Comments for A Deaf Mom Shares Her World

Comment on You’re Not Really…Deaf, Are You? by Julie

Julie — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:31:58 +0000

Great post! You nailed it when you said, “Often people are unaware at the incredible amount of work it takes to gather information and understand communication that goes on around us on a daily basis. And others are often unaware of how much just slides by…”

My heart breaks sometimes for my deaf-in-one-ear / HoH in the other son… he is working SO HARD to “get” what is going on, and very few folks realize the effort he puts out.

Thanks for articulating it so well,

Julie

Julies last blog post..In which it is Winds-day… a Blustery Day

Comment on A Neat Gift: GiiNii Digital Picture Frame by Tammy

Tammy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:08:45 +0000

I’ve been looking at these for Xmas presents and this is probably the best price I’ve seen for what it offers! Thanks for sharing Karen!

Tammys last blog post..So we Hear, He is "The Man"

Comment on You’re Not Really…Deaf, Are You? by RhodesTer

RhodesTer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:43:51 +0000

I think you know I work hotel security. The other night a few guests complained about a banging noise in the vicinity of a particular room, and when I showed up to investigate I encountered a young woman in the hallway.

She asked if I was security. She asked if there was anything I could do about the noise. Yes on both counts, but I realized a minute or so in that she was lip reading me. “Excuse me for asking, but it’s just entirely out of curiosity.. are you hearing impaired?”

She explained that she was, yet the noise was bothering her. At the same time, she could hear my voice but couldn’t understand what I was saying without lip reading. Turned out someone else had called, because she doesn’t use a phone either.

Different levels of impairment, I guess.

The noise was from the hotel engineer working on a pipe. I radioed him to knock it off because even the deaf guests were complaining.

Okay, I didn’t really say that.

RhodesTers last blog post..“I’ve got him at gunpoint”

Comment on You’re Not Really…Deaf, Are You? by ZenMonkey

ZenMonkey — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:07:55 +0000

In my experience working and playing with deaf people, and handling my own health problems, I think I’ve found that invisible disabilities bring out the goofiest questions from people. I guess it’s the ones who can’t handle that disconnect that occurs between “person looking ‘normal’” (whatever that is) and “person is disabled.” It’s the moment where, if there’s any discomfort, it all comes out — sometimes in the form of ridiculous comments or questions — whereas with a visible disability, people are better able to prepare themselves, if it’s necessary.

The funny part of this is I’ve been telling my deaf students for a while now that I’m disabled due to chronic illness, but the day I first came to class using a cane everyone asked “What happened to your leg??”

Comment on You’re Not Really…Deaf, Are You? by The Invisible Disability « No Small Thing

The Invisible Disability « No Small Thing — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:35:37 +0000

[...] life right now, I forget. As irony would have it, I returned home to find a piece written by Karen Putz in my inbox. It included the following: “…hearing loss is often referred to as [...]

Comment on You’re Not Really…Deaf, Are You? by aaron

aaron — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:06:30 +0000

okay, big admission here. I am severely HoH and even I have made variations of the “normal” comment. And even I have said “nevermind”. I hate these comments as much as anybody, but we have to try not to be too sensitive because these things have implied meanings.

example:

they SAY “oh I thought you were normal”
they MEAN “oh I thought you could hear like the average (normal) person”

technically speaking, we deafies will never be “normal” until we rank above 50% of the population.

and as annoying as “nevermind” is, someone pointed out in another blog how hearing people sometimes talk incessantly about a whole lot of nothing, saying things they realize are stupid, and for this reason do not wish to repeat.

Comment on A Neat Gift: GiiNii Digital Picture Frame by Mary Kate

Mary Kate — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:48:01 +0000

Thanks for doing my “legwork” for me! LOL I have been dying to get a digital frame for Kyle to keep at his office, but I didn’t know where to begin! This is perfect! Ho ho ho!

Comment on Steak ‘n Shake — Filing a Complaint for Discrimination by Ivy

Ivy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:31:54 +0000

To J from 10/29/2008-
The issue at hand is that they have a right to be a consumer - at ANY establishment. Smokers choose to smoke. A Deaf citizen did not choose to be deaf.

I applaud their efforts and pray that all goes well on their behalf.

Comment on You’re Not Really…Deaf, Are You? by DeafMom

DeafMom — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:42:05 +0000

@Jim I often tell people that there’s one world and I’m a part of all of it.

@Debcnys Yes, I can totally identify with what you said. When people talk with me and I handle the conversation well, they simply think I can do that in all situations.

@Jenny My whole world opened up even more when I learned ASL. Happy learning!

Comment on The Last Lecture–And the Deaf Connection by Meryl K. Evans

Meryl K. Evans — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:54:14 +0000

Thanks for remembering the column and sharing it with us. It provides a wealth of insight into deaf people’s lives.

I remember watching British-themed “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and seeing the brother using British sign language. Even I — not fluent in ASL — could tell he had a “sign language” accent. That was very cool.

Thank you, Karen.

Meryl K. Evanss last blog post..Game du Jour: Week of November 17