Letters To Mike

Re: DAMAGE TO MY BALANCE NERVE
MICHAEL, I'M GOING TO THE DOCTOR TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY WILL REMOVE THIS IMPLANT ONCE AGAIN, BUT I'VE STARTED AN EMAIL FOR YOU TO POST ON THAT SITE, AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO GET IT OUT TO YOU EITHER TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH DEAF CHILDREN WHO HAVE THIS IMPLANT, BUT HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXPENSE OR THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE THE IMPLANT CAN DO....OR THE FACT THAT IF ONE CAN NO LONGER USE IT BECAUSE 1. IT DOESN'T WORK FOR THEM ANY LONGER OR 2. IT'S CAUSING VARIOUS PHYSICAL PROBLEMS OR 3. THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD IT, BUT CAN'T GET IT REMOVED. THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY ONE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE FULL INFORMATION AND NOT FAIRY TALES ON THE IMPLANT BEFORE THEY COMMIT TO HAVING THEMSELVES OR THEIR CHILDREN IMPLANTED. HOWEVER, I, PERSONALLY, DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A PARENT HAS THE RIGHT MAKE THE DECISION OF HAVING A CHILD IMPLANTED, ...AND TO ME THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE!............ AND I DON'T BELIEVE EVEN ONE WOULD DO THIS IF THEY HAD ALL OF THE INFORMATION. I'LL PUT ALL OF THIS PLUS THE INFORMATION AFTER I AM TESTED TOMORROW TO SEE IF THE IMPLANT CAN BE REMOVED BY MY INSURANCE BECAUSE I'VE ALL READY BEEN TURNED DOWN BY COCHLEAR. AND FEEL FREE TO POST WHATEVER IT SEND TO YOU BECAUSE I'M ONLY GIVING YOU THE FACTS AS THEY'VE HAPPENED TO ME, AND IF I CAN HELP ANYONE ELSE FROM GOING THROUGH THIS, IT WOULD BE WORTH IT.

PROGRAM OF WIPING 2M DEAF POPULATION US TO 0.1M BY 2006[?] IN FULL SWING!

It appears campaign to wipe deaf population is in full swing now! Today, at 7:00 PM East time, Thirteen TV network aired in 'News Hour with Lehrer' info about implementation program reduction deaf population from 2 million to 100,000 by the year 2006. I was amused this huge ambitious project! I wonder if captioner mistyped or I misread thesenumbers? The host program cited controversy the program but limited its scope by the, just to few retrograde deaf folks at Gallauget University, devoted to their pride of deaf culture!
There was no a single word about huge risk infection and discomfort caused by over skin wire requiring special care for the rest life, risks neurological surgery itself, immediate and distant complications and worthless ratio costs/benefits for the most cases accompanied abuse in form punishment for criticism health care providers! It's worth to mention here that surgery team has immunity from any liability if any member the team is in a training that is a huge advantage for abuse!
Leading surgeon and lobbyist manufacturing equipment industry admitted though that benefit of the technology is visible only for children up to 3 years old! However, even if all 12,000 annually born deaf children will get implant, remained 2,000,000 deaf people would live at least next 50 years! That rises suspicion that government has really hidden agenda to >force all deaf population to get implants. More over it gives ground for supposition that monopoly neurosurgeons and manufacturers of equipment succeeded in extortion from federal government around $100,000.00 a piece for every deaf person US during 5-10 years considering that success rate such surgery isn't 100% yet! Huge achievement for lobby the monopoly! However it means they suppressed any researches for alternative ways of improvement hearing that do not cause huge risk infection and discomfort for the rest of life deaf person!

Oh, so someone (officially?) has plans to reduce the Deaf population by 2006... I really think this plan has been in place for a while already, say ...mmm... Alexander Ghram ring a BELL(1890)? It's a little difficult to enforce this "plan" when they know individuals like you are paying close attention to issues that affect the great achievements by the Deaf in the past and strive yet to go farther, faster. Do I sense a fearful reaction by the hearing that the Deaf are not finished with their progress? Unfortunately for them, they realize that there are some Deaf that can read , do math and respond to such backward thinking and still go forward regardless. Nonetheless, I am glad you broadcast this tidbit of info, also your direction on working the numbers. The facts please... Through the numbers you can see the process, strategy and development implemented and the problems encountered to reach their wishful thinking. You know who can "throw a wrench" in all this? Deaf individuals (with/without cochlears) and organizations compiling, publishing and distributing all the "unknowns" of the "cochlear" rave that is sweeping the country through the cochlear industry lobby. (BIG BUCKS). Specifically, all the torment associated with this "medical marvel". Thanks for catching and sharing this bizarre news blip. Of course, there could have been a caption typo..."PROGRAM OF WIPING 250 MILLION HEARING TO 1.0 BY 2006 IN FULL SWING"

Interpreter Responsibilities
As an educational interpreter for a number of years I am wondering if you have any information on the roles & responsibilities of the Deaf Student in the classroom. Thanks, RlReusch Of course the obvious...PAY ATTENTION. Without other information, i.e. how many other Deaf students in the class, what class (subject), is ASL the primary language of student(s)...It is difficult to give details. Any other specifics would be helpful. Hope this helps. Actually I was looking more in the lines of something written like 1: It is the students responsibility to ask questions of the teacher if they do not understand the materia 2: It is the students responsibility to copy any homework from the black board. ( unless there is a note taker) 3: It is the students responsibility to pay attention the first time. (The Interpreter is not rrequired to repeat theinformation if you are chatting with a friend) 4: Use the Interpreter appropriatly I know this may seem basic, but I'm looking for a sort of generic " Code" ( for lack of a better word) that would apply to any mainstream situation regardless of the primary language , subject matter, or number of Students. We have the code of Ethics set by RID, so.... whats available for the Deaf?? Robin Reusch

Re. Interpreter Responsibilities
Robin, Unfortunately, the responsibilities of the interpreter or the Deaf student are not cast in stone anywhere. This has led me to distance myself at this time from mainstream education for the Deaf. It has serious pitfalls. Your concerns are similiar to my experiences and I have searched for answers to the same questions, with no success. A book on the subject is long overdue. When I receive letters like yours it compels me to write such a book. I would seek input as yours to address all areas that need to be looked at and resolved. My freelance interpreting has taken the front burner. I would thank you on paying close attention to these matters, as education for the Deaf is extremely important for success. Don't take your frustration out on the kids. Some have no social life to express their anxieties or problems to and they choose school time to do this. It may be their only time. SAD. Take it (concerns) to the parents, teachers, principal, school district special ed. administrator, school board, State Department of Education, and your state Deaf agency. And last but not least THE DEAF COMMUNITY in your area. Please keep me apprised of developments. Michael Doyle

Re. Interpreter Responsibilities Response
Michael, Thank you for your concern, I can assure you that I pay very close attention to these matters, as I have personally been in the field for a very long time. I have a full and complete understanding myself, of the appropriate role of the client ( from the perspective of the Interpreter) through experience and sharing of information with colleagues and peers. My question however, was initiated by a Mainstream Coordinator who is looking for something in writing to help students use the Interpreter appropriately. I had seen something once out of Florida, some kind of handbook, but unfortunately can't seem to put my hands on it! I encourage you to write about these issues, and address of course many more : ) Interpreting keeps us all very busy these days. I appreciate your time and input. If I can be of service to you, in your research, feel free to let me know. Robin Reusch

...regarding interpreters
There was an article that appeared in the AMA newsletter regarding increasing activism on the part of the medicalcommunity against the provision of interpreters in medical settings. The following article was posted on PAH-med. While not as reactionary as I feared, it nevertheless shows that the AMA is starting to fight back after a string of rather ignoramus losses in the courts this summer.An encouragement is the fact that alternative to live interpreters that have the potential to be workable are suggested. The most promising is the use of Video=Relay interpreting. I feel this has the potential to make the use of interpreters more widespread in the medical community be reducing the amount of time billed from 2 hours to the actual time used. In most cases this will be15 - 30 minutes, reducing the charge to the physician to approximately $15 -$20. This would be much easier for doctors to justify.