Some of you may recall my C.I. broke last November. So I've been totally deaf for almost four months now (aside from the stupid Tinnitus noise). After a botched appointment in January, I'm finally going to the audiologist tomorrow (March 3rd)!  I do hope it's when I finally get a new C.I. and not just "now fill out this paperwork and we'll get started..." B.S.

If all goes well I'll be getting a new Advanced Bionics Naida in "Caribbean Blue", which is a bold switch for me. After years of "covering up" my hearing aids and my first C.I. was colored "Burnt Sienna" so it'd match my Brown hair, I've decided to just show it off!

"Why do people want to cover up their Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants, and why do others show them off?"

What I've read in forums and groups and what I've experienced, the reason why people cover up boils down to two things which intertwine with each other:

• Insecurity - The user is insecure or ashamed of their deafness. They hide it to appear more "normal" to the rest of the world.
• Stigma - There's a stigma of inferiority that comes with wearing hearing aids. The world is full of ignorant people who stare, gawk, ask stupid questions and become bullies. Sometimes the user was pushed to feeling ashamed and insecure about their hearing aids/C.I.s.

It used to be that hearing aids were big and bulky and only available in one beige color; earmolds were big blobs of pink rubber; and cochlear implants had several parts to wear with lots of wires running all over. Nowadays, hearing aids, earmolds and cochlear implants are much smaller, come in a variety of colors and can be customized for the user! Check out this great site "Show Me Your Ears" of users decorating and showing off their "ears". There's even websites that sell "bling" for your hearing aid/cochlear implant, I love the one at SkinIt and wish they had one for "The Walking Dead". I'd probably will get the University of Arkansas one where my son is planning to attend after High School.

So what's your stance on this debate? Vote in the Poll:

My stance now is "Show it Off"! Firstly, it shows people that I'm Deaf and it's the reason why I'm "ignoring" them. Secondly, I don't give a rat's ass anymore if you stare (hell I can't even SEE you staring at me anymore). I'm open to answering questions and sating curiosity, but be prepared for sarcasm if you ask a stupid one, "Oh you're Deaf, lemme help, here's a Braille menu"

So...Hoping I'll be hearing you soon!
Tracy,
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

When I read this story I eyerolled and groaned. Yet another device to "fix" the deaf, more work for the deaf to figure out how it works, more frustration.

"It will require practice for the user to interpret the signals sent to the tongue as sound, but Leslie Stone-Roy, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, believes it can be done with a couple of month’s practice." 

That's what they said about Cochlear Implants, Hearing Aids, Speech Therapy, etc. The majority of this was forced on us as children with years of work and stress.. But when we request someone to learn sign language to communicate with us, "Oh it's too much work". Huh?

Instead of concentrating on fixing the deaf, why not concentrate more on communication access? Better speech-to-text programs, put the monies into scholarships for interpreting programs, make it easier to get interpreters on demand, and offer more sign language classes?


Can anyone else think of a better use of College Inventor's time than these useless gadgets? Comment on how you feel? I'd love to hear from y'all.



Tracy,
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

Saw this post today and it's what I've been trying to say all along! Just because you threw on a blindfold or plugged up your ears you "know" what's it like to be Blind or Deaf? Have y'all forgotten about adaptive equipment & tools we use to accommodate? Sure it looks like a hard life when you don't have a cane or visual alert flasher! 

This study states "...after simulating blindness by having their eyes covered, participants believed people who are blind are less capable of work and independent living than did participants who simulated other impairments like amputation, or had no impairment." Well, WHAT did you use to accommodate the "blindness"? Were they trained in Orientation & Mobility (O&M), did they have equipment? Or were they just blindfolded and shoved into a room?

I agree with the author that "“A lot of the disability that I experience has nothing to do with not being able to see,” said Silverman. “Instead, it’s because I can’t access something like a poorly designed website, for example." The true disability isn't our blindness or deafness, but accessibility and attitudes towards us!

"Simulated sightlessness can harm People's Attitudes towards Blindness"I

Mainly this study showed the self-centered nature on how people perceive others with disabilities. Yeah the all too common "I could never...", well we didn't ask for it ourselves!! So shut the hell up and be more considerate and less condescending!

I understand the need for simulations for training teachers and professionals, but we need better simulations that includes equpment, accessibility and attitudes. Why not include the disabled people themselves? Wouldn't it be a better teaching tool to interview and shadow a disabled person for a while? See how they do day to day and see where the true hurdles are and then work on those hurdles (such as better access to websites, movie theaters, or communication tactics).

So instead of slapping on a blindfold and fumbling about, or plugging your ears and straining to hear, reach out to someone with a disability and ask, "what's it like for you?"

Tracy,
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

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We all need some exercise, no matter our abilities,
Tracy

After the shutdown of Purple Communications IP-Relay Service, I've been waiting patiently for Sprint Relay to contact me with a new registration number and ability to make relay calls.

Sprint Relay requires a Driver's Licence or State Photo I.D. & a copy of the utility bill where you live. I sent those but only showed company name and our address (no account number, amount owing and such). Today I get an email saying to contact Customer Service to finish the registration. They asked a series of questions such as High School, College attended, mother's maiden name, etc. With each question, the knot in my stomach grew tighter as they get more personal. They requested a better copy of the Utility Bill with more information on it. I lied and said I'll do that later.

As soon as I finished with Customer Service I went to the FCC.gov site and tried to search for information on why the FCC (allegedly) needs all this information just for me to make a damn phone call? With no answers in the search, I went ahead and filed a complaint form:

"I would like to know why the FCC (according to Sprint Relay) is requiring new registers to provide a Drivers Licence or Photo ID and a copy of a Utility Bill as proof of person? Then a series of questions based on their "search" which feels like a violation of privacy. There must be a better way to be able to make an IP relay call without having to expose everything about myself! Please provide your reasons for requesting these information if they are in fact valid? IF not, please look into Sprint Relay and their inquest into our lives!"

Here's an excerpt their reply:

"Among other things, the interim rules required each IP CTS provider, in order to be eligible for compensation from the Fund for providing service to new IP CTS users, (i) to register each new IP CTS user by obtaining the consumer’s name, address, and telephone number; (ii) to obtain from each consumer a self-certification regarding the consumer’s understanding of and need to use IP CTS" 

Here's their reason for the implementation of these rules:

"the Commission initiated a rulemaking proceeding to address the misuse of IP Relay 
and VRS.1 The Commission noted that it was concerned that people without a hearing or speech disability were taking 
advantage of the anonymity of the IP Relay service by calling merchants to place orders using 
fake, stolen, or otherwise invalid credit cards. Such abuse drains the Interstate TRS Fund and 
harms legitimate consumers whose calls are rejected by individuals and businesses that have 
been the victims of such misuse."

Well there you have it! Stupid idiots abusing the system! It's hard enough to convince people that it's a relay call from a Deaf consumer, you have these idiots faking it for criminal use!

As much as I hate sharing private information, I need to rely on Relay Services for every day family management.

Tracy,
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

After filing my complaint with the FCC I received this e-mail today:

"Thank you for contacting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding IP Relay service.  On October 15, 2014, Purple Communications, Inc. notified the FCC that it will cease providing IP Relay service as of 5 p.m. EST on November 14, 2014.  Last week, we assured you that the FCC was working around the clock to ensure that consumers continue to have full access to IP Relay service.  We can now report that IP Relay service will continue beyond November 14, 2014, and that Sprint is now processing IP Relay registrations from former Purple customers.  We ask for your patience as this transition occurs, while Sprint makes every effort to verify and register legitimate IP Relay users coming over to its service.   
 In addition, we wish to dispel incorrect rumors that the FCC requires TRS providers to disclose the content of what is said during TRS calls.  The FCC has never made any such requests and never will for IP Relay calls or any other TRS call.  The FCC has strict rules guaranteeing both the confidentiality of all calls and the privacy of caller information, and we will continue to enforce those rules as they apply to IP Relay or any other form of TRS.

Finally, the FCC recognizes that IP Relay service is a particularly essential form of communication for consumers who are deaf-blind.  We are actively working with consumer organizations and Sprint to ensure that people who are deaf-blind continue to have accessible ways to use this service.

We thank you for bringing to our attention your concerns about IP Relay service.  We are committed to ensuring that all Americans with disabilities have functionally equivalent telephone service, and are taking actions to fulfill this commitment. 


Sincerely,
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Disability Rights Office"

So, services are going to continue through Sprint Relay only, sounds like wait times for an operator will go through the roof with limited operators for the whole country eh?

I'm still waiting for confirmation from Sprint Relay for a new account.

We'll wait and see, but I have little faith that anything will improve.

Tracy,
"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon