ASL Silent Dinner

I went to an ASL Silent Dinner tonight, which one of the ASL instructor's put on at the On The Border restaurant. I've never been to this sort of thing before, so it was a first for me.  I've been wanting to socialize more, so thought this dinner would be fun.  At first I wasn't too sure what it was going to be like.. Knowing me, I prefer to speak. I use sign too, but I still usually end up using my voice while I'm also signing. But tonight, I managed to keep my voice turned off. This dinner was for ASL students' benefit, to use their ASL skills they've learned, without using their voice, and having the opportunity to interact with deaf individuals that were invited and showed up. Three of us that are deaf showed up. It was quite fun! At first, I felt a bit awkward being there. I've always been a pretty shy person, but I do want to come out of my shell. Only way to do that is to get out there, and socialize!  It was just a really fun experience, and I most definitely will like to attend future ASL Silent Dinners. I think there's another one in May so hopefully I'll be able to attend again. Just fun seeing the ASL students communicating in sign with one another and having a conversation. Even the waitress that waited on us was an ASL student at a local high school, so even she got plenty of practice tonight!




Off topic: I did pick up on a "new" sound with my implant after I left work.  Emergency vehicle sirens. I was pulling to a stop in the left turn lane at a red light, and up ahead an ambulance and a fire truck was approaching the intersection and making a right turn. I heard the sirens with just the implant on! I've heard sirens with the hearing aid in the past (but only when the emergency vehicles are really close by). I didn't hear them until they were right at the intersection making the turn. It wasn't very loud, kind of quiet really.  Not as high pitched either, but that's just how it is with my implant at this time.  I was at a wedding last night too, and they had bells for the guests to ring for the bride and groom.  The bell is high pitched with the hearing aid, but not as high with the implant. It's just fun to find different things that make sounds and compare them with the hearing aid and with the implant.

Registered!

I finally got registered for 2 our of 3 classes at the local college! I was supposed to go to the college on the afternoon of Nov. 30 to meet with an advisor and to get registered. Well, unfortunately, there was a murder-suicide that happened on campus in a classroom that morning, so all events and classes for the rest of the day were cancelled.  I was then scheduled to see the disabilities coordinator last Thursday afternoon... That got rescheduled as well. So finally I saw the disabilities coordinator today and got registered. I was planning to take an Elementary Algebra course redesign class, English Basic Skills 2, and Medicial Terminology.  Medical Terminology was all full, but I am on the wait list in case a spot opens up. So for now, it looks like it'll be two classes for the Spring 2013 semester. The disabilties coordinator and I also talked of using the captioning service for at least the English class, and got a plan wrote up and signed off on.  The math class is mostly done on the computer at my own pace, with some video lectures (which has captioning), so I really only need accommodations for the English class. No interpreter, I think the captioning will be enough.  I do better when I can read the text, the signing just doesn't stick with me.

The disabilities coordinator did type up a letter to send to the English instructor of why I needed the captioning accommodation, mentioning that I just recently got my cochlear implant and need the captioning for support.  He asked me a bit about my implant and how I was doing, how does it compare to the hearing aid, etc. 

Now I just need to meet with my Vocational Rehab. counselor next week and actually sign my plan, and hopefully get an FM unit ordered as well. And I see the disabilities coordinator at the college again the week before classes start so he can get me set up with the captioning device. Cool beans!

latest going ons

This morning, I headed over to the local college to the ASL Class Christmas Party. I only just found out about it on Friday, and the instructor said anyone from the deaf community were welcome to come by. I thought why not! I need to get out and socialize more. So I went!

And not once did I turn on my hearing aid the whole time. Shoot, I haven't touched the hearing aid the entire day today.  I did fairly well at the party with just the CI alone.  But then, it was an ASL class so people were signing.  I did see an old friend from middle school there, she's been taking the ASL class. Awesome! We chatted for a little while, which was fun, and hopefully we can keep in touch via Facebook. I chatted with a few other students there too. One is the son of an audiologist in town, and he was curious about my implant.  It was just fun.  I did have to ask for repeats here and there, but everyone was fine with that.  I'm glad I went!  Also, on Thursday evening, another ASL instructor (from a nearby town) is doing an ASL Silent Dinner at a Mexican restaurant too, and she has invited deaf folks to come as well so the students can interact with Deaf folks using ASL. I plan on going.

I did also stop by the deaf school library to visit with Jo.  I haven't seen her in maybe 2 months, so it's been a while. We had a nice time chatting and visiting. And she even pulled up an email which contained a link to an interview of a few deaf employees of Boeing (here's the link in case you want to watch, it's pretty interesting to watch! http://deafnation.com/joelbarish/usa-tour/boeing-deaf-workers-fly-high/).  One of my longest time friends works for Boeing! I had no idea he worked on the planes, so it was interesting to watch the video. She also asked me if I would email her twin brother about the cochlear implant, as he's possibly thinking of getting one and his place of employment's insurance would help pay for it. So I'll have to send him an email and answer any questions he may have.