Category: Advocacy

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Deaf Dog Learns Sign Language in Just Eight Weeks

Picture Credit: Israel Ruiz - Rafa, golden retriever shaking paw with trainer Jo who is kneeling.

The old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks might not be true, but one young dog has learned sign language in just eight weeks.

When dog mom Jo Le Page, 41, found that her seven-month-old Spanish Water Dog Rafa couldn’t hear, she began to teach him sign language.

Nine Signs in Eight Weeks

And in just eight weeks, the clever pup has learned nine different signs. The signs he’s learned include sit, stand, stay, and paw, as well as watch me, spin, lie down, come, and even safe. With safe, he’ll walk under his mom’s legs, turn around, and remain there.

However, Rafa isn’t finished yet, as he’s still busy learning more hand signals. Jo says that his disability won’t limit his life. She hopes that people won’t be as quick to euthanize disabled dogs – or leave them in shelters.

Read on at https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/deaf-dog-learns-sign-language-110224446.html?guccounter=1.

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Senator Markey, Rep. Eshoo Introduce Legislation to Improve Video Accessibility

U.S. Capitol building

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) have introduced the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA). 

 

Markey is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and author of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), and Eshoo is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

The CVTA updates and amends the CVAA to keep pace with the proliferation of emerging technologies that have come online since Senator Markey’s 2010 bill was passed with bipartisan support.

Read on at https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/senator-markey-rep-eshoo-introduce-legislation-to-improve-video-accessibility.

Bill Draft – https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/communications_video_and_technology_accessibility_act_-_117th_introduction.pdf.

DAD Note: The CVAA basically requires anything made for TV and such with captions to be equally the same online.  The rules also applied to other things like online movies, video gaming, internet TV/News, etc.  The new CVTA will help close loopholes/gaps to require more captioning as newer forms of technology grow.  The laws also apply to other accessibility requirements needed for the blind or low vision, not just the deaf community. 

 

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2023 National Deaf People of Color Conference (July 2023, Gallaudet University, Washington DC)

Save the date, 2023 National Deaf People of Color Conference in July 2023 at Gallaudet University in Washington DC. Questions email, ndpc at gallaudet.edu. Check out the info and link below for more information. Conference sponsored by Heritage Sign Language Center, VOCA - Visionaries of the Creative Arts, Deaf People of Color, Center for Black Deaf Studies, and Bilingual.

The newly-established Heritage Sign Languages Center (HSLC) under the Office of the Chief Bilingual Officer will host the 2023 Deaf People of Color conference July 17-22, 2023 here at Gallaudet University. The conference theme is ““Reclaiming Our Cultural Heritages, Languages, and Identities.” According to Candace Jones, ’08, director of HSLC, “This unique conference will explore resourceful education through the advocacy of National Deaf People of Color’s (NDPC) workshops and special interest groups. Another focus will be to inform underrepresented Deaf People of Color (DPOC) of the issues relating to their education and community advocacy.” The conference will include keynote, plenary, and workshop presenters, exhibition booths, NDPC Got Talent!, and a gala event. 

More info, see https://gallaudet.edu/asl-english-bilingualism/heritage-sign-languages-center-to-host-deaf-people-of-color-conference-in-july-2023.

Registration link – https://ndpc.hsl.center.