrous - I am right-handed, but I read braille with my left hand. Both hands are equally important to me, but I do have two separate hands.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> So to answer your question: For me, the point at which I self-identified as a Deaf-Blind person came when I accepted myself, and presented myself to others, as a Deaf-Blind person, without denial, arrogance or pretense. For me that came in 1979, when I joined the AADB.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> Rod<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> ----- Original Message -----<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> From: kg 6sxy \(kg6sxy\) via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> To: <a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> CC: <a href="mailto:kg6sxy@gmail.com">kg6sxy@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> Date: Sunday, August 15, 2021 11:55 am<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> Subject: [NFB-DB] Identifying as deafblind<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>> For those of you that were not born deafblind, how long did it take you to self identify as deafblind? My tinnitus has been really driving me around the bend lately where I'm completely deaf more often than not but it still feels like I shouldn't be self identifying as deafblind because I still have functional hearing from time to time. It's probably not important either way, just a matter of not feeling like an imposter, I guess. Just having a bad week all around. I appreciate your feedback.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>> Take care, <span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>> Tony<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>> _______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>> NFB-DB mailing list<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>> <a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>> <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></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> _______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> NFB-DB mailing list<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> <a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>> <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></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>NFB-DB mailing list<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><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></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial-Black",serif'>_______________________________________________<br>NFB-DB mailing list<br></span><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial-Black",serif'>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span></a><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial-Black",serif'><br></span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial-Black",serif'>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>