CODA Brothers DVD!

Hello all, I just wanted to let you know that the CODA Brothers DVD has finally launched and is running at a reduced intro price of $29.95 until July 31st. There is 2 videos that are not available on YouTube, the set is expanded, and an interview about what is a CODA. Go HERE to buy.

Accessibility on the Internet

Hello all.  Today marks the last day that chairman Bill Gates sits in the hot seat at Microsoft.  Lots of journalists, enthusiasts, and writers have done extensive montages dedicated to BillyG, so I won't bore you with it all.

So today being the day, I figured http://www.microsoft.com would get in on the action as well.  They have, and right up on the first screen is an ad for a video montage about his early years and such.  Great! I thought.  Microsoft has always been great about having their online videos captioned if you have that option enabled in your computer settings.  So I clicked it and no captioning.

Hmmm.

Okay, maybe it's because I'm in Firefox, I mean FF3 DID just come out.  I'll try IE7. 

Still no captions.

ARGH!

Okay check the settings, setting are fine. 

I'm told on Microsoft's ENABLE page that "Our vision is to create innovative technology that is accessible to everyone and that adapts to each person's needs. Accessible technology eliminates barriers for people with disabilities and it enables individuals to take full advantage of their capabilities."  Well it sure doesn't look like the reigns will be handed down if THIS is considered accessible.  I demand that Microsoft transcribe all of the montage videos or caption them.  I'll say now that I am a beta tester for them and this does not make me happy one bit.  I've tested accessibility in products, but it seems some have been forgotten.  WE however will not be forgotten about.

My Lousy Signing Skills

In reference to a comment on this blog (note that it is a comment left on the blog and not the actually blog post.) If you need a transcript, let me know, but I think you can gather what I'm trying to say.

Where I Am

I've sat here for about a week wondering what to think and do over all of the mess with DeafRead, people getting ousted, leaving, attacking each other, etc. It's all very much to take and to be honest, in the end, it doesn't matter. At least, I thought it didn't.

Then DeafVillage came into the picture and then things really got confusing for me. I guess maybe it's because I still don't really know where I fit into the community (do I even FIT?).

We aren't supposed to look at this as a medical condition, but as I see daily in my life, it is. Growing up culturally Deaf, some of you don't have my experience. I understand that. So what am I supposed to do when the two worlds that are suppose to co-exist together suddenly clash; lash out at each other; then try to pry apart from one another with wounds and go separate ways?

I sign, I speak, I can hear some, I use hearing aids (soon), but this is all driving me crazy. Why can't we all get along, seriously?! Please don't make me choose between you all.

Fed Up With Sorenson!

Learning New Signs

Tips on Meeting Deaf-Blind

Hello again! I'm sorry, I know it has been a long time since i have written in my blog, but life happens sometimes!

Last night I went the the Deaf Advisory Committee for the Illini Deaf and learned so much on the Deaf-Blind community. I wanted to let you all know what I learned so that maybe we can all pass this information on to the people who have yet to know.

1. Treat the deaf-blind person as you treat anyone else. Always be natural - never patronizing in your questions and your actions.
2. Address a deaf-blind person directly, not through someone else. Speak by forming the letters of the manual alphabet distinctly while he or she holds one hand lightly over yours to feel the position of your fingers. be careful to move your fingers directly from the position of one letter to the next and pause slightly between words. If deaf-blind persons are unfamiliar with the manual alphabet, you can print capital letters in their palm. be sure to pause between words.
3. Use the words "see," and "hear," or "blind" naturally, without hesitation if your conversation calls for them.
4. Let the deaf-blind person know when you enter or leave the room. Always say who you are.
5. Offer your arm when walking with a deaf-blind person. Do not push him or her ahead of you; let them hold your arm, just below the elbow.
6. You do not have to physically support a deaf-blind person who is entering a car or train or going upstairs. just place their hand on the door-knob or stair rail for guidance. You need not help deaf-blind persons to sit down; just help the put one of their hands on the back of a chair so they can judge its position.
7. Describe things that are happening - or are about to happen - around you when you are with a deaf-blind person.
8. Show deaf-blind persons that you are confident they can do useful things. This is an important form of encouragement.
9. Remember that your behavior toward deaf-blind persons will not only affect your attitude, but may be important in reinforcing the attitudes of their family and friends.

Bad Relay Service

Today I woke up needing a haircut. Yes, needing. I was still in my sleep clothes, so I decided to just text the call to my favorite salon. Normally, I walk in and they see me on the spot, but I wanted to have other work done as well, so I thought I had better make the block of time for them. I called and the front desk and I exchanged the services I needed. She asked me my name and I gave her my first name. I then expected her to ask for my last name, but there was nothing. For about 2 minutes, there was no notification of anything. Nothing from the relay, nothing happening. Then I got a message that the hearing caller hung up. Wait, what?!

So what happened? I don't have a clue. Did the salon not understand the relay? Did the relay not explain clearly what the user needs to do? I suspect maybe that those stupid pranksters who use relay to prank businesses had something to do with this, and maybe the front desk person thought this wasn't a real call. Why else would she just hang up?

More importantly, why wasn't I notified of anything happening for 2 minutes? Some relays I'm beginning to find are very good while others are very bad, and even the same company can have one bad service and the other is the best service I've had. How strange!

The Long Goodbye

Hello! How are you all doing? I know it’s been a long time since I’ve vlogged. I’ve got something to explain to you. Tonight my husband came back from Chicago on the train. He asked me “Why is the house so dirty?! Didn’t you clean?!!” Well, you know the Yahoo Live! Chat? I’ve been in there for about 3 or 4 days now. I didn’t do anything else. I didn’t clean the house. That sure was a mistake on my part! I shouldn’t have neglected my chores. Anyway, I tried to explain to my husband that deaf culture…wait, let me start again. In hearing culture, when you’re on the phone, you say good bye, the other person says good bye, and the conversation is over. From what I learned of deaf culture is “the long goodbye”. It means you say good bye, but 2 hours, 3 hours later, you’re still chatting away. Finally, later, you say good bye and part ways. So I was trying to explain that to my husband. He wasn’t buying it. I know a lot of people here on Yahoo Live! Chat want the communication. In the hearing world, it's all spoken word. The deaf world, here we chat and communicate and carry on like there’s no tomorrow. I think maybe that’s why some of us stay so long in the chat. I really tried to explain it to my husband but he didn’t get it. You know, he’s in a hearing frame of mind. Soon, I might whittle down my chat usage so I’m not addicted to it. I really need to clean the house. Man, it is SO dirty. For 4 days, I didn’t do ANYTHING! Yuck! Hopefully you all don’t neglect your chores, partners or your family. Oh, and most importantly, don’t neglect your pets! Your cats, dogs, what have you. I love you all, bye!

The Day DeafRead Went Dead

It all started with a harmless link. The editors sent a link to the Main Page informing everyone about a new video chat service by Yahoo that we should try and since they were on there, we could try it then. So of course I clicked. What I didn't' know was that I was going to be there for the next 7 hours having the time of my life! So many people joined into the conversation it seemed all of DeafRead was there. As Amy said in her post though, do bring Tylenol or your favorite anti-headache medicine. It can get confusing to see who is talking to who. But we all were having so much fun in there, hardly anyone posted on DeafRead. I had the first installment of Ask A Muslim ready to cam, but I was too busy being in the chat to film it *smiles*. Have fun in there guys, but remember we should still b/vlog!

Free Webcam Service by i711.com

My 2 Cents On Captions/New Vlog Format

Deaf Crazy Bowling!

My bad day leading up to Deaf Crazy Bowling and Social. Needless to say, I had a blast!

A Few Questions

Just a few questions for the community because I really need to know!

Take away the Muslim...Just Deaf

So I think the time has come that I stop talking about islam this and Muslim that. Deaf Read readers apparently don't want to hear about my endevors on completely translating on my own the entire Quran? Fine. Deaf first. i get it. Let's stay equal, after all we are all deaf. Are we? i go back to my first post, you read it right? oh you didn't? Ah, see that's why.

Recently I read about a person being attacked by the words of another person, and basically the comment was that the post writer was not deaf because he could "hear" his cell phone ring (the blog was talking about notifications of flight delays and such). The poster wrote back to the person and said that the cell was on vibrate and he felt it, and answered it.

It's things like this that really disgust me about people's judgment. That, and feeling like I have to be deaf first and Muslim second. Right now, being in this town, there is little to no activity, yet my heart is strong.

When I first started learning to sign, my teacher said I had a gift, and I didn't' believe her. I only believed her when people praised my signing ability. At my great-uncle's death, the preacher had worked with the deaf and knew I had a good heart he told me. It left me wondering where to go.

I see that even though I put my heart and soul into just one blog post, people don't' get it, and i don't' understand why. Deaf have been oppressed for ages, yes, and I'm trying to do something about it. Deaf Muslims in particular have been kept from their religion just as some deaf have been kept from their culture and language. So I tried to help them by the translation.

I guess I expected too much. You guys aren't' Muslim, why should you care about a translation of a book you could care less about? *sighs* I don't' know where I stand in the blogging right now. I was just trying to be helpful.

-Dena

Captioned - Funny Things At Jummah

Captioned via Overstream, here is Baba Ali with his hit pilot of the Reminder Series "Funny Things At Jummah". Enjoy, Muslim and non-Muslim alike (over half his YouTube subscriptions are non-Muslim!)

Muslim Sign Language?

Funny things have happened these past few days. Last week, I was browsing all over the internet for Deaf and Muslim resources to find some more information on a sign for "muslim" or "islam". I came across a few KSL (Kuwaiti Sign Language) resources, but nothing I wanted or needed at the time.

Then I came across the website of the Global Deaf Muslim and I clicked on the video section AND THERE'S ONE OF MY VIDEOS! I couldn't believe it. *laughs* I'm honored, really, but did they really NEED to use the one where I messed up and signed "chocolate" instead of church? ;)

All of this got me to thinking; there is little resources available to deaf and hoh muslims who want to learn their religion. The GDM has lofty goals, but I decided to take matters into my own hands. The attempt at the first chapter of the Quran, Surah Al-Fatihah, is a translation completely of my own using the best English translation I own (my Arabic isn't so great). I released it to get feedback on if it was clear the messege. If not, i can re-work it of course. But I see the bible done in ASL, and it's beauty, and I want that for the Quran. i want to help bring the messege of the Quran to my other deaf and hoh brothers and sisters in Islam.

One point that the GDM raises is trying to create a "Muslim Sign Language" to use so that all of us can communicate upon first meeting, no matter what country. I'll leave you all to debate that one ;)

So I decided to write this post because in trying to come up with signs for the different concepts in Islam, I was stumped. And with no other language to turn to, I didn't know if i wanted to even finish Surah Al-Fatihah. Now, I bring you Turkish Sign Language with Muslim signs (Click on the right hand side where it says "Dini El Isaretleri") :) Enjoy, debate, but please, have it be productive, not hurtful. Thanks!

My First Deaf Event In Champaign-Urbana!

My first deaf event in Champaign-Urbana. I was so excitied while signing, so if I was unclear, sorry!

ASL - Surah Al-Fatihah

My attempt at translating the 1st chapter of the Quran into ASL. If it's not clear or you have any questions, please feel free to let me know, I'm open for suggestions.

Captioned - Introduction/The Deaf Label

Here is the captioned version of the Deaf Label from my blog for those who need it. Enjoy!