Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos

Most of you have probably heard about Grammy-winning deaf composer & percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie (who lost nearly all her hearing by age 12, and who is the first person in musical history to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist). She gives more than 100 performances a year, has been on The David Letterman Show and on Sesame Street, and has shared stages with the likes of Bela Fleck, Bjork, Bobby McFerrin, and Sting. She’s also a best-selling author (her 1990 autobiography is called Good Vibrations).

Some of you may even have seen her extraordinary 2007 TED Talk.

But if you haven’t… we thought we’d share it with you.

It’s phenomenal. A “soaring” demonstration. A “must-watch” video.

Enjoy!

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IDEA: Why not choose an ethical gift this year?
Purchase the most funky Christmas track ever!

And…

Learn more at evelyn.co.uk

Then…

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam

On November 19th, software engineer/mastermind Ken Harrenstien took to the official Google blog to announce some VERY exciting news:

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam

Quoting the always-always-always entertaining Karen Putz, writing on her website deafmomworld.com:

I came across a post this morning, The Shame of Wearing Hearing Aids, and it brought back memories. I was one of those kids who hid a hearing aid under long hair. It wasn’t until I was in college that I finally wore my hair up and my hearing aid perched for all to see. Kinda sad, eh? All those years spent trying to hide something that was basically a part of me—except I didn’t want any part of it.

I decided to raise my kids with a different attitude about their hearing aids. From the start, we went with brightly-colored earmolds with swirls and glitter. I even joined my daughter in getting matching glitter earmolds. I’m pretty sure I saw my audiologist hold back a gulp when I asked for the blue with glitter when she squeezed the earmold goop into my ear.

So far, no one has had the guts to tell me that I look foolish sporting glitter at my age.

Despite my years of preaching about being proud of those two pieces of technology on their ears, my kids had minds of their own … Continue reading this great essay

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Karen Putz is an insightful, talented and entertaining freelance writer. She provides early intervention services to families with deaf and hard of hearing children. She serves as a board member for Hands & Voices (www.handsandvoices.org) and runs Illinois Hands & Voices in her state. She’s also a deaf mom to three deaf and hard of hearing children, and her husband is deaf, too. Learn more at karenputz.com.

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam

Dr. Tom McDavitt, like most deaf veterinarians, has learned to auscultate with his hands.

The nervous Corgi dug its nails into the metal examination table as Dr. Thomas McDavitt held the tan-and-white dog in place. The patient began to relax as the veterinarian listened for a heartbeat. But instead of using a stethoscope, he felt the dog’s side with his cheek. It was a bit untraditional, but then again, so is Dr. McDavitt.

After contracting spinal meningitis at the age of 5, Dr. McDavitt experienced swelling from the infection that damaged his auditory nerve and left him permanently deaf. Since that tender age, he resolved to be undeterred by his disability, and later, to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. In fact, whenever anyone told him he couldn’t do something because of his deafness, Dr. McDavitt always had a reply ready—”Watch me!”

The rigors of veterinary education and practice can be difficult enough, but an additional set of challenges arise for people with profound hearing loss. They face issues such as how they will communicate with their peers and clients in various settings and whether they can properly appreciate animal heart, lung, and bowel sounds.

A number of deaf veterinarians have met those challenges in their own way … Continue reading this article on avma.org

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The numbers:

• Estimates of the total number of deaf veterinarians in the U.S. range from 40 to more than 100.
• Approximately 15 American veterinary schools and colleges have graduated deaf students.
• The Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses (AMPHL.org) was founded in 2001 by three deaf veterinarians—Drs. Kimberly Dodge, Candice A. Corriher, and Danielle Rastetter—and three deaf medical students.
• The association has expanded to include other professions such as physical therapy and psychology.

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Campaign Watch

SolarAid:
A solar-powered hearing aid that costs less than $100.

By comparison:
The least expensive retail model sells for about $500.

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos

Ray Dobson and the dog he now calls Goblin both had a problem.

The little mixed-breed who was rescued from the streets of Puerto Rico needed a home. Dobson, of Orleans, Mass., was losing his hearing.

“My wife saw me kind of dropping out,” he says. “As people get deafer they get more anti-social.”

Both problems were solved when man and dog were brought together Click to continue »

Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Campaign Watch

Quoting Amy Cohen Efron’s recent complaint letter, titled Good Bye and Good Riddance Netflix!:

Dear Netflix, I canceled my subscription with you after being a loyal customer for 5 years today. I picked the reasons why I canceled today online, but I do want to emphasize with you about the main reason why I left you today. You did not provide online streaming captions for the Wizard of Oz. We tried to tell you many times for two years, but you released the special feature today without captions. I, among with other 30 million people felt left out. You want me to rent a DVD to watch Wizard of Oz. You are discriminating me from others. You are excluding me. I have high speed internet service, with fast computer and why cannot I enjoy movies as other people are enjoying the Wizard of Oz? Good bye and good riddance, Amy Cohen Efron

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Quoting Karen Putz, also a renowned deaf blogger, taking to her official Twitter account:

I’m boycotting because no captions for Wizard of Oz means 30 Mil Deaf and hard of hearing ppl are shut out

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Learn about Netflix’s captioning controversy
Read the NAD’s advocacy letter
Check out the Deaf Movie Club

Then…

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos

Many of you may remember Drew, the youngest child in Ohio to ever receive simultaneous, bilateral cochlear implants.

It’s hard to believe that Drew celebrated his third birthday last month!

Happy birthday Drew!

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Just to make the day a little sunshinier, here’s a clip of Drew singing the great Ohio State University game day anthem Carmen Ohio (lyrics can be found here):

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Learn more at turnonmyears.blogspot.com

Tune in to the “DrewTube” channel here

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Interviews

Kathie Snow is a highly-acclaimed public speaker, trainer, author, filmmaker, and consultant on disability issues. In addition to being Benjamin’s mom, she also runs the excellent website disabilityisnatural.com.

Karen Putz is an insightful, talented and entertaining freelance writer. She provides early intervention services to families with deaf and hard of hearing children. She serves as a board member for Hands & Voices (www.handsandvoices.org) and runs Illinois Hands & Voices in her state. She’s also a deaf mom to three deaf and hard of hearing children, and her husband is deaf, too. Learn more at karenputz.com.

Karen recently interviewed Kathie for Disaboom.
Here are the highlights:

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos, Campaign Watch

Music and the Deaf was started 2 decades ago by a remarkable man named Dr. Paul Whittaker. Paul, who has a music degree from Oxford University, has been deaf since birth and profoundly deaf since the age of two. In 2007, he became an Officer of the British Empire. Oh yeah, and he trains choirs in his spare time.

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