Low Vision Sign Tracking Explained

Low Vision Sign Tracking Explained
By Beth Koenig
Director Deaf-Blind Services
Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center

Sign tracking, which is an off shoot of tactile signing, has the receiver gently holding the signer’s wrists to follow general arm and hand movement. In this way, the receiver is able to get the location, position, and movements of a particular sign. This then allows the eyes to focus on the handshape formed for a sign, and switch back and forth between handshapes and facial expressions when “listening”. It also allows the person to receive signs in a more relaxed manner as they always know where the signer’s wrist and hands are located thus eliminating the need to exert one’s visual energy in tracking or searching out such information.

This technique also allows the receiver to send subtle cues when signing goes out of their visual field. Cues can also be transmitted to the signer such as slow down, repeat, agreement (“yes”, “yeah”), pause or hold, or move to better lighting (visual field).

It should be noted that in the deaf-blind world, such use of technique means “yes, I am paying attention and focused on what you are saying”. Letting go of one wrist but holding the other tighter can signal “hold, I need to do something”, losing grip and moving one hand under the signers hand signals that the receiver would like to say something.

All of this seems to be learned and applied naturally by the two people conversing over the course of the conversation. Simple physics and practical studies can further the understanding of this technique.

Community Carnival Food Stands – Fundraiser or Pissing Contest?

To begin, I been involved in hundreds of foodstand fund raisers. But there’s one event that stands above it all.

The Tustin Tiller Days Carnival stands tall above the others. It happens in October every year.

This one has a reputation system that places organizations having the best type or fanciest looking BBQ systems on top of the others. Basically its become a more of a pissing contest among the organizations than a fundraising event.

Mine is a respectable model noted for it’s efficiency , safety, and ease of use. Thanks to a donation last week by one of our long time sponsors to replace the one that got stolen. We got a brand new char-broil.com BBQ. This event marks the first ever 100% fully sponsored foodstand event. We were hit up with hundreds of dollars in purchasing cards from a dozen supermarkets and wholesalers. Our office manager Rex gets the credit for making it a complete success on the preparation.

So Saturday afternoon comes then ‘judgment period’ when people walk in the back areas and gawk at the new and fancy BBQs out there. And some are wealthy guys and they’re compassionate and sometimes make donations if they like your BBQ arrangement. We were hit up 4 yrs ago with a nice $250 donation cause of it. We were treated with extra hands in teardown. And a guaranteed invite back in the following year.

Keep our fingers crossed at the Tustin Tiller Days event for a good fundraise and we have lots of hearing impaired help here. We’ve always brought back thousands of dollars each time.

Based on the excellent preparation results so far, I feel I’m a winner in the ‘pissing contest’ not because of my new BBQ, because I was able to get this event fully funded by corporations this year.

Richard

Helping Deaf Blind Succeed In Life

Helping Deaf Blind Succeed In Life

We’re showing the way to these deaf blind people they can succeed selling their artwork over the internet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230291816792

We are giving them a good shot at success in life.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330271469909

We are offering them hope.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330271469092

We are building their confidence.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330271468319

We are leveling the playing field for the deaf blind community.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230291816323

We are giving them the opportunities to succeed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330271469688

We are building the foundations of their independence.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item= 230291816442

We are leading the deaf blind community toward success.

Richard

Daniels Fund grants $100,000 to UNC project for deaf children

Two professors at the University of Northern Colorado were awarded a $100,000 grant from the Daniels Fund to create an on-campus clinic that will provide care and support for children who are deaf and their families, according to a press release from UNC.

The clinic will be overseen by Julie Hanks and Tina Stoody in UNC’s College of Natural and Health Sciences. The clinic will focus on children with cochlear implants, surgically-placed devices that enable sounds to be heard.

Hanks and Stoody co-teach courses in aural rehabilitation and cochlear implants.

According to the release, Stoody worked with children and adults with cochlear implants during her graduate training at Washington University in St. Louis. Hanks has been a certified speech-language pathologist for more than 20 years. Her areas of professional study include cochlear implants, speech production of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and evidence-based practice and clinical methods.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20080903/NEWS/809039966/1051/MISC05&parentprofile=-1