“Deaf-Friendly Recreation Places In America”
By Deaf411 | June 20, 2008
[DEAF411] While collecting information for the “Deaf-Friendly Cities in the U.S.” project, we came across Branson, Missouri.
Branson, located south of Springfield, MO is a popular vacation spot in America known for magicians, comedy, variety, dinner shows and musical events i.e. rock ‘n’ roll, country, gospel, and performances targeted at families.
Branson claims they have more theater seats than Broadway in New York City! Branson also has mini-golf, museums, and family attractions of all kinds, making it a possible ideal family vacation spot. But can a deaf person or family visit and enjoy Branson when most of its offerings are musical attractions? If Branson draws 100,000 military veterans and families every year, why shouldn’t it draw deaf and hard of hearing visitors? That’s the question Randy Boude wants to answer.
Randy Boude, who is hearing and his sign language interpreter wife, have formed an organization with the goal of making Branson accessible to all deaf people. He is on a mission to make all vacation spots deaf accessible! Randy, who is a singer, sees that access for deaf and hard of hearing people is limited in the entertainment world.
Their organization, Signed Entertainment Enterprises (S.E.E.), reports progress to date as follows: making The White House Theater, The Grand Victorian Hotel, and All American Café deaf-friendly. Deaf people can come to Branson and watch pre-recorded sign language interpretation video by level-5 interpreters while watching stage performances. Employees at several businesses in Branson are attending sign language classes provided by S.E.E. two hotels have included typing devices at front desks for communication with deaf guests as well as TDDs in lobby and guest rooms. Restaurants have menus pasted on the table to facilitate orders.
S.E.E. certifies places “deaf-friendly” if they provide appropriate accessibility for deaf people i.e. employees who use sign language or use of accessibility features. Matt Blunt, Governor of Missouri, proclaimed April 2008 as “Deaf Awareness Month”.
Are there other Deaf-Friendly Recreation Places in America?
Send your responses, suggestions and comments to survey@deaf411online.com.
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Large vs. Small City: How Does it impact the Deaf Population?
By Deaf411 | May 30, 2008
[Deaf411] Living in a large city has benefits. With a larger population, there is more variety in places to see, areas to live, choices of restaurants, recreation, and people. Yet living in a small city has its own benefits – people taking the time to know and help each other, giving more attention and devoting more times to each other’s needs!
Does the same apply to deaf people? Does a bigger city mean more options for deaf people? Or is living in a smaller city better because people are more patient and respond to your needs?
Large City Scenario
Looking up on the Internet, you find that the movie you have wanted to see is showing with captions this weekend! You can choose from five to ten show times!
When you call the doctor’s office to make an appointment, the secretary asks you which interpreting agency you prefer them to use. You pick the agency and a qualified & certified interpreter shows up at your appointment.
Arriving home from the doctor, there is a letter from a prospective employer who interviewed you recently for a job. The letter informs you that you did not get the job. That’s alright, you start thinking right away of other options… reading through the newspaper, you find several possibilities. You apply and the following week, hear from several. Two of them, once they find out you are deaf, are agreeable to arranging an interpreter for the interview.
Last weekend, a club is hosting a potluck dinner, and another organization is also hosting a deaf bowling event. While you are bowling, you catch up on news and gossip and also meet some new deaf people. Someone mentioned that the deaf school is hosting an alumni dinner and basketball game for those who graduated between 1990 and 1999. As you are an alumni member, you plan to attend and watch basketball games between four deaf schools, all located in the same city.
Small City Scenario
An email reminder asks you to bring food to a monthly picnic. After putting food on the table, you join the conversation with several teachers and old friends. You go greeting everyone else and catch up on news. You know almost everyone at the picnic… most of them are deaf families with deaf children and grandchildren as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins…
Someone mentions a popular movie is finally being captioned in a nearby town. You check to see the show times and there are only two times that day. After watching the movie, you drive home very late.
When you arrive home, you see a “missed videophone call”. The next day, you return the call and discover that your friend has lost his job and seeks your help finding another job. It takes several weeks before your friend finds and applies for a job. He also needs your help finding an interpreter as he is having hard time getting one. The local interpreting agency says that they do not have any interpreters available, so your friend has to wait another week to have the job interview with an interpreter. Good news follows when your friend calls to inform you that he finally got the job!
Question: Is having more choices in a Large City more important than having more time and attention in a Smaller City?
More than one school, one club, many interpreters and flexible schedules, more captioned movie show times, jobs, understanding and more funds to support deaf needs and sensitivity?
With less people, more personal involvement with people who take their time to recognize needs of deaf people but yet “one of everything” (one school, one captioned movie, one club, etc) and deaf people know each other very well?
What says you?
We welcome your ideas and thoughts! Send your email to survey@deaf411online.com.
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A Deaf Town, or Fully Deaf-Accessible Town?
By Deaf411 | May 16, 2008
[Deaf411] As you walk down the street to the grocery store, you pass other deaf people. A deaf postman puts mail in a mailbox and waves to you as you walk by. He signs “Good morning” and you reply back the same. At the grocery store, you walk up to the meat department. A deaf butcher comes to serve you. At the checkout, the deaf cashier signs “Thank you for visiting. Please come by again.” Several people passing by on your way home sign “Good morning”. When you arrive home, you cook a delicious meal for your family.
Or imagine your trip to the post office. You wait in line and stare at a poster advertising FedEx’s fast shipping services until the teller is available. You walk up to the counter and gesture for pen and paper to write what you need. The counter person is patient and writes answers to your questions. As you are about to leave, the counter person fingerspells, “Come back again”. You thank the teller for their excellent service. On the way home, you stop by Sears to pay a bill. When the cashier finds out you are deaf, she instructs the other customer to go to the next station and patiently wait for your written question. The cashier responds and you pay the bill. As you leave, the manager stops by and introduces himself. He is a CODA [child of deaf adult], thanks you and wishes you a great day.
Question:
Would you rather live in a “Deaf Town”, or a “Fully Accessible Town”?
- DEAF TOWN: A town composed of one culture or one language (e.g. ASL). All deaf individuals live in this town as well as hearing people who know the language. There are no communication barriers and no accommodation barriers. A deaf person can live without worrying of requesting special accommodations or interpreters to eliminate communication barriers.
- FULLY ACCESSIBLE TOWN: A town where more than one culture is present. There are many languages and communication barriers. Special accommodations and interpreters are required to eliminate communication barriers and other forms of accessibility barriers. In this town, a deaf individual does not work hard to access anything and there are accommodations available almost everywhere.
What Are The Pros & Cons Of A “Deaf Town”, and a “Fully Accessible Town”?
We invite you to share your ideas and thoughts! We will explore different topics as part of the “Deaf-Friendly Cities in the U.S.” project. Send your email to survey@deaf411online.com.
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Deaf and the City
By Deaf411 | May 2, 2008
Deciding whether your city is deaf-friendly?
[Deaf411] You have a date with your city, Rochester. All of your friends are busy and you are alone, so you decide to enjoy the evening yourself. You are about to experience a city and whether it is deaf-friendly.
As you walk by a restaurant, you read their specials on a sign including “Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti for 4.99”. You decide to go in and eat. The hostess starts talking to you and you inform her that you are deaf. She suddenly apologizes and starts signing. The hostess seats you at a table near a window. The waiter noticed the hostess signing to you, and he stops by your table and signs to you as well.
After placing your order, you read in the newspaper that the local movie theater is playing a movie you want to see and it is open-captioned! You decide to watch a movie after you finish eating. At the ticket window, the teller talks to you. After informing her you are deaf, she talks to you in sign language asking which movie you want to see. You buy a ticket and enjoy your movie.
After the movie is over, you walk home. You just finished dating your deaf-friendly city. You just experienced hearing people who know sign language, and being in a movie theater that provides captions.
Is Your City Deaf-Friendly?
- Who should judge and decide which cities meets the standards of a deaf-friendly city?
- What features must a city have before you can consider “dating”, and maybe “marry”?!
What do you look for in a deaf-friendly city – is it:
- Availability of interpreters?
- Number of hearing people knowing signs?
- Availability of deaf-friendly accessibility services (open-captioned films)?
- Businesses hiring deaf employees?
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ANNOUNCEMENT: Deaf-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
By Deaf411 | April 28, 2008
Research shows that you will move an average of twelve times during your lifetime. Each move is a major commitment of time and money. How do you know if the new city you are moving to is ideal for your needs? What should you look for?
Most people base their decision to move on their personal needs i.e. employment opportunities, to be closer to family, improved educational opportunities for their children, or larger housing.
Deaf people face more issues and obstacles. Making a decision can be overwhelming. The biggest challenge is accessibility in the new city. Accessibility has huge impact when considering career, educational, medical, retirement, public activities, socializing, and other factors.
There needs to be resources to help people make decisions. Deaf411, a marketing and public relations company, has taken on this challenge.
Deaf411 is now gathering and will share information about what would be an ideal “Deaf-Friendly” city. They are seeking input on which cities in the U.S. welcome deaf people. Which cities actually go out of their way to accommodate deaf people?
In a Deaf411 video, announcer Michel Swafford cites, as examples, efforts by newspapers or magazines to promote such topics as “Top 100 Best Companies to Work For”, or “100 Best Retirement Places”. Swafford encourages Deaf people to participate in this survey.
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We invite you to share your ideas and thoughts! We will explore different topics as part of the “Deaf-Friendly Cities in the U.S.” project. Send your email to survey@deaf411online.com.
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