Musical Interpretation Class

Tonight begins my Musical Interpretation class at Tulsa Community College (I have 2 spots left if you wanna play!)

This is a 8 day class (twice a week for 4 weeks) put together to explore the work and fun that goes into interpreting music in such a way as to incorporate ASL poetic features. The hope is by the end of the class every participant will have a translation of the National Anthem and a song of their own choosing. The "Final" is to perform (singly or as a group) a song of your choosing.

It is one of my favorite classes to teach, as a workshop or a course. I hope I get to share it with you for many summers to come.

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.