On Emotions and the Classroom—A Forbidden Combination?
After vehemently protesting a classmate’s opining on how Latin@s*–“illegal” ones, to be exact—have more language rights than Deaf U.S. citizens do, based on the availability of the “press 2 for español” telephone option. The professor emailed me later in the day, urging me to remove emotions from classroom discussions. When I name [...]
Local Media Covers Indiana’s HB1367 Controversy
Because Indiana’s HB1367 controversy is being closely followed by many in the Deaf Community, DeafEcho.com would like to provide this link to a local news story on the topic. Further updates on DeafEcho.com will follow as the story develops.
FCC “Lock-In” Plan: Hurting Deaf Consumers
Let me get this out in the open: I am not much of a “phone person.” I never really developed the habit, as I could not really use the phone well, beyond a small circle of familiar persons. When I was thirteen, I was introduced to the TTY, and this was a minor miracle, as [...]
HB 1207 – A New Concern on the Horizon for the Indiana School for the Deaf?
You read that correctly. This article does not concern HB 1367, the bill that is causing so much controversy and uproar in the deaf community of Indiana (and the wider national deaf community). Deaf Echo has recently come across information on a new bill that may have serious ramifications for the Indiana School for [...]
Indiana School for the Deaf vs. Hear Indiana
Maybe you have been hearing stories coming out of Indiana and wondered what the fuss was all about. To understand the situation in Indiana, you need to know the back story. I will give you a hint upfront: oralists are up to no good. The back story begins with Indiana School for the Deaf [...]
Science of the Orgasm
[During orgasm, parts of the brain show heightened activity as other regions… (Janniko R. Georgiadis / University Medical Center Groningen).] To unlock the secrets of the climax researchers are looking behind the scenes and into the nervous system, where the true magic happens. AS they seek to document and demystify one of life’s great [...]
My Two Cents: Cochlear Implants
I used to feel sorry for children who had cochlear implants. I did. When I saw them it broke my heart because I really believed that their parents just didn’t understand deafness. I judged those parents. I assumed that the parents were looking for a quick fix to something that in my opinion didn’t [...]
AG Bell is in the past
Many in the signing community feel strongly that the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) philosophy of focusing on auditory and oral approaches when teaching deaf and hard of children is wrong. Â The auditory and oral approaches use the weakest point of a deaf or hard of hearing [...]
ASL Literature, Reborn on the iPad
In addition to being a first-grade teacher, I’m also the geekminister for 15 brand-new iPad 2s at P.S. 347 The ASL and English Lower School in Manhattan. This is the first in what I hope will be a regular series on how my students and I are using the iPad to learn, read, create, and [...]
An Open Letter to Deafblind People Out There
Life is created by you only. People, objects, events, and education come into your life and they leave with some kind of mark, but only you as a human being remain. So it’s important to live your life the way you want to. If you find purpose in your life, then you have found [...]