Tuesday, June 30, 2020
MI company to pay $25K for ADA violations
Sunday, June 28, 2020
This day in history: 116 years ago
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Whatever Happened to.. Jane Fernandes
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image from guilford.edu |
Jane Fernandes has announced she will step down as president of Guilford College after this academic year. She spent seven years at the school and will leave a year before her contract expires. In taking the position at the private Quaker college, she became the first deaf woman to lead a U.S. college or university. But alumni of Gallaudet University will remember her, not only as provost of the school from 2000-2006 but as someone who was appointed by the school's board to become president but was rejected by students (having only learned sign language as an adult). The board revoked the appointment on Oct 29, 2006, Read more about what happened in 2006 in a Washington Post article here. Read Fernandes' letter to Guilford explaining her plans here.
iOS 14 gives deaf users some valuable features
- Sound Recognition, which creates a notification whenever the phone detects common noises like sirens, car horns, doorbells, running water, and appliance beeps.
- There's also a "personal audiogram,” which allows you to adjust frequencies based on which ones you are able to hear.
- "Real Time Text" conversation has been around—it helps with conversations for those who are nonverbal people. But now users can be doing something else while using the app.
- FaceTime calls can now be set so that it will which between signers and not just verbal speakers.
Friday, June 26, 2020
On this date in 1889

Some believe there are mistakes on the statue, but university officials say this is not the case. The chair has only one arm and one straight leg. This was a type of chair common in Gallaudet's day. The chair is not hollow underneath, in order to support the weight of the statue's plaster model. However, the statue was delivered late because French found several mistakes he wanted to correct, including making Gallaudet's legs too short. The text on the statue includes a reference to the "United-States." It was not uncommon for a hyphen to be used at the time, though was considered old fashioned, even in 1889. However, the statue is not consistent because the phrasing on the other side does not include a hyphen. Also, there are periods included in some of the text that is not included on other parts of the statue.
Happy Birthday, Signmark
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Website accessibility study
98% of menus failed
83% of buttons
71% of forms
52% of images
89% of pop-ups.
Read more here.
Starbucks to open 1st signing store in Japan
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image from Starbucks.com |
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Looking Back.. 17 years ago: Big River Debuts

Getting to Know the Father of the Internet
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Vinton Cerf |
Monday, June 22, 2020
Videoconferencing Tips
- Sit in a well-lit space to brighten your face and avoid backlighting, such as light shining through a window behind a workstation.
- Eliminate background noise. Use a high-quality microphone, headset/microphone combo, or earbuds.
- When you're not speaking, put your microphone on mute to reduce background noise
- Speak in turn and state your name before speaking.
- Project your voice succinctly and articulately, and avoid fillers such as “so” and “um.”
- People with hearing loss have a hard time keeping up with spontaneous discussions and details, so try not to sway from the agenda and type your questions or clarifications in the chat feature of the videoconferencing tool you are using.
More info at The Hearing Journal here
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Marvel is looking for a Deaf Actress

Friday, June 19, 2020
Twitter offers audio option--without making the audio accessible
Only a few users have the option so far but it is expected to be widely available in a few weeks.My personal response to the Deaf/HOH Community:— Maya Gold (@mayagpatterson) June 19, 2020
[audio transcript]
Uh point blank period, we fucked up, I fucked up. Uh we launched a test and we should have included accessibility features in that test. That was a huge error, and one I personally have made myself sit [cont] pic.twitter.com/avAImLl9t7
Thursday, June 18, 2020
FedEx will pay $3.3 million dollars to settle an ADA complaint
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
1st Transgender Student Graduates from Rochester School for the Deaf
Monday, June 15, 2020
Masks & VRIs can prevent Deaf individuals from accessing treatment
Bridget Nitsch and her partner, who are both Deaf, couldn’t reach 911 until connecting with Bridget Nitsch’s mother through a video call. By the time the paramedics arrived, the baby’s head was halfway out. Bridget Nitsch and her partner can read lips with American Sign Language, but the paramedics refused to take off their masks or gloves due to COVID-19 precautions.“They were talking, but there was no communication,” Nitsch said through an interpreter. “I couldn’t speech-read anything they were saying, because of the masks. And then the baby came out.”Read more in the Daily Northwestern.
On this Day: First Deaf Computer PhD
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image from Gallaudet.edu |
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Deaf Black lives matter group honors Black deaf sanitation workers
Friday, June 12, 2020
Judge rules on lawsuit filed by deaf inmates in Illinois
Gally suspends frat House over racist photo
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Deaf demonstrators say they face dangers at protests
Monday, June 8, 2020
Black Lives Matter signs
Sunday, June 7, 2020
The lockdown's impact on deaf children in the UK
Getting to know: Canada's first deaf Priest
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Matthew Hysell |
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Meet the deaf fitness instructor calling for more accessibility in gyms and on social media
Friday, June 5, 2020
A Video of Life in a 1950s Deaf School
Thursday, June 4, 2020
33 years ago: Implant history
image from Cochlear.com |
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Tips on How to Speak to Deaf People
* If there is an interpreter, speak to and look at the deaf person—not at 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 mouth to articulate your words but don’t exaggerate them
* Speak a little louder and slower than normal—but don’t shout or drag
* Keep your hands away from your face—particularly your mouth
* Use lots of facial expressions and body movements
* If something is unclear, rather than just repeating the same thing, rephrase thoughts in shorter and simple sentences
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Louisiana School for the Deaf Gets New Director
Hotel Settles Service Dog complaint
The Quality Inn Mystic-Groton to permit service animals in all areas of the hotel that members of the public and other hotel guests are allowed to go, including in its dining room during meal service. Additionally, the hotel will post signage indicating “Service Animals Welcome,” will implement a “Service Animal Policy,” and will train its managers and employees regarding the policy.Read more about it here.
More than 110 years ago
The loss of the sense of hearing should not necessarily mean deprivation of the power of speech. 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 is taught to speak in the natural way by means of the vocal organs. The four or five years of the primary course are devoted almost exclusively to the acquirement of language and numbers.
Monday, June 1, 2020
The Hearing Journal
On this day: the 1st Deaf NFL Player was Born
Bonnie Sloan |