DeafBlind Culture: Finding Our Identity by Touch

This month on Home and School Mosaics I talk about culture. Most people know that there is a Deaf culture with that capital “D”, but many ask if there is such as thing as DeafBlind culture. I have always said no because there aren’t that many of us, and we seldom meet. A random happening on my Facebook newsfeed got me wondering if that is changing. We all search for our identities. For some, it is easy to find. For others, we go through life not quite fitting in anywhere. For the DeafBlind like me, we seem to be building something new, our own identity. It is a lifestyle based on touch. It is being called Pro-tactile. Come explore with me.

http://homeschoolmosaics.com/deafblind-culture-finding-our-identity-by-touch/

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Grieving From Within the Dark Silence

A new article of mine is on Homeschool Mosaics. This month was hard for me to write. I wasn’t even sure if I should write it at all, but I already have a comment posted this morning that showed me that it was God telling me to share. I am glad I did. I know often you are busy and just read my FB post and like it, but seldom go and actually read my article. I understand that because you are just scrolling in between the tasks of your life. I sometimes do that, too, but I mostly read everything because I have more time, I guess. Please read and share this article if you will. I am sharing about grief and loss of loved ones. I know many have felt this pain and some I have read that have lost them in the last few weeks and days as I have. This one is in memory of my father, Dr. Joseph Aaron Kelley, Sr. I hope he would be proud. He always said that God often had us go through trying times, so that we could be used to help others in similar circumstances. Thank you, Daddy, for all your lessons. Thank you, Mama, Grace Kelley, for all of yours. I am a better person because you showed me Christ so often. http://homeschoolmosaics.com/grieving-from-within-the-dark-silence/

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The Wedding Day!

My purpose in posting this on Homeschool Mosaics was not to just brag about my younger son’s wedding day (which you know we, parents like to do) because if you aren’t involved in the wedding it can be boring hearing about it in great detail, but I wanted to give people a glimpse into my way of experiencing a memorable event, the hard work that tactile ASL interpreters have to do, and the importance of SSPs, interpreters, and people willing to understand the needs of the DeafBlind. I am sharing it now with you, my friends, in the hopes that you will enjoy it, too. Everybody told me they cried, which wasn’t my intent LOL, but I will give you fair warning that some say you might need tissues handy.http://homeschoolmosaics.com/the-wedding/

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Advances in ASL Interpreting

It is my day on Homeschool Mosaics again. In fact, with all the reviews I have been working on lately, I missed posting here about my column last month, so check this one out about what is happening in the world of ASL interpreting. http://homeschoolmosaics.com/advances-in-asl-interpreting-good-or-bad/

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Being Deaf-Blind in the Hearing World

This is a very interesting look into the world of DeafBlindness from a hearing blind who was DeafBlind for a while and now works with the DeafBlind community.Toward the end, she gives detailed descriptions of hearing ASL, hearing where people are by footsteps, how big a room is, etc. I know those things, too, but not from sound. I feel how big a room is by the amount of airflow and backflow from the air “echoing” off walls at different distances. I can feel people near me signing and can sometimes catch a sign or two by the vibrations of hands meeting. I feel the air move when people walk, and the floor vibrate when people walk, and the vibration of a cane against a door or a wall. I enjoy music by feeling. I agree with her that DeafBlindness isn’t the end of good things. I just experience them differently. The lady also got how I feel when hearing people tire of trying to communicate with me and say, “Never mind.” Or, a Deaf or DB who has signed for most of life tires of my slower, sloppier sign and slaps my hands away. So, check out the latest article on DeafBlind Think tank:

http://dbtt.org/being-deaf-blind-in-the-hearing-world/

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