Accessibility: Unlocking Our Potential

[John Locke]

Dear Students,

Millie Bobby Brown
<https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/20210506112536/5-celebrities-deaf-hearing-problems-millie-bobby-brown-halle-berry/>
 is widely known for her portrayal of Eleven in the Netflix science fiction
horror drama series, Stranger Things. What is less known is that she doesn't
always hear her director's "action" cue when shooting a scene—not unless
it's* loud. *

The renowned actor, model, and producer was born with a partial hearing loss
 that later became full deafness in her one ear. The condition has caused
minor issues in Brown's acting career. But with more than 45 million
Instagram followers, the 17-year-old is not one to shy away from the
spotlight or her disability.

"I just started to sing," Millie told *Variety* in 2017, "and if I sound
bad I don't care, because I'm just doing what I love."

*Assistive Technologies*
Among the more well known and helpful assistive technologies are hearing
aids. Also known as
<https://www.nad.org/resources/technology/assistive-listening/assistive-listening-systems-and-devices/>assistive
listening devices
<https://www.nad.org/resources/technology/assistive-listening/assistive-listening-systems-and-devices/>
 (ALD's), they help amplify the sounds we want and need to hear, especially
where there’s a lot of background noise. The ALD's can be used with a
hearing aid or cochlear implant to help a wearer hear certain sounds better.

Some other devices include:

   - *Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices*, which help
    persons with communication disorders to express themselves. These
   devices can range from a simple picture board to a computer program that
   synthesizes speech from text.
   - *Alerting devices*, which connect to a doorbell, telephone, or alarm
   that emits a loud sound or blinking light to let someone with hearing loss
   know that an event is taking place.
   - *A cochlear implant*, which is an electronic device that partially
   restores hearing. It can be an option for people who have severe hearing
   loss from inner-ear damage and can no longer be helped by hearing aids.

*We all have a role to play*
Although devices can be extremely helpful, there are simple actions we all
can practice to help those around us, regardless of our awareness of any
hearing issues they might be experiencing.

Bloom Hearing Specialists provide some good tips on how to help our peers
with hearing impairments. The excerpts below come from their article, 18
Ways to Help a Loved One with Hearing Loss
<https://bloomhearing.com/hearing-tips/18-ways-to-help-loved-one-hearing-loss/>
.

*Face the person directly when talking.*

Face-to-face conversation makes it very clear who you’re talking to.
Calling something out from another room can make it harder to hear. The
same goes if you’re looking down or off in other directions when talking in
a more crowded or loud setting. For individuals with profound hearing loss,
the ability to use lip movement for added context is warmly welcomed.


*Say the person’s name before beginning a conversation.*

Getting someone’s attention before speaking to them is always important,
but even more so for those of us with hearing loss. Engage them in the
conversation by using their first name. Never assume someone can hear what
you told them, or that they are paying attention before looking at you.
Once you’ve gotten their attention, make sure to maintain face-to-face
conversation if possible.


*Speak naturally.*

Speaking too slowly may make some individuals feel like they're being
patronized and lead to an uncomfortable interaction. Comparatively,
speaking too fast can lead to a potential miscommunication. It’s best just
to speak as you would, while keeping in mind the previous tips as well.
Speaking clearly is different from spea-king sl-ow-ly.


*Think of the ways you communicate non-verbally.*

Communicate your point better using non-verbal communication. We can
express the emotion of the message with non-verbal elements of conversation
(facial expressions, gestures, and posture) often even more than the words
themselves. Consider the ways your face and body help create the context of
a story or an anecdote you’re telling.


*Look up hearing loss support groups in your community, or online.*

Both on Facebook and in local communities, there are groups that help
others learn to accept and live with their hearing loss. If your friend or
loved one is experiencing feelings of social isolation or depression
related to hearing loss, these groups can be a helpful outlet. If you
recognize your friend or loved one shutting themselves off from the world
more often, make sure they know they are not alone and have people who can
share what they’re going through.


*Trivia Answer*
Our February 11th trivia question was:* True or False? Only people from the
United States use American Sign Language.*

   - The correct answer is *false*. While there are many different sign
   languages, ASL is most popular in North America. For a comprehensive
   list of other sign languages, visit Gallaudet University’s Web site
   <https://libguides.gallaudet.edu/c.php?g=773913&p=5552760>.

Watch for our next "Accessibility: Unlocking Our Potential" post, including
a new trivia question on the Friday, March 11th Student Digest.


Regards,

Bailey Dell'Erba

TEL Intern

Majors in TV Video Production and Digital Media

Minor in Public Relations

John Locke, Ph.D.
EIT Accessibility Officer
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ls.plattsburgh.edu/pipermail/student-digest/attachments/20220224/c8e43f2f/attachment.htm>