Jill Bianco– A Deaf Gal Who Plays Baseball

Jill Bianco is one tough gal.  A baseball going at warp speed doesn’t faze her a bit.  Jill is part of a twelve-woman baseball team, the Liberty Belles and the only deaf woman that I know who plays baseball.

Jill played fast-pitch softball for many years in every position except pitcher.  She joined the Chicago Gems baseball team after responding to an ad on Craigslist.  On February 12, Jill will head to Hong Kong to play in the 2009 Phoenix Cup International Women Baseball Tournament. 

As the only deaf woman on the team, communication can be a challenge but Jill faces it with candor:

Being Deaf and playing ball can be tough sometimes. I face many challenges but I haven’t let them get me down, or stop me from playing the sport I truly love. I can do everything other ball players can do, both on the field and off, the only difference is that I do not hear. Baseball doesn’t require a lot of verbal communication on the field. With all the visual signs being used there isn’t much need for verbal communication.  This puts every teammate on the same page, with equal access and knowledge of what to do next. I strive to show the world that a Deaf female ball player can be as good as anyone.  I’d like to educate people so they understand that Deaf people aren’t what they’re stereotyped as.

As you can imagine, it isn’t cheap to head to Hong Kong and Jill isn’t going to let limited funds stop her.  If you have a few dollars (or more) to spare, you can help with Jill’s dream to play baseball: 

Jill Bianco’s Baseball Opportunity

Update:

Hi everyone! I m Jill. I just got back from Hong Kong yesterday. I had a blast.  We, North American Liberty Belles, won silver medal for the tournament. We lost to Japan in the Championship. I m also proud to share that I have received a huge honor of being selected as a Team Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the Liberty Belles!

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Tags: People You Should Know by DeafMom
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Steak ‘n Shake, One Year Later

This morning, I was greeted with this lovely comment left by David R.:

you are a (bleep) retard. the world does not revolve around you, you lazy dumb (bleep).  how are the employees at steak n shake supposed to help you when you can’t even hear them talking to you? it’s your own fault for being lazy and not just walking in. stupid dumb (bleep) people like you piss me off. if you have a problem with steak n shake then DONT GO THERE. why would the spend thousands of dollars on new technology just satisfy a (bleep) lazy (bleep) lady? THEY DO NOT NEED YOUR BUSINESS so you can take it elsewhere and shove it.

With attitudes like this out there, who needs drive-thrus that are accessible to deaf, hard of hearing and speech-challenged people?  Segregation at its finest!  Apparently the drive-thrus are only for people who can use them as they are currently set up.  The rest of us less-than-perfect people are supposed to get out of our cars and go in and order. 

Unless of course, you head over to Culver’s, the restaurant chain that has decided to make sure that their customers are welcomed in the restaurant and in the drive-thru:

Order Assist System at Indianapolis Culver’s Restaurant.

Isn’t it ironic that this Culver’s restaurant is located in the same city as the Steak ‘n Shake headquarters? 

Article in Deaf Life

For those who aren’t familiar with the story, my son and I were denied service at the Bolingbrook Steak ‘n Shake restaurant a year ago.  The incident was picked up by Fox and ABC news and several newspapers.  Bloggers from all over chimed in:  Steak ‘n Shake, Looks Like This Touched a Nerve.  The Consumerist landed over 200 comments as people discussed the situation.  Deaf Life did a five-page spread on the story.  Down in Australia, the topic was a large part of a presentation given at an RMIT Communicator of the Year Awards banquet.  Diversity, Inc. did a story and a video interview (captioned): Deaf Mother of Three Denied Service at Restaurant.

In the year since the incident, I met with the Steak ‘n Shake executives and then later, their two lawyers.  I didn’t get anywhere with them.  During our first meeting, Steak ‘n Shake appeared willing to make some changes and perhaps blaze the way for drive-thru access.  Once it was turned over to their lawyers, I felt as if they simply wanted to sweep the issue under the rug.  During our final meeting, they brought in the Steak ‘n Shake employer to issue an apology.  It was quite apparent that the attorneys crafted a very lame, “I-won’t-admit-I-did-it-but-I’m-sorry-it-happened-to-you” apology that the employer droned out.   The Steak ‘n Shake attorneys admitted during our meeting that they didn’t even look into the drive-thru solutions that I had suggested all along.   They clearly weren’t interested in making any changes, but to simply have me shut up and go away. 

I guess I’ll be seeing more of the Steak ‘n Shake lawyers.  That is, unless the company truly wants to welcome deaf, hard of hearing and speech-challenged customers in their restaurants.  In that case, they know where to reach me.

 

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Tags: Steak 'n Shake Fiasco, Uncategorized by DeafMom
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Yes, You Can! Win $1,000 with the Z and CSDVRS!


Hello. Our theme for today is Yes, you can! You may be wondering why. With 10 digit numbers now all across the country some people are wondering what to do about that 10 digit number. If you are a VP 100 or VP 200 user you should call Sorenson and get your local 10 digit phone number. You can still use CSDVRS! All you have to do is dial CSDVRS.TV! Maybe you have heard rumors about losing features if you use our service. That is not the case. You will still keep all your features and can still be able to use our service. When calling CSDVRS you will be connected to the most phenomenal interpreters out there!

See the captioned video here (I couldn’t embed it for some reason):  Yes You Can!


Yes, You Can! Sweepstakes

CSDVRS is giving ONE lucky winner $1,000 CASH to be drawn on Monday, March 23, 2009.
How do you sign up? It’s easy! All you have to do to enter is fill out an online contest entry form! Once you’ve completed the entry form, your name will automatically be entered into the drawing - and the best part is you only need to fill out the entry form once!
It’s that easy!

You can enter the contest by clicking here . Yes, You Can!
Click here for contest rules and eligibility.
 
 
 
 

 

 

For more information contact:

blue ball logo CSDVRS launched its inaugural video relay services (VRS) in 2000. By 2001, CSDVRS was the nation’s only 24-hours-a-day provider, and also the first to offer Spanish VRS, video mail and personal 800 numbers. CSDVRS was developed by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. While other providers have followed our lead, CSDVRS is dedicated to the same spirit of innovation and commitment to excellence that took VRS from a dream to reality, and has become the nation’s premier VRS provider.
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Tags: Uncategorized by DeafMom
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Win a Book from Mark Drolsbaugh, A Talented Deaf Writer

Win a book!

I think Mark Drolsbaugh is my fraternal twin from another life.

A few years back, I came across his books, Anything But Silent and Deaf Again (4th Edition) and I immediately ordered them.  I discovered a deaf writer who was funny and entertaining.  I also discovered that he basically wrote “my story” in his books. 

You see, Mark grew up fitting in well among his friends who could hear.  Like me, he amassed an impressive array of social bluffing skills that enabled him to “go with the flow” and appear quite successful in managing day-to-day communications.  It wasn’t until both of us made the journey into a community of people who used American Sign Language that we found a “home” that was beautifully tailored for us.  

Mark penned a third book, On the Fence, The Hidden World of the Hard of Hearing, a collection of essays.  Of course, I’m biased toward that book simply because I contributed to a chapter there titled, “The Best of Both Worlds.”  In the book, I share my journey of growing up hard of hearing and becoming deaf.

Be sure to check out Mark’s website: Deaf Culture Online and his Drolz Uncensored section.  Mark has recently become the parent of a deaf child and he shares bits and pieces of his journey on the website.

This telented author has generously agreed to give away one of his books to a lucky reader of this blog.  Simply leave a comment in the comment section telling Mark a little bit about yourself and let him know which book you’d like to receive if you are chosen as a winner.  Be sure to leave your email address (this will not be shown) when filling out the comment section.  The winner will be chosen by random using Random.org and contacted via email.  The book will be shipped directly to the winner.  Comment away!

 

Update:   And the winner is…

Saraj!

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Dear Anonymous Commentor

Dear Anonymous Commentor, the one with the IP address of 71.194.149.189:

Thank you for taking the time to leave a nasty comment while hiding behind anonymity. 

Have a nice day.

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Back Home Again…and, Onward with the Z-Phones!

I’m back!

Lori and Karen

Last week Tuesday, I headed down to Clearwater, Florida, to meet the Z-Team from CSDVRS.  It turned out to be an overwhelming, intense, exciting, fun, brain-jamming week.  I teamed up with Lori Koch from South Dakota, who took the position of Assistant Director of Sales.  The two of us spent three days getting to know all the employees and soaking up the nuts and bolts of our jobs.  Lori did a much better job of remembering who was who, but she had a head start, as she knew nearly half of the employees from her former job.

On Sunday, the Sales Managers from all over flew in and there were even more names to place with faces.  On Monday night, we played a fun, team-building activity and then headed over to an employee’s house for dinner and a swim.  We fired up the Z-340 videophones and took turns using them.  I called home and connected with my kids.  It was so neat to walk around in the backyard and introduce everyone to my family, including the ones in the pool.  Wi-fi access rocks!

I was able to test out the new Z-100 software for PCs on my laptop at the airport.  I called my mother-in-law and chatted with her using VCO (Voice Carry Over, using my own voice to speak directly).  Just before boarding, I talked with CSDVRS Outreach Specialist, Dennis O’Brien (whom you might remember from his Obama vote) via my built-in laptop webcam.  I closed the laptop to board, but once I sat down, I called him again.  You should have seen the look on his face when he realized that I was calling from the airplane before take-off.

The year ahead promises to be an exciting one with the Z-Team and I look forward to connecting with deaf and hard of hearing customers from all over.   I will be covering Illinois and Wisconsin, plus nationwide with those who use VCO.  I’m teaming up with Mike Finneran and Hope Turpin on the nationwide level.

I will be hiring Outreach Specialists in Illinois and Wisconsin and looking for VCO and Spanish Outreach Specialists as well. 

For more information about the Z products or to learn more about our services, I would be happy to chat with you. If you, or someone you know is struggling with phone access at work or at home, let me know.  I will help work to find a solution to your phone needs.

kputz@csdvrs.com

VP: karenputz.myvp.tv

Voice callers can reach me at: 888-657-8492

Twitter:  DeafMom

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Breathe In… Breathe Out

I’m going nuts.

I’ve never been one who is organized, but one of my big, BIG goals this year is to have everything o.r.g.a.n.i.z.e.d.  I’ve never needed it more than today, because I’m running around trying to find the flight info I printed and put in a “safe” place.  I discovered that I left my phone at Panera Bread…

Sunday night.

I spent all day yesterday looking for it.

Why, oh why, didn’t my Mom’s organization genes pass on to me?

Why?

I’m bound and determined to conquer this state of disorganization.  Even if I have to fly Alex Fayle out to Chicago.  Speaking of Alex, check out the interview that he did with me recently:

Learning to Ask for Help: Karen Putz Interview

You’ll also have to go over to TechMama’s blog and check out: Looking for People Friendly Media Technology.

And then go hop over to Amy Derby’s place for a captioned video:  Conversations with Strangers.

I’m signing off and dismantling my computer to make way for a new desk.  I’m tossing out the folding table. 

It’s a start.

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Tags: It's All About Me by DeafMom
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