Visual impairment

Cochlear implants, also known as the “bionic ear”, are devices that help provide aid for those hard-of-hearing. These devices are extremely complex and contain parts that are forced to work as a functioning unit. I will be going into more in depth with cochlear implants as well as defining what a cochlear implant actually is. I will also explain the costs that are involved, who the “best candidate” would be for implantation, and the risks and benefits involved with the implant. According to the…

"Sound and Fury," a documentary by Josh Aronson, is a compelling story of a struggle between two cultures; the hearing community and the deaf community, grounded in a conflict between members of one family, split over the perceptions and beliefs of what it means to be"normal." It is a film about identity and culture, belonging and being an outsider, misconceptions and a desire to be understood. It is a film about the struggles of a cultural minority to find its place and acceptance in the…

In recent years, numerous technological advances have come forth in an attempt to resolve or dampen the effects of different sensory impairments. Since around the intermediate years of the 1900s, one invention in particular has been designed, revised, and debated over with the purpose of aiding individuals who suffer complete and various partial forms of hearing loss. Hearing loss involves cochlear malfunction, and the cochlea is the primary hearing organ in the inner ear. Over the past few…

For “Pre-determined Decisions”, the families perceived no choice. The decision was in-effect dictated by the situation (such as the type and level of hearing ability) or the system (such as the availability of a specific service) and the family perceived no ownership. An example of this was a family who received services from a program because it was the only program available to them: “Really we didn’t make any decisions. It was what was offered through the city.” Another parent stated that,…

Why I Jump Autobiography In the book Why I Jump, a boy named Naoki has autism. The book is about his life and him answering questions people have about autism. He answers the questions to the best of his ability on what it’s like for him in his life. It’s about how he feels on a daily basis and how he learned to cope with it, by communicating through the alphabet. He used that knowledge to write this book for people to understand autism in a better way. Naoki was young when he was diagnosed…

Cry of the Gull was written by Emmanuelle Laborit, a french actress that recounts her life experiences as a deaf person. Though this memoir had many inspiring themes, the one that stood out the most to me was how important Deaf culture is to deaf people and how it can affect their experiences. When Emmanuelle was younger, she explains that her parents did not sign to her, as they did not know for a couple of years after she was born that she was deaf, and when they finally found out, the doctors…

most common disability comes from people who have mental or psychiatric impairments and accounts for 11.7% of ADA claims. Impairments mental or psychiatric includes depression, psychological problems, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disease. The third most common disability comes from individuals who have extremity disabilities. This account for 8.1% of ADA claims. If a person has hand and leg impairments, or carpal tunnel syndrome, they are included in the disability…

grossly inappropriate, and unprofessional. Not only would this decision lead consumers (I use plural because I include the Deaf woman and those I would inform in the community) to question their trust in me, it could also potentially jeopardize the reputations of other interpreters with whom I work. Tenet 1.2.2 of AVLIC’s Code states “members shall recognize that all work undertaken by them […] will ultimately reflect the integrity of themselves and of the profession.” (“AVLIC,” 2000, p. 2)…

Every person has a place they enjoy: a classroom, at home, or a club where they love to spend their time. People do not use these places for social interaction only, but that it gives them a true sense of joy and love being there. My place is the ASL classroom in Founders Hall, at the University of North Florida (UNF). The class is not only one of my favorites, but it has truly shaped the culture of my life. The class focuses on Deaf culture and the budding popularity of learning American Sign…

Mr. M is a 72 year old Caucasian male. He was born in Boston, MA and currently resides with his wife, Mary, in a small suburb, Randolph, MA, in a two-story colonial home. He is the son of Irish immigrants and is of completely Irish descent. Mr. M completed two years of art studies at Boston College before being drafted into the Vietnam War. After serving in the army, Mr. M had a life-long career in the Boston Gas Company until the age of 67, when he retired with a monthly pension. His wife is a…