Miss-Delectable
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Altoona Mirror - Making It Happen For You
Discussed as a challenge to the local deaf and hard-of-hearing community Thursday, preparing a local meeting takes more than just a speaker.
Two interpreters and a real-time transcriptionist also attended the Altoona town meeting, hosted by Kenneth Puckett of the Johnstown branch of the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Puckett asked the handful of attendees to talk about their experiences in the local deaf community.
ODHH will host similar meetings across the state, hoping to collect information to better serve the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
ODHH offers advocacy, information and referrals, including assistance with purchasing hearing aids and assistive listening devices, learning sign language, finding interpreters and dealing with educational issues.
Puckett said there are no exact numbers of local deaf and hard-of-hearing.
“The census has never asked for the number of hard-of-hearing,” he said, signing while an interpreter spoke. “There’s not a formal study.”
Statistics do show about 10 percent of Pennsylvanians have hearing loss and 24,000 to 48,000 are functionally deaf, meaning they receive information primarily through vision. Puckett said he believes the number is closer to 50,000.
Alfred Corrado said he would like more deaf people to become involved in Altoona, but he said it’s tough here.
“Right now we’re fortunate — Ken’s here,” he said. “I don’t know how to go out there and get more people to be interested and aware.”
Corrado said he has seen a lack of interpreters, particularly to assist with appointments.
“Since my interpreter that worked with me a lot isn’t here anymore, it’s just really hard because there’s nobody out there,” he said. He told the story of having to see his dentist without an interpreter and said he had trouble reading lips, so he had to reschedule for a time an interpreter could assist.
“The interpreter situation has been an ongoing problem,” he said. “The doctor or dentist refusing to pay for an interpreter, the deaf showing up and saying, ’I want an interpreter now,’ and an interpreter overcharging for their services — we need to work on those three things.”
Chrissy Houser and Dave Litzinger interpreted for Thursday’s meeting, speaking for those who signed and signing for those who spoke, so the entire group could participate.
ODHH lists local interpreters at PA PowerPort, PA Keyword, ODHH. They work in various settings, such as classrooms and doctor appointments.
Litzinger said it takes a lot to become an interpreter and it’s a mentally stressful occupation. Those interested must become registered by the state after schooling and various certifications.
“You have to be involved in the language,” Houser said. “I like working with a variety of people, hearing clients as well as deaf.”
Litzinger said everything is a challenge.
“You learn every day,” he said. “You meet a lot of cool people — you like your job.”
Puckett also asked the group how they manage in places like libraries and if they feel area buildings are deaf-friendly.
Corrado said the library has many good resources and is his favorite place.
On phone services for the deaf, Corrado said he knows a few people locally and many in Pittsburgh who carry cell-phone-sized messaging gadgets to communicate, since the deaf cannot use pay phones or cell phones.
“My goal,” he said of the local deaf community. “My dream that I have is to have a discussion, like a debate.”
Discussed as a challenge to the local deaf and hard-of-hearing community Thursday, preparing a local meeting takes more than just a speaker.
Two interpreters and a real-time transcriptionist also attended the Altoona town meeting, hosted by Kenneth Puckett of the Johnstown branch of the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Puckett asked the handful of attendees to talk about their experiences in the local deaf community.
ODHH will host similar meetings across the state, hoping to collect information to better serve the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
ODHH offers advocacy, information and referrals, including assistance with purchasing hearing aids and assistive listening devices, learning sign language, finding interpreters and dealing with educational issues.
Puckett said there are no exact numbers of local deaf and hard-of-hearing.
“The census has never asked for the number of hard-of-hearing,” he said, signing while an interpreter spoke. “There’s not a formal study.”
Statistics do show about 10 percent of Pennsylvanians have hearing loss and 24,000 to 48,000 are functionally deaf, meaning they receive information primarily through vision. Puckett said he believes the number is closer to 50,000.
Alfred Corrado said he would like more deaf people to become involved in Altoona, but he said it’s tough here.
“Right now we’re fortunate — Ken’s here,” he said. “I don’t know how to go out there and get more people to be interested and aware.”
Corrado said he has seen a lack of interpreters, particularly to assist with appointments.
“Since my interpreter that worked with me a lot isn’t here anymore, it’s just really hard because there’s nobody out there,” he said. He told the story of having to see his dentist without an interpreter and said he had trouble reading lips, so he had to reschedule for a time an interpreter could assist.
“The interpreter situation has been an ongoing problem,” he said. “The doctor or dentist refusing to pay for an interpreter, the deaf showing up and saying, ’I want an interpreter now,’ and an interpreter overcharging for their services — we need to work on those three things.”
Chrissy Houser and Dave Litzinger interpreted for Thursday’s meeting, speaking for those who signed and signing for those who spoke, so the entire group could participate.
ODHH lists local interpreters at PA PowerPort, PA Keyword, ODHH. They work in various settings, such as classrooms and doctor appointments.
Litzinger said it takes a lot to become an interpreter and it’s a mentally stressful occupation. Those interested must become registered by the state after schooling and various certifications.
“You have to be involved in the language,” Houser said. “I like working with a variety of people, hearing clients as well as deaf.”
Litzinger said everything is a challenge.
“You learn every day,” he said. “You meet a lot of cool people — you like your job.”
Puckett also asked the group how they manage in places like libraries and if they feel area buildings are deaf-friendly.
Corrado said the library has many good resources and is his favorite place.
On phone services for the deaf, Corrado said he knows a few people locally and many in Pittsburgh who carry cell-phone-sized messaging gadgets to communicate, since the deaf cannot use pay phones or cell phones.
“My goal,” he said of the local deaf community. “My dream that I have is to have a discussion, like a debate.”