Recent content by jshumko

I was hoping they would give you a better reply than that. I am a member of the LDS church and the only thing I can think of is that we have a list over 300 signs that are unique to the church. Words such as "ward" and "stake" and many others. For example the sign for LDS "temple" is different...

Here is a pretty good article in our local newspaper about VRS interpreters: http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_13737851 The one comment is obviously from an ignorant hearing person. I think the article needs some supporting comments from people who know the value of VRS.

My husband use to say to me, "You are better than nothing." I suppose that might be true in some situations. But in church where the intent, I think, is to have a spiritual and uplifting experience, I would prefer nothing over an unskilled interpreter with a lousy attitude. Sometimes my husband...

As far as your question, is it right for me to keep interpreting for the Mission chapels? Personally, I think religious organizations should be held accountable under the ADA as much as any other organization. But they are not. This is what I would do if I had the guts (and after 8 years...

I am trying to teach some Sign Language to a few people in my church. They are wanting to learn how to sign a hymn. This is good because they will learn how hymns in ASL are more clear and beautiful than in English. The problem is I do not know ASL. In order to give them an example of how ASL...

It seems to me that deaf people in general are on a different level (maybe a higher level?) of processing information because you don't have to use your ears. This might subconscously intimidate hearing people, maybe they are even a little jealous. Frankly it is tiring listening to people. I...

Maybe I should have left normal out of it. I think everyone on this planet (including me) is whacked.

I hope you are wrong. From my observation, most of the hearing people we know and come across, accept my husband as a normal human being. They recognize it instantly as soon as he says hello. They just seem to be intimidated because they don't know how to communicate with him. There was a...

My husband is deaf. As a hearing person who is struggling to help people understand, I think that you are exactly right. I know that our friends love him but when I'm around they take the easy way out and depend on me. I'm starting to get more bold not only because I want them to communicate...

You must live in a state where paid interpreters do not have to be certified. Here in Utah it is against the law for anyone to be a paid interpreter unless they are certified, which may account for why we have a critical shortage of them. If anyone wants a job....

Forcing anyone to go church (or laying on guilt trips) whether they be hearing, deaf, or whatever, is not a good idea in my mind. I was raised that way and I rebelled. One of the things that is hard for me is convincing people that I am not being modest when I say I am unable to interpret for...

Thank you, trish. The problem with us is not that people don't care. They care too much, in fact, but do not seem to understand that the man is deaf, for heaven's sakes. If they want him to participate fully in the church, they are the ones who are going to have to accomodate him. That concept...

When you think about it, it kind of makes sense that they are understanding more now that I am explaining what it's like for me. They can relate to a hearing person, not a deaf person. It shouldn't be that way, but we are all human. In their minds, they thought my husband should be willing to...

You got that right. And people make incorrect assumptions when they see us together at church. They see me signing to him and think everything is fine and good. Then when we (he, or I, or both) do not show up, they assume it's because we don't like the Church, or we are offended by someone at...

Thank you. I think I actually figured this out earlier today. The reason I was so upset about the interpreter not showing up was because I was really looking forward to this particular Sunday. It was a special meeting and I wanted to enjoy it. My husband is use to interpreters not showing up...