Deaf News Today

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...
Tue, Jul 25 2017 · 21 hours ago

Looking Back.. 14 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...
Sun, Jul 23 2017

Deaf Man Attacked In Robbery
Deaf News Today Hector Reyna was walking out of a fast-food restaurant in Santa Ana, California Wednesday when he was attacked and robbed by a man with a knife. The man also attacked a responding officer. CBS-LA has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jul 21 2017

The Shape of Water
Deaf News Today A new movie hits theaters in December in which ASL plays a major role. The Shape of Water tells the story of a lonely woman who works in a high-security government laboratory. There, she discovers a secret classified experiment. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jul 21 2017

Fierce Debate Over Sign Language
Deaf News Today Last month, we told you about a controversial new study that concluded that using sign language when a child has a cochlear implant holds children back from language development. Education Week has a report on some of responses here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Jul 19 2017

Deaf Comedian in Hit Film
Deaf News Today image from Sony Deaf comedian CJ Jones has a part in the hit movie Baby Driver. He plays Joseph, the foster father to the main character. Yahoo Movies says, "In a film full of such bold-face names as Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, and Jon Hamm, it’s the authentic, nuanced work of Jones and the touching relationship between Baby and Joseph that drive so many of the movie...
Tue, Jul 18 2017

$1 Million Grant
Deaf News Today A million dollar federal grant will be used to develop a Scientists-In-Training program for deaf and hard of hearing undergraduates at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Read more here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Jul 16 2017

Teen allegedly killed deaf mom
Deaf News Today A teenager in Illinois faces charges she killed her deaf mom and attempted to cover it up the death by setting the home on fire. Police say the 15-year-old waited for her mom to come home from work and told her mom to place a towel over her face before shooting her mom in the forehead. Read more details from Sauk Valley Media here. WQAD-TV spoke withe the girl's sist...
Fri, Jul 14 2017

NTID's 1st Diversity Director
Deaf News Today image from RIT.edu The Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf has its first director of diversity and inclusion. Stephanie Smith Albert has worked at several deaf schools, the latest being the Ohio School for the Deaf. Read more about her here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jul 14 2017

Marlee Matlin joins Battle of the Network Stars
Deaf News Today Image from marleematlin.net Oscar-Winner Marlee Matlin will join other celebrities tonight for the reboot of The Battle of the Network Stars. A team of actors who played TV lawyers will face cast members who were on shows about the White House. The show orginally ran on ABC from 1976-1988. You can watch Battle of the Network Stars Thursday at 9pm, Eastern on ABC. ...
Thu, Jul 13 2017

More than $1 million for State School
Deaf News Today The New York State School for the Deaf more than a million dollars for building improvements from the state goverment. The school's roof, windows, electrical, heating and ventilation systems will be improved with the funds.School Superintendent David Hubman, “The funding provided will allow us to renovate and prevent the building from further deterioration. This bui...
Thu, Jul 13 2017

Deaf Woman attacked at bus stop
Deaf News Today A stranger sucker punched a deaf woman in Dallas. KDFW-TV has a video report about what happened to Cindy Tarkington. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Jul 12 2017

On this Day.. Ed Dundon was born
Deaf News Today Ed "Dummy" Dundon was the first deaf player to play baseball professionally. He was born on this day (July 10) in 1859. After attending the Ohio State School for the Deaf, Dundon went on to play several years of professional baseball. He had two seasons with the Columbus Buckeyes before retiring and becoming an umpire. During his hitch with the Buckeyes in 1883 a...
Mon, Jul 10 2017

On this Date... Sentenced to Life in Prison
Deaf News Today It was on this date (July 10) in 2002 that a District of Columbia judge sentenced Joseph Mesa, Jr. to six life terms without the possibility of parole for the murders of two Gallaudet classmates. The 22-year-old from Guam was convicted of first beating Eric Plunkett to death in September of 2000 and then stabbing Benjamin Varner to death in February of 2001. Both atta...
Mon, Jul 10 2017

Chinese man saves deaf woman
Deaf News Today A train conductor in China saved a deaf woman "who was crossing a railway track as his train was approaching, but lost his right leg." Here is a video about it from China Global Television Network. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Jul 10 2017

Hospital settles lawsuit over Terps
Deaf News Today A south Texas hospital has settled a lawsuit out of court related to providing interpreters. The suit stemmed from complaints of a deaf couple, whose daughter was undergoing treatments for cancer. The hospital did not provide an interpreter for them and now, as part of the settlement, has agree to provide qualified interpreters when requested by patients, as required ...
Fri, Jul 07 2017

Behind the Scenes Photos of a Beauty Pageant for Deaf People
Deaf News Today A Romania photographer gives us a glimpse of what it's like backstage at a beauty pageant for deaf and hard of hearing participates. Take a look at the photo layout in Vice here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Jul 05 2017

Misleading PR on Implant Surgery
Deaf News Today A recent news release about a study on cochlear implant surgical techniques called it a "breakthrough." HealthNewsReview says it wasn't a breakthrough at all. Not only that, there are conflict of interests with device manufacturers. Read more in the respected health news site HealthNewsReview here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Jul 03 2017

Why People With Brain Implants Are Afraid to Go Through...
Deaf News Today “When you get an implant, they warn you about interference with devices like MRI machines. But they don’t warn you about Best Buy or Walmart,” says Gary Olhoeft. An FDA report (which you can read here) written way back in the year 2000 identified the problem of implant-interference from other devices: The consequence of EMI [or electromagnetic interference] with...
Mon, Jul 03 2017

Life in 1950s Deaf School: Part 2
Deaf News Today Here is a second video filmed in 1954 at the UK's Royal School for Deaf Children for a documentary. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Jul 03 2017

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
Sun, Jul 02 2017

No Terp for Jazz Fest
Deaf News Today A deaf woman says it is "frustrating" that the Montreal International Jazz Festival denied her request for a sign language interpreter. Natasha Luttrell told the CBC, "I asked for one performance, only one performance to have an interpretation and they refused." Read the full story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jun 30 2017

New Superintendent
Deaf News Today The Tennessee School for the Deaf and West Tennessee School for the Deaf will have their first deaf superintendent. A welcome event is planned for Nancylynn Ward next weekend and details are here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jun 30 2017

Research Findings on Cochlear Implant electrodes
Deaf News Today New research suggests some best practices for cochlear implant surgery. The main finding: Cochlear implants that have electrodes without wires perform better than those with wires because they cause injury inside the inner ear. You can read the details of the study in the online edition of The Laryngoscope here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Jun 27 2017

Deaf sexual assault survivor graduates with help from...
Deaf News Today image from Chicago Tribune video Chicago sheriff's investigators not only sought the person who raped a deaf teen three years ago, they stood by her until she recently graduated from high school. One of them said, "We went into this thinking here is a victim and let's try to solve her case and it just turned into ... seeing her as a goddaughter." The Chicago Tribune ...
Tue, Jun 27 2017

Book breaks new ground
Deaf News Today A new book and conference in the UK represent “a major leap forward for the discipline” of deaf studies. It's "the first volume to be written and edited entirely by deaf academics" about BSL, according to the Times Higher Education. Read more about the conference and the Oxford University Press book "Innovations in Deaf Studies: The Role of Deaf Scholars" here. R...
Tue, Jun 20 2017

Deaf Volunteer Firefighter Arrested Without Interpreter
Deaf News Today Keri Dee says local police did not provide her brother, a deaf volunteer firefighter, with a sign language interpreter after his recent arrest. Little Rock's KARK-TV has a video report. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Jun 19 2017

New Deaf School in Waco
Deaf News Today A new school for deaf children is opening in Waco this August. Find out more in this video report from KWKT-TV. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Jun 19 2017

Rocker Claims he owns Sign for Love
Deaf News Today Gene Simmons, co-founder of Kissimage by Jason Hargrove Gene Simmons, the co-founder of the oldies rock band Kiss, doesn't want anyone using the sign language gesture for love without his permission-because he claims he owns it. Last week, he filed an application with the patent office to trademark the gesture (which rock music enthusiasts know as "devil horns") he ...
Sat, Jun 17 2017

Terps at Chance The Rapper's concerts
Deaf News Today image from ChancetheRapper twitter feed Chance the Rapper is hiring his own ASL interpreters for all of his concerts. They are from DEAFinitely Dope. InTouch Weekly reports here that he is the first rapper to pay for his own terps. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Jun 16 2017

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...
Wed, Jun 14 2017

The NFL's first deaf offensive player is back
Deaf News Today Derrick Colemanimage from NFL.com The NFL's first deaf offensive player is back and ready to play this fall. Derrick Coleman wsa a fullback for the Seattle Seahawks when he was arrested after "a hit-and-run accident in suburban Seattle in which he crashed into the back of another vehicle while driving 20 mph over the speed limit, causing the other vehicle to flip ove...
Tue, Jun 13 2017

Controversial Study finds CI Kids do better without Sign
Deaf News Today Ann Geers of the University of Texas at Dallas A controversial new study says children with cochlear implants are better off not learning sign language. The researchers write, "Contrary to earlier published assertions, there was no advantage to parents' use of sign language either before or after CI." The study, lead by Ann Geers of the University of Texas at Dallas,...
Tue, Jun 13 2017

110 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 chi...
Sun, Jun 11 2017

Getting to Know.. Cochlear Limited
Deaf News Today You could have bought stock in Cochlear Limited at the turn of the century for about $10. This week the stock was worth more than $150 a share-15 times more. Cochlear Limited is the biggest of the three companies that dominate the implant market. Based in Australia, Cochlear does most of its business in Europe and the U.S. through more than a dozen subsidiaries. More ...
Sat, Jun 10 2017

30 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 cochlear implant following clinical trials. The four year old had became profoundly deaf from bacterial meningitis. Holly still has her original implant and had several sounds processor upgrades. The Daily Telegraph takes a look at what...
Fri, Jun 09 2017

Captions on FB Live
Deaf News Today Facebook has enabled closed captions on some live broadcasts. Some third-party software is still needed to use the feature, so most likely you will see it first on big media outlets instead of friend’s live broadcasts. If you have the Facebook Closed Captioning feature turned on, you will automatically see the text if it is enabled. Read more about the announcement...
Wed, Jun 07 2017

Getting to Know: Certified Deaf Interpreters
Deaf News Today image from Lydia Callis Facebook page "As the sign language interpreting profession has evolved over the past couple decades, the interpreting community has come to better understand and embrace the role of deaf individuals as linguistic and cultural gatekeepers. Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs) are extremely effective at bridging the sometimes vast and persistent ...
Wed, Jun 07 2017

Deaf Musician on American's Got Talent
Deaf News Today Deaf singer and Florida native (now living in Colorado) Mandy Harvey appeared on America’s Got Talent this week. She earned cheers and applause from the crowd and a “golden buzzer” from Simon Cowell. Harvey is 29-years-old having lost her hearing when she was 18 from a degenerative ear disease. She said, "Music is an expression of the soul, and for me it's alway...
Wed, Jun 07 2017

Marlee on Hollywood Medium
Deaf News Today Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin appears on tonight's episode of Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry. She wants to learn the real story behind how she became deaf at 18 months. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Jun 06 2017

A Chat with Gally's Prez
Deaf News Today The Austin Deaf Club hosted a GUAA gathering on Wednesday, May 31. Here is an interview with Gallaudet University President Roberta Cordano. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Jun 05 2017

Grads look forward to College
Deaf News Today The Frederick News-Post spoke with graduates of the Maryland School for the Deaf, asking about their future plans. Read the story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Jun 04 2017

Understanding Deaf culture through art
Deaf News Today WXXI in Rochester, New York spoke with local artist Laural Hartman about what mainstream museums may not understand about deaf art. Hartman teaches at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, May 30 2017

Suit: No Terrp for 3 Days in hospital
Deaf News Today Myra Gill is suing Louisiana's Slidell Memorial Hospital. She claims the hospital failed to provide her an interpreter during an emergency room visit that turned into a three day stay. Her lawyer told WDSU-TV, "We know that you can't get an interpreter at the drop of a hat within 10 minutes but Ms. Gill was in the hospital for three days and never once received a si...
Mon, May 29 2017

AI comes to Cochlear Implants
Deaf News Today The largest cochlear implant maker has inked a deal to use artificial intelligence. Cochlear based in Austrailia, will use the help of AI maker Otoconsult, based in Belgium, to more accurately taylor the settings to each wearer. Cochlear CEO Chris Smith says the software will be accessible worldwide, so audiologists calibrate the device more effectively. Read more in ...
Mon, May 29 2017

Gallaudet's Motion Light Lab
Deaf News Today The Washington Post takes a peek inside Gallaudet's Motion Light Lab. It's a place where "research and innovation turn into resources for children and families" through the use of motion-capture technology. Read the full story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, May 28 2017

Mocking Sign Language on the Jimmy Fallon show
Deaf News Today During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, guest Jamie Foxx started doing fake sign-language to the camera.  The winner of both "DWTS" and "America's Next Top Model" Nyle DiMarco says it was disrespectful for Foxx to mock deaf people. Fellow Oscar winner Marlee Matlin tweeeted at Foxx, "I’d be happy to give you sign language lessons so you coul...
Sat, May 27 2017

" I see his voice. I hear his face."
Deaf News Today image from ondeafness.com The hearing mother of a deaf child has written a piece for the New York Times titled, "My Deaf Son Fought Speech. Sign Language Let Him Bloom." The writer, Elizabeth Engelman, works at the Family Center on Deafness in Largo, Florida and writes the blog OnDeafness. She says": "In American Sign Language, the sign for cochlear implant is sim...
Fri, May 26 2017

Louisiana considers the "d" in Deaf
Deaf News Today (image from Louisiana.gov) Louisiana state legislator Pat Smith wants to change how the deaf are referred to in state law. Her bill HB253 would ask the Louisiana State Law Institute to distinguish between lower case "deaf" and upper case "Deaf." A committee endorsed her resolution yesterday. Read the text of her bill and how it is progressing through the legislatur...
Wed, May 24 2017

Helen Keller's message to the Nazis
Deaf News Today image public domain Helen Keller wrote a letter to Nazi students in 1933 who played to burn her collection of her essays, How I Became a Socialist. Read it and some background on it at Open Culture here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, May 22 2017