35 Misconceptions about Deafness, Deafblindness and Hard of Hearing

I found this link on Hearing Sparks' blog on her "Around the Web Wednesday" post from Suzie at Deafcomm blog. This is an excellent list of misconceptions, one worth familiarizing yourself with if you aren't already aware.
http://deafcomm.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/35-misconceptions-about-deafness-and-deafblindness/

Cool Lyric App Discovered by Deafinitely Girly

Deaf Girly found a fabulous app that allows you to see the lyrics to songs that are currently playing. She even had lyrics come up in English from a song sung in Spanish! Read about her discovery of  the FREE app here:  http://www.deafinitelygirly.com/2011/08/great-iphone-app-for-deaf-girly.html I found it and downloaded it myself. I can't wait to try this out!

"Beautiful"

This is just that. "Beautiful".
Open Captions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZnfH7Ie6Go

"Firework" an ASL interpretation

I found this WONDERFUL ASL interpretation of Katy Perry's "Firework" and it is just too good not to share. I love seeing not just the signs, but the rhythmic movement and expressions. This is beautifully artful to me.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nByWHdu1pXY&feature=related  This was uploaded by Tiffany Hill.
Firework lyrics
Songwriters: Dean, Esther; Eriksen, Mikkel; Hermansen, Tor Erik; Perry, Katy; Wilhelm, Sandy Julien;

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

"Different Perspectives" by Hearing Sparks

Hearing Sparks puts into words the process of how some of us choose which movies we will go to and why we don't go to others. She also included a portion about the "spoon theory" which elegantly describes what it is like to experience sensory loss. http://hearingsparks.blogspot.com/2011/08/different-perspectives.html

"Peace Maker" by Annie in Oregon

I have a wise and gentle friend who has a beautiful way of teaching profound lessons with words and pictures. This particular blog post she published today spoke volumes to me, and showed me some things I have yet to learn.
http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/1357675

Rush Limbaugh's Excellent Description

Rush Limbaugh does a fantastic job explaining how "hearing" is with cochlear implants (and exactly what I experience with hearing aids). . This is highly descriptive and informative. This is what it is like for me, from music to noise distortion, inability to distinguish sounds and, noise irritability to the preference of silence. Excellently described, Mr. Limbaugh.
Read what he said word for word here:  http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031811/content/01125112.guest.html

Anonymous Comments

 I'm going to follow this excellent advice and no longer publish anonymous comments. "Anonymous comments are not worth responding to. Generally they are left by people who wish only to stir up strife." Also along these lines, when a blog post is reposted, ALL comments are lost, not deleted. If you want to say something hateful or derogatory, publish it on your own blog.

Please Don't Pet Me (written by Holden, a Service Dog for Susquehanna Service Dogs

I will admit that I've actually followed a couple of dogs on Twitter, my favorite one is @dogwalkblog (Rufus actually knows more of what's going on in our political world than most humans). I was delightfully surprised to find this informative blog post written by one of Susquehanna Service Dogs, Holden. Here's his no bones about it advice on etiquette when you see a dog working with its partner.
http://www.forcivilminds.org/2011/08/10/please-don%E2%80%99t-pet-me/#more-150
Visit Susquehanna Service Dog's Home Page Here  http://www.keystonehumanservices.org/susquehanna-service-dogs/default.php

This is the third blog post shared by Susquehanna Service Dogs in honor of International Service Dog Week

"They Say" This is video by a wonderfully determined young woman

I don't know who this young woman is, but I know she is going to do something tremendous with her life. My answer to her question: Yes, yoiu not only can, but I think you will.


You go, Girl!

Day Two of International Assistance Dogs Week: Stress and Your Dog

The second blog this week by by Susquehanna Service Dogs is all about learning to read the body language of your dog when he is in stress, and tips how to train under such situations.

http://susquehannaservicedogs.blogspot.com/2011/08/training-tip-stress-signals.html

It's International Assistance Dogs Week!

Here is a wonderful blog post by Susquehanna Service Dogs explaining the difference between therapy dogs and service dogs. Do be sure to take a minute to watch the fabulous infomercial by the Norwegian Association of the Blind that is posted midway through the blog.   http://susquehannaservicedogs.blogspot.com/2011/08/whats-difference-between-service-dogs.html

How to Recognize a Deaf Customer

I ran across this excellent article by Spencer Clark on how to recognize deaf customers. These are excellent tips for customer service etiquette. Every business or public organization should read this and pass along to their employees and volunteers.

http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=151585

This really should be posted at every work station.

The Most Emotional TV Ad I Have Ever Seen

 Here is an interesting post from Hearing Sparks with an insurance ad from Thai TV. It is in Thai Language and if you click CC button you will have English captions.  Megan is correct, it is a "gut wrencher". It's 3 minutes. If you're a parent, it's even more emotional.

http://hearingsparks.blogspot.com/2011/08/around-web-wednesday.html

My Guest Appearance As Blog Writer at Signing Time

Signing Time Academy asked if I would share what we do at St. Stephen's with our ASL classes. It is a wonderful privilege to write and share about the two organizations I am most passionate about. You can read what I wrote as Guest Blogger. Click the highlighted title to read it: Making a Difference: This school is teaching ASL – with Signing Time!