deafness and society quiz #4

prospective interpreter

• prospective interpreters will be tested on their expressive and receptive signing, sign-to-voice, voice-to-sign skills 

• they are encouraged to take as many workshops and classes as possible to increase and improve their skills 

• they are also encouraged to practice with deaf and hard-of-hearing people often to improve their receptive and expressive skills 

• they are also advised to challenge themselves by finding several deaf or hard-of-hearing people whose signing skills and speed (vary?) 

oral interpreting/oral transliteration

• a method of interpretation involves oral transliterator/interpreter using inaudible lip movements to repeat spoken words and natural gestures to convey messages to the deaf or hard-of-hearing consumer

• in some instance, oral transliteration/interpreters may also voice for deaf or hard-of-hearing consumers. this method is primarily utilized by those who use speech and speechreading as their primary mode of communication and may or may not use sign language 

transliteration (ASL/English)

a method of interpretation in which interpreters sign and speak word-for-word rather than interpreting messages produced in one language into another language. transliteration generally follows an English word order, incorporates mouthing, and is nearly simultaneous with and in the exact word order of the message being conveyed 

sight translation 

translating a written text into sign language involves reading a written document and translating it to provide the deaf consumer with easily understood access to the content 

tactile interpretation

• a form of interpretation utilized by individuals who are deaf and blind in which they receive linguistic information by feeling the interpreter’s hands while the interpreter signs. the interpreter also adds visual descriptions along with the interpreted message 

• in this interpretation, the interpreter is typically close to the DeafBlind consumer while interpreting 

certified deaf interpreters

A Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) is an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing and has been
certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as an interpreter.
• Excellent general communication skills and general interpreter training. The CDI may also have
specialized training and/or experience using gestures, mime, props, drawings, and other tools to
enhance communication.
• The CDI has extensive knowledge and understanding of deafness, the deaf community, and/or Deaf
culture, which, combined with excellent communication skills, can bring added expertise into both
routine and uniquely difficult interpreting situations.

1. Use idiosyncratic non-standard signs or gestures such as those commonly referred to as “home signs,” which
are unique to a family
2. Use a foreign signed language
3. Have minimal or limited communication skills
4. Are deaf-blind or deaf with limited vision
5. Use signs particular to a given region, ethnic, or age group
6. Have characteristics reflective of Deaf Culture not familiar to hearing interpreters.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

• Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into
  law by President George. H .W. Bush on July 26,
  1990

• ADA is a civil rights law that guarantees equal
  opportunity for services in the private and public
  sectors and employment for individuals with
  disabilities, amendments included people with
  hearing loss.

• Americans with Disabilities Amended Act of 2008:
  To emphasize that even with technology or
  medication to minimize the disability, the person
  still had a disability (even with cochlear implants,
  the person is still deaf).

(at signing of ADA)

• “Three weeks ago we celebrated our
  nation's Independence Day. Today we're
  here to rejoice in and celebrate another
  'independence day,' one that is long
  overdue. With today's signing of the
  landmark Americans for Disabilities Act,
  every man, woman, and child with a
  disability can now pass through once-
  closed door into a bright new era of
  equality, independence, and freedom”
  

ADA covers 5 separate titles

Title I: employment

Title II: state and local government services

Title III: public accommodations

Title IV: telecommunications

Title V: miscellaneous provisions

Title I: Employment

• Ensures equal access to employment
  opportunities for qualified individuals with a
  disability.

• It prohibits employers from discriminating
  against a qualified individual with a disability
  because of the disability in such aspects of
  employment as hiring, job training,
  promotion, or the discharge process.

• For employers of 25 or more employees,
  Title I became effective on July 26, 1992.

• It became effective for employers of 15 or
  more employees on July 26, 1994,

• Employers must not refuse
  employment to a qualified
  individual with a disability on the
  basis of that person's disability,
  and reasonable accommodations
  can be made for this person to
  perform the work task

  
  

Title II: State and Local Government Services

• State and local governments are prohibited from
  discriminating against those with disabilities or
  from excluding participation or denying benefits of
  programs, services, or activities to those with
  disabilities

• Also covers transportation services by requiring
  that all public transportation systems be
  accessible to all people (including those with
  disabilities)

• Individuals with disabilities must have
  equal opportunities to access the services
  and benefits of public entities.

  • An illustration of not providing such equal
    opportunity would be a failure to provide an
    interpreter at a city council meeting for
    individuals who are deaf.

  • Title II of the ADA clarifies what Section 504
    requires of public transportation systems
    receiving federal financial assistance.

Undue Hardship 

an undue burden or undue hardship is a stipulation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that would cause significant difficulty or expense if carried out 

ex. If a medium sized computer company employs a
deaf computer programmer, it may well not be an
undue hardship for such an employer to hire a
sign-language interpreter to assist the deaf
programmer in conversations with co-workers and
in staff meetings. However, if a deaf individual
applied for work at a small restaurant and asked
the restaurant to hire a full-time sign language
interpreter as an accommodation, that could be
an undue hardship.

Title III: Private Sector Services

• Places of public accommodations are required to be
  accessible and usable by those with disabilities.

• Private businesses must not discriminate in the goods
  & services, facilities, procedures, privileges,
  advantages, and accommodations” offered to the
  public.

• Readily achievable alterations must be made to existing
  buildings. New buildings must be free of barriers.

• Businesses cannot discriminate by excluding those with
  disabilities, by treating these individuals separately, or
  by requiring them to participate in separate programs.

Title III: Private Sector Services examples

Hotels
 Restaurants
 Bars
 Theaters
 Bowling alleys
 Hospital
 Golf courses
 Lawyer’s office
 Auditoriums
 Zoos
 Private Schools
 Banks
 Gas Stations
 Laundromats
 Grocery Stores
 Insurance Offices
* Museums
* Funeral Parlors
* Day-care centers
* Professional Offices
of Health care
providers
EXCLUDES: PRIVATE
CLUBS, RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS

Title IV: Telecommunications

• Common carriers offering telephone services to the
  general public are required to increase the
  availability of interstate and intrastate
  telecommunications relay services to individuals
  with hearing loss

• VRS has accommodated this Title IV in making all
  calls free and accessible for Deaf people under the
  FCC
  

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions

• ADA can not be construed to apply a
  lesser standard of compliance then
  does the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

• ADA does not limit or invalidate other
  federal or state laws which provide
  equal or greater protection

ADA and Assistive Listening Devices (ALD’s) 

• Appropriate auxiliary aids and services are to
  be made available to ensure effective
  communication. Auxiliary Aids and Services
  deals specifically with ALD’s. This includes:

  •  Qualified interpreters, or other effective
    methods of making aurally delivered materials
    available to those with hearing impairment

  • Qualified readers, taped texts, or other
    effective methods of making visually delivered
    materials available to those with visual
    impairments

  • Acquisition or modification devices
    

laws in juvenile justice facility placements 

• Within these facilities are programs
  required under IDEA Part B, ADA, and
  Section 504 to provide access to
  communication, language, and appropriate
  services.

• Youths are placed here because they
  committed unlawful violent crimes involving
  physical and sexual assault, property
  crimes such as car theft, drug-related
  offenses, or even homicide.

• These facilities aim to educate, rehabilitate,
  and encourage youth to make positive life
  changes.

difference between Deaf Art and De’VIA

Deaf Art – represents Deaf artists; their paintings do not
reflect Deaf culture

De’VIA (Deaf View/Image Art) – shows cultural or physical
experiences in the Art

De’VIA

AFFIRMATION ART
• Art in the form of celebration and
validation of someone's culture.

RESISTANCE ART
• Art is represented through issues of
oppression, identify formation, and
political struggles.
• Expresses the suppression and
oppression of the Deaf.

history of De’VIA

• A four-day workshop at Gallaudet University, 1989, to discuss “What is
  Deaf Art,” facilitated by Betty G. Miller.

• Nine Deaf artists four days prior to Deaf Way to discuss the distinction
  between art by a Deaf person and art about the Deaf experience.

• A visual and written manifesto was developed for De’VIA (Deaf Visual Art)

• The beauty of sign language, frustrations in communicating, cultural pride,
  turning points in Deaf history.

Betty G. Miller

• influenced by her father, she became a painter

• first Deaf artist to emote feelings of oppression with her work

• exhibit was controversial among both hearing and Deaf communities

• “mother” of the Deaf View/Image Art (De’Via)

De’VIA (cont.)

Betty Miller created paintings to help hearing people understand Deaf culture and break down the communication barrier between Deaf and hearing worlds.

Her earlier paintings showed anger about the oppression of deaf people. In later years, she showed the beauty of Deaf culture and ASL

Marlee Matlin 

Marlee Matlin is the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1987. Marlee made her acting debut playing Sarah Norman in the romantic drama film Children of a Lesser God (1986), winning the Academy Award for Best Actress

cultural appropriation & inspiration porn

Cultural appropriation: Today, unenlightened casting directors still cast ignorant, non-signing hearing people in Deaf, signing roles, expecting them to quickly learn how to wave their hands around and look like they are Deaf.
- Hearing people take advantage of Deaf people, a cultural and linguistic minority.
- The majority culture and language often incorporate features or traditions from marginalized groups, typically for financial gain or fame.

Inspiration porn: Those pieces essentially make people feel good or better about their lives and feel happy about disabled people, ”overcoming” obstacles, essentially making those images, words, and videos “inspiration porn” for abled people (Heideman, 2015; Marcus, 2014).

#DeafTalen

• The hashtag is used to highlight through social media the
  capabilities of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
  Before the hashtag’s emergence in the creative industry,
  hearing actors had been cast in deaf roles.

• It’s not okay to cast hearing people for a Deaf role, PERIOD!