AllDeaf.com http://www.alldeaf.com/ Most popular, free public forum for the deaf and hard of hearing. Come share your thoughts and opinions on deaf related topics and issues. en Thu, 23 May 2013 01:01:45 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.alldeaf.com/images/misc/rss.jpg AllDeaf.com http://www.alldeaf.com/ Any good cheap speech to text programs? http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-products-technologies/111837-any-good-cheap-speech-text-programs.html Thu, 23 May 2013 01:01:37 GMT For Internet services, "two factor" authentication is becoming common. I can't use one of my credit cards because I can't receive a "code" by phone. I tried Office 2003's voice feature on some numbers that I know would have a menu tree and got complete gibberish.

Any ideas anyone for something cheap? It has to translate any speaker and over the phone at that.

Thanks all. ]]> Prairie Mutt http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-products-technologies/111837-any-good-cheap-speech-text-programs.html Ouch... http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111836-ouch.html Thu, 23 May 2013 00:52:16 GMT Well, I posted earlier about my new Naidia Q's. Anyways, the tube is cutting into my skin. Do I just need to get used to it, or do I need a longer tube? What might be some products that could help? ]]> Oink http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111836-ouch.html Optimism amid odds for deaf, blind 4yr old girl http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/111835-optimism-amid-odds-deaf-blind-4yr-old-girl.html Wed, 22 May 2013 23:24:05 GMT Optimism amid odds for deaf, blind 4yr old girl | Capital News]]>
Quote:
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 22 – Grace’s dad, like many other fathers out there, is trying to break the thumb sucking habit his four year old daughter.

Unlike the majority of fathers however, when he receives Grace’s report form at the end of the school term, he doesn’t learn how well she did in Kiswahili or English or Math.

He gets appraised on her vision, hearing, communication skills, self-help skills, physical skills, cognitive skills and her, ‘gross’ motor development.

You see, Grace is unlike most children who at the age of four can use the potty and walk. “The house help carries Grace to school on her back and she has to make sure Grace has a pamper on or she’ll pee on her back,” Grace’s dad, Geoffrey Mwangi, tells Capital FM News during an interview at his Kayole home.

The walls at the home are lined with cushions to keep the deaf and blind Grace from hurting herself, “My miracle like every other four year old is quite playful but unlike every other four year old she can’t see or hear danger,” Geoffrey explains.

He calls Grace his miracle because he and his wife Jane have seen her come back from near death, “We have been fighting for Grace even before she was born. That’s why we named her Grace,” he says.

Grace was what you’d call a ‘preemie’ her mother having gone into pre-term labour at seven months. “I left work one evening and my water just broke. I didn’t know what the problem was because I had never even caught a cold when I was pregnant with Grace.”

Grace came out of Jane’s womb with many of her organs, including her eyes and ears, not fully developed, “her digestive tract wasn’t developed either,” Jane recalls, “she was so sickly that they had to give her blood through a vein in her head.”

Despite spending a month and a half in an incubator, Geoffrey remembers as he wipes a tear from his eyes, Grace’s condition did not seem to be improving, “the doctors said there was not much more they could do for us and that it was only a matter time.”

“That’s when the doctors at Kenyatta decided to try the Kangaroo as a last resort,” Jane continues, “it was the first time they’d tried it and it worked because two weeks later Grace’s digestive tract began to work and I took her home. I never lost faith.”

It’s the same faith that Jane and Geoffrey hold on to now that Grace’s last report form reads, “she seems to follow light,” under vision and, “she seems to respond to sounds,” under hearing.

“The doctors say her eyes will continue to develop until she’s eight years old,” Jane explains, “so there’s light at the end of the tunnel on that front but she’ll need surgery to improve her hearing.”

And although the surgery Grace requires that runs into millions is out of her parents’ financial reach at the moment, Geoffrey is optimistic things will turn out for the best.

“The best a lot of disabled people in this country can hope for is vocational training but even if my Grace doesn’t grow to see or hear I believe there is a purpose to all that she’s endured in her short life. I believe Helen Keller’s deaf blindness is what gave her a story to write and great faith. Because all you can do when you can’t see or hear is believe.”
Optimism amid odds for deaf, blind 4yr old girl | Capital News ]]> Deaf News Smithtr http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/111835-optimism-amid-odds-deaf-blind-4yr-old-girl.html Employee recognised for helping deaf people at national business awards http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/111834-employee-recognised-helping-deaf-people-national-business-awards.html Wed, 22 May 2013 23:22:47 GMT Employee recognised for helping deaf people at national business awards | Royston News | Latest News & Events In Royston, Cambridgeshire | Royston Evening News]]>
Quote:
A woman who has helped hundreds of deaf people find permanent employment has been recognised at a national business awards ceremony.

Cheryl Cullen reached the final shortlist of five in the ‘No Boundaries’ category at the Microsoft Dynamics Change Ambassadors Awards which took place last week.

The passionate innovator set up a service for Thriplow-based company Clarion Interpreting to improve equal access and interpreting services for deaf people in business by helping them turn their lives around through permanent employment.

Using her idea, the company, set up in 2002, has placed 250 people and found permanent work for 20 per cent of them - meeting the industry average for people without disabilities.

Cheryl, head of Business Development at Clarion, said: “I’m chuffed to bits that the employment service has worked so well. It’s my job to innovate, develop new business and lead on change but when a good idea has such a high social return for an individual who is so disadvantaged in terms of securing employment, well when it comes to personal satisfaction it doesn’t get much better that”.

Clarion have customers across the country, from small local charities to large international corporate companies.

The Microsoft Dynamics Change Ambassador Awards, managed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), recognise employees from across the UK who have helped execute successful change within their business.

Steve Morrow, director of Microsoft Dynamics UK, said: “It is fantastic to see how many people have made a positive impact through change within their work place.

“These awards have emphasised the importance of innovation and how individuals can be the driving force behind change within their companies if they are persistent.”
Employee recognised for helping deaf people at national business awards | Royston News | Latest News & Events In Royston, Cambridgeshire | Royston Evening News ]]> Deaf News Smithtr http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/111834-employee-recognised-helping-deaf-people-national-business-awards.html 93 year old deaf and blind lady burgled as she slept http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/111833-93-year-old-deaf-blind-lady-burgled-she-slept.html Wed, 22 May 2013 23:21:35 GMT 93 year old deaf and blind lady burgled as she slept - Local - Driffield Post Times]]>
Quote:
Police are hunting an evil criminal who burgled the home of a 93 year old blind and deaf woman as she slept

The thief struck on the afternoon of Tuesday May 14 as the pensioner slept in a chair inside her house in in Pudding Gate, Bishop Burton.

The thief entered the house through an insecure front door some time between approximately 1.15pm and 5pm.

A police spokeswoman said: “The lady, who is both deaf and blind, was undisturbed by the offender who took a handbag from the house, along with its contents, including several hundred pounds in cash.

“The lady woke and was unable to locate her bag and the following day a wallet from the bag was found in the front garden by a carer.

“The theft was then reported to police.”

Officers are investigating the offence and woulkd like to speak to anyone who might have seen anything or anyone suspicious in the village during on that day.

They would like to speak to anyone who saw any suspicious people in the area at the relevant time.

Anyone who can assist police is asked to contact Humberside Police on the non emergency number 101 referring to log 295 of 16 May 2013 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
93 year old deaf and blind lady burgled as she slept - Local - Driffield Post Times ]]> Deaf News Smithtr http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/111833-93-year-old-deaf-blind-lady-burgled-she-slept.html Questions about Canada http://www.alldeaf.com/general-chat/111832-questions-about-canada.html Wed, 22 May 2013 23:18:01 GMT I'm on my first trip here and a couple of observations have made me think of some questions. They may apply elsewhere, too.

1. I really like the 1 and 2 dollar coins. But what has this done to strip clubs? It's not really my kind of thing, but oddly it was one of my first thoughts. Are there still paper 1's out there or maybe different rules up here. Or just higher income for dancers.

2. In the US it's common to say that you need someone's John Hancock when you want a signature. Is there a similar expression in Canada? Or any interesting, unique sayings here?

I'm really enjoying my trip to Vancouver. Really looking forward to having some downtime on Friday to do more. The wireless credit card machines are very cool; haven't see those in NC -- nice that it can do the tip and also prints receipts right there. ]]> General Chat soulchill http://www.alldeaf.com/general-chat/111832-questions-about-canada.html Question about upgrading my Cochlear Implant http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111831-question-about-upgrading-my-cochlear-implant.html Wed, 22 May 2013 23:16:40 GMT First of all, I had cochlear implant when I was 3 years old which that was in about 1996-1997. I never had it upgraded or whatsoever. Today I still have that box thingy and are useable but are breaking due aging. Magent piece is missing in grass two years ago and still is not able to find it. :(. I hate yellow grass haha. I still can't believe how short the grass are and I can't find it!

However, today I am considering to get new one with medicare covered hopeful. So since I still have old magent in my head, do I need to have surgery again to replace with new one or just get new cochlear with right mapping?

My cochlear is Spectra 22 Speech Processor, made in 1994. Is it possible to "upgrade" from that? ]]> JoeyDeafNinja http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111831-question-about-upgrading-my-cochlear-implant.html Faith healers charged with murder after 2nd death http://www.alldeaf.com/current-events/111830-faith-healers-charged-murder-after-2nd-death.html Wed, 22 May 2013 22:30:34 GMT Faith healers charged with murder after 2nd death]]> PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia couple who believe in faith healing over medicine and who were on probation in their son's pneumonia death were charged with murder Wednesday after a second young child died under what a prosecutor called "eerily similar" circumstances.

Herbert and Catherine Schaible ignored a court order to seek medical care if their children needed it, prosecutors said Wednesday. The requirement was a condition of the probation sentence they received after the death of their toddler son four years ago.

First Assistant District Attorney Ed McCann says the Schaibles are entitled to their religious beliefs — until it endangers their children.

"How many kids have to die before it becomes extreme indifference to human life?" McCann said in announcing the charges. "They killed one kid already."

The Schaibles are members and former teachers at the fundamentalist First Century Gospel Church in northeast Philadelphia. The church's website quotes Bible verses purportedly forbidding Christians from visiting doctors or taking medicine and suggests it's a sin to trust in medicine over faith.

Catherine Schaible declined to comment earlier Wednesday, before the arrest warrants were issued. Defense lawyers call the couple loving parents who did not intend for their sons to die.

A jury had convicted them of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment after the 2009 death of 2-year-old Kent, who had been sick for about two weeks. Brandon Schaible died of pneumonia in April after suffering from diarrhea and breathing problems for at least a week, and refusing to eat.

"The circumstances are eerily similar," said Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore, who handled the first trial and pushed for prison time because she feared the couple would not follow the court's order on medical care.

A conviction on the new case could bring seven to 14 years in prison or more, prosecutors said.

About a dozen children a year die in the U.S. when their parents choose prayer over medical care, according to Shawn Francis Peters, a University of Wisconsin lecturer who wrote "When Prayer Fails: Faith Healing, Children and the Law."

In a handful of cases, the parents later watch a second child die.

"One of the building blocks of our legal system is the idea that people will be afraid of being punished," Peters said. But people who trust in faith healing fear "a different kind of punishment," he said. "It's not an earthly punishment meted out by the state of Pennsylvania. It's punishment going to be delivered by the Almighty on Judgment Day. It's difficult to find a legal regime that can change that."

The Schaibles, who quit school after ninth grade, have worked as teachers at their church. They are in their mid-40s, and their oldest child will soon turn 18. Their seven surviving children were placed in foster care after a parole violation hearing last month, when a judge rebuked them for failing to seek medical care for Brandon.

"I am sorry for your loss. Deeply sorry," Common Pleas Judge Benjamin Lerner told the couple. "But in all honesty, I am more sorry for the fact that this innocent little child will not be able to grow up to be what he wanted to be."

Catherine Schaible's public defender, Mythri Jayaraman, said Brandon had seen a doctor at least once in his life.

"When he was 10 days old, he had been taken to a doctor for a checkup, and to make sure everything was OK. We don't know beyond that," Jayaraman told The Associated Press.

Bobby Hoof, the lawyer who represented Herbert Schaible in the earlier case, described the couple as loving parents who grieved over Kent's death.

"He's a father just like the rest of us. He loves his children, wants to see them educated," said Hoof, who does not know if he will be appointed in the new case. "It's hard to indict someone for what they believe."

Faith healers charged with murder after 2nd death ]]> Current Events http://www.alldeaf.com/current-events/111830-faith-healers-charged-murder-after-2nd-death.html Why penguins stopped flying http://www.alldeaf.com/strange-stupid-news/111829-why-penguins-stopped-flying.html Wed, 22 May 2013 22:23:22 GMT Why penguins stopped flying]]> Penguins are excellent swimmers. But even with wings, the aquatic flightless birds do not take to the skies despite having wing-like flippers.

In fact, a new study says that penguins became so good at swimming that they eventually evolved to specialize at that skill at the cost of airborne flight.

"Like many people, I've always been interested in penguins, and seeing them do these phenomenal marches across the ice, I've often thought: 'Why don't they just fly?' Professor John Speakman, from the University of Aberdeen and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the BBC." And it's really great to be involved in the group of people that have solved it."

The new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says that at least five species of penguin have adapted into flightless birds.
In particular, biomechanical models of energy costs during flying and diving suggest that a wing designed for optimal diving performance should lead to enormous energy costs when flying in air,” explains the study. “Costs of flying and diving have been measured in free-living animals that use their wings to fly or to propel their dives, but not both.”

In fact, many studies compare penguins’ underwater prowess to being like flight beneath the waves. And just how good at swimming are they? They can swim at speeds up to 8mph over a distance of 100 miles, and up to six times faster when under duress. And while most penguins catch their food near the water’s surface, some Emperor penguins have been known to dive 1,870 feet for more than 20 minutes.

"Basically the hypothesis is that as the wings became more and more efficient for them to dive, they became less and less efficient for them to fly,” Speakman said. "At some point it became so 'expensive' for them to fly, that it was better to give up flying altogether and make the wings into small flippers."

However, for the study, Speakman and his colleagues studied one bird that can both swim and fly: the guillemot.

“These birds have these very short wings and they have to beat them at an incredible speed to stay in the air,” Speakman said.

However, while the seabirds look very similar to their penguin counterparts and are nearly as good at swimming, they are barely functional at flying.

"The energy costs are very, very high,” Speakman said. “These birds have these very short wings and they have to beat them at an incredible speed to stay in the air. It is exhausting for them.”

Another species of seabird, the Murres, is also capable of flight.

Why penguins stopped flying ]]> http://www.alldeaf.com/strange-stupid-news/111829-why-penguins-stopped-flying.html <![CDATA[What's your favorite battery brand?]]> http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111828-whats-your-favorite-battery-brand.html Wed, 22 May 2013 22:11:52 GMT Wanted to know what kind and why! Wanted to know what kind and why! ]]> Oink http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111828-whats-your-favorite-battery-brand.html How do you make polls? http://www.alldeaf.com/how-use-alldeaf-forum/111827-how-do-you-make-polls.html Wed, 22 May 2013 22:09:08 GMT Curious Curious ]]> How to use the AllDeaf Forum Oink http://www.alldeaf.com/how-use-alldeaf-forum/111827-how-do-you-make-polls.html where to find an asl user roommate? http://www.alldeaf.com/general-chat/111826-where-find-asl-user-roommate.html Wed, 22 May 2013 21:13:13 GMT Hello all. :]

First time posting but this is the reason I signed up for this. I just want to know if there's a site or something that I specifically look for a roommate that knows ASL? Might be a possibility that I need to look for one soon.

Yeah, I should introduce myself in the other thread, but here's a quick summary. From Northern California, living in Southern California. I'm Deaf, fourth generation on my mother's side only. Technically hard of hearing. 23, female, yada yada. ]]> General Chat inkkedethereal http://www.alldeaf.com/general-chat/111826-where-find-asl-user-roommate.html Well, I got new Hearing Aids... http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111825-well-i-got-new-hearing-aids.html Wed, 22 May 2013 20:49:12 GMT I'm SUPER thrilled with them. They have surpassed my expectations.
Only flaw is that one tube is too short, so we have to send it back in. :cry:
They're also really boring and inconspicious. :(
BUT
The sound is super amazing, and they are so much more comfortable than my old Exelia P's!
Oh, the epic new Hearing Aids are the Naidia Q's!
I CANT WAIT TO GO SWIMMING WITH THEM!!!!
*Happy Dance*
:dance:
Has anyone gotten them? If you have, what do you think of them?
*They're RICs, sorry for not clarifying that ]]> Oink http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/111825-well-i-got-new-hearing-aids.html How to make a deaf/hearing relationship work? http://www.alldeaf.com/marriage-dating-single-life/111824-how-make-deaf-hearing-relationship-work.html Wed, 22 May 2013 19:33:31 GMT _Simplified question:_ -Are there dear/hearing relationships that work? -How did they make it work? -How did previous deaf/hearing relationships fail? I am asking this as the hearing portion of this relationship. *Any answers welcome* Simplified question:
-Are there dear/hearing relationships that work?
-How did they make it work?
-How did previous deaf/hearing relationships fail?

I am asking this as the hearing portion of this relationship.

Any answers welcome ]]> Onesidedx http://www.alldeaf.com/marriage-dating-single-life/111824-how-make-deaf-hearing-relationship-work.html Zimmerman attorneys say Trayvon Martin was on drugs http://www.alldeaf.com/current-events/111823-zimmerman-attorneys-say-trayvon-martin-drugs.html Wed, 22 May 2013 19:14:47 GMT Zimmerman attorneys say Trayvon Martin was on drugs on night of shooting | News - Home]]> on night of shooting


George Zimmerman's attorneys push to use Martin's toxicology reports in trial

SANFORD, Fla. -
In a new motion on Tuesday, George Zimmerman’s defense team argues that they believe Trayvon Martin was high on marijuana the night he was killed by George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman’s lawyers say they want to introduce toxicology results from Martin’s autopsy that show THC, a key component of marijuana, in his bloodstream.

The new motion, written by defense lawyer Donald West, says the defense plans to argue that, “it is likely that Trayvon Martin was under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death and that his thinking and judgment were impaired at least to some degree.”

The motion filed on Tuesday argues against a state request last week to prevent the defense from using Martin’s toxicology report at Zimmerman’s trial.

Although the state wants to keep Martin's past out of Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial, the defense appears to be pushing to use Martin's alleged past drug use and to imply that Martin was "under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death and that his thinking and judgment were impaired."

DOCUMENTS: Reply to state's motion for protective order | Motion for reasonable fee

The motion states that Dr. Bruce Goldberger, the toxicologist for the prosecution, said at a deposition that Martin may have used marijuana within a couple of hours of his death or it could have been longer than that depending on whether Martin was a chronic user or occasional user.

"From other evidence in the case, it is known that Trayvon Martin brought marijuana with him from South Florida to use while he was in Sanford and that he used it at least one time after arriving in Sanford prior to his death," West writes in the motion. "Trayvon Martin was suspended from school for possessing a baggie containing marijuana residue and was known to smoke marijuana with his friends."

In a footnote to the line in the motion, the defense says, “This is why Trayvon Martin was in Sanford rather than in school in Miami where he lived.”

The defense also states the toxicology report is necessary in the trial because Zimmerman's non-emergency call to police, he describes Martin as appearing as though he was "on drugs."

In the motion, the defense also argues that the 7-Eleven surveillance video shows Martin “’sways’ at the counter at the counter as if he’s under the influence of some substance.”

West continues that the jury should be allowed to give the evidence of Martin's toxicology report, "whatever it believes it should" and that it is "relevant for the jury to consider when it evaluates Martin's actions that night."

The defense also filed another motion on Tuesday that said the state's audio experts is charging too much for his time for a deposition.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in Martin's February 2012 death. He has claimed self-defense. The next hearing in Zimmerman's case is slated for May 28.

Zimmerman attorneys say Trayvon Martin was on drugs on night of shooting | News - Home ]]> Current Events http://www.alldeaf.com/current-events/111823-zimmerman-attorneys-say-trayvon-martin-drugs.html