Sign Language Interpreters – ASL Interpreters

  I still find it interesting to research “firsts” within the Deaf Community. Over 100 years ago, Nellie Zabel Willhite was born in South Dakota.  This era is not known for its progressive view of those seen as “disabled.”  Helen Keller, more widely known today, was 12 years old when Nellie was born. Stories of […]

  ……….according to The Supreme Court in 1982.  Amy Rowley’s parents hired a deaf lawyer to argue their case in front of the US Supreme Court. There are quite a few “firsts” in this landmark case setting the foundation for the system we see today.   FIRST DEAF LAWYER GOES BEFORE SUPREME COURT By DENA […]

While watching Nyle DiMarco win ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and then go on to win ‘Dancing With the Stars’  (good grief!), I started wondering how many “firsts” from the Deaf Community I may not have read about. So I did some Googling and found some interesting stories. This one is about Dr. Pachciarz, the first Deaf person […]

    He’s 26 years old and he is apparently more than just arm candy. Nyle DiMarco is making a name for himself and people are “listening” to what he has to say. Gallaudet Graduate , America’s Next Top Model, Dancing With The Stars, Amazing blue eyes… Who wants to be the first to call […]

  This week, Gallaudet University celebrated a new University President. Congratulations to Bobbi Cordano for this wonderful achievement! Thinking back, it made me remember my own experience at Gallaudet back in the 1970’s.   Can you imagine learning Sign Language at Gallaudet University? I compare it to taking Catholicism classes at the Vatican. I spent […]

  Remember the movie “The Miracle Worker”? I always thought it was about Helen Keller. But guess what?  It’s really about her teacher Anne Sullivan. Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about Helen Keller and her incredible story. But what about Anne? April 14, 1866…….almost 150 years ago, Anne was born in Feeding Hills, […]

Recently,  I was asked this question.  “Why are so many hearing people choosing to learn sign language ?”   As a SODA, watching a sibling grow up with limited family interactions, diminished communications with ‘non-signing’ family members and relatives, the answer to this question seems obvious. But for those who recently find themselves growing curious, […]

  Recently, an Amarillo school district has stirred up some controversy regarding the sign language system  taught to deaf students in their district. The district is not teaching ASL, but instead is teaching the Morphemic Sign System (MSS).  This system is only used in Amarillo and has many in the Deaf community ‘up in arms’ […]

Deaf in the Desert June 6, 2014 – Palm Desert, CA The Deaf Seniors Foundation of Palm Springs organized a ground breaking ‘Town Hall’ Meeting sponsored by U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. THEME: “Challenges to Accessibility: Issues Affecting Members of the Deaf Community” Congressman Raul Ruiz extended an invitation to Coachella Valley professionals, educators, district […]

What’s the difference between “Hard of Hearing” and “Deaf” ? In contemplating this question, it occurs to me that many labels are actually degrees on a spectrum of experience.  If you imagine that the range is from zero to ten, with zero being “no hearing whatsoever….at any time….with any device….complete silence. Then ‘ten’ would equal […]