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Approved-By:  Bill McGarry <wtm@SHELDEV.SHEL.ISC-BR.COM>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.l-hcap
Date:         Thu, 3 Sep 1992 08:40:44 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2923
X-To:         LHCAP <l-hcap@VM1.NODAK.EDU>

                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2923

                        Thursday, September 03, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                                Deaf Drivers
                            Purpose of this Echo
                                tdd directory
                                  Cultists
                                Re: New User
                          Re: PURPOSE OF THIS ECHO
                               Take Your Pick!
                          Re: PURPOSE OF THIS ECHO
                             Re: Take Your Pick!
                                want old box


                                ******


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



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Subject: Deaf Drivers
From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 KH> does your hearing problem affect your driving?

Most jurisdictions require deaf and severely HoH drivers to be
equipped with side mirrors.  And it's helpful to have a device
to alert you when your turn signal stays ON.  So I suppose you
could say that driving is affected.

But in driving, as in so many other things, deaf and HoH folks
can be just as good - or as bad - as anyone else.  We're not
accident prone.  Some people with impaired hearing are even
professional race drivers.  At least one has won the Indy 500!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Purpose of this Echo
From: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Hi Felix and may I welcome you to SilentTalk!

 FG>         I have just requested my sysop to obtain this Echo, because I
 FG>         wanted to see what it contains. I am HoH. I find it not a big
 FG>         hardship. Very peaceful, quiet world; car's engine sounds
 FG>         terrific (when I put my aid on, I want to trade it quick).
 FG>         When in company, I wear a hearing aid. Them's the basics.

I think you'll find many posters who are HoH on this conference.  There
are folks from all walks of life here whether they be deaf, Deaf or
HoH.  We all share information and pretty much discuss just about
anything.

 FG>         I don't see anything on this echo I can identify with. I don't
 FG>         want to learn how to sign. I hoped that I would find some
 FG>         discussion about why hearing-impaired and deaf people do not
 FG>         have a better lobby with politicians and manufacturers. Since
 FG>         we are all conversing via computer, we must be
 FG>         computer-literate. As such we must suspect that the leading
 FG>         edge of technology is capable of MORE  than it has produced in
 FG>         gadgets for the hearing-impaired. Hearing aids should be
 FG>         capable of being customized so that they compensate for the
 FG>         frequencies YOU need to have amplified, not what the labratory
 FG>         flunky thought "you need".

Many of us do NOT sign and many of us do NOT wish to as we do pretty
well with speechreading and oral communication.  That's not what this
echo is all about anyway - we ALL share a common bond - hearing impairment.
This medium is a wonderful "other" mode of communication for us, in fact,
it is fast becoming a preferable mode for many of us.  I personally
prefer to use my PC to communicate with everyone instead of the
slow TT units, however, anything that works is all that matters.

Have you thought about perhaps it is OUR place to educate others
about hearing impairment?  Instead of cutting the medical profession
down, why not take a little time and talk to some of them about
yourself?  Of course, no two people are alike but I've found that
many physicians are actually interested and usually take the time
to listen to one when they tell them about their hearing loss.
As you are aware, deafness/hearing loss (whatever degree the loss)
is known as the "invisible" disability" and there is still a lot
that is unknown to the general consensus and due to this lack,
the medical profession is often under the impression that a lot
of assistive devices work for everyone.  This is not the case!
I've never been able to wear a hearing aid as there simply isn't
one for my type of hearing loss.  Some physicians are under the
impression if they help you hear some sounds that's good but that's
not the case since there needs to be some sort of balance in the
low/high frequencies.  Since I don't hear anything in the voice
range and can't distinguish between the sounds, what good would
a hearing aid do for me?

I think if you would consider becoming involved with organizations
such as SHHH or AG Bell, you'll find that there are many others
just like you.  It really is interesting to be able to share
with others as well as compare what works and what doesn't.

Anyway, I've blabbed enough but hope you will join us frequently.
I believe you'll enjoy yourself.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!2120!Ann.Stalnaker
Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: tdd directory
From: Peter.Deafy.Haskins@f37.n342.z1.fidonet.org (Peter "Deafy" Haskins)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:342/37 - Deafy's First Post , Stony Plain Alta


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 > Peter,

 > Have you heard of the 1992 INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY FOR TEXT TELEPHONE
 > USERS, published by Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.?

 > It has numbers in every state, Canada and other countries for relay
 > services, businesses, educational services, financial services,
 > interpreting services, etc., etc., in addition to residential numbers
 > and addresses of deaf people.

 > It would seem to be a duplication of effort to compile one when one
 > already exists.  This directory is growing bigger each year.

 > You can obtain it from Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.
 >                        8719 Colesville Road, Suite 300
 >                        Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

 >                        301-589-3006 (tdd)
 >                        301-589-3786 (voice)
 >                        301-589-3797 (fax)
 >                        301-589-0382 (T/V)

 > for $20.00.

 > They publish a newsletter that comes out quarterly and is called GA-
 > SK.  Membership for the newsletters, directory and your own listing
 > in the directory is an annual fee of $15.00.

Yes I do indeed but there are many missing nbrs and I am trying to get all nbrs
 including all other places as I feel a TDD directory for Deaf travellers is a
 must ... The TDI phone directory is too big to carry ...

:-)

Regards,
Peter "Deafy" Haskins
Deafy's First Post Office

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!342!37!Peter."Deafy".Haskins
Internet: Peter."Deafy".Haskins@f37.n342.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Cultists
From: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 JO> Quite true, including many like you who were born deaf.  Even
 JO> some whose first language was ASL.

I know, I found that out when I attended my first SHHH convention.
I had never seen such warm, kind, caring and down-to-earth
folks at any deaf/HoH convention as I did at Little Rock.  I
think this is why I felt so at home and comfortable with everyone.

 JO> I have deaf friends, even DEAF friends, who have better audiograms
 JO> than I have.  But I'm not deaf - I'm hearing impaired or hard of
 JO> hearing.  (Hmmm, maybe I'm still in denial :-)

Nah...

 JO> I believe everyone has the right to "label" themselves however
 JO> they wish.  The principal distinction that I see in SHHH members
 JO> is that, whatever their hearing loss, they choose to remain part
 JO> of the hearing world.  They're NOT cultists.

I agree - I think those who are cultists are the ones who make
things so difficult for the rest of us.  Hope you've received my
latest updates via Stu's BBS.  :-)  I just thought you might get
a kick out of them!

To further elaborate, I think the problem I have dealing with the
attitudes of the cultists is the fact they won't accept being
individuals first instead of deaf persons first.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!2120!Ann.Stalnaker
Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: New User
From: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Hi, Mary!

MT> Well Ann - good to hear from you - but how about if I say I have
MT> a son 37 - one 27 - and one 25 and two grandchilren - one 14 and
MT> one 11 - so I think I may just be a bit older (G)

Gosh, I guess you must be!  (grin)  Aw - we ain't old, Mary, just a
bit well seasoned!  (smirk)

MT> Like you Ann - I myself have been too much a part of the hearing
MT> world - but like yu  - I have adjusted - and even at work among
MT> the deaf people they teach me some of the signs and if we don't
MT> understand - out comes the pencil and paper and it is amazes that
MT> even if I don't do all the signs -we somehow get around to understanding
MT> what each of us is trying to say - So we are all in the same boat
MT> - and everyone is happy -

I've always been a part of the hearing world - I've never known anything
else, so never felt I had an adjustment to make.  My parents didn't
want the three of us to miss out on anything, so we were raised in the
hearing world, mainstreamed in public schools before there was such
a thing as mainstreaming and all attended college.  I've always been
employed but have never worked with any hearing impaired people,
perhaps it was due to the type of businesses I worked for.

While I've been involved with deaf/HoH organizations (both as a member
and board member), I have had a few eye-openers from those who were
in Deaf Education classes in public schools as well as from those
who attended deaf schools.  I guess you could say I was rather
shocked and appalled at what I saw and how so many missed out on
what the average person learns at home/school.  I guess you know
by now that I'm a bit opinionated.  (grin)

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!2120!Ann.Stalnaker
Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: PURPOSE OF THIS ECHO
From: Felix.Game@f125.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Felix Game)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/125 - FedNet Public Acces, Ottawa ON


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 On 08-20-92 VIXEN wrote...

 Hello Vixen,

        Thanks for the very kind reception. Your manner of writing is
        not at all vixenish <g>.

 V > However, I might suggest that you could "lighten up" a bit on the those
 V > topics or "things that "you" have'nt seen discussed" in this echo. Keep
 V > mind that some of us here have been around since the beginning days of
 V > conference and have seen the matters that you are personally interested
 V > and many other topics, discussed here in repetitive cycles.

        OK, I'll lighten up if you can assure me that I am not up
        against "dulled by tenure" participants.

 V > Although I am no authority or even greatly knowledgeable about audiolog
 V > and hearing aids, it appears to me, like all hearing aids are custom
 V > designed to meet the individuals need (At least these days.). So, I tho
 V > nothing special about my BTEs being precisely set to meet my personal n
 V > Unless a person has an ear doctor who prescribes hearing aids with an o
 V > and on and loud, louder and loudest switch only, that in general, all
 V > hearing aids were custom tuned to the individuals needs?

        Apparently not. As far as I can make out, each hearing aid can
        be put on a machine which will print out "its graph". I can be
        put through a series of tests ("say the word 'these'...") and
        have sounds pumped into me, and finish up with "my graph". The
        two will not be compensatory every step of the way (aid giving
        maximum boost where my hearing is worst). The best the
        manufacturers seems to be able to do is produce aids which
        will amplify a _range_ that I need amplification in. In other
        words, if I have difficulty hearing low frequencies, the
        prescribed aid will do maximum amplification in the low
        frequency range. It will also amplify other ranges that I may
        be able to hear quite well without an aid. I do not call that
        custom tuned in this age of almost omnipotent technology. I
        was going out of my mind trying to function in a boardroom
        environment where people were addressing me with mumbled
        questions from ten feet away and all I could hear was the air
        conditioner. It also happens every time I am in a restaurant; my
        aid picks up everything except the person across the table. I
        don't even want to mention all the things I hear in an airport
        instead of the announce ments that really affect me. (One day
        I found myself all alone in a departure area, and became
        suspicious enough to inquire. Oh, they had changed the gate
        number, didn't you hear the announcement? No, all I had heard
        was the lovely string quartet playing Mozart 20 feet from me.)
        I really, truly believe that technology today is able to do
        better. Perhaps we have to wait till the next generation, the
        one that is deliberately ruining their hearing with force-fed
        ghetto-blasters etc, become "the market" before it will "pay"
        for the labs to get to work on this problem.

 V > concern Menierres type symptoms related to allergy and chronic fluid in
 V > ears. I note that "sometimes" when my ears feel a little more "fluid fr
 V > (for lack of a better expression), I will ocassionally also experience
 V > "sound gateway." Although, nothing to the degree that you talk about
 V > experiencing. But enough so that it will suddenly seem like my hearing
 V > are working just a little bit better. So, I wondered if you had any his

        I have read about Meunier's; if I remember correctly, it gives
        you dizzy spells. I had a few - very far apart - and my doctor
        diagnosed the dizziness as "labyrintides", considering it in
        the same category as a cold virus - which settled in the fluid
        of the labyrinth. No, I never had any allergies. And those
        bouts did not produce any decibel gains.

        I am glad you understand my frustration when no one wanted to
        get involved with my "sound gateway" as you call it. What
        really bothered me, is that my grandson had tubes stuck into
        his Eustachian tubes to keep them open so he could hear
        better. The result was (as I would have expected) that he then
        was almost going crazy from the additional, unaccustomed "noise" he
        could hear all of a sudden. Yes you are right wondering "what
        sort of doctors I had"; I wondered plenty, but I started with
        "the best" in town.

        So, dear Vixen, do you really think I should lighten up? And
        do you think someone could answer my question about the
        purpose of this echo?

<felix>

... OFFLINE 1.32
 * SLQWiK 1.02.d #UNREGISTERED

... via DeltaMail v2.30 (#1328)
--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!125!Felix.Game
Internet: Felix.Game@f125.n163.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Take Your Pick!
From: Rick.Catania@f22.n230.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Catania)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:230/22 - The Special Needs B, Whiting IN


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

                 TTY, TDD, TTP or TT: Take Your Pick!

     The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) declared this past
year that the telephone used by the deaf shall be officially referred
to as a "TT" (text telephone). This has not met with great approval so
far, with one of the biggest criticisms being that when it is signed
in ASL, it could be mistaken for "toilet." ("Do you have a TT?" or "Do
you know how to use a TT?" can get some strange looks if
misunderstood.)
     The GA-SK magazine has done a large story on the controversy
surrounding the use of TDD, TTY or TT. Many individuals in the deaf
community have voiced their opinions as to what should be used to
describe this form of communication.
     TDI (Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.) is asking members of
the deaf community to choose from the following four abbreviations and
send in their choice:
               -  TTY  (Teletypewriter)
               -  TDD  (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf)
               -  TTP  (Text Telephone)
               -  TT   (Text Telephone)

               Send in your choice to:
                         Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. (TDI)
                         8719 Colesville Road
                         Silver Springs, MD  20910.

* Info from the Lake County Indiana Public Library Newsletter for the
Hearing Impaired.

 * SLMR 2.1 #T375 * SIGN TO ME, WILL YA?!?!?

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!230!22!Rick.Catania
Internet: Rick.Catania@f22.n230.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: PURPOSE OF THIS ECHO
From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 FG>    I was going out of my mind trying to function in a
 FG>    boardroom environment where people were addressing me
 FG>    with mumbled questions from ten feet away and all I
 FG>    could hear was the air conditioner. It also happens every
 FG>    time I am in a restaurant; my aid picks up everything
 FG>    except the person across the table.

Conference rooms and restaurants are two of the most difficult
settings for hearing aids, Felix.  Aids alone are generally not
capable of extracting the sounds you want to hear from all the
background noise pollution.

Have you tried ALDs (Assistive Listening Devices)?  There are at
least four technologies available to get the sound-of-interest
from the source to your ear (or hearing aid) with relative
immunity from extraneous noise pollution.

 FG>    I really, truly believe that technology today is able
 FG>    to do better.

I certainly agree with you there.  The technology exists NOW.
Hearing aids are the only remaining fragment of the audio
amplification industry that stubbornly clings to obsolete
analog systems.  Everything else has long since gone DIGITAL.

The one serious attempt to market a true DSP hearing aid
(Nicolet's "Phoenix") was defeated IMHO by the audiologists
and hearing aid dealers who were unwilling to invest a few
of THEIR $$ in the equipment necessary to fit it.

 FG>    Perhaps we have to wait till the next generation, one
 FG>    that is deliberately ruining their hearing with
 FG>    ghetto-blasters etc, become "the market"

Why should the hearing aid industry change, even then?
They've got a good racket going.  Taking about $20 worth of
electronic components - packaging them compactly - and selling
them for more than the price of pure gold!  Quite a racket,
as long as us "suckers" don't wise up ;-)

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: Take Your Pick!
From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

We were having some discussions here in ST about the limited
vocabulary of ASL, and I was lurking with interest.

 RC>  The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) declared this
 RC>  past year that the telephone used by the deaf shall be
 RC>  officially referred to as a "TT" (text telephone). This has
 RC>  not met with great approval so far, with one of the biggest
 RC>  criticisms being that when it is signed in ASL, it could be
 RC>  mistaken for "toilet."

Rick, are you telling us that ASL users could mistake a telephone
for a toilet?  Really?  Hmmmm, Could this explain the distinctive
fragrance I've detected occasionally in the vicinity of telephone
booths? ;-)

Seriously, if it is actually a problem, why not just modify the
sign for TT.  Use a "T" handshape as a prefix to the sign for
"telephone".  I believe most would understand this, and it
can be done without FCC sanction.

We have FAR MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES to resolve with the FCC.
This one impresses me as a "red herring" distraction.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: want old box
From: Julia.Rucker@f8.n291.z1.fidonet.org (Julia Rucker)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:291/8 - Wichita BBS 2, Wichita Ks


[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

I don't know where  you are at, but if you have access to a Sam's
Wholesale Club, you can buy the newest little one for $98. This is
the one you have to have some other form of tuner, whether in a
VCR, Cable box, Satellite box, as it does nto have a tuner of it's
own, and it is very small and portable. The older models are very
large and the oldest one is also kinda heavy.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!291!8!Julia.Rucker
Internet: Julia.Rucker@f8.n291.z1.fidonet.org




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                                ******

                  End of Issue # 2923 of the Handicap Digest

                                ******
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU