OU's new American Sign Language program inspires communication across campus

On Tuesdays and Fridays in Collings Hall 223, an entire class period goes by without a single word spoken.

The classroom is completely quiet — at no point do the students speak out loud to professor Gary Davis, and he doesn’t speak out loud to them.

That’s because Davis is deaf and is teaching his students sign language.

The silence is only ever broken by students’ laughter — usually when Davis pokes fun at a student’s sloppy use of a sign and shows the student the correct sign, much like a Spanish professor correcting the pronunciation of a word.

Davis, an adjunct professor, is teaching one of the first American Sign Language courses offered at OU — a program administrators have pursued for many years that finally came to fruition fall 2017.

Ex-Superintendent of Schools for Deaf, Blind Suing State

The former superintendent of West Virginia's state schools for blind and deaf students has filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse his firing.

National NewsHuman ResourcesDecember 3, 2017news, deafblind, awareness, advocacy, martin keller, reverse, virginiaComment

Advocating for Deaf-Blind in the Workplace

Deaf-Blind in the workplace is on the increase globally and should be seen as any other employment. Deaf blindness might imply a complete vacancy of hearing and sight, but this isn’t the case. Many who are deaf-blind have some hearing or vision or both. People who are deaf-blind can learn skills to work around hurdles. With assisting and usable technology, people who are deaf-blind can be employed in any type industry and work.

Blog/NotesHuman ResourcesNovember 15, 2017helen keller, deafblinf, workplace, jobs, college, degree, work, discrimination, blind, visually impaired, employer, employee, skills, technology, taxComment

Deaf Sensitivity Training For SC Police Department

Human ResourcesNovember 1, 2017Comment

Sonoma County Deaf Community And Fire Notification..

Human ResourcesOctober 19, 2017 Comment

Deaf-Blind Patrons Should Be Able to Go to the Movies Too

Human ResourcesOctober 10, 2017deafblind rights, deafblind, man, courts, legal Comment

Newly Released Videos on HKNC Website

The Helen Keller National Center announces two new training videos for deaf-blind individuals and family members. These videos were developed and are presented by deaf-blind individuals and are fully accessible with captioning and transcripts.

National NewsHuman ResourcesSeptember 27, 2017helen keller, okc, oklahoma city, new york, shep, deafblind, deafblind awareness, advocacy, advocate, ssp, ssps, professional, personal, online, videos, tools, resources, hknc, familyComment

‘He Can’t Hear You!’: Deaf Man Shot Dead by Oklahoma City Police as Neighbors Scream in Horror

A deaf man carrying a metal pipe was fatally shot by Oklahoma City police on Tuesday night as neighbors frantically tried to tell officers that he couldn't hear their commands.

Magdiel Sanchez, 35, was shot and Tasered on a porch on Tuesday around 8:15 p.m. after he allegedly advanced toward officers following a hit-and-run involving his father, Police Capt. Bo Mathews said Wednesday.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesSeptember 22, 2017news, deaf, man, shot, killed, oklahoma city, okc, police officer, deaf awareness, pipe, stick, weapon, don't shootComment

In time for the holidays: OSB's new Family & Friends Cookbook

Look what’s cookin’! Allison Garner reports that the Oklahoma School for the Blind Family and Friends Cookbook will be available soon. OSB staff has worked hard to get the cookbook ready in all formats. Several DRS staff throughout the agency submitted recipes and may be interested in purchasing a cookbook. OSB’s cookbook is available in print, Braille, and PDF versions that are either screen reader friendly -- or not. Get a $2 discount per item if you buy five or more items.

OKLAHOMA STATE COURT RULES ON STATE BD. OF EXAMINERS OF CERTIFIED COURTROOM INTERPRETERS

WITHDRAWAL AND REPLACEMENT OF RULE 12 OF THE RULES OF STATE BD. OF EXAMINERS OF CERTIFIED COURTROOM INTERPRETERS
2017 OK 66
Decided: 09/11/2017

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL.

Re: Withdrawal and Replacement of Rule 12 of the Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters

CERTIFIED SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

As set forth in the Oklahoma Legal Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Act, 63 O.S. §2407, et seq., a "qualified legal interpreter" for a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual in the Oklahoma courts shall include an interpreter who has been certified by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters. In order to provide for such a certification process by the Board, Rule 12 of the Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters, Title 20, Chapter 23, App. II, as adopted by order of the Supreme Court, 2015 OK 2, effective January 12, 2015, is hereby withdrawn and replaced in its entirety as set forth on the attached Exhibit.

Done by order of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in conference this 11th day of September, 2017.

Children's Books in Braille for Deafblind Children

Children that are deafblind blind have dual sensory just like adults have. It's important that deafblind children grow up embracing their differences and knowing that they are capable and able.

Sight Hearing Encouragement Program now has a new sponsor who dedicates their time to writing books encouraging children to love their differences while embarking on a wonderful journey through literature.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesSeptember 1, 2017children, deafblind, reading, shep, braille, lala, books, ms, mental health, literacy, sponsor, downloadComment

SHEP Moves Towards Bridging the Gap for Deafblind and Substance Abuse Resources

Sensory disabilities, such as blindness and deafness, can be frustrating and challenging to manage in a sight- and sound-focused world. This challenge becomes even greater if the person with the disability has a substance abuse problem. While addiction treatment can provide the tools and skills needed for an individual to recover from and manage substance use or abuse, many facilities are not equipped up to manage the needs of those who are vision or hearing impaired.

As a result, people who are blind or deaf and need substance abuse treatment may be turned away from some facilities or don't get the message and help they need. In many cases, they have even avoided trying to find treatment, due to the concern that they won't have the services or resources available at the facility.

The former superintendent of West Virginia's state schools for blind and deaf students has filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse his firing.

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