Not very hard

Originally Posted by SB_GB_4ever
I prefer PSE that is what i have learned and am still learning. For hearing people like me ASL is ver easy to sign but very hard to understand. I would go with PSE.

gnulinuxman replies:
Hmmm...I'm a hearing person and don't have that many problems understanding ASL. I would prefer it if people wouldn't generalize like that.

Alldeaf

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For the USA, PSE is like broken BSL which is based in the UK. Its nice to know that a hearing person to understand ASL plus defend this beautiful language!

This quote 'For hearing people like me ASL is very easy to sign but very hard to understand' is not very true, my hearing friends who sign BSL fluently way too better than Deaf broken-BSL users understanding me completely.

My passion

Photography

Painting/illustration

Good quotes!

An educator attended a convention in the mid-west at 1990's. During one of the workshops, a hearing mother said proudly that her oral son aged five had seven words in his vocabulary: "He can pronounce seven words perfectly." Another hearing mother said proudly that her oral son had 15 words in his vocabulary and could pronounce the 15 words fairly well. Several deaf mothers gasped: "Seven words?" "15 words?" The two hearing mothers nodded with the glowing joy. The several deaf mothers then said, "Why? My deaf children have over 500 words in ASL."

Jean Boutcher, 1994




I happen to be postlingually deaf and speak quite well. When I have to, I use my voice in situations like ordering food in a restaurant.

My mother, on the other hand, is prelingually deaf and never has been able to speak despite years of speech therapy as a child. She always signs or writes on paper.

Technically speaking, in terms of ability, I should be considered the least sheltered member of my family because I can use the mode of communication used by hearing people.

However, it doesnt work out that way; what usually happens is that the minute I use my voice, hearing people inadvertantly assume I can hear better than my mother and they begin to talk faster. In no time, Im lost. I have to say "whoa, waitaminute, back up a bit here..." and the hearing person has to repeat the whole thing. And they usually have to repeat often.

My mother, on the other hand, writes down her question on a piece of paper and establishes from the get-go that she's completely deaf. With that understood, the hearing person is usually more accomodating and writes back on the notepad. In no time, my mother has the information she wants, while I'm still going "eh, what did you say?" with my superior (but worthless in this situation) speaking skills.

Mark Deffman, 1995

Most of ASL signs links to English letters

ASL is great but most signs links to English letters. For example, signed 'People' with fingerspelled 'P'

Who created it? hearing?

BSL doesn't have these..

Point to my ear and 'pen and paper'

At any shop, I usually point to my ear (I move my lip - 'DEAF' without a voice) and gestured 'pen paper... pen paper... pen paper...' with my eye raised to control my frustration. These hearing cashiers would drop their cheerful face to puzzled face, thinking they wished I was forced to go to Mary Hare.

I have been treated like a deaf and dumb child, one time at McDonald's, the cashier (he reminded me of my old dinner-ladies at the mainstream school) had a brief chat with 2 other cashiers while he get some food for me, they looked at me and then smiled at me like I was a cute black baby or something.

That cashier gave me food. I knew how much it was because I can see how much on the till front even if it weren't there, I still would know but he pointed at the till cheerfully like a mental patient. He apparently embarrassed me in front of other customers who may not know I am Deaf.. as if they might think I could be anything except Deaf.

I tried to control my frustration and give him the excat amount I paid. He looked at these for 5 seconds... his expression was like a miracle, making it sounds I can be able to count how much and pay - £2.38. Luckily he couldn't see my red face as Im black, I walked off... worse, he was smiling when I turned around. I would like to strangle his neck, he even may be still smiling!

What would happens if I speak flunetly? He might treat me like a hearing man (with a good breath!). Other cashiers and him could hand-shake and congratulate me for breaking my voice not BSL!

It would be much less frustrating and more intergrating for my Deaf grandchildren if BSL to be taught at all UK schools because most hearing expect us Deaf can understand them through speaking 100 PERCENT! I wonder how they feel if I expect them to understand me through flunet BSL. I know some hearing workers can sign basic BSL which I feel less uncomfortable and relaxable.

Not many Deaf people can speak very well, not same level as hearing. More like a working-class child voice or even can't sing! I can't imagine if an oral person try to sing in front of Simon Cowell.. ahem!

Imagine if BSL is legalised plus BSL taught at all UK schools long time ago, I wouldn't have to do the point to my ear/pen paper thing again. We would be treated equally.

In South America, I once asked a lovely woman for pen and paper, not because she is Deaf-impaired, not because she is GSL-impaired (Guyanese SL), not because she is ASL-impaired... because she signs in SEE!!! Signed Exact English! Ar-r-r-r-r-r-r-gh! She is hearing herself and Nigerian. Actually I met a person who uses SEE for the first time. I found this very very very uncomfortable because I had to follow her hands and lips at the same time (like I'm Deaf-impaired, look at hands) because I find it almost impossible to understand her if I look at her beautiful face.

She learned that from the BOOK and church in Nigeria. I don't know what situation over there. (One of new VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) volunteers who is Deaf Canadian woman Christine will work with the Deaf-blind community in Nigeria this year. It wil be interesting to know more about her diary!)

She thought it would help Deaf people to literate through SEE. She believed (yep past tense) that sign language affected reading and writing skill. I explained to her a lot. Deaf children would excel in English and sign language by language development at early ages plus teacher had to be able to use both English and sign language. Of course that's bilingual education. I also explained that I born hearing but became Deaf when I was 18 months old with meningitis, my Mum chosen BSL for me as first language at Thorn Park for the Deaf (bilingual edcation) but their education was so poor. I was supposed to learn at same age level which I really didn't. All my hearing teachers weren't like Deaf teacher who knows best. Their teaching should be for babies. So my Mum found out and not happy with my literacy skill, so at 11, I was transfered to the mainstream which wasn't strong enough for me as my English was slowly better since I was 11. Although mines much better since 16. I realised that I should use both BSL and English at same level.

I teached GSL to that woman, it was more relaxable. Better than an awkwardly form -SEE. Plus GSL saved my sore eyes.

At the moment, my English is same level as SSE users meaning my English need a lot of work on because I respect and admire English unlike most SSE users on BSL. May I excel in English one day? Unlikey but I would be happy if mines get better and better.

best breath comment!

Hearing mutes are people

Lejon said...

I love you, Carl! I'm Deaf (yes, with a capital "D"), but I'm not a mute. Because I can speak fluently. (Ironically, I do feel that it's an unfortunate that I can speak.) It IS OK for anyone who can't speak and they call themselves mutes.

Again, I love you man!

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I rarely see a person who speaks fluently admit that he is 'D'eaf! Almost like it was really a CODA!

best breath blog!

'Can you lipread? Yes but'

Kalalau's Korner:
Last Thursday I had an honor to accompany Frank Parker who is the (hard-of-hearing) headmaster of Horizons Academy of Maui to a reception in honor of a new school principal, Ms. LeeAnn DeLima, at Kamehameha School Maui. It was a great Hawai’ian celebration, and numerous influential people came to this ceremony.

While waiting in the line to congratulate Ms. DeLima, we had some small talks with people around us. Right behind us was a lady by the name of Ms. BJ Alexander, who is the CEO of Kamehameha Schools in all Hawai’i. She was very sociable and friendly. Upon discovering that I am Deaf, she quickly asked if I could read lips. I answered yes but explained that it would be a lot of work and that I would miss a lot of it. She would have to speak to me very slowly. I told her I use American Sign Language. She was very impressed and we talked a little bit about teaching the language and culture of the Deaf and Deaf Education in general.

When it was our turn to meet and congratulate Ms. DeLima, I got very excited. Frank Parker introduced me to her, using as much ASL as he could. I could sense how impressed she was because she offered me a kiss. I became flippant.


Comments

Jay Croft said...
When hearing people ask me, "Can you read lips," I often respond, "Not too well. Can you?"

Epeachy News said...
Jay,I like your comment - (can you?)I'll try to remember that when hearing people ask me near in the future.

DeafLinux said...
And in addition, tell them with the "lights on or off?" That will make them think.

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Plus I like his other blog... Philosophy and Deaf children

One of my favourtie quotes..

"I have been fighting against the legacy of empire all my life... Anybody who has thought of giving me this OBE can't have read my work."

"It's partly the protest against this government, but to be honest if there wasn't this war happening I still wouldn't accept this OBE from the Queen," the poet said.

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Black poet Benjamin Zephaniah's quote is perfectly an example for against the war. Just remember the British Empire killed countless Africans plus destoryed their values and communities.

You are wayne-r!

I am talking about Wayne Bridge the left-back Chelsea player. He is officially a cheat. He is left-back obviously. Yeah that's Asshley Hole. His wife was once racist calling a toliet attendent who is black (no, not British Empire era) a black bitch, unfortuntely born-bred Bradford singer Kim Walsh's mate.

Anyway Asshley Hole must advise Wayne-r to act wound, shot by a sniper. Why? Wayne-r has been talked to the linesman afterward, then that fool told referee. Send our hold-a-heart player off.

I think young guns should deserve a win because they are not rich bastards like £100,000,000 players. We played much better than those diamond-diggers.

Well done, Theo Walcott for your first goal!

Scotland's newspaper Daily Record and Dumb

Daily Record

SIGNS OF THE TIMES
By Hilary Barclay

IMAGINE if your baby could tell you when they needed their nappy changed, when they were hungry or thirsty, or even if they wanted second helpings.

Well it is now claimed that they can - and from as early as three months old.
A simplified version of the British Sign Language designed for the deaf and dumb is being taught to some hearing infants.

Using sign language to communicate with babies and toddlers has been the subject of 20 years' research in America and is now part of the school curriculum over there.

Now we have our own Scottish "baby whisperer" in the form of Yvonne Mitchell, who is teaching this second language in nurseries and pre-school groups in Glasgow, Paisley and East Kilbride.
The 37-year-old said: "Parents are probably signing to their children already without realising it. For example, when they wave goodbye in an exaggerated fashion and say 'ta-ta'.

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I am sure anti-BSL supporters are secretly sniggering (maybe just nerve thing)... ghosts of pro-Milan 1880 too.

As a British VSO volunteer, I facilitated Deaf awareness across Guyana, South America. Still Scotland who is part of Britain still call us deaf and dumb... Ah, Nationalist issue... obviously!

Should I ask a Deaf Guyanese VSO volunteer to come here for helping Deaf awareness in Britain? UNICEF would agree...

Shame on you, Daily Record and dumb!

"You are like a white man"

Implied racist or prejudicial statements:

There are a number of phrases that when used are insulting. Often the person uttering them
is “unaware of the layers” of attitudes that they reveal. They frequently feign ignorance of the
statements which further compounds the issue. Some examples are:

1) One of my best friends is Black.
2) I don’t see “color”, I just you as a person.
3) You people should...
4) Why are you so upset about...
5) All African Americans have good voices, play basketball well etc.
6) Calling an African American/Black male “boy” or “son”
7) What do Black people think about..
8) Referring to Blacks as “culturally deprived”
9) You are not like most other Blacks, you are different
10) Anyone as a credit to their race
11) You don’t sound/talk/sign Black

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This quote “You are not like most other Blacks, you are different” must be indirect racist. In my view, I am sorry but white people are most racist of all. Imagine hearing teachers and doctors are most audist of all. They don't need to think negative thing about us black. I know alot of white people turn around when it comes to racism issue because when they say something sensitivity they easily can offend any races. Whenever I talk about racism, some friends sometime say forget it and move on. They may afraid that they say something offending me (Im really open-minded, so I don't take 'anything', just depend) But did they learn anything? Nowadays, look at Islamaphobia. I feel so pissed with ignorant because some people said bad things about Muslim, thinking I am involved, no fucking way! I wouldn't be hypocrite because white said same bad thing about black in the past, so why would I support them or kiss their arse?

Funnily I got only one comment on my post - Miserable white woman, that's good because she learned something. Of course Deaf-UK debate on veiled Mulism woman alot but comment on non-white blogger's website? Most of them wouldn't watch racist films which I love, like 'Mississippi Burning' or 'American History X'.

Still, they automatically say "I am not a racist because I have a black friend". Bullshit.

Some of my white friends really thought, I learned from the white society academically and professionally. I would be a coconut like Obama then! I learned alot from who? Mum. She is 100% black. My Mum's side is more like middle-class family, many family members graduated with BA/BSc or MA/MSc either in England, Canada, USA and Dominica. Even my grandfather was a defence lawyer, his unemployed clients had to work on his garden for court fee and everything.

In fact, Africans achieve much more than West Indians because they got their own languages, strong values, strong communities etc comparing to West Indians who were unfortunately slaves. I applaud Africans.

Even worse, someone thought I was a bad boy, still she knows me for years! Some white people are not good too. What about Chavs? YOBs? BNP? Combat 18? We have been racially attacked by some WHITE men when I was 12. They smashed Mum's car for being black. It even made me prouder ever because nothing stops me being beautiful black.

White, Asian or other races people should know that black people can be very good, academic and professional.

I am like a black man who has been through experiences which my Deaf and black identity lead me to achieved a lot, not a clean and clever white man.

BNP - Black Nice People!

Just ramblings...

Best man
As a fake macho man myself, I am so excited about my best mate Ovais and Lenka's wedding in July, where? Prague, Czech. Because I know him for about 24 years. He is an elder siblings of his sisters (he wanted wanted wanted a brother, poor him!) I expected him to be first to marry but his sister is married 3 years ago.

I am organising the long stag weekend for him this summer, he protested that he wouldn't drink anymore due to his visiting at drug awareness! Yeah, right...

My friends think my plan for his stag weekend will be legend... at the moment I try to believe them because we have been to many 'great' stagies in the past!


Tri-ingual (BSL, Punjabi, English)
Today, i met a Deaf man who went to my old school Thorn Park for the Deaf, with his 2 sons (aged 9 and 6). He looks so well and muslim himself. We had an interesting chat about his hearing children (all boys), they all can sign well, he said that his first son started to sign when he was 5, second son started at 4, third son at 2! Even he suggested that his 2 years old son signs better than his older brothers, actuallly I communicated with 2 older brothers, their BSL skills look much better than SSE users. Not broken BSL/English, just simply sign BSL smoothly. Imagine their younger brother is better!

You know, their tri-ingual environment (BSL, Punjabi, English) is not easy but they still are good. They are doing very well at school due to their language developement. Wow!


Second position with 6 games to go!
I play 5-a-side football with Bradford Deaf Football Club every friday nights, we are in second position in 3rd division (since 2002) among 7 other Deaf impaired teams. Whoa! Hopefully IF we are resuming on this same position till end of season, we would promote to the 2nd division.

I usually play as a forward (sometime defender depend on our fatigues) I scored 16 goals so far out of 22 games


SSE - 'Creole BSL' ??
My friend and I had a debate about new name - creole BSL. I wonder if SSE should change name to 'creole BSL' because cumbersome SSE is irrespectively blending 2 languages - BSL and English.

You know, the British Empire (Lucy Buchanan's favourite) taught English to inexperienced people in the third countries when the empire dominated the world. In my view, Britain secretly lost Second World War, still talking about beating Germany to avoid thinking about failure of British Empire. We gave reformation to other countries who we dominated.

These people who were forced to learn English to lost their ownership - their own language just because lazy and superior British Empire couldn't be bothered to speak different languages (nowadays, broken BSL for example).

At the moment, there are alots of creole Englishs (of course French and Spanish too) because of lack of proper education and also they speak their own language and English together. They fully accept creole English like Guyanese in South America, still many English experts feel offended and unfair with their language because English is their passion. That's how I feel about broken BSL. Whenever they see 'broken' English, they complain. Many people think that their complaints are right and freedom of speech but not BSL... they don't need to be hypocrities. They simply think BSL user, think troublemaker. Or think Deaf culture, think Deaf activist. Bullshit! There are so many Deaf people who are not activists have a Deaf culture! Imagine white people think black culture, think a drug dealer or AWOL father. They should put 'assumption' on their CV for personal skills. BSL is a language, communcation, visual, own grammar and gesture. NOT just Deaf, hearing too. It doesn't take you to be rocket scienist.

SSE as in Sign Supported English, ignorant hearing people invented this title AND created this cumbersome too. This title seems formal and official, I prefer calling it 'broken BSL/English' (my website address - ssehappens as in shit happens because SSE apparently failed my education my English GCSE result was E. Although I'm still determined to retake GCSE in 2 years time as my second language is changing alot since I was 16, I'm self-taught at the moment).

Imagine if this name creole BSL might be widely accepted as same as other countries accept creole English. Maybe it is not too late because we still have BSL unlike other countries who lost their ownership of language. Lucky we are passion with our language, we still fight for our rights. Shame about people who kissing Milan 1880's arses calling us troublemakers. I know how tribe people feeling...

In fact, hundreds of native languages are lost due to English and other languages who take over the globalisation.

I still prefer calling 'broken BSL/English'

If I was still hearing

I asked my Mum that what she would choose education for me if I was still hearing (I became Deaf at 18 months old). She would choose local private school! I rather would go there than Mary Hare as Deaf pupil!

I don't know if I could be good or bad because I would be hearing black man, depend on varies of black communities. For white's perspective (more like stereotype), I could be drug dealer just because I am hearing black!

I could make fun of sign language on Deaf community or even I could be oral teacher! Arrrgh!

Of course, I am sure my Mum would raise me as same Ashton as I am now. Actually, she was fascinating with BSL before I born. She seen many BSL users (children and adults) at the hospital, even oral and CI. I am very glad that my Mum's decision was right to choose BSL for me AS my first language. I was so lucky!

Thankfully, my Deaf identity fulfil my life and it helps my determination. I do alot of things with my identity, like voluntary work within Deaf community in Guyana, South America. Many Deaf Guyanese's lives are improved by new Deaf clubs, Deaf awareness, GSL classes enhance to building interaction and communication of Deaf community and hearing community better.

I still can't imagine being hearing because my life is still brilliant!

At least a hearing person enjoy Deaf comedy!

I found this link through Bionic Ear Blog, apparently it was really nice to know a hearing person's day was brightened up by John Smith's standing-up comedy style on See Hear!

Of course there are alot of hearing people understand and laugh with Deaf comedy but a hearing person said something on her own blog from watching 2D (with sound), it is nice!

Being Deaf man myself, I think John's style is way too far better than Peter Kay's, in my eye and out of my other eye.

I easily bursted into massive laugh with Deaf comedy much much more than hearing. My bog and tears were nearly run out!

I learned that I don't have to be Deaf impaired person to laugh WITH hearing jokes! I feel related with John's experience...

Other links - Woman Used Sign Language on Deaf to Scam Millions It was about a woman took about £10 millions by using 'sign language' (could be Japanese Sign Language). It showed that hearing people can be rich by the existence of Deaf people... even sign language which so many hearing people don't consider it as a real language. How ironic..

Photo manipulation

I created something on an original picture last night, with Photoshop on my Mac. I could be like this photo when someone cut up my hands!

Legal protection for and promotion of sign languages

Malcolm Bruce

Welsh and Gaelic receive more funds to protect themselves than BSL and Irish SL... those sign languages need to be seriously protected fairly.

Of course I support BSL to be taught at all UK schools. I believe that quoted ' call for the parents of deaf children to be given free tuition in sign language and information and choice over the role sign language can play in their child's development' would be fair and broadness. Many parents of Deaf children haven't received information over sign language in case BSL can affect speech and written English according to doctors... is that evidence?

Most of my hearing friends believe that BSL should be taught at all UK schools as same as Mandarin and Arabics unhypocritically.

I am sure many hearing pupils would enjoy those sign languages, for example, on Deaf Awareness Week (12-18 June 2006) Deaf Guyanese and I facilitated the Deaf Awareness workshop at hearing school in Guyana, South America.

We taught them finger-spell in ASL, basic ASL and role-playing (how to communicate with a Deaf person - mainly gesture and write down). They enjoyed it very much! They wanted to learn more GSL! However, all of hearing pupils asked if there are any GSL classes (after school) even there wasn't classes for children! Amazing! Although Deaf Guyaneses themselves are planning to set up classes soon!

Look! Sign language impaired can sign! part one

Victoria Beckham signs 'Sh*t' in BSL

An England fan signs 'heard' in BSL

Chad Faust (CSI) signs 'support' in ASL

Missing deaf Guyanese reunites with NY family

Last year, I think I have seen Damon Mootoo's face before but not met him. I saw him using GSL with his hearing friends or brothers when I was on a bus stopping shortly in New Amsterdam, Guyana, South America (an hour drive away from the captial city Georgetown). I am so glad he is alive.



Guyana's newspaper Stabroek News

The deaf Guyanese man who disappeared in Queens, New York less than 12 hours after his arrival has been found.

According to the New York Daily News new immigrant Damon Mootoo, 32, spent five cold days wandering around Jamaica after he got lost during a walk in the maze of streets in Queens.

Mootoo was rescued on Sunday after Michael Bharath, on his way home from church, saw Mootoo near his 142nd Place house on Rockaway Boulevard. "He looked in desperation," Bharath said. Mootoo's relieved brother Mark Miller said, "When we saw him, he was just crying. He said, 'I'm glad to see you.'" Mootoo said he was too intimidated to ask strangers for assistance and, after his ordeal the relieved man said, "I want to go home. I'm thinking about going back to Guyana."

Mootoo lost his way on Wednesday after he left his brother's Lot 152nd Street, south, Jamaica house to stretch his legs. The man left without wearing gloves or carrying any form of identification. "He said he was trying to find his way back," Miller said. "He said he was just walking all over. He was scared. He [had] heard all the stories about New York."

According to the Daily News Mootoo, who is hard of hearing, told relatives he didn't want to approach the police because he feared that he'd be deported. The man said he survived by begging several homeowners for water, but said he was too ashamed and shy to ask for food or directions back to his brother's residence. Mootoo said at nights, when the temperatures plunged into the low 20s, he slept in an abandoned car or sought shelter under a piece of wood in a yard.

Meanwhile, his panicked relatives had posted flyers with his picture across south Jamaica and had formed search parties. "We were thinking the worst after so many days," Miller said.

But just when hope was fading, Bharath spotted him. Cynthia, Bharath's wife made Mootoo a sandwich and, feeling secure, he told them his story, the newspaper said.

Bharath asked the man if he had anything with his relatives' address written on it and sure enough Mootoo dug into his pockets and found a piece of paper with his stepmother's Foch Boulevard address. Bharath drove Mootoo to the location and reunited him with his anxious family.

Of the experience, Bharath said, "When I see people in need, I try to help them. He was in need, I'm pretty sure that within a couple more hours he would have been a dead man."

Mootoo was treated at the Jamaica hospital for dehydration and frostbite.

Misrable white woman...

I copied and pasted this quote (24th Oct 2006) from my old website..

Today, I saw a misrable white woman did give a dirty look at Bradford Interchange... no, not direct at me, not other black, not a Chinese, not a punk, not a chav, not an Indian, not a blind, not a CP, not a drunk, not a tramp, not even a womaniser..

..that was an innocent Pakistiani veiled Muslim woman.


Could be some reasons.. that white woman with no sense of dress may be jealous of a veil, she may knows her somewhere, she may feels scared or she may be simply typical racist..

I don't feel threatened or disgusted toward any Muslim women who wear a veil the way Islamphobics/racists feel because I understand their belief.. I am aware that there are many women who are forced to wear it by their families but we can't help eh.

I don't believe that whole of ethnic minorities in the UK should be like British people generally. What is modern British culture? Drinking(?) Brawling(?) Arrogance(?) Chavism(?) Full English breakfast(?) Only one language, English(?)

We simply can be united with respect and empathy.

Better eh

I bought something essentials at Superdrugs today. Also I met a hearing girl who can sign again, she works there. Actually I quite like her! Every time I see her, I approach her to say hello and have a brief talk although she is really lovely and sweet. It was very nice and clear conversation as it was way too better than our first meeting awkwardly.

I remember I first met her at the till, she didn't know I am a Deaf BSL user. She asked something that I can't lipread well, I gestured "I am Deaf". She signed "I can sign a bit and do you want a plastic bag?". Sweet eh?

Furthermore, I taught some hearing people at Starbucks, Halifax, WHS generally, we had a good laugh in some BSL and gestures.

A CI girl died aged 7 years old by meningitis

Check it out

Too white to be mixed race!

I still don't understand why people called a mixed race person 'black' who born to white mother and black father. Is it because this person didnt have other 50% of white skin?? Make it sound like it damaged a 'normal' skin, so they call them black(!) Could be worser, 'skin impaired'. An old woman might tell her granddaughter 'Oh my God, your new baby is Dark! Sell it to Africa!' Actually it happened to other families, when the white women had having sex with black men to end up being pregnant without her parent knowing, afterward they hit the roof. It often hapened in the past. Alot of change now.

I don't call a mixed race person 'black'. I see them as black and white, for my written English - 'mixed race man'. '(point) man, black white mix' for BSL.

Knowing most white people (Deafies too) call the mixed race 'coloured', which is a racist word. That word bloodly creeped me out, even now! F*cking hell! Most white British people is not really white, their generations could be South-Asian, East European or other races.

I often read articles in newspapers or internet, it says 'first black blah blah blah...' Huh(!)

Colin Jackson is white too
Tiger Wood is Vietnamese too
Obama is white too
Rio Ferdinand is white too

Of course, alot of mixed race would like to call themselves 'black' because of their black identity, black community, culture and history etc. So they strongly feel their identity is black that is it. Other even consider themselves as white, depend on where they raised and lived socially. In the UK, alot of mixed race pupils with confusion of identity and belong to who, has been bullied at schools.

British people are most intelligent among other nations, maybe but simple math - black and white equals mixed race (not grey!)

We need more awareness on this.

Jon's 1st exposure to ASL

I watched a video of Jon's story about how ASL become a part of him. As a BSL user, I completely understand his fluently ASL clearly, his face and body is so expressive! His signing is so breaktaking! Check it out!


For those of you, BSL users, translation of Jon's ASL.You can watch a video in ASL - Lenois


Hello. How did ASL become a part of me? I was the only deaf child and my parents were hearing. Their signing was awkward and not very good. What should they do with me? You know Fresno? (shows California and relationship of Fresno next to Tulare) There was a deaf program school there. I was put in it. Well, when I first saw it it was very awkward. It was SEE. So I learned and developed and practiced and as time went on (shows growing up), I went home and watched my dad standing in a group with his friends talking and laughing. I saw them, went up to my dad and said “dad, what’s so funny?” He thought for a bit and then gestured the joke. I thought yes, it was funny. Cool, so I took that experience and went to school and gathered everyone around. With SEE I set it up and signed and developed it and acted it out. When I finished, everyone was confused, except two boys over there laughed! They understood me! Awesome! The three of us joined up and stuck together. I felt connected and it was great. But, the two of them were mischevious and trouble and sure enough one day they were eliminated

Revelation
So I thought about it…what was up with those two boys? So I asked the teacher what happened to those two boys? And the teacher explained that they were bad and were sent to a big school were everyone’s sad and everyday there’s more of the same and they’re strict. I thought huh? I was scared and thought I’ll be a good boy, I swear! As things went along, I was curious, you know I missed those boys, we were together, it was cool, so I thought I’ll tell my mom I want to see them. She said “no, they are bad, go to that school” I begged her and she let up. I’m a good boy I told her, and she let up, okay. So she contacted them and it worked out! They came over and I was excited! The three of us got together and talked about the show Knight Rider. I told the story (tells story in SEE): The car, red lights flash, go fast, and the car is catching bad guys, great, and talking to his watch, yeah. The boys looked at me, looked at each other, looked at me, then signed an ASL version of the show (can’t translate this, it’s purely visual!). I watched and I fascinating but was wrong and fascinating but was wrong but fascinating and was wrong. So I thought about it and when that was over I went home and thought some more. I took my dad’s story and my curiosity about ASL and put that together and it became something more. I was excited and when I arrived at school I told someone the story, it was fascinating, “but Shhhhh don’t tell, you know the story about the two boys getting sent to the bad school. They showed me, I’m showing you, SHHH. If you tell the teacher we’ll be sent to the \”jail\” school, every day, we’ll stay there with persons watching us (note it looks as if from above like a guard tower), scary, so SHH. So cool, keep it SHH” as I felt like I\’m drug seller! I was excited and inspired. I told the story to the next person and the joke to the next person and it spread, it was cool, so it went along and was trouble and then BOOM. One day there was a lecture focused on writing English “blah blah, blah blah” . So the student saw it and said “The boy is riding bike and (cruising in ASL)” . The teacher said no, that’s wrong! English word order! It was a struggle. I saw that, it was awful. I could see it was like water in a bowl getting filled up and tipped out and ASL was spilling all over while the teacher tried to stop it and gather it up. At that point my parents said it’s time to move San Diego, so that was great.

Unshackled
So, I look back and it’s all a part of my vision/expaned idea. My dad’s story was like me getting in a car, ready to go and being stuck with the parking brake up. That’s SEE. I’m sick of it. Until ASL got intro me, the brake goes released and I take off!

Can Kirstin Dunst sign ASL?

ASL?

...or messing around, not even connected to sign language?

You know Kirstin Dunst who starred in Spider-man 1 & 2, she is so gorgeous! I was not talking about her looks here, when I saw this animation, I was always wondering if she is using ASL or not. I am an ASL user (as my 3rd language) so I noticed what she might sign. For those of you BSL/non-BSL users don't know ASL, I translate for you - 'Give me a space, I will see you in the afteroon!' I see it as humour but is it serious? Or she just gestures or messing around for a laugh?

Where is Deaf Blogs?!

Problem with Deaf Blogs links... must be someone (could be ghost of Milan 1880!) hacked it!

magnumphotos.com

All photos are wonderful! I am dreaming of joining this well-known agency in the world! Lucky for new photographers!

magnum

UCLAN's iSLanDS

Preston is set to become a centre of excellence for deaf students.

The prospects of deaf scholars will be boosted by the opening of the UK's first international centre of excellence in deaf studies at the University of Central Lancashire.The International Centre for Sign Language and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) will be staffed primarily by deaf academics and researchers.

They will research and record the many global sign languages for the first time and develop programmes to offer deaf students in developing countries the same higher education opportunities as UK deaf students.

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Strong and straightforward

This quote is strong and straightforward.

"Hearing administrators who have the power to fire or place a great deal of negative pressure on those few deaf people who push the issues. They are directly backed up by overwhelming numbers of ignorant hearing faculty and indirectly by 'status quo' deaf staff who flee from all confrontation. Why? It is easy to label those two or three or strongly opinionated deaf people as angry troublemakers and the rest of the deaf staff do not want to be seen in the same way. And that is how you get a Deaf Community flooded with Crab Theory and backstabbers."

by J.Stein (USA)

The Corollaries of Internalized Oppression in Deaf Education

Very interesting blog!


The Corollaries of Internalized Oppression in Deaf Education

One of our regular blog contributors requested that this article be posted. Enjoy!


The Corollaries of Internalized Oppression in Deaf Education
By Patricia Raswant

Some school administrators, teachers, and hearing parents with deaf children often stigmatize members of the Deaf Community. They look at members in the Deaf Community as dimwits, backstabbing, deceptive troublemakers, SSI recipients, name-calling, spreading nasty rumors and other humiliating terms. Sadly, they do not consider well-educated deaf and hard of hearing adults to be their equals in educational decision-making. They refuse to acknowledge the cause of their “holier than thou” attitude is the product of deaf adults as dimwits, backstabbing, deceptive troublemakers, SSI recipients, name-calling, spreading nasty rumors and other crushing terms. A Total Communication system that graduates most deaf students at a third or fourth grade reading level is the consequence of internalized oppression in deaf educational establishments, which keeps the Deaf community on the fringes of our society.

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Didn't take a notice...

I watched See Hear without subtitles last week, I didn't realise that woman signed in Italian Sign Language (similar to ASL) which I completely understand what she was saying!

I still enjoy signing ASL and Guyanese Sign Language! At the moment, I need alot of catching up on Czech Sign language!

Stop the bug!

I laughed so much over this video! Tom is a great actor and comedian! check this video!

Stop the bug!

Thank an educator lately (how oralism can be bad)

Emotional story from a Deaf philiosopher! Check it out!


I hope I am not the only one, but I cannot think of whom to thank for my education from K-12, except my parents. I grew up oral and never learned sign language until I went to college. I am classified as someone with a profound hearing loss, yet I was prodded to wear auditory aids the entire time, as if I can really hear and understand what people say, when a microphone is attached to the person. In reality, I got by because of lipreading, and if it were too tiring to lipread during the entire day, I would simply look down and teach myself from the book. Perhaps the teachers thought I could hear well enough that I can take my eyes off them and read the book. It is because of my fear of failure that I made sure I knew what was going on, try to decipher what I was supposed to learn from the writing on the blackboard to the reading in the book. How can I give credit to any teacher growing up? I don’t remember making a connection with any teacher and I was too proud to ask for help in class. At times, it seemed like the only reason I was in school was just to learn how to speak better, as if my entire career depended on it.

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Playing their blind card

12, and Looking after the Family. In the UK, children as young as eight are often asked to act as grown-ups, taking care of relatives who are unable to look after themselves. Channel 4 at 21:00 on Monday 5th February 2007

I think both mother and father are so lazy. They had an excuse for being blind because they can't look after their own children properly. They decided to have more children is fine with me, their decision. BUT they can't expect two of their older children to look younger children all!

I think those parent are playing their blind card. Maybe they were not raised up to be enough independent and deal with their blindness.

In my view, social workers wouldn't need to take their children but their parent had to go to parent skill training for the blind if there are one.

This programme (narrotor) said they can't work just because of their 'disabilitiy'. Helen Keller who was Deaf-blind and fluent ASL, worked and supported within Deaf-blind community, showing that she was hard working and determined comparing to those lazy parent!

I understand the father has been through his tough childhood (his late father used him as a punchbag) but its no excuse. If he easily can pour his can of lager in a glass, so he can fed a milk bottle then.

Im really worried about this young girl who is suicudal and very unhappy. She is supposed to be 18 but she is really 10! That's so unfair!

I think this programme should show 2 blind parents, one with well-moral and other with less morals. Showing 2 examples of blind parents, would be good awareness for all audience otherwise its misunderstoodable. Im sure there are different of blind societies such as Deafhood.


Interesting message from a Blind mum: RNIB

I am a blind mum, but my daughter isn't really old enough for me to haveexperienced the situations you are talking about, she will be four next week. I know a lot of blind parents are unwilling to rely on their child's sight to help them out, they feel it's not fair on the child. I do, to some extent, agree with this, but when my daughter showed such an interest in what was in all the tins and packages we bought from the supermarket, how could I quell her enthusiasm?!! So, she is very helpful with identifying products I can't tell by touch, I.E. what's in tins!

Hope that helps.
Paula xx

Deaf world news

Independent Appeal: Trampled because he could not hear

For the deaf children of Gaza, disability has a new and perilous dimension amid the fighting. Jan McGirk reports from Jabalia on the work of the Welfare Association, which provides specialised care

Jihad Kafarneh finally cracked a smile yesterday. It was only the second time in three weeks, since the siege of Gaza was at its height. The 14-year-old Palestinian, who was born deaf in Beit Hanoun town, was a silent witness to the Israeli army's pre-dawn attack on a neighbour's four-storey house last month. Blood puddled an inch deep in the lane where 17 members of the al-Athamna family lay dying, blasted apart by tank shells.
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Ajay

Deaf Guyanese boy Ajay's mother told a story about him. Summer 2006

Ajay Ramjass will be 14 years olds in September of this year. He was born deaf. As a small child he had surgery to remove a cataract from his left eye. The surgery left him blind in that eye. Ajay has a brother Zack, who is one year younger than him. The boys are being raised by their mother Veta Singh. (Their father is a heavy drinker and has over the years, treated Veta and the boys very badly. He does not contribute financially to the support of his sons.)

Veta and her sons are living with Veta’s mother and step-father in No.73 Village, Upper Corentyne, Guyana. Veta is looking for a property in the village to rent as her mother’s house is very small. Since November 2005 Veta has been employed as a cleaner at the sugar company (Guysuco) at Skeldon which is approximately six villages (six miles) away from her home. Ajay spends his time with his grandmother at home, visiting folks from his church and playing cricket when the other village children come home from school. He has not attended formal government school since he left Primary School two years ago. His jobs at home include helping his grandmother look after the ducks and chickens and the vegetable garden. Ajay enjoys repairing bicycles. An older man in the church has taught him how to strip and put back together bikes and he has a good knack for this. Maybe it is a skill that will help he earn money when he is older.

At the age of 4 years Ajay attended the local government Nursery School. This was not too difficult for him to cope with as it was fun for him to colour in and be with other young children. Veta said “he would just copy and colour but he was happy there”. From the age of 7-11 he attended the local government Primary School. This was a terribly traumatic time for him and for his mother. For the first two years he did not want to go to school. The children beat him and took his pencils and books from him. Veta went to school with Ajay every day; sometimes she had to stay for the half the day. He would often come home from school with no cap, no bag, and no books because the other children bullied him so badly. When his younger brother, Zack, started school things became a little better for Ajay as he could play with Zack at recess. During the last two years of Primary School, he began to enjoy it more as he made a few friends.

Ajay

Jennifer met Ajay during his last year at school when he was eleven years old. He did not pass his end-of-Primary School exam (Common Entrance) so there was no Secondary placement for him. In effect he had received no education at all because in the government schools there is no provision whatsoever for children with special needs. Teachers are not professionally equipped with the skills and there are no resources for particular needs. The nearest Special Needs School with a provision for deaf pupils is one and half hours away by minibus, a journey that would cost GU$1800 return for his mum and him each day. This is more than the daily wage of a cleaner. Ajay just occupied a seat in the classroom and copied from the blackboard not understanding any of it.

Jennifer was a newcomer to Guyana in 2004, accompanying her husband who is Construction Manager for a new sugar factory in Skeldon. Jennifer and her husband became members of the church in No.73 Village and Jennifer began to teach Sunday school. Ajay was in her class. She was concerned to see that this young boy had no form of communication and that he was illiterate. Jennifer asked Veta is she and Ajay and his (hearing) brother Zack would like to learn American Sign Language (ASL – the sign language used in Guyana). They were so excited and eager to begin, that Jennifer, teaching ASL to herself from books, began to meet with them once a week in their home in April 2004. Soon the Sunday school children heard of the ‘class’ and asked if it could be held at the church so they could learn with Ajay.

The class at church, also held after school once a week, began with about 15 children plus Ajay, Veta and Jennifer. It has grown to 25 children plus Bibi also a Sunday school teacher as an additional helper with a very strong interest in learning and teaching ASL. All the children apart from Ajay are hearing and wish to learn ASL in order to be able to communicate with him. The class now incorporates a developing literacy programme as reading levels are below what would be expected for many children in Guyana. Ajay is now able to sign, read and write his own name, and with help, he can read and sign the decodable books used for the literacy programme. In all his years at school he was not even taught to recognise or write his name.

Jennifer found the biggest hurdle to overcome was getting Ajay to respond. He had spent all those years in classrooms where a response was never required of him. She knew that Ajay understood his new language but he just sat, taking it all in, but not using it himself.

Then Janis (the VSO Literacy volunteer with the Department of Education in the same Region) introduced Ashton and Steve to this little ‘Sign School’ as they call themselves.

The day these two young British VSOs came to meet Ajay was the day that still fills his mother’s eyes with tears when she speaks of it. That day a light went on in Ajay’s life. He began to speak to Ashton and Steve in sign language and he has not looked back. For the first time in his life he had role models to look up to: young men who were just like him! His mother recalls how his little chest puffed out when he stood next to them. They made him feel proud of himself, gave him courage, confidence and a hope for the future. They gave the same things to his mother.

Ashton teachs ASL to Ajay and hearing children

Ashton and Steve became Ajay’s friends, his buddies. They tried to visit the class from their base in Georgetown, once a month. This is a 5 hour minibus journey with a ferry crossing half way. When Ajay knew they were coming he bathed and put on his best ‘church’ clothes – their visit was so special to him.

Jennifer has seen the progress he is making and has told Ashton and Steve what a wonderful thing they have given Ajay in making time in their schedule to travel that distance, to help and encourage him; also to help and encourage her as she learns ASL in order to teach the children.

Ashton and Steve said they were amazed that Ajay’s community, all of his Sunday school friends, aged from 5 – 14 years, were learning with him. They have never seen anything like that before. That did not realise the extent of the impact they had had not only on Ajay’s life, but on his mother and the community.

Ashton and Steve leave Guyana in August and this little ‘Sign School’ is hoping that two the new VSOs for the deaf, who will arrive in Guyana in September, will be able to continue to support them with monthly visits. They appreciate the input and sense of ‘belonging’ to a wider deaf community that this link has given them. Maybe the ‘Sign School’ can even have their own VSO for the deaf!

Bibi and some of the children want to learn more ASL so they can teach ASL and become translators. They have been learning from Jennifer but they could attend a course in Georgetown, or a trained ASL teacher could come and do a course in Region 6. Another person that influenced Bibi and some of the hearing children (especially Shaminie and Sherifa who are both 11), was Monty: the Guyanese ASL / English interpreter who accompanied Ashton and Steve on their first visit from Georgetown. Teachers from the local government schools could also receive professional training in how to cater for children in their classes who are deaf or who have other special educational needs.

Jennifer and Veta hope that deaf children currently ‘hidden’ in the community and their parents will come to the ‘Sign School’ and learn to sign and communicate and read and write. Some parents are put off bringing the children because the classes are held in a Christian church building. There is in fact, a 9 year old deaf boy in the same village whose parents are Hindu and they don’t want go into the Christian building. Ajay has taken it upon himself to teach this younger boy the sign language that he has already learnt. Ajay has an overwhelming gentleness and concern for others. He is always aware if someone is hurting. This is an extraordinary character trait for a boy who has had so much going against him.

Ajay's families & friends

The Sign School will now be meeting at Bibi’s house, but they hope to find a new venue soon and to invite the local TV station to come and do a news report. Publicity about the class will hopefully bring more deaf children and their parents forward to join the class and enable them to experience the joy and pride in communicating and the sense of ‘belonging’ that Ajay has experienced.

Ajay’s mother sums this feeling up the best: “Ajay is the happiest boy when he knows today is the day Ashton and Steve are coming to the ‘Sign School’!” Everyone is excited about the prospect of their ‘Sign School’ growing bigger and providing opportunities for persons in this part of Guyana who are deaf.

Joke: A teacher of the Deaf dies and goes to Heaven

A teacher of the Deaf dies and goes to Heaven

When she gets there, she meets Peter at the pearly white gates. Peter says to her, "Welcome to Heaven. Let me give you an orientation first."

So, Peter takes her to some beautiful mansions. The teacher asks, "Who lives here in these beautiful houses?"

"These are for doctors. They did a lot of good on Earth so they get a nice mansion," replied Peter.

Peter takes the teacher to some more mansions. These were more magnificent than the first.
"Wow, who lives here?"

"These mansions are for social workers. They did a lot of good on Earth but didn't make a lot of money so they get a better house."

Peter took the teacher to some more mansions. These were the most gorgeous homes she had ever seen. They had huge columns, well-manicured lawns, beautiful stained glass windows; the works!

"These are the most beautiful homes I have ever seen," exclaimed the teacher. "Who lives here?!"

"Teacher of the Deaf live here." said Peter, "They did much good on Earth and received very little money so they get the best houses in all of Heaven."

"But where are all of the teachers?" inquired the teacher.

Peter answered, "Oh, they'll be back soon. They're all in Hell at an in-service."

My Deaf identity.. how?

I didn't know what Deaf identity was because I haven't been into Deaf commmunity very much. Apart from PHU school, I always with hearing community such as Scouts, football club, hearing friends. I knew I was different from them because of hearing and communication. Honestly I really thought hearing people are automatically clever than Deaf people. I didn't believe Deaf people can become a doctor, social worker, teacher, pilot, manager. I didn't remember that I used BSL in front of Scouts members or football players because I was ashamed. You may be surprised but I sometime wish I could speak like my Deaf friends was once oral users (they are now flunet BSL users and happy being Deaf, unfortunately their English is much worser than mine).


I remember one of my Deaf friends blamed me for their poor English because I innocently taught him BSL when I was 12. I apparently blamed BSL for failing English. Even my hearing teacher explained that I should speak more than using BSL. I was thinking, she was right, I should speak but I was scared because I really enjoyed using BSL at mainstream with CSW which was only for me, not 4 other deaf oral students. But I was forced to use SSE which I was very uncomfortable. We used SSE for GCSE - oral English. They signed quite faster than me. I signed SSE very slowly because I was very uncomfortable. But I passed better result than them! Wow! Even I passed oral German better too, I used my voice! Actually I was so shitting myself because I didnt ususally use my voice in front of hearing people. But it was good result! Even I was rarely taught to speak which was good!


I was bullied by hearing children like they were making funny faces (tongue in cheeks), silly gestures and shouting at my back, turn around and noticed them, they laughed and thumb up. Other pupls saw them and told me what they were doing. I was really hurted but I wasn't standing up for myself. I never told my teacher, knowing them they wouldn't believe me. Why? because I always got into trouble. One worst thing happened to me was I was verbally racist abused by a pupil boy saying 'black b*stards'. My hearing friend told me that. So I head-butted that boy and he fell. He complained to the teacher. She asked me why and I explained but between the teacher and a pupils' long conversation to leave me out. She punished only me not that boy. I cried and cried alot because CSW wasn't there. There were always misunderstood when it comes to communication. Also hearing pupils laughed at me because my English was poor, maybe it was a nerve thing but it knocked my confidence down.


When I finished school, I came into proper Deaf world was Derby college (it was Open days, I chosen Bradford college) I met alot of Deaf people who uses flunet BSL and very happy. I rarely hugged hearing people because we were fake friends or not talking alot. But I hugged alot of Deaf people like family. I felt so good. Some of Deaf people told story everything about Deaf people's achievement that I didn't believed. I thought they might lie because I really thought Deaf people who speak are better than Deaf BSL users.


That's how I realised I like being myself when I was with Deaf people (Deaf community. I always was patient when communication broken down with hearing community because I was taught to not let it out. Yes I was into alot of trouble when I was younger.


When I travelled around the UK, meet Deaf people to improve my BSL quicker than before. I was much happier. I dated some of hearing girls, asked them to gather Deaf community but they were scared. I respected that but I lost fond of them. I met my exes' hearing people, it was soooooo isolation. I was unhappy. I tried to gesture alot but so tiring. I even brought my friend who were quite good at speak/lipreading but hearing easily lost patience with repeating and slow communication. What a waste learning oral education from know-how experts' advices!


Honestly I was against Deaf activism because I got the picture of riots and arrogant speaks etc. I even see any (hearing or Deaf) activist as troublemakers. But I support BSL as Deaf education are still failing without BSL, so I went to London for BSL march, so nice and calm. But the government igroned that. We need more media attention. Most of Deaf activists blocked the road, I was thinking, no way I can do it because of my skin, I easily can be arrested. But a few years, I joined a groups to block the road for recognising BSL in the UK because I started to broaden my mind. Other protest, I blocked the road opposite Westminister. I was shitting myself but I felt so right. It was non-violent. So I am a Deaf activist now, I don't believe in violent protest. Deaf Power Now


I was about 17, I was shocked with myself when I read Deaf people's excellent written English, exact level as hearing's written skill but not speaking. That's how I realised oralism was not good. I looked back, I agreed with teachers about the oral education, I blamed myself alot for not using oral. I was foolish. At the moment, I see alot of oral users (hearing wannabe) look down at us, Im sorry for them because we are only human.


I started to broaden my mind with Deaf history like Milan 1880 and oppression etc.

It wasn't until I got to Preston university that I finally realised what Deaf identity is. It's as if I opened up to myself and discovered what was missing. From the past, I never looked back and I really love being in the Deaf community and us being together like a family.


At the moment, I still am self-taught - written English and different sign languages because Deaf education failed me by hearing teachers with no knowledge of BSL called SSE, lack of Deaf awareness and not enough Deaf role models.

At the moment, I see many Deaf children like me in West Yorkshire.

That's why I want them to be proud of themsevles, not negative thought about BSL, Deafness or Deafhood. It can lead them to be stubborn attitude toward BSL.


Deaf identity is not just about the militant mentality, it is about individual.


I am soo proud to have a Deaf identity!

My a**e!

I bought a Deaf magazine Sign Matters yesterday, apparently it cheered me up.

Only one person support BSL may be not enough comparing to the population or 'ratio' but he is very well-known to the hearing community in the UK. Sign Matters (Feb 2007) asked the outspoken Ricky Tomlinson from The Royle Family.

'How did Ricky feel about BSL not being part of the UK National Curriculum?'
Ricky said "I think that learning BSL is a MUST". It should be a 2nd language as you never know it could help save a life." BSL should be taught in schools, that way hearing and Deaf can communicate on equal terms. I think it's sad that the government of this country has money to spend on war and killing but not enough to teach children and ensure they get access to the Education the have a right to"

Showing that he is so positive! See, see!

'We asked Ricky if he was able to use BSL himself? "Sadly no, however my mother once dated a young Deaf man before marrying my father and she herself could sign and my daughter, Katie has learned stage 1 sign language"

WOW! I would like to see Ricky's fans tempted to find out about BSL!

But am I tempted to support Liverpool? my a**e! (His very infamous phase - 'My a**e at end!)

Ovais Khan

Many happy returns for your birthday, my old mate! We are old b*stards equally! I will buy you your favourite a cup of tea at bingo..

Christine 'Coco'

I always enjoy reading Christine's blogs. She is a Deaf-Blind Canandian woman. I learnt alot about her being Deaf-Blind and community. She signs her mind. She will be a Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) volunteer soon, She will be working with the Deaf-Blind community in Birnin-Kebbi, Nigeria, West Africa. I seen/met a few Deaf-Blind people who stand up for themselves. My favourite blog of her is Denial. She is an inspirational.