Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!119!5.0!Laurie.Wilson From: Laurie.Wilson@p0.f5.n119.z1.fidonet.org (Laurie Wilson) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: deaf folks speak Message-ID: <10372@bunker.UUCP> Date: 23 Feb 90 18:09:17 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Laurie.Wilson@p0.f5.n119.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:119/5.0 - Lazarus, Chico CA Lines: 82 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 6939 > to learn to speak when he was little. Unfortunately, he > wants to go into aerospace engineering, but that industry > is heavily built on the idea of doing things by committee, > and communication is essential. They will probably be real > closed to anybody who can't talk to them, and not be willing > to pay for an interpreter. Unless he's unusually persistent, > he will get locked out. Even with an interpreter, it will > be tough sledding. Yes, your friend will need to be very persistent to get a job in aerospace. There is a civil rights law that will support his rights to have an interpreter provided to him when needed, such as in committee. I am sure there are ways where an employer and your friend can discuss and meet on an agreeable terms. Unfortunately, at first, he will have to try harder to show them that he can do well despite his hearing impairment and lack of speech. If he can write well, then it shouldn't be much of a problem. A friend of mine once told me of a new device (i am not sure of what it is called, but maybe Jack or Ron can tell you since they are whiz guys...grin) that it is sort of voice transmitter into a printer on a screen. It is a small size--same as a pager. So, it will fit nicely on his hand, and he can read the device while someone speaks to him. I will ask my friend for more details about it and get back to you. > accept deaf people who can't speak, and to be able to communicate > in sign somewhat should be undertaken. Someone here recently > asked why TV programs should have an interpreter instead > of captions. I can think of two reasons. One is that sign > is more natural for many deaf folks, and the interpreters > are likely to be more accurate than the captions. But the > other is so that hearies can learn sign! I would gladly > watch the interpreter intently during a TV program to learn Yes, I like to watch interpreters on TV, too. But there are several reasons why more people prefer the closed captioned. For one, there are more HI than deaf people who don't know sign language. Secondly, the TV screens that most of us have are too small for us to see the interpreting and lip movements. I usually read both lips and signing at the same time, so it is difficult for me to read the interpreters lips on TV. That is why I prefer the closed captioned. Besides, some interpreters on TV are not always that clear (or good). What I mean by that is some signs from different regions of US have accents (similar to dialects of voices). > all the sign I could. Years ago when I attended a church > that had an interpreter, I ALWAYS sat among the deaf people > so I could learn sign. i learned a lot that way. Kids could > learn sign this way, and people in general could come to Yeah, I wish more people are more like you with such an eagerness to learn sign language in any possible way. Unfortunately, some believe that learning to sign is easier than learning other foriegn language, when they first enrol in sign language. It is not so, for it is just like any other language and that it takes a lot of motivations and hard work to learn it. In fact, to become a certified interpreter requires average 8 years of being fluent in sign language!! It is of the reasons why they charge high rate per hour. And they deserve every bit of it for their long years of hard work! I agree the world would be much better for everyone if we all are willing to meet each other halfway! Even though it is unfair, we the disabled have to be the ones who have to make efforts to bring more awareness to the abled society. Otherwise, they would continue to hide us from their eyes and take their world and life for granted. > vocal cords vibrate, and they can feel the way their mouths > shape themselves. You and I agree on one thing: deaf kids > should never be forced. But a lot of effort should be put > into giving them incentive. Teachers need to rethink their yes, we can feel our voice, but we have no idea how we sound to others. I am soft spoken. Sometimes, they asked me to speak louder, but I would shout not realizing it was too loud. (grin) Well, i gotta go. Nice to hear from you again. Talk to you later. Laurie -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!119!5.0!Laurie.Wilson Internet: Laurie.Wilson@p0.f5.n119.z1.fidonet.org