A new year and a new look for Deaf News Today!
Deaf News Today You will find new posts for Deaf NewsToday at DeafNewsToday.com Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Jan 05 2021

On this date: Grace Coolidge was born
Deaf News Today Grace Anna Goodhue was born on January 3, 1879, in Burlington, Vermont. She's known to history as the wife of the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. What many people don't know is that she was a teacher of the deaf. As first lady, she worked hard to educate the public and invited Helen Keller to visit the White House. Helped by the President, Mrs. C...
Sun, Jan 03 2021

On this date. at the South Pole
Deaf News Today (image from NASA) Ian Berry become the first deaf man to walk to the South Pole on this day (Dec. 31) in 2009. The UK native dragged a sled across 112 miles of ice to raise more than $40,000 for the National Deaf Children's Society. The 43-year-old reached the pole on New Year's Eve as part of a five person team. Read more about his adventure here. Read More at DeafN...
Thu, Dec 31 2020

All Californians will soon be able to text 911 for help
Deaf News Today Every dispatch center in California must accept text message requests for help starting Friday. The new 2021 law (AB 1168) will make California’s 911 emergency dispatch system more robust to serve the deaf as well as those in rural parts of the state. Some counties do not have the option in place yet but are working on changing their system. Other Counties already h...
Tue, Dec 29 2020

A film called CODA
Deaf News Today A film called CODA will debut at the next Sundance Film Festival. The director and screenwriter is Siân Heder and film is about a hearing child--the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her family's reliance on her to be their connection to the outsid...
Tue, Dec 29 2020

Saved by a mask
Deaf News Today A Virginia man says his face mask may have saved his life. When someone started shooting at Roanoke’s Valley View Mall Saturday night, employees at one of the stores saw that Clint Colquhoun’s mask identified him as deaf. That is when the pulled him to safety. Read more from WDBJ here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Mon, Dec 28 2020

Meet two Amazon Deaf employees
Deaf News Today Two Deaf employees are thriving at an Amazon facility in Albany, according to an article in the Time-Union. One is from Brazil and one is from the Phillipines. They are among the half dozen deaf employees at the company’s Schodack facility. Read more here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Dec 25 2020

All the Alter Boy songs performed in Auslan
Deaf News Today The Australian pop band Alter Boy includes three deaf members. All their songs performed in Auslan (Australian sign language). Lead singer Molly says: We use lots of sub and bass tones so that deaf folks can feel the beat, as well as visual performance and Australian sign language (Auslan). Another common misconception is that deaf people can't play instruments or s...
Wed, Dec 23 2020

New Orleans now offers emergency texting
Deaf News Today The deaf and hard of hearing in New Orleans can now communicate with first responders using video and texts when they call 911. You can read more here or watch the video below: Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Dec 22 2020

Deaf History: Artist William Agnew
Deaf News Today Amateur artist William Agnew died on this day (Dec 21) in 1914. The deaf painter created a series of pictures (none of which survived) which made him famous, showing Queen Victoria using finger spelling to communicate with a deaf woman on the Isle of Wight. Educated at the Glasgow Institution where he took a leadership role as an adult, Agnew opposed the oral system ...
Mon, Dec 21 2020

TechRadar: “Accessibility should not be an afterthought“
Deaf News Today TechRadar takes a look at some recent develops in social media that leaves out entire communities--particularly Twitters expansion into audio. Read the story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Dec 20 2020

NBC is developing a drama based on Nyle DiMarco’s Life
Deaf News Today The life of deaf model, actor and activist Nyle DiMarco has inspired the creation of a drama about a deaf family called Look at Me. The show would be produced for NBC by Neil Meron, who also produced the films Chicago and Hairspray>. Read more details from Deadline here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Dec 20 2020

Deaf dancer wears haptic vest to feel music
Deaf News Today London-based dancer and choreographer Chris Fonseca uses a tactile audio platform called SubPac to feel music through pulses against his body rather than soundwaves in his ear. Here is a CNN report about Fonseca. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, Dec 17 2020

A unique business triangle in DC
Deaf News Today Branches of two giant corporations and a local restaurant are all cleverly designed to serve the large, local deaf community. Read more in The Hill here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Dec 16 2020

Variety calls ‘Sound of Metal’ an Oscar-Worthy...
Deaf News Today Variety gives a glowing review to the new Amazon film Sound of Metal. Director Darius Marder is quoted as saying: Movies that try to appropriate deaf culture and represent it without proper connections are pretty offensive. Deaf people always remember when someone pretends to be deaf. But I have noticed a generous spirit in the deaf culture. They’re not looking to...
Mon, Dec 14 2020

The Texas School For The Deaf’s Football Team Wins State...
Deaf News Today The NBC Today Show takes a look at how the Texas School for the Deaf became state football champions last night. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Dec 13 2020

It's OK to Point!
Deaf News Today A video explaining some differences between hearing and Deaf culture from the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. with ASL instructor Jack Volpe. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Dec 12 2020

In 2013: the fake interpreter at Mandela’s memorial...
Deaf News Today During Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in Johannesburg on this date (Dec. 10) in 2013, a man pretending to interpret for the dignitaries that spoke was declared a fraud by South Africa's deaf federation. U.S. President Barack Obama was among the heads of state attending the service at the 95,000-seat football stadium when Thamsanqa Jantjie took to the stage. The i...
Thu, Dec 10 2020

Happy Birthday, Thomas Gallaudet!
Deaf News Today Born - Philadelphia on December 10, 1787 Family - Oldest of 12 children College - Attended Yale at age 14, graduating with highest honors at 17 Ministry - Ordained in 1814, sometimes preaching at church Deaf Interest - Became interested in deaf issues when he met a 9-year-old deaf neighbor School - Founded The American School for the Deaf during 1817 in Hartfo...
Thu, Dec 10 2020

Paul Raci is getting rave reviews
Deaf News Today Paul Raci is “drawing raves for his performance as a deafened alcohol counselor in Sound of Metal. A member of Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles, Raci is also the lead singer for Black Sabbath tribute band Hands of Doom ASL ROCK, a band that performs in American Sign Language.“ Paul talks about what this movie captures about the deaf experience in an IndieWire arti...
Wed, Dec 09 2020

What to do if face masks are being worn in your child’s...
Deaf News Today The National Deaf Children's Society offers advice in this video to British parents on the difficulties for deaf children attending schools where face coverings are used in classrooms or in communal areas. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Dec 08 2020

Looking back: Kitty O'Neil's Record
Deaf News Today It was on this day (Dec. 6) in 1976 that professional stuntwoman Kitty O'Neil set a record for land speed by a female driver. It was in Oregon's Alvord Desert that Kitty hit 512 miles per hour. Her women's absolute land speed record stood until 2019.Childhood diseases left her deaf and nearly killed her. She became a champion diver at a young age. Her work later as ...
Sun, Dec 06 2020

NYPD using sign to connect with the community
Deaf News Today A New York Police officer is building relationships with the Deaf community by using his first language on the job--American Sign Language. Officer Angel Familia of the 9th precinct gives a greeting in sign language in a video tweeted by the police department. Officer Familia from the @NYPD19Pct uses his first language, American Sign Language, to communicate with ...
Thu, Dec 03 2020

Cape Coral doctor now makes patients heard
Deaf News Today David Shropshire has been profoundly deaf since the age of two. That did not stop him from becoming an audiologist. Find out more in a video report from WBBH-TV in Fort Myers here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Dec 01 2020

Happy Birthday, Linda the Librarian!
Deaf News Today  Linda Bove was born on this day (Nov 30) in 1945. She’s remembered as the deaf lady on Sesame Street. Bove was a regular on the show from 1971 to 2003 as Linda the Librarian, introducing thousands of children to sign language and deaf community issues. In 1991, she and her husband founded DeafWest, a resident sign-language theater in Los Angeles which has produce...
Mon, Nov 30 2020

Terp uses TikTok to highlight Deaf community
Deaf News Today A Maryland sign language interpreter has amassed some 20 million views and 700,000 followers on TikTok with just a few videos. Tabatha Podleiszek started by shooting a video of herself teaching her toddler ASL. Her boyfriend is helping with the videos as well--and he is a CODA. She tells the Frederick News-Post that she is now focused on highlighting members of the De...
Sat, Nov 28 2020

Gratitude from students at the Utah Schools for the Deaf...
Deaf News Today Children from the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are expressing their gratitude for those who have donated to help support their education. The gifts cover hearing aids and specialized equipment, white canes, accessibility technology, magnification devices, educational opportunities, and more. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Nov 28 2020

Social Media Has A Ways To Go When It Comes To Accessibility
Deaf News Today BuzzFeedNews has an article about Scarlet Waters--the deaf teen with more than 3 million TikTok followers. She is “one of the few people openly talking about“ how social media is often not deaf-friendly. Read the story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Fri, Nov 27 2020

12 years ago today: William Gibson died
Deaf News Today On November 25, 2008, the man who wrote a famous play about Helen Keller called The Miracle Worker died. William Gibson's story of Helen Keller’s relationship with her teacher, Anne Sullivan, won the 1960 Tony Award for best play and is still regularly performed around the country in community theaters. Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, played the stage roles of Sulliva...
Wed, Nov 25 2020

A First: Terp included in the White House Briefing
Deaf News Today After dozens of briefings without interpreters, an ASL interpreter signed for a White House COVID briefing on Nov. 13. The National Association of the Deaf had won a federal lawsuit this summer requiring the White House to incorporate ASL into the briefings. Below is the video from that first briefing including an interpreter. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Wed, Nov 25 2020

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Receives $28.5 Million
Deaf News Today The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind is getting a new $28 million campus in Decatur. The project will span 160-acres to accomodate independent living educational programs for K-12 students and adults. The new location will be a satellite campus for the orginal location in Talladega, founded in 1858. The institution's Cyber Security curriculum created through a par...
Tue, Nov 24 2020

Training for Austin police related to the Deaf community
Deaf News Today Police in Austin say they are making an effort to reach out to the deaf community in the Texas city. Cadet training includes two relavant sections: One is called Services for the Deaf, which is mandated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The other part of the training is supplementary instruction specific to the Austin Police Department due to the large deaf ...
Tue, Nov 24 2020

Happy Birthday Mojo!
Deaf News Today This is Mojo Mathers birthday (born Nov 23, 1966). She became the first member of New Zealand's parliament when she ran as a Green candidate in 2011. She was born profoundly deaf and is a lipreader. She began to use sign language in the late 2000s New Zealand became the first country to adopt sign language as an official language in 2006 and now, some 25,000 people ...
Mon, Nov 23 2020

Meet the actress blazing a sign-language trail in new...
Deaf News Today Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales includes a scene in American Sign Language. The second installment of the Spider-Man series released last week as a launch title for the PlayStation 5. The Los Angeles Times spoke with actress Natasha Ofili who signs in ASL as Hailey Cooper in the video game here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sat, Nov 21 2020

Deaf-owned Restaurant Closes
Deaf News Today Mozzeria owners when it opened in 2011  In November of 2011, DeafNewsToday told you about the opening of a new pizza restaurant in San Francisco that would take place the following month. The owners are deaf, as are many of the wait staff and cooks. Since then, Mozzeria, a name combining mozzarella cheese and pizzeria, has opened in several other locations. But owne...
Fri, Nov 20 2020

Former Deaf School Teacher Arrested
Deaf News Today A former teacher at the Michigan School for the Deaf is facing three felonies related to the sexual abuse of children. ABC-12 reports the school failed to inform law enforcement or parents of issues related to the suspect on campus. The school isn't talking. Read the full story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, Nov 19 2020

The signs for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Deaf News Today NPR takes a (brief) look at the discussion over what the signs for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris should be here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Tue, Nov 17 2020

A Masters Moment
Deaf News Today Deaf golfer Kevin Hall is featured in a Masters video shared by CBS Sports. Hall lost his hearing when he was two years old after contracting meningitis. For Kevin Hall, the silence of this year’s Masters is nothing out of the ordinary.For everyone, the moments and magic of Augusta will remain extraordinary. pic.twitter.com/Zoyu911TDw — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) ...
Sun, Nov 15 2020

On this day in 1966
Deaf News Today It was on this date in 1966 (Nov 14) Congressman Hugh Carey announced that Rochester, New York would be the site of a new college. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) admitted its first students in 1968. It is one of nine colleges located at the Rochester Institute of Technology. There are now more than 1500 students and about 600 faculty and staff. M...
Sat, Nov 14 2020

NFL cheerleader learning sign language
Deaf News Today An Indianapolis Colts cheerleader has gone back to school to learn ASL so she can connect with deaf fans. Watch a video report from WTTV-TV (CBS-4) in Indianapolis below or read the story here. Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Thu, Nov 12 2020

Picking Joe Biden’s Sign Name
Deaf News Today image: Gage Skidmore The deaf community is still trying to come to a consensus on what the sign name will be for President-elect Joe Biden. One references Biden’s signature Ray-Ban sunglasses. However, this option has been criticized for resembling the sign of the Crips gang. The LA Times quotes deaf activist and Compton ASL Club founder, Michael Agyin, as saying: ...
Wed, Nov 11 2020

Calif County to Pay $150K settlement
Deaf News Today California’s Kern County will pay a deaf woman $150,000 to settle a lawsuit. We first told you abot the lawsuit in October. Jennifer Mello was arrested in 2017 but deputies refused to provide her with a sign language interpreter as required by ADA law. The deputies kept trying to speak to her verbally, she reported. Then Mello was left in jail for five days withot a...
Tue, Nov 10 2020

A Bennett Song Holiday
Deaf News Today A new film out today features five deaf actors who use ASL throughout the film. In A Bennett Song Holiday a family learns the true meaning of the holidays as they solve a community crisis and adapt to big changes. Mrs. Bennett is expecting her first child--to go along with 14 adopted children. Meanwhile, the family teams up to take on a powerful real estate developer...
Tue, Nov 10 2020

Train Go Sorry now streaming
Deaf News Today Train Go Sorry is an ASL web series put together by Matt Ott. It is about an aspiring deaf performer in New York City who is working on his relationship with hearing-abled Jess. Train Go Sorry stars JW Guido and Jacqueline Keeley. It is streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Vimeo. More information here.  Read More at DeafNewsToday.com
Sun, Nov 08 2020

A Maryland University will offer a Deaf studies minor
Deaf News Today Maryland’s Salisbury University is adding a deaf studies minor to be housed in its School of Social Work and Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies Department. Ellen Schaefer-Salins, assistant professor of social work, is a mental health therapist in the deaf community and will oversee the program and says: Students will learn the culture and history of the d...
Sun, Nov 08 2020

A totally implantable cochlear implant
Deaf News Today Med-El says it is making progress in developing a fully implantable cochlear implant. The Austrian company reports the first such surgery in Europe was successfully performed at Liège University Hospital in Belgium. It is likely to take several years before Med-El can bring the new device to the market. The online publication Hearing Health and Technology Matters mag...
Sat, Nov 07 2020

Two Deaf Students talk about Voting For The First Time
Deaf News Today Shayla Rochette and Austin Eaton were two of the new voters who cast ballots on election day. In the video below, senior Austin Eaton, who attends The Learning Center for the Deaf at the Marie Philip School in Massachusetts, talks about voting for the first time.
Fri, Nov 06 2020

Voting While Deaf
Deaf News Today Rikki Poynter has contributed a column to Charlotte’s alternative newspaper about the struggles of voting while deaf. She writes: As a deaf person, my voting experiences are different from hearing people’s. Add COVID-19 into the equation and things get even more complicated. Since this was my first time voting early, I had no idea what to expect ... I hoped I’...
Tue, Nov 03 2020

New President at Deaf School
Deaf News Today The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind has a new president. This was Tracie Snows first day in her new role. She was an administrator of instructional services at the school. She takes over for Julia Mintzer who was the interim president. Snow says: I am extremely honored and humbled to be selected as the next president of the Florida School for the Deaf and ...
Mon, Nov 02 2020

Two Years Ago: Kitty O'Neil Dies
Deaf News Today Professional stuntwoman Kitty O'Neil died one year ago (Nov. 2, 2018) from pneumonia at the age of 72. Among other things, the deaf daredevil set a record for land speed by a female driver in 1976. It was in Oregon's Alvord Desert that Kitty hit 512 miles per hour.Childhood diseases left her deaf and nearly killed her. She became a champion diver at a young age. Her ...
Mon, Nov 02 2020