Deaf News Today

Are new laws designed to protect travelers...
Deaf News Today New legislation allows for the development of an “Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights.” While some advocacy groups applaud the deal, signed by the President last week, others look at it differently. MIC quotes the CEO of Hearing Access & Innovations as saying "feel-good bills are a waste of time. I want bills that really work.” Read more here. Re...
Sun, Oct 14 2018

The Weather Channel Neglects Captioning During Hurricane
Deaf News Today Oscar-winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin alerted the Weather Channel through a tweet that a video about Hurricane Michael was posted without captioning or a sign language interpreter. The storm was approaching the Gulf Coast of Florida at the time, making it critical to get emergency information to everyone—but the Weather Channel failed to respond. Read More at De...
Sat, Oct 13 2018

A study on brain tumors and cochlear implants
Deaf News Today Researchers in Sweden say they have found no evidence to support the idea that brain tumors are more likely in cochlear implant patients. That was a concern raised by a previous case but the scientists say in their study "The number of brain tumors observed was well within the numbers expected from national incidence figures." You can access the study here. Read Mor...
Fri, Oct 05 2018

Gally Student Speaks at TEDxYouth Event
Deaf News Today Here is a TEDx talk featuring Gallaudet University student Cheyenna Clearbrook. Born Deaf, she "addresses the divide between the hearing and Deaf worlds and discusses how sign language acquisition can impact both communities in a meaningful way." Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Oct 03 2018

Cops pepper spray deaf man
Deaf News Today Prosecutors in Passaic County, New Jersey are looking into a video showing police officers using pepper-spray against a Raaeseon Adams who is deaf. Read more and see the video at NewJersey.com here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Oct 02 2018

Funding for Deaf Businesses
Deaf News Today Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) launched "the first-ever social impact fund and incubator for Deaf-owned and operated businesses" last year. The second round opens to applicants the coming Thursday (Oct. 4). Whoever gets selected for the Social Venture Fund will "have access to significant resources, including capital investment, mentoring and leadership trai...
Fri, Sep 28 2018

18 years ago today: Murder at Gallaudet
Deaf News Today It was on this day (Sept 27)  in 2000 that Joseph Mesa, Jr. beat Eric Plunkett to death in his Gallaudet dorm room. The killing put the school in a state of panic, with some students withdrawing from the school rather than living in a situation where they knew a murderer was living among them. The terror came to an end in February of the next year when Mesa turned ...
Thu, Sep 27 2018

Police: Sex Tape at Deaf School?
Deaf News Today Illinois State Police are looking into whether a sex video was shot at the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville. It's reported to have happened in April. The video in questions was, until recently available on an adult website. Read more on the story from the State Journal-Register here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Sep 26 2018

On this date... 27 years ago
Deaf News Today It was on Sept 26, 1991 that first major American TV show to feature a deaf or hard of hearing actor in a lead role debuted. The NBC police drama Reasonable Doubts ran from 1991–1993 and starred Academy-Award winner Marlee Matlin as Tess Kaufman, a prosecutor who protected the rights of the accused. In 1994, she joined the cast of Picket Fences for a couple of seas...
Wed, Sep 26 2018

DiMarco: ‘Pretending to Be Deaf Is Not Ok’
Deaf News Today A Netflix original is getting heat from Dancing with the Stars champion Nyle DiMarco. The deaf model say a joke in the film about being deaf isn't appropriate. Read more here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Sep 23 2018

Horror Film Casting Blasted
Deaf News Today Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin and model Nyle DiMarco are among those in the Deaf community criticizing a new horror film called The Silence. A hearing actress was cast in a deaf role. Director John Leonetti told The Hollywood Reporter that the hearing actress has “flawless” signing and an almost “innate sense of what it’s like being a deaf person.” The film co...
Wed, Sep 19 2018

Study: Older Adults Show Poor brain function with Implants
Deaf News Today A study out of Antwerp University in Belgium finds cochlear implant recipients over the age of 55 have "significantly poorer cognitive function than their normal-hearing counterparts." Researchers say this finding shows "cochlear implants cannot fully compensate for this deterioration in brain function" due to dementia or natural cognitive decline. Details of the stud...
Wed, Sep 19 2018

Copies of Silent Garden given out in Fresno
Deaf News Today Deaf educators in Fresno passed out the latest version of a book called Silent Garden: a parent's guide to raising a deaf child. The book was written by Fresno State professor Dr. Paul Odgen and he was on hand as well. ABC-30 has a video report below. There's a text version of the story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Sep 18 2018

The First Deaf Player in the NFL
Deaf News Today The first deaf player in the NFL ran onto the field for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973. The first game that season was played on this date (Sept. 16) against the Philidelphia Eagles. Bonnie Sloan played in four games at defensive tackle and only lasted one season, because of knee injuries--but he had made his mark. Sloan was born on June 1, 1948 in Lebanon , TN and ...
Sun, Sep 16 2018

ICE wants deaf & disabled man deported after decades in...
Deaf News Today photo credit: Diane Newman ICE said it was planning to deport Francis Anwana by today but has decided to delay his deportation after an outcry from immigration advocates. Anwana came to the US at the age of 13 on a student visa. Anwana "was deaf, couldn't talk, and had cognitive disabilities, enrolling at the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint." He is now 48 years...
Tue, Sep 11 2018

Bison Decide What to Do During the National Anthem
Deaf News Today The Gallaudet University football team has been wrestling with what to do when the national anthem is played before Bison games. Matthew Davis writes: The team’s head coach, Chuck Goldstein, wanted his players to think about their protest. "These situations help us come together," he relayed in simultaneous communication, signing and speaking at the same time. 'Y...
Mon, Sep 10 2018

Marlee Matlin talks about on her new show
Deaf News Today Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin appeared on KTLA-TV this morning to talk about her special Deaf Out Loud. There are no captions and KTLA misspelled her last name in the "lower third" but she did talk about the premieres of the show, which is September 12 on A&E Network. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Sep 08 2018

“Bummy” Burstein dies at 91
Deaf News Today Gerald “Bummy” Burstein has died. He worked tirelessly in the deaf community for 57 years—even after he retired. He died at the age of 91 in Riverside, California, where the student center at the local deaf school carries his name. Burnstein was the certified Professional Parliamentarian for the National Association of the Deaf and the author of two books. His ...
Thu, Sep 06 2018

Marlee Matlin Produced Docu
Deaf News Today Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin is an executive producer of a new documentary called "Deaf Out Loud." The A&E special premieres September 12. The film is about "three deaf families as they raise their children in a hearing world." Here's a preview. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Sep 03 2018

Austin Deaf Club Robbed
Deaf News Today Someone broke into the building where the Austin Deaf Club was storing equipment in south Austin and stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment. KXAN has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Sep 01 2018

"Hearing Impaired" Law in NY
Deaf News Today The state of New York will no longer use "hearing impaired" in state law. Governer Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation into law on Monday. The bill requires any reference in state law to "hearing impaired" to be changed to "deaf or hard of hearing." Utah and New Hampshire already have such a law on the books. The new law was sponsored by state senator Terrence Murphy...
Sat, Sep 01 2018

A First For Gallaudet Sports
Deaf News Today It was a historic night in Danville, Kentucky. Last night was the first time a Gallaudet University sports team has played in the state—aside from the track-and-field teams playing at an independent championship event in Berea. But the soccer game between Gallaudet and Centre College did not go as planned: There was a wait of more than an hour-and-a-half over lightn...
Sat, Sep 01 2018

DeaFestival-Kentucky 2018
Deaf News Today DeaFestival-Kentucky 2018 will be held this Saturday (Sept. 1) at the Galt House in Louisville. Special guests include Kyle Schulz, the two-time competitor on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior who is deaf, and Broadway and film actor Miles Barbee. There will be more than 50 visual and performing deaf and hard of hearing artists, including rappers, hip-hop musicians, come...
Thu, Aug 30 2018

Deaf Businesses in Austin
Deaf News Today KVUE-TV has a video report about a Deaf-owned and operated business in Austin, Texas. For captioning, click here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Aug 29 2018

Test-Maker Sued Over Divulging Students’ Disabilities
Deaf News Today Students have filed a lawsuit against the makers of the ACT test, saying ACT, Inc. has illegally disclosed students’ disabilities. “I was shocked to learn that ACT was using my disability information against me and making it more difficult for me to get into college and get the money I need to go to college," Halie Bloom told DisabilityScoop. Read the full story h...
Mon, Aug 27 2018

Deaf candidate for Kansas House aiming to make history
Deaf News Today If Chris Haulmark gets elected he would become the first deaf legislator in U.S. history, according to the National Association of the Deaf. The Kansas City Star has his amazing story. Read more here: --- More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Aug 27 2018

He was the First Gallaudet President
Deaf News Today Edward Miner Gallaudet  Edward Miner Gallaudet served as president (1864–1910) of the school that would become Gallaudet University. He died on this date (Sept. 26) in 1917. Edward was the youngest of eight children born to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. When plans were made to change the name of the school from the Columbia Institution for the instruction of the Deaf ...
Mon, Aug 27 2018

Threatening Caller contacts School for Deaf Again
Deaf News Today Whoever made a threat to the Oklahoma School for the Deaf last week has called the school again. The FBI is tracking down the person. The Daily Ardmoreite here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Aug 24 2018

He's Bringing Hip-Hop to the Deaf
Deaf News Today Matt Maxey is the founder of DEAFinitely Dope, "an organization that aims to bring the deaf and hearing communities together through music." CNN has a profile of Matt here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Aug 18 2018

South Korean capital gets 'first deaf taxi drivers'
Deaf News Today There are deaf taxi drivers on the streets of Seoul, South Korea this week, thanks to some new software. Two deaf drivers are using dual tablets to communicate in Korean with passengers using an app called Silent Taxi. Read more from the BBC here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Aug 18 2018

Deaf man hit by car
Deaf News Today A deaf man is in critical condition after being hit by a car in Ocala, Florida. Gary Hamilton was attempting to cross the street at the time. Read more in the Ocala StarBanner here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Aug 17 2018

Threats Shut Down School For The Deaf
Deaf News Today The Oklahoma School for the Deaf closed yesterday following a threatening phone call. It may be connected to "threats against a transgender student who attends another school that was shut down earlier this week over safety concerns," reports the Associated Press. Read the full story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Aug 17 2018

Filling gaps in the ASL lexicon
Deaf News Today A small team at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, New York, is busy creating signs. They've been working to fill gaps in the ASL lexicon since 2014. Hundreds of ASL signs have been created—such as a sign for the words "verb" and "prototype." Even "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." One of the people involved in the project, Ruth Anna Spoo...
Thu, Aug 16 2018

Streetcar 82 Opens
Deaf News Today The Washington, DC suburb of Hyattsville, Maryland has a new brewery that opened this summer. And this isn't just any ole brewery; Streetcar 82 is deaf-owned—the first of its kind on the East Coast. The small building used to house an auto repair garage, but now people play "cornhole or joke and chat over drinks." Read more in the DCist here or watch the video below...
Wed, Aug 15 2018

School District accused of Discrimination
Deaf News Today Deaf educators and students are rallying against the Corpus Christi school district. Among the issues: a deaf man was hired to teach ASL and wrestling, but school administrators later withdrew the offer. What was the problem? They didn't want to pay for an interpreter to attend a conference. Read more in the Corpus Christi Caller Times here. Read More at DeafNewsToday...
Tue, Aug 14 2018

Between Sound and Silence
Deaf News Today Filmmaker Taylor Brodsky writes, "A lot can happen in two generations. I was born to deaf parents and now I’m the mother of a deaf son. He was sitting on my lap in diapers when the audiologist first detected he couldn’t hear everything. By the age of 4, he heard nothing." Read more about her experience in a New York Times opinion piece here. Read More at DeafNewsT...
Tue, Aug 07 2018

Fire-pit accident burns Teen
Deaf News Today A deaf Texas teen is recovering from burns she received from a fire-pit mishap. KFDM-TV has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Aug 05 2018

Philly Police Agree to Settlement over treatment of Deaf
Deaf News Today The Philadelphia Police Department has settled a complaint over how it handles deaf people. The department will pay eight people $97,500 and update its procedures and equipment. Read more about the settlement here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Aug 03 2018

Happy Birthday Bob Hiltermann
Deaf News Today from BobHiltermann.com Deaf since the age of 4, Bob Hiltermann was born on this day (August 1, 1952) in Germany, the tenth of eleven children born. A bout with meningitis left him deaf but he wasn't diagnosed until the age of ten. Hiltermann learned ASL while attending Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and later formed MuSign (a Signing/Mime company). He acted w...
Wed, Aug 01 2018

Starbucks' "Signing Store" is...
Deaf News Today Starbucks has received a great deal of positive news coverage and social media traction from its plan to integrate deaf culture into one of its stores near Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. But could the enthusiastic reaction be a bit much?Pamela Kincheloe writes that there was "so much hype it was kind of absurd. Sure, it’s nice and all, but really? It’s j...
Tue, Jul 31 2018

Six Siblings and Six Bilateral Cochlear Implants
Deaf News Today "Siblings Matthew, 16, Marcus, 15, Michelle, 13, Maria, 10, Miley, 8, and Marcia, 6, were born deaf. Over the past eight years, all the children have been fitted with bilateral cochlear implants," writes Nancy Dahlberg in the Miami Herald. Read the full story about the six Guillou children here or watch the video below. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Jul 31 2018

On this day.. the ADA was signed into law
Deaf News Today It was on this day (July 25, 1990) that President George H.W. Bush signed the American Disablity Act into law. Senator Tom Harkin says the ADA law was inspired by his deaf brother. The Iowa Democrat says watching his brother, Frank, struggle against social barriers motivated him to push the ADA bill through the U.S. Congress. The law prohibits private employers, state...
Wed, Jul 25 2018

Looking Back.. 15 years ago
Deaf News Today On this date (July 23) in 2003, a revival of Big River opened on Broadway with a cast of hearing and deaf actors. Roger Miller's 1985 musical about Huck Finn was the first Broadway show to do so since the 1980's Children of a Lesser God. The show was a co-production of the Roundabout Theater Company and West Hollywood's Deaf West Theater. Read More at DeafNewsToday.co...
Mon, Jul 23 2018

Starbucks To Open First U.S. Signing Store
Deaf News Today Starbucks is opening a store designed for the Deaf Community in Washington, DC less than a miles from Gallaudet University. More than two dozen deaf and hard of hearing baristas, fluent in American Sign Language, will be ready to take orders when the store opens. It's the first Starbucks signing store in the U.S. The store layout will facilitate visual communication. ...
Thu, Jul 19 2018

Heavy metal concert terp gets noticed
Deaf News Today Lindsay Rothschild-Cross' interpretation of a June 20 metal concert in Austin was caught on video and has racked up tons of views online, reports ABC News. She says it was her first time to work with this genre. Here's a video interview from ABC News. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, Jul 19 2018

LinkedIn Adds Captioning to Videos
Deaf News Today LinkedIn users can now add captions to videos by clicking an icon. Users can also highlight quotes from articles and save drafts of those posts. The translation of posts includes more than 60 languages. Read more here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, Jul 19 2018

CODA Who Defrauded Parents is Going to Jail
Deaf News Today A judge in northern Ohio has sentenced Jessica DeMarco to 60 days in jail, 200 hours of community service and five years probation and restitution for defrauding her deaf parents of $50,000. Prosecutors say DeMarco forged a letter from a lawyer, pretending she was to receive a large sum of money. Read the details in the Warren Tribune Chronicle here. Read More at ...
Wed, Jul 18 2018

Communicating with Alexa devices using sign language
Deaf News Today Abhishek Singh, who has worked in the field of driverless cars and other AI technology, says he "used deep learning with TensorFlow.js to make Amazon Echo respond to sign language." He explains in this video. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Jul 16 2018

The history behind RI School for the Deaf
Deaf News Today The Rhode Island School for the Deaf was started by Mary Ann Lippitt whose daughter had become deaf after contracting Scarlet Fever in 1856. "Lippitt created her own program and founded the Providence Day School for the Deaf in 1876. Her husband Henry Lippitt, who had become governor in 1875, used his own influence to inspire the State to take over the administration ...
Sat, Jul 14 2018

Scientists say they've given gerbils an implant that lets...
Deaf News Today German researchers have given gerbils an implant that allows them "hear" light. They hope that this technique could be used to make superior cochlear implants for humans through optogenetics, that is, the use of light as a stimulus.Details of the study are published in the Science Translational Medicine or read an article about the research here. Read More at DeafN...
Sat, Jul 14 2018