Tue 13 Feb 2007
yup…passed test! yippee..
hmm…that reminds me of the Newborn Hearing Screening (is that the correct name?) I understand that there are two “results”: pass or refer. If that is so, I would become confused. “Pass” means healthy, does it? I have a Deaf son and he has a Deaf son. They passed the tests in my opinion. They are like me and I am fine and healthy so they passed the first part of a Deaf identity test. But alas, the medical view’s roots are so deeply entrenched so they would probably say I am crazy. To them, “pass” means the baby is not Deaf, huh? Pass what? and if they claim the baby didn’t pass, they refer them to what? “newborn eyesight screening?” “newborn language acquisition screening?” No, they refer the baby to an audiologist and the baby goes through several more tests, filling up the medical folks’ pockets with dollars, lots of them.
I hope to explore this more later…I turn off my flashlight till the next time.
February 17th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging and vlogging! Hugs! I look forward to reading and watching what your flashlight takes a shine to.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
This reminds me of the hard-of-hearing workshop coordinator who announced a coffee break along with the request to return to the workshop in fifteen minutes. He said jokingly, “if you passed your hearing test, you may return to the meeting later than 15 minutes. Deaf time, ya know!” For him, passing a hearing test means “deaf” and flunking it “hearing”.
February 24th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Ella Mae!
I love what you had to share. How true!
I shared your link with a yahoogroup that I am part of for people who have a deaf dog. Most of them are hearing and have adopted a deaf dog. One was talking about BAER test (a hearing test for dogs).
I understand that you have a deaf dog yourself. I have referred someone hearing to contact you for your help with finding a home for deaf dogs if she ever hear of one in a pound on deathrow. Hope you can help when there’s a need. There’s not enough awareness in the Deaf community about the importance of saving deaf dogs.
I am not sure if you have email on here that I can get in touch with you. If you do, let me know!
May 21st, 2007 at 8:56 am
I am a former sign language student of yours Ella. Although I am no longer a part of that world I miss it very much. I have very fond memories of class times at Ohlone college in Fremont in 1989-1991, and your tireless patience with us “hearies” trying so hard to learn your language. I also remember many times seeing you sign poetry and fighting my hearing brain to stop translating and just enjoy the eye music. I say all of this to say that I am thrilled to find your weblog.
This particular entry was especially interesting to me because of my twins. They were born prematurely in 1997. They did not speak until they were five years old. They have had a multitude of hearing tests. I found myself wishing in those early days that they were deaf. I would have at least known how to communicate. That they would be able to grow up and have roll models, peers, a world that they fit into. I knew that if they were deaf we would have to fight the medical community over hearing aids, oralism and all the things the hearing world tries to do to deaf children to make them “normal”. How much easier would it be if we just saw deafness like we see hearing people who speak Spanish. Yes we try to teach them English so that they can deal with the majority culture. But the Latino culture is celebrated and enjoyed by both the latino population and the white culture. We all enjoy Cinco De Mayo celebrations. We provide competent interpreters for people who speak spanish. We recognise Spanish as a valid foreign language.
Oh well, enough of my rambles. I am glad to have found this blog. and I’m impressed with your entry into technology. Although not surprized, I have always believed that you could do just about anything you set your mind to.
Sincerly your former student,
Kimberly(mcDonnal)Quinn