The world changes again

I remember when TTY's became desk top models. I remember when relay began. I remember when sidekicks were introduced. I remember when VRS began.

All of them changed the world for my deaf friends. With each innovation, the "silent disability" became less isolating. No longer did they have to drive over to see if someone was home. No longer did they have to wait for special events to meet up with old friends. No longer did they have to live in isolation of a hearing-world job - they could at least complain about their bosses like the rest of us.

Now iphone 4 claims in real time to have video chat without any glitches. If this is true?

The world just changed again. For the better.

Miss Hawaii's Outstanding Teen

Lena Merrill, a 14 year old student at Hawaii's school for the Deaf and Blind, won the state competition for Miss Outstanding Teen. She will compete in august against the other state winners in the Miss Outstanding Teen portion of the Miss America pageant.

Years ago I knew a woman who had petitioned to participate and was denied because she could not do an interview without an interpreter. It is nice to see some changes in the pageant - even if Miss Merrill was still required to learn a dance routine to open her competition.

More of the story here

Deaf in the News.

Around the US and Around the world:

A Colorado nonprofit is partnering with an Afghan organization to build a school in Kabul for deaf children

Mexican Deaf lured into peddling in New York, create their own second chances.

Irritating as it is in this day and age for a woman to be labeled "Deaf-Mute" it is tragic that 6 years later, no one knows what happened to Porschette Charslyn Evans.

And in Sports news:
A Detroit area High School wins the Division 4 championship in part due to strong pitching by Brandon Holsworth

Matt Hamill won the Ultimate Fighter 11 finale despite being poked in the eye and breaking a hand mid fight.

Sign Language Interpreting at Disneyland Resort!

Traditionally one had to call ahead to arrange for shows to be interpreted. Now, two days a week each park has interpreters scheduled without prior notice.

Check out the details at the Disney official blog

Gallaudet: the Film

As you may have noted if you wandered by our site, we are in the process of rebuilding. My business partner just graduated from college - and so life has been a little busy. But we hope to relaunch in the fall with a cool new site (www.accentoninterpreting.com)

I also hope by then to have a more reliable way to post these blogs - here or elsewhere - and get them disseminated.

In the meantime, here is a beautiful film about Gallaudet by Gallaudet.

Enjoy it.

I did.

More Deaf News

- California State Government sued for lack of accommodation.

- Deaf Student Pursues Dream of Becoming a Doctor.

- More than 70 people who are deaf, hearing impaired or who work with the deaf gathered in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo to discuss the need for more comprehensive services for deaf and hearing-impaired Western New Yorkers.


- Finally: check out the Deaf Def rapper in Detroit.

FCC rates for Relay calls proposed

On April 30, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission released a public notice regarding rates for telecommunication relay services.

It states, in part, that carriers break down into three tiers:
"Tier I includes monthly minutes up to 50,000; Tier II includes monthly minutes between 50,001 and 500,000; and Tier III includes monthly minutes above 500,000."

They then state the formula by which they come to the following conclusion:
"This calculation results in rates of $5.7754 for Tier I, $6.0318 for Tier II, and $3.8963 for Tier III."

These rates seem to be per minute of use.

So, it seems to me, the assumption is that big companies can absorb more costs - and therefore should be punished for their success.

This could be disastrous for the Deaf community. Large video relay services may have to cut back or cut out service entirely.

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