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From: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Hi all.
Message-ID: <13030@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 23 Jul 90 20:29:10 GMT
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Reply-To: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org
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Organization: FidoNet node 1:385/14.0 - Fingers Talk, Lawton OK
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Index Number: 9404

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Greetings from OkieLand, Bill, and may I welcome you aboard SilentTalk.
 
I thought your message was so nice and am glad you told us about 
yourself.  I have one question though, do you use sign as your personal 
way of communication or is it more job related so you can communicate 
with other HI folks?  The reason I'm asking is that I have worked 
closely with our local state mental health center which has a good
hearing impaired services department.  In fact, a very good friend 
of mine is the coordinator here in Lawton.  The state director of 
DHS/Mental Health/Hearing Impaired Services is a super guy by the 
name of Bill Erikson who is profoundly deaf but he uses total 
communication.
 
I started helping Taliaferro Mental Health Center out when they first 
opened the Hearing Impaired Services Department several years ago 
as well as set up the HI Library.  What fun that was!  Our center 
really goes out of their way to provide services and even provides 
use of the center for meetings and such.  They even teach ASL/Pidgen
twice a week and have trained all of their personnel.
 
I, too, was not exposed to the deaf world until a few years ago
and I will admit I had a LOT of eye openers!  What bothered me most 
was the lack of referral services, lack of voluntary information, 
etc. as so many of the deaf do not know what questions to ask when 
they are in need of services or information.  That is slowly changing 
but still has lots of room for improvement.
 
I haven't encountered any deaf snobs in this area but I am fully 
aware of them in other states.  I just don't let them get to me. 
 Often many of the young adults visit my home and since I'm not 

proficient in signing, they try to communicate orally and we do have 
some interesting conversations and a good time.  They seem to enjoy 
learning a few new words as well as practicing their voice/speechreading 
skills.  I'm not cutting down ASL but I sure would like to see a
few changes made because I've seen too many miss out on so much, 
especially lacking in comprehension of our English language and
lack of reading skills.  In order to correct this serious problem, 
I feel we are going to have to start with the young ones and see 
that they are provided with a better education than has previously 
been provided.  I feel very strongly about this and am quite militant 
with my views.
 
We have an Interpreters' Association in Oklahoma and directories 
are provided with a listing of qualified interpreters in each city/
 
town.  It really comes in handy but it is very difficult to find 
oral interpreters which is what I prefer and feel most comfortable 
using.
 
Heck, you and I would have joined forces in the lobby of one of our 
local hospitals for a screaming session two years ago.  I conducted 
the training sessions of all hospital personnel in the use of TDDs.
Believe me, it was quite an experience!  Especially when they locked 
up the TDDs in a room which was not accessible to all personnel!!!
Talk about UNREAL!  However, I think I managed to successfully solve 
that problem and I still give them a call from time to time to make 
sure they do keep their TDDs hooked up.
 
Well, guess I'm about out of room and I think it's time *I* shut 

--
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