Gallaudet University

www.gallaudet.edu Gallaudet University is the only university in the world with a visually accessible environment designed primarily for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Gallaudet University is located in Washington D. C. Gallaudet University was founded in 1864 by an Act of Congress. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Charter, officially establishing the University. It is accrediated and has approximately 2000 undergraduate and graduate students. The average class size is 11 students with a 9:1 student/faculty ratio. Nine-six percent of the graduates are either employed or enrolled in graduate or higher program. Gallaudet includes rich history. In 1844, the first telegraph message was tranmitted through a telegraph line that ran through the Gallaudet campus from the U. S. Capitol to Baltimore. The Morse Code inventor, Samuel Morse was the business partner of Amos Kendall who donated part of this estate to found a school for deaf children. The estate eventually expanded to include Gallaudet University. Gallaudet housed the D. C. areas's first indoor swimming pool when its gymnasium opened in 1880. This was also the oldest indoor pool in the nation. The football huddle originated at Gallaudet in the 1890s when the football team found that opposing teams were reading their signed messages and intercepting plays. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial statue's famous sculptor, Daniel Chester French was also the sculptor of the Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Alice Cogswell statue. The statue shows America's first deaf education teacher Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet teaching his pupil who was deaf, Alice, the first manual letter of the alphabet. This scultpute is now on the front lawn of Gallaudet Unviversity.

Gallaudet serves as a wonderful sight for continued research and study. It houses many rich in resources about hearing and deafness. On the University Campus are also three model schools for deafness including an elementary, middle and high school.

This is an amazing place. If you ever have the opportunity to visit, just do it. You will always cherish the trip and truly leave a different person with so much insight.

The Gift of Sight

Many times a person with a deafness exhibits a remarkable gift through one or more of their other senses such as sight and touch. It is almost as if another sense is strengthened. Our friend, Freddy, is an example of this. He is a unique individual with many gifts including one of art. He is able to see things that others do not and able to transfer what he sees with great passion and detail through different media. This is an example of a charcoal art drawing that Freddy recently shared with me. Freddy graduated this past year with a BA from Gallaudet University in DC. He is currently teaching in a high school and university in Texas. When I first found out my children were deaf, I was devastated because I wanted them to hear, but little did I know that they would see the colors on the wings of butterflies with such passion and appreciation. Freddy, you are an artist! We are very proud of you. Keep listening and "hearing with your heart".

We Need More Closed Caption in Movie Theaters

There is closed caption (CC) in several movie theaters in major cities. We are thankful for these and hopefully this is only the beginning. What a simple joy for a deaf person to go to the movie theater (big movies as my children called them when they were young), eat popcorn and goobers or raisinettes, hold hands with their boyfriend or girl friend or loved one and just enjoy watching a movie on the big screen. So much is taken for granted. Most of us can do this anytime that we want.
I have written our congressman concerning CC in the movie theaters. There are currently only CC movie theaters in Atlanta. There are no other CC movie theaters in Georgia. I encourage you to write your congressman also.
We are so thankful for the beginning of CC in movie theaters and look forward to many more. When you have the opportunity, please support this simple pleasure for people who are deaf. Please continue to "listen and hear with your heart".

Attached is the website for Closed Caption in Movie Theaters
http://www.moviewatcher.com/

A Beautiful Video About A Young Girl With Deafness Who Learned to Play the Violin

Isn't this what we want all our children with disabilities to do?

Early Intervention

Early intervention is the key to teaching all children with disabilities. Language and family involvement is extremely important to all children. Total immersion in language can enhance the potential of a child tremendously. A child must be totally included in the world of language from the time they wake up in the morning until the time they lay their tiny heads on their pillow for sleep. American Sign Language is a beautiful language. It is visual and conceptual. Notice the "Video Bar" at the side of the blog. There is a video attached o from You Tube which explains the importance of language development and family involvement. Visit http://colorflanguage.com/ for more wonderful videos on American Sign Language.Continue to listen and hear with your heart.
Marcia Tonya

Cochlear Implants

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Cochlear Implants

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