deaffriendly News

Hammer 2.0: Matt Hamill Coming Out of Retirement at UFC 152

Posted by: Staff Writer on Sept. 17, 2012  |  Comments

As the Terminator says: “I’ll be baaaaaack.” A terminator in every sense of the word on the UFC octagon, Matt “Hammer” Hamill didn’t have this famous tagline in mind when he announced his retirement last August.

9/11: A Lesson in Deaf Emergency Preparedness

Posted by: Staff Writer on Sept. 11, 2012  |  Comments

Eleven years ago, the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil was so devastating, that there is not one standard sign for it. There are many - and all of them evoke deep emotions. Ask anyone from the deaf community to sign “Twin Towers” or “9/11” and you’ll different signed interpretations to the event that changed the world forever. Some of us punch a fist against the “1” hand shape. Others, two index fingers slowly dropping one by one. For others, it's an explosion or collapse.

Dan Savage's "Miracle!": Insult or Ode to The Deaf-Blind?

Posted by: Staff Writer on Aug. 27, 2012  |  Comments

If Dan Savage were Dr. Jekyll, then his latest theatrical potion turned Helen Keller into a glittery Dr. Hyde: A shock-collared Deaf-Blind pet of drag queens. But he hasn’t cooked up a monster, he’s cooked up a re-examination of the story we all know and love.

How Much Do We Spend On Listening Devices?

Posted by: Staff Writer on Aug. 20, 2012  |  Comments

Viva la Inspiration! Seattle’s Marilyn Smith Wins Big in Vegas

Posted by: Staff Writer on Aug. 7, 2012  |  Comments

For most people, Vegas' code is simple: You win, some, and you (mostly) lose some. More than 25 years ago, Marilyn Smith took one of the biggest gambles of her life: She quit her job to start a non-profit to serve Deaf and Deaf-Blind victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Defying the odds at the DeafNation World Expo 2012 in Las Vegas, the Seattle founder and former Executive Director of ADWAS accepted the DeafNation Inspiration Award.

Election Year Buzz: Florida's Chris Wagner is 2012 NAD President

Posted by: Staff Writer on July 31, 2012  |  Comments

What a busy year it has been for the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). Not only has it battled Netflix in court for closed captioning, rallied the Internet Captioning Deadlines, and sued Chase Bank for refusing Relay calls, NAD has been hard at work bringing in a new generation of movers and shakers: It recently elected Chris Wagner as the NAD’s new President.

Deaf-Friendly Showcase: Salon of Shame, Seattle

Posted by: Staff Writer on July 23, 2012  |  Comments

If you had to write a recipe for cathartic comedy, it may look like this: Adolescence, 3-ringed notebooks, beer … and sign language. This is the winning formula Ariel Meadow Stallings created in 2005. Ask her some of the ASL she’s learned as the founder of Salon of Shame, and she’s not shy to dish. Topics ranging from hormonal urges to wine coolers are fair game as courageous locals bare their teen souls on-stage.

Why Does Sign Language Look So...Angry?

Posted by: Staff Writer on July 10, 2012  |  Comments

An Open Letter to Businesses Curious About Deaf Culture: For every person who comments that “sign language is such a beautiful language,” there is another person who thinks sign language looks … well, angry. That’s because no matter how beautiful the language really is, it is apt to be punctuated with quizzical frowns, intense hand movements, raised eyebrows, and other mannerisms.

100 Reviews Later: Why You Should Write deafREVIEWS

Posted by: Staff Writer on June 26, 2012  |  Comments

Are you still a “review virgin”? Last week, on deafREVIEW, we hit our first milestone – 100 business reviews since our launch – and want to thank the 20+ reviewers who have contributed! As these reviewers know, writing your very first deafREVIEW may feel scary, but very rewarding.

Hashtag Revolution: Changing Our World with #captionTHIS

Posted by: Staff Writer on June 11, 2012  |  Comments

Behold the power of the social media. Did you notice the #captionTHIS tweets and Facebook posts last week? The simple pound key (“#”) has sparked a grassroots revolution that’s spreading to mom-and-pop operations and large Fortune 500 companies. The driving force behind the hashtag: The urgent need to put captions on more online media.