In the Loop
Here’s how one deaf man stays in the loop during the Passover holiday.
American Sign Language | Deaf | Disabilities | education | History | Hunger | Judaism
Deaf Jews and the Holocaust
On November 9, 2019 Valley Beth Shalom, in Encino, California hosted a program in commemoration of the 81stAnniversary of Kristallnacht entitled “Rescuing History: Kristallnacht and ‘The Holocaust Through the Eyes of Deaf Jews’.” (Kristallnacht was two nights of violence perpetrated against the Jewish communities of Germany and Austria on November 9-10, 1938.) It was a…
Teaching the deaf or hard of hearing student
Dear Pop, A deaf or hard of hearing child will be mainstreaming into my class next semester. What can I expect? How do I make my lessons understandable? How can I ease her transition into my class with her peers? Signed, Nervous Dear Nervous, Teaching a deaf or hard of hearing (hoh) student is similar…
biography | Deaf | Disabilities | education | Hard-of-hearing | History
7 Inspiring Deaf Americans
Historically, deaf people have been pretty much ignored by the hearing community. The general feeling has been, “They’re just too difficult to communicate with, so why bother?” However, throughout history, many deaf people have made a name for themselves, and in spite of their hearing impairment, they have stood out and contributed their skills for…
American Sign Language | Deaf | Disabilities | education | Hard-of-hearing | History | Jewish Holidays | Judaism | non-fiction
Judaism and the Deaf Jew
I was a member of Temple Judea, a reform synagogue in Tarzana, California, for twenty-five years. Even after a virus robbed me of most of my hearing and forced me out of my tenured sixth grade teaching assignment, I stayed a temple member. Though I couldn’t understand a word of the rabbi’s sermons or capable…
An open letter to my daughters on Father’s Day
Dear Channie and Koren, A few years ago Time Magazine printed letters written by famous dads to their children. Since they overlooked me (go figure), I thought I’d send you a note. On January 22, 2015 you were together in Mexico thousands of miles from your California home. That was the day I received…
7 Ways to Communicate With the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Dear Pop, My twelve-year-old son is near deaf. He feels isolated from his peers and family. What can I do to make people understand his unique communication needs? Worried Mom Dear Worried Mom, Helen Keller, the deaf and blind American author and political activist, once wrote, “Blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us…
American Sign Language | Book Reviews | Books | Deaf | Disabilities | education | History | love story | YA Books | YA fiction
Caught Between Two Worlds
Savannah is a communications major at a prominent university. One day, while walking across campus, she eyes a guy she can’t resist. He is absolutely gorgeous. The communications major is taking American Sign Language (ASL) with Prof. Stockton to fulfill her language requirement. One homework assignment is to attend a Deaf event….
American Sign Language | biography | Book Reviews | Books | Children's book | Deaf | Disabilities | education | Graphic novel | Hard-of-hearing | Kindle books | MG books | MG novels | middle grade | non-fiction | School | super powers | Teen Books | YA Books
Growing up Deaf
Audiologists acknowledge four levels of deafness—mild, moderate, severe, and profound. Author Cece Bell is severely to profoundly deaf. At the age of four she contracted meningitis, robbing her of most of her hearing. When she started public school, Cece was mainstreamed into a regular classroom. She knew she was different from the other kids due…
Infants and American Sign Language
Dear Pop, My daughter will have a baby this spring. I want to teach my grandchild American Sign Language (ASL) but my wife thinks that will only confuse the child. I say it will empower my granddaughter. Who’s right? Deaf Grandpa Dear Deaf Grandpa, You’re right. Now let me tell you why. Soon after birth,…