Deaf City, how to improve concept?

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RedFox

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There was this deaf city planned in South Dakota. It looks like nothing is happening with that now. What happened to the plans? Is it because nobody would want to be in the middle of nowhere? I think a better place would be Vermont. Of course, I live there. :lol: Any other places that would be a better place for such a thing?
 
RedFox said:
There was this deaf city planned in South Dakota. It looks like nothing is happening with that now. What happened to the plans? Is it because nobody would want to be in the middle of nowhere? I think a better place would be Vermont. Of course, I live there. :lol: Any other places that would be a better place for such a thing?
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After the Laurent idea crashed and burned, an alternate city in Indiana somewhere was pursued but that's the last I've heard about it.
 
Well, there's always Pathfinder Village near Hinckley, MN. It is only a summer resort, so it's not a perfect solution. They do shut off their water every October. But maybe plans could be made to turn that into year-round instead of just a summer resort. There's quite a ton of deaf people living/vacationing there every summer.
 
In my opinion, a deaf city will never happen.
 
Maybe for most folks, the choices of cities are undesirable because of their harsh climates. But ya know what? The real issue is probably the lack of support, resources AND tons of money!
 
Tousi said:
Maybe for most folks, the choices of cities are undesirable because of their harsh climates. But ya know what? The real issue is probably the lack of support, resources AND tons of money!
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Yeah, that is pretty much correct, I believe.
 
There were some talks about turning Cave Spring, Ga., (pop. 1,200) into a full-time deaf city. The city already have most of the buildings that were once occupied by the Georgia School for the Deaf (GSD). The State still own the older buildings. The town already has a fairly-sized established deaf community, a mayor that is a CODA (child of deaf adult(s)) and a deaf/hard-of-hearing city council member. There is at least two apartment complexes for deaf/hard-of-hearing senior citizens in the vicinity of the GSD-Gordon Campus (newer campus). I believe one of the larger buildings is occupied by the State's welfare division (group homes.)

Cave Spring may lack several things such as big-box retailers, entertainment, etc., but is close by to Cedartown, Rome, Cartersville, Dallas/Hiram, Atlanta's far northwestern and western suburbs and even Gadsden in Alabama. Cave Spring has some really nice little shops and restaurants and on the square. The largest retailer (at least 30,000 sq. foot) there is Casey's FoodStore.

I suppose if the State of Florida still consider moving the deaf school to Jacksonville-Duval, the campus in St. Augustine could be turned into a deaf city.
 
Every building with wooden floors and bright lights, dark night clubs is illegal because its not deaf-frendly, and no sqaure tables only round tables, install VP booths, charge city council rates to cover 'donations of VPs or assistive technology for all deafs in the neighbourhood to have access to VP via thru home computers, abolish dog registrations for deaf people, have law centres specifically for employment, and contractual issues to serve deaf people, the list can go on.....
 
Sigh, how about California? It's one of the biggest state and for sure, so many deaf lives here. I would say, part of San Diego should be a deaf community like "Chinatown" and such. BUT IN SAN DIEGO.
 
I wouldnt build a deaf city but a deaf community. Similar concept of china town in San Fransico, California if any know what I am talking about. Its an excellent example of what we could develop into.

Since I have studied Marvin Miller's concept of deaf town, I would recommend to change the concept of deaf town into a deaf community in a large town.

Indianpolis is a good place. It will take a lot time to develop a deaf community.

Deaf411 research will be more likely to determine where the most deaf friendly. Then from there, we can determine if its worth to build a deaf community in the area.

I do have an idea of South St. Paul, Minnesota as one ideal location. Its cheap right now, and if we focus a lot deaf investors into the area. Continue to work on the project until we dominate the area. Then we can consider changing the zone into a place of our own. Then develop zone of office for CSD of Minnesota to move into. For CSDVRS's call center or any VRS call center. I only said CSDRS because of CSD's current office is next to CSDVRS call center. Then ask Harris Communication as its head quarter in Edina Prarie, Minnesota to move into deaf community. Then we can have new project to develop condo based for deaf Senior Citzens to move in. Then community center for education such as CSD's Adult Basic Education. Then develop HUD or section 8 for low function deaf. Then open for more people to move their business to the area.

Maybe ask more deaf business to develop in the area. Such as theater with full closed caption and museum. Continue to add new feature every 2 years.

That the concept I am proposing to Marvin Miller. Currently in Minneapolis, Minnesota have over 100 headquarters such as Best Buy, Target, 3M (soon leaving), Spark hearing aid company, etc... There are unlimited job opportunities. We can encourage CSD headquarter to move to the area. It will create a strong presence again. NAD can put one of their office in the area as they already have good presence in Silver Spring, Maryland. Harris Communication to relocate into deaf community. Their location sucks as its out of bus line and many uneducated foreigners unable to visit Harris Communication due to no bus line.

So if we based our community within a job opportunities in metro area, we have better chance of survival developing a deaf community based. Full features and technologies.

I have plenty of ideas of how to develop it. One day, will make it more practical. Its matter of when.

Oh one more thing... Marvin Miller has great idea but he based his one good job opportunity within CSD's headquarter which its laid off thousand employee. Most of them migrated to Minneapolis area for many job opportunities. So that why i think Minneapolis is one of potential area for create a deaf community zone.
 
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imdeafsowhat said:
Sigh, how about California? It's one of the biggest state and for sure, so many deaf lives here. I would say, part of San Diego should be a deaf community like "Chinatown" and such. BUT IN SAN DIEGO.
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You are correct. There are over 1 million people in CA that are HOH and about 91 thousand that are deaf. According to the link I provided earlier it IS the state with the largest HOH and deaf populations. The current state with the largest population of deaf/hoh could be the most likely candidate for a deaf town and/or community.
 
rockdrummer said:
You are correct. There are over 1 million people in CA that are HOH and about 91 thousand that are deaf. According to the link I provided earlier it IS the state with the largest HOH and deaf populations. The current state with the largest population of deaf/hoh could be the most likely candidate for a deaf town and/or community.
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Its better to look at % ratio accord to population. Deaf town will be better in higher ratio than those in lower ratio.

Marvin Miller was trying to emphasize this in South Dakota. If the population is develop into 15,000... it will be 5th largest town in South Dakota and a lot voting power. Means we can create more deaf friendly laws into actions and build a good relationship with hearing community.

But he forgot Martha Vineyard... deaf will give birth to hearing kids. Hearing kids will take over the town slowly.

That why I stated deaf community as better fit to our needs.
 
Deaf Mortgage said:
Its better to look at % ratio accord to population. Deaf town will be better in higher ratio than those in lower ratio.

Marvin Miller was trying to emphasize this in South Dakota. If the population is develop into 15,000... it will be 5th largest town in South Dakota and a lot voting power. Means we can create more deaf friendly laws into actions and build a good relationship with hearing community.

But he forgot Martha Vineyard... deaf will give birth to hearing kids. Hearing kids will take over the town slowly.

That why I stated deaf community as better fit to our needs.
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So which is better?. To have a higher population ratio or lower. In other words if you have two states (these are examples and don't reflect actual numbers)

Illinois - Deaf / HOH equals 1.2% of the overall population

California - Deaf / HOH equals 8% of the overall population

Based on your comment, which would be favorable for the deaf community?
 
rockdrummer said:
So which is better?. To have a higher population ratio or lower. In other words if you have two states (these are examples and don't reflect actual numbers)

Illinois - Deaf / HOH equals 1.2% of the overall population

California - Deaf / HOH equals 8% of the overall population

Based on your comment, which would be favorable for the deaf community?
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Where are you getting the information... I am using The Best Current Estimate Of The Total U.S. Deaf Population « Fookem and Bug to determine what ratio looks like. Here what I pulled out from your concept.

California
HOH 1,078,325 - 4.87%
Deaf 90,948 - 0.41%

Illinois
HOH 472,930 - 5.49%
Deaf 39,888 - 0.46%

Your ratio are way off... If we look at the numbers from the link of The Best Current Estimate Of The Total U.S. Deaf Population « Fookem and Bug then we can really determine if its best place.

I am looking as deaf population only because hard of hearing have choice of hearing world or deaf world.

If I look at number correctly. Florida or Arkansas are best two city as highest ratio of population.

Florida
HOH 746,601 - 7.39%
Deaf 62,970 - 0.62%

Arkansas
HOH 129,687 - 7.39%
Deaf 10,938 - 0.62%

Those two state will have better chance of develop good law within community of hearing.
 
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rockdrummer said:
So which is better?. To have a higher population ratio or lower. In other words if you have two states (these are examples and don't reflect actual numbers)
Illinois - Deaf / HOH equals 1.2% of the overall population

California - Deaf / HOH equals 8% of the overall population

Based on your comment, which would be favorable for the deaf community?
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I think you missed my point. Also I stated that my examples didn't reflect real numbers. They were examples to help explain my question better. I asked you if it's better to have a higher deaf population ratio or a lower one.
 
rockdrummer said:
I think you missed my point. Also I stated that my examples didn't reflect real numbers. They were examples to help explain my question better. I asked you if it's better to have a higher deaf population ratio or a lower one.
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We cant just use examples like you said. Need to look at the facts. If you want to use your examples, then it will work. Only if Ratio is higher. Again... I am realistic and its difficult to build a discussion based on examples.

If the population is higher but what about job opportunities in the area? Is it appealing to deaf community? How much of % of them are white collar vs blue collar? Where are they working?

Reason I use the Ratio to see if its not dominated. It very easy to get lost in big population. We need a controlled development then we can talk about creating a huge population in deaf community when we ready to embrace the impact.

I am using from ideas of Sim City 4000. As small community are easier to work with and evolve into bigger city with more demands.

However, if we have large population, means more unity to develop something. More "manpower".

Yet we still need infinite job opportunities from hearing community in order to survive as deaf community. One community support another.
 
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