Deaf News Today

Getting to Know: The Father of the Internet
Deaf News Today Vinton Cerf It was on this date (June 23) 1943 that Vinton Cerf was born in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1997, President Clinton presented the U.S. National Medal of Technology to Cerf and his colleague, Robert Kahn, for founding and developing the Internet. In 2004, the pair were given the ACM Alan M. Turing award, which is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize of Compute...
Sun, Jun 23 2019

Deaf Republic
Deaf News Today Hard-of-hearing poet Ilya Kaminsky has written a new book called Deaf Republic. Kaminsky was born in the former Soviet Union and his new book, which is really a collection of poems, imagines deafness as a collective form of resistance against a military regime.  Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jun 21 2019

Baseball ASL Culture Night in Oregon
Deaf News Today A minor league baseball team in Oregon is holding the team's first-ever ASL Culture Night this evening. The Medford Rogues home game "will feature ASL translation for all of the PA announcements, as well as fun facts about deaf culture. Half of the proceeds raised through the game’s ticket raffle will be donated to Crater High School’s Deaf Academic Bowl team." He...
Wed, Jun 19 2019

On this Day: First Deaf Computer PhD
Deaf News Today image from Gallaudet.edu It was on this date, June 15, 2008, that Karen Alkoby became the first deaf woman in the U.S. to earn a PhD in computer science. She graduated from DePaul University in Chicago, helping to pioneer a computer-animated dictionary. Alkoby’s dissertation involved determining how the human brain interprets shapes like those made by hands in ASL....
Sat, Jun 15 2019

Deaf-owned Business Thriving
Deaf News Today A deaf-owned Austin-based virtual mailbox service just scanned their millionth piece of mail this month after five years in business. KXAN-TV has a video report (or read the story here). Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jun 14 2019

Deaf woman concerned over note from Portland drive-thru
Deaf News Today A deaf Dunkin' Donuts customer in Maine says she was told not to use the drive-thru, even though she had done so many times. Read the story from WMTW-TV here. image from WMTW-TV video Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Jun 11 2019

Getting to know: Canada's first deaf Priest
Deaf News Today Canada's first deaf Roman Catholic priest was ordained in 2012. Raised a Baptist in Michigan, Matthew Hysell lost his hearing after a bout with meningitis as a toddler. He made the decision to become a priest as a teenager after reading about the priesthood in school. He graduated from City University in New York, then earned a master's in theology from a California p...
Fri, Jun 07 2019

a Video of Life in a 1950s Deaf School
Deaf News Today Here is video filmed in 1954 at the UK's Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Jun 05 2019

32 years ago: Implant history
Deaf News Today image from Cochlear.com  On June 4, 1987 Holly McDonell (now Holly Taylor) of Sydney became the first child to receive a commercial multi-channel cochlear implant system (Nucleus made by Cochlear, LTD). The four-year-old became profoundly deaf from bacterial meningitis. Holly still has her original implant and had several sounds processor upgrades. The Daily Telegra...
Tue, Jun 04 2019

Tips on How to Speak to Deaf People
Deaf News Today * Make sure you have eye contact with the person before speaking* If there is an interpreter, speak to and look at the deaf person not the interpreter* Face the person to whom you are speaking (that helps with lip-reading)* Stand in good lighting and avoid standing so that light is on the face of the deaf person* Avoid background noise whenever possible* Move your mou...
Mon, Jun 03 2019

More than 100 years ago
Deaf News Today Here is something from the June 1907 issue of Scientific American magazine, more than 100 years ago: The loss of the sense of hearing should not necessarily mean deprivation of the power of speech also. Is it only within recent years that we have come to realize this fact, and in up-to-date institutions the old –fashioned finger alphabet is now unknown. Every child ...
Sun, Jun 02 2019

On this day: the 1st Deaf NFL Player was Born
Deaf News Today Bonnie Sloan On this date (June 1) in 1948, Bonnie Sloan was born in Tennessee. At the age of 25, Bonnie would become the first deaf player in the NFL when he ran onto the field for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973.  His career only lasted one season, thanks to knee injuries, but he had made his mark. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder came ou...
Sat, Jun 01 2019

On this Date 50 Years ago
Deaf News Today Helen Keller died in Westport, Connecticut on June 1, 1968, 51years ago today. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Jun 01 2019

The Silent Natural
Deaf News Today A new film called The Silent Natural debuts tonight in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. It tells the story of William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy who played in the baseball major league from 1888 to 1902. Hoy slugged "41 home runs, 605 stolen bases and one game in which he threw out three baserunners at home plate from the outfield." Read more in the Columbus Monthly here or wat...
Fri, May 31 2019

In a Silent World
Deaf News Today A documentary called In a Silent World tells the story of hearing parents who learn about Deaf culture through their deaf daughter. The 90-minute film is available on Amazon Prime Video and there's more information at the film's website here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, May 31 2019

The connection between Monks & Sign Language
Deaf News Today National Geographic Australia explores the connection between the vow of silence taken by monks some 500 years ago helped in the development of sign language. National Geographic Australia has more here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, May 29 2019

Mocked & Harassed for Being Hard of Hearing
Deaf News Today Massachusetts is paying $95,000 to a former employee who says he was mocked and harassed and eventually fired for being hard-of-hearing. Ralph Claudomir worked for the Massachusetts Environmental Police in charge of managing the offices where people register their boats and recreational vehicles. According to MassLive, his request for accommodations was denied" and he...
Mon, May 27 2019

Poetry Slams for the Deaf in Israel
Deaf News Today Forward takes a look at a poetry slam in for the Deaf in Isreal. Read the full story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, May 26 2019

Netflix Show features Deaf Teen
Deaf News Today Netflix’s new apocalyptic teen drama called The Society features a deaf teenager played by Sean Berdy. Everyone in a small New England town disappears. Berdy's character offers a steady moral center. You may remember him from the family drama Switched At Birth.  He explains in an interview with TIME magazine why he left acting for a time after that show came to an...
Sun, May 26 2019

On this date in 1889
Deaf News Today The statue of Thomas Gallaudet that greets visitors to the university in the nation's capital that bears his name was unveiled on June 26, 1889. The work of sculptor Daniel Chester French, the bronze statue shows Gallaudet teaching a little girl, Alice Cogswell. She holds a book to her heart, with the alphabet running across the page. They are practicing the letter �...
Sun, May 26 2019

A new social network for signers
Deaf News Today AN Israeli-based company is launching a new social network for signers. Joseph Geliebter, founder of SignTalk Foundation, says: SignTalkers gives members of the signing community – both hearing and deaf – a space for thoughtful, thriving, and engaging conversation. Unlike other social media platforms, this exclusive space will serve to provide a home away from h...
Thu, May 23 2019

Starbucks opens Signing Store in China
Deaf News Today image from Starbucks.com Starbuck's third signing store is open—in China. in Guangzhou's Yuexiu district. Besides using sign language to communicate with customers, the store will offer sign language classes and coffee workshops in sign language. Starbucks has opened signing stores in Kuala Lumpur and Washington, DC (near Gallaudet University). At those stores, and...
Tue, May 21 2019

A Deaf Immigrant is Student of the Year
Deaf News Today Blanca Ceja-Salas is 2nd in the bottom row in the photoImage from mccd.edu Read more here: --- deaf immigrant is Student of the Year at California's Merced College. Blanca Ceja-Salas is graduating with a degree in photography and a 3.7 GPA. Board of Trustees President Carmen Ramirez is quoted in a press release as saying: To have Blanca be the Student of the Year is...
Sun, May 19 2019

Deaf Access to Legislative Sessions Debated in Florida
Deaf News Today Florida's failure to provide captioning on videos of its legislative sessions has led to a legal battle that has made its way to an appeals court. The National Association of the Deaf and activist Eddie Sierra sued, claiming it's an ADA violation. Lawyers for the state claim captioning the sessions is just too expensive and the lawmakers would rather not have a video ...
Sun, May 19 2019

School for the Deaf Campus Sold
Deaf News Today The Sioux Falls Ministry Center is buying the South Dakota School for the Deaf campus for $6.9 million. The Center will get the building as well as the football and track field. Read more in the Argus Leader here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, May 18 2019

FCC Debates Live Captioning for News
Deaf News Today The FCC recently held a forum on best practices for TV news closed captioning. TV Technology reports that forum included not only the FCC but broadcasters and the Deaf community. Read more about it here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, May 16 2019

Seattle bar owner upset over new captioning law
Deaf News Today image from Google Maps The owner of the Marco Polo Bar and Grill in Seattle says that while he'll turn on the captioning on the TVs in the bar if someone asks, he doesn't like the city council requiring him to do so. Matt Miera told KIRO radio, that "the closed captioning ordinance, like so many of the city’s recent regulations, is just 'another way to reach into m...
Wed, May 15 2019

Deaf Man Shot & Dismembered
Deaf News Today A Kansas City man has been arrested for allegedly shooting and dismembering the body of a deaf man. Police say Colton Stock also set the remains of Matthew Calkins on fire. Calkins graduated from the Kansas School for the Deaf in 2002. FOX-4 Kansas City has a video report (or read the story here) Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, May 15 2019

Deaf actress dies on this date
Deaf News Today from CBS Photo Archive One of the first deaf actresses to have a major role on a TV series died on this day one year ago (May 13, 2015) in Fremont, California. Audree Norton was 88 years old.A founding member of The National Theatre of the Deaf, Norton appeared on the CBS show Mannix in 1968 and later on The Streets of San Francisco and Family Affair. When she was cu...
Mon, May 13 2019

Stephen Colbert's Ear
Deaf News Today image by NEIL GRABOWSKY Comedian Stephen Colbert was born on this day (May 13) in 1964. What many people do not know about the comedian is that he is deaf in one ear. When he was young a surgery left him without an ear drum in his right ear. He explains, "I always wanted to be a marine biologist but then I had this ear problem. I have no ear drum. So I had this oper...
Mon, May 13 2019

Google announces new captioning app
Deaf News Today There's a new captioning app that will soon be available for Andriod phones that's getting some good reviews. Live Caption works for audio and video. Here's a video that show it in action. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, May 10 2019

Baseball team to honor Deaf Fans
Deaf News Today A minor league baseball team is hosting a Deaf Awareness Night next month. This will be the third time the Pawtucket Red Sox have honored deaf fans of the Rhode Island team. The team will wear jerseys with their name spelled out on June 7. Gallaudet baseball coach, and former major leaguer, Curtis Pride, will take part in the festivities. WPRI-TV has a video report b...
Thu, May 09 2019

Partnership between NTID & Chinese University
Deaf News Today Rochester's NTID (National Technical Institute for the Deaf) is partnering with a Chinese university to establish "a cultural and educational partnership between the two institutions." Changchun University is exploring a joint degree program in graphic design and 3D graphic technology. NTID president Gerry Buckley says, “These partnerships are instrumental in givin...
Wed, May 08 2019

Deaf umpire in Jersey
Deaf News Today Jonathan Breuer is a softball and baseball umpire in North Jersey who says, “I want to show the world what deaf people can do." NorthJersey.com has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, May 07 2019

On this date in history: Frederick Barnard dies
Deaf News Today Frederick Barnard It was on this date in 1889 that Frederick Barnard died at the age of 80 (May 5). His full name was Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard. The deaf American educator was quite the renaissance man. Besides teaching college students, he was a scientist, writer and mathematician. Barnard served as president of the University of Mississippi, then took the s...
Sun, May 05 2019

Getting to know the Gally Baseball Coach
Deaf News Today image of Curtis Pride from MLB.com Former major league outfielder Curtis Pride has been the head coach of Gallaudet University's baseball team for 11 years. He tells the Washington Times, "“The biggest challenge is recruiting. I probably have the most difficult job of college coaches for recruiting. I recruit deaf or hard-of-hearing players. There are not that many...
Thu, May 02 2019

NBC Show Episode on Implants
Deaf News Today image from NBC video In a recent episode of the NBC show New Amsterdam (titled Happy Place) a deaf patient with a cochlear implant wants it removed. The patient is overwhelmed by sounds and upset over the drift it has caused in her closest relationship. Watch it here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, May 02 2019

A First for a Deaf Person in Maine
Deaf News Today Regan Thibodeau will soon become the first deaf person from Main to earn her PhD in the state. She will graduate from the University of Southern Maine with a PhD in Public Policy. Thibodeau already holds a Masters from Columbia and teaches classes at USM in ASL, Deaf culture and interpreting. WCSH-TV has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, May 01 2019

From Deafness at Birth to the Ivy League
Deaf News Today A new book coming out this month tells the story of a deaf boy whose skill at basketball led him to an Ivy League school. The book was written by the father of Christopher Caulfield. Titled Ephphatha (which means "to be opened"), the subtitle sums it up: "Growing up Profoundly Deaf and Not Dumb in the Hearing World: A Basketball Player's Transformational Journey to t...
Tue, Apr 30 2019

Closed captioning Becomes Seattle City Law
Deaf News Today Closed captioning will be the law in Seattle for TVs in bars, restaurants and other places starting tomorrow (May 1). The City Council voted unanimously for the new city ordinance earlier this month and the mayor signed it into law last week. Councilmember Lisa Herbold sponsored the law and says in a press release: It’s important to shift the onus from having to r...
Tue, Apr 30 2019

Minor League Baseball Team Holds Deaf Culture Day
Deaf News Today The Rochester Red Wings' Deaf Culture Day got some attention on ESPN's SportsCenter over the weekend. It was featured as the Minor League Baseball Promotion of the Week. Rochester wore uniforms spelling out "Red Wings" on their jerseys. To purchase a ASL Red Wing cap or jersey, click here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Apr 29 2019

A visit to the Rochester School for the Deaf
Deaf News Today A deaf man was injured by a hit and run driver in North Carolina. Police have arrested a suspect. FOX-8 in High Point has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Apr 28 2019

Brain implant surgery in the UK
Deaf News Today A four-year-old boy in the UK had brain implant surgery recently. The BBC has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Apr 28 2019

Deaf School Teacher Under Investigation
Deaf News Today The Illinois State Police are investigating a teacher working at the Illinois School for the Deaf. Police say there are accusations that Charles Hicks, Jr. had sexual contact with students. The State Journal-Register has more details here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Apr 28 2019

Mayor Pete Gets Sign Name
Deaf News Today Pete Buttigieg, who is running for president as a Democratic, was given a sign name. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Apr 26 2019

Cop Saves Elderly Deaf Man
Deaf News Today A quick-thinking subway cop saved a 70-year-old deaf man from an oncoming train. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, Apr 25 2019

Girl Gets Apology from Hearing Aid Thief
Deaf News Today Alicia Lyding had her hearing device stolen from her San Francisco-area elementary school. Now the man who stole it has written a letter of apology. KGO-TV has a video report or read the story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Apr 22 2019

The 1904 Deaf Film Festival
Deaf News Today The 1904 Deaf Film Festival will take place in St. Louis this Thursday through Saturday (April 25-27). There is more information here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Apr 22 2019

On this date in History: A Deaf Astronomer Dies
Deaf News Today On this date (April 20) in 1786, John Goodricke died. Goodricke only survived to the age of 21, but the deaf astronomer made a major impact on his field. Working with Edward Pigott, Goodricke learned to measure the variation of light coming from stars. This would eventually lead astronomers to figure out the distance of galaxies from the earth. While still a teenager,...
Sat, Apr 20 2019

Gally Grads Building a Tiny House Resort
Deaf News Today Three Gallaudet University graduates are starting a vacation rental business, offering tiny houses deep in the West Virginia woods. Lost River Vacations will hold a launch party at a deaf-owned brewery at the end of April. Read details in a Washingtonian here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Apr 19 2019