Comments on: Fumble in Deaf America

By: J W

J W — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 10:43:41 +0000

Your article mentions a school in Guadalajara where deaf children are not allowed to play soccer. Can you tell me anything about the life and education of deaf children and family’s in or around Guadalajara? I am a Hearing person, and do not know a great deal about deaf people, but I have been learning sign language. A friend of mine is a deaf woman she lived in Guadalajara as a child and her family,all deaf, came to America when she was a young teenager. She never attended school after moving to the states, I do not think that the education she received in Mexico was very good. I would like to help her but I do not know where to start, or even if she will let me try. All that she ever has been willing to say about her childhood is that Guadalajara was a big city and that she claims not to even read Spanish, Do they really only teach ASL or has she just forgotten? Some of her signs are a bit different than the ones I have learned from other deaf people, but she uses English spelling when she finger spells or writes.

J W

By: Katherine

Katherine — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 03:50:05 +0000

Since when is everything for free? So, you’re saying that if he has to pay out of his pocket, he wouldn’t take action??

Besides, there are many underemployed and uneducated deaf people out there who need NAD’s help more than people like us do. Let’s not hope it is because Shane was an employee of NAD and that he gets a preferential treatment.

By: Carl

Carl — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:15:11 +0000

Cloak and Dagger-
Yes I know SSI is not only for Deaf people, I am keeping the discussion relevant to the post, to this blog, that focuses on deaf issues.

Im not making a generalization with my comment about Deaf people and SSI. How can i make a generalization when i have worked with this segment of the population personally? I am giving a case-specific example of how SSI deludes deaf people by getting free money. The system doesnt work, it does not focus on SOLUTIONS FOR PROACTIVE LIVING. Instead it gives out money to deaf people lacking incentive to create a better quality of life for themselves. The very check they receive justifies them NOT to go out and find a JOB. This experience has taught me SO much, and that we are STILL so very far behind on attitudes of employers towards the deaf.

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 17:11:10 +0000

I went to the Redskins game this last Sunday night, if all Shane is asking for is captioning on the jumbotron, then I don’t think that is asking for too much.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:35:15 +0000

He could go to a private lawyer - however, if he did so, that’d mean he’d have to pay for it out of his pocket.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:33:09 +0000

If that is why NAD is taking this case, I’m sure there are many cases that are precedent setting that NAD can’t handle. Still, it boils down to how NAD prioritizes some precedent setting cases over the other.

I feel NAD needs, with their limited resources, to focus on cases that affect and will benefit every deaf/hoh American. Don’t take me the wrong way, Shane is welcome to pursue his case, but he could go to a private lawyer on his own without the assistance of NAD. Nevertheless, I wish him all the luck.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 23:08:56 +0000

Extremely valid point. I’m good friends with Shane, and he did mention one thing that I don’t think were mentioned here. I read all of them, and haven’t seen any mention of this - but maybe it has and I overlooked it.

He’s not asking for any punitive damages, no suffering, none of that BS. He’s asking for a very simple thing, that they caption the Jumbotron. They could also simply turn on the captioning at the various TVs stationed at the various concession stands. Those are a live feed and what we would see if we were at home, so those already are captioned.

The fact that he did not ask for punitive damages makes his case much stronger. He’s not in it for the money, he’s here because he wants to have an equal experience with the 91,000 other hearing people that go to the games.

FYI, Feldman has had season tickets and has taken me to 1 or 2 games annually since he’s gotten them.

Also - to add another comment, Scott Van Nice is correct, the NAD only takes on cases that are precedent setting. They are solicited daily for hundreds of cases and they’re very careful on which cases they accept.

By: Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:20:19 +0000

Carl - thank you for sharing your opinion. But remember, SSI is not only for deaf people or people with other disabilities, but includes retired workers, widows/widowers, and their children. The results that you mentioned - low motivation, self-esteem, overeliance - does apply to the hearing population as well. So, I’m afraid that you are still making a wide generalization.

You can easily find the demographics from the Social Security Administration’s Congressional Statistics at their homepage.

As for Section 8 housing, most of the residents are elderly with low incomes. You can contact HUD for more additional information.

By: Carl

Carl — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:42:22 +0000

This is not to address deaf people, but anyone who receives SSI. The idea of SSI should be confined to those who are physically disabled (can’t walk etc). I can’t agree with Newbie more, those on SSI have to get their bored asses out of their house and work like the rest of us.

By: Carl

Carl — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:02:51 +0000

my statement “SSI is conducive to deaf people being proactively employed in today’s workforce” is a personal opinion based on my experience. It is not an assumption. I have worked for NYS VR in the Bronx and have personally SEEN the effects of those who have SSI and are deaf. There is a VERY STRONG coorelation with those who are on SSI and deaf, the coorelation(s) are as follows:

less motivation to find a job, more reliance on social workers who are already OVERLOADED with a case load, which gives them less time for quality social work.

-more depressed, more time, no focus, no goals. Low Self Esteem.

-More reliance on ssi, less educated.

So if you want me to give you a personal tour of the Bronx, with a 11% unemployment rate, feel free to ask. If you want to see deaf people struggling to pay for a TTY because THEIR SSI CHECKS are so low go right ahead.

your statement below is not true:
“As for housing, it’s the hearing population that makes up most of the nation’s low-rent, Section-8/HUD housing initiative, not deaf people.” This is your opinion.
Back up your opinion with verifiable proof before assuming. Not all Disabled people are Deaf.
Thank you, Carl