Should we have ASL Vlogs only section on deafread.com?

Hello, I am back from yesterday. I wanted to share something that is unusual. When people post blogs via text and do they get a lot of response? As opposed to vlogs and many people visited the vlog site and responded. Does it mean most Deaf and hard of hearing people prefer to watch video than text. I see that already that most people prefer video. I was expressing about captions and it is not that simple for most vloggers. Is this holding vloggers back because of this reason? I also mentioned that should we have a ASL vlog blog without captions? This would be an excellent medium for ASL level 2-3 students who need receptive exercise and they can do that by watching ASL vloggers.

My First Vlog Attempt!

Hello, my name is Stephen Hardy and I am from Florida. This is my first time doing a vlog. I have blogged in several of places and doing this is my first time. Please forgive me for not providing open/closed captioned or subtitles.

What I am signing? I wanted to let the audience know that the past several months we have seen a decline of vloggers and I am concerned. I asked my community what they think that could be the reason for the decline of quality vloggers. The information I received that many Deaf vloggers were being insulted or put down for their ideas, comments, or expressions. It is healthy to have various viewpoints or perspectives and no need to put anyone down. I have disagreed with a lot of bloggers; however, I find value as I can analyze people’s comments and see how they think also how their thought process works.

I mentioned that we should support Deaf business and encourage them to grow even purchase their products. That will create jobs for other Deaf people in America.

I wanted to take the time to thank DeafRead folks, Tayler and Jared for making this medium accessible to everyone. It is not an easy job because they have to make sure the information is appropriate and not in any form of hatred or evil threats. They need to be applauded for their efforts!

Police Brutality Against the Deaf Needs to Stop Now!

We have seen so many physical and verbal abuse reports from the Deaf people all over the country. Majority of the abuse is related to lack of communication. Most law enforcement personnel have no patience in communicating with the Deaf ,even, writing down on paper, also hand gestures.

Ricky Taylor (ridorlive.com) has expressed his lack of trust for law enforcement officers. Taylor's reasons are valid and we have seen too many Rodney King scenarios against the Deaf people in general.

At the deafdc.com there is also a discussion related to law enforcement issues and one prominent writer has expressed his concerns and fears in case he gets pulled over by a law enforcement officer. One little misunderstanding will be impossible to rectify because dead people cannot talk.

A lot of police officers have killed Deaf people in the United States even most of them knew they were Deaf. Law enforcement officers assume that signing to them is a threat and they get into fight and flee mode. They have little or no training on how to communicate using gestures or sign language.

I noticed fear has been emerging because of historical facts law enforcement personnel all over the country are being shown with videos of them beating up on unarmed civilians. Most law enforcement officers that have been charged with brutality remains employed within the law enforcement sectors.

It appears that most law enforcement officers only have high school education and passed the law enforcement training academy. This is scary because the less educated law enforcement officer are most likely to use violence to use their anger to control unarmed civilians. The motto, “To Protect and to Serve” no longer applies to the majority of Deaf people in the United States.

Deaf people cannot trust the police when they needed help and fears instead they will summon a hearing person so they can call for help. Hearing person speaks the same language as the law enforcement people do. Deaf people communicate through American Sign Language. What I do not understand is why, “cops are afraid of sign language?”

What needs to be done now is to get, “The National Association of the Deaf, (NAD)” to host a press conference outside of NAD building and explain to the nation this police brutality has gone too far and suggest that NAD work with the national law enforcement organizations to find solutions to this ongoing nationwide problem.

They need to add training for new law enforcement recruits on how to communicate and deal with Deaf and hard of hearing people.

This is a serious topic and I think NAD should consider doing a press conference as this is a Deaf Awareness month also a good time to spread the message.

Deaf Identity and the Deaf Mind

I wanted to share something about the Mind of Deaf (Deaf Mind) awakening concept.

Deaf identity is about who we are as a DEAF person and we need to go deeper to understand the true meaning is about the Deaf Mind within.

The Deaf Mind reveals of what, who, what, and why we believe also why we are that way. A lot of people do not really understand what is Deaf identity truly is about.

I want to offer a different but related perspective of the Deaf Mind (Deaf-conscious). The Mind is what controls our thoughts, personality, ego, decisions, observations, perceptions, reasoning, and actions and how do we obtain this? Through experience and I wanted to bring some examples to this topic and help people understand what it really means.

Deaf culture is a learned behavior that became assimilated to our Deaf identity within. It does not happen overnight by declaring itself “I am that” but the process of becoming is what makes it happen. It is more like a search of self and once you know who you are or your true nature, and then, you begin to awaken as a “Deaf person.”

It is down to the core of being, the seat of the soul, where you identify yourself as a human being. Deaf consciousness is what makes a person who they are. What are the traits of that being? (1) Your love for Deaf people regardless of who they are, (2) your love for the language (American Sign Language) which connects you to Deaf people, (3) and realization as a Deaf person.

It becomes spiritual in nature as you felt the belonging that you never experienced while you are in the hearing world. Deaf people connect unconditionally when they need to fight for their language survival such as American Sign Language. Deaf people send inner energy signals to warn other Deaf beings and many people have called this an ESP. Deaf people swore that their minds were connected one time or more. Our energy are connected as one, the Deaf Mind is always at work protecting our identity from outsiders.

If one does not understand this clearly it is because you are not awakened yet. It does take time and after serious self introspection and self analysis, you start to grow as a process of becoming connected to the Deaf Mind. Once you have invoked the Deaf Mind and there is nothing you need to do, and, do not need to tell anyone that you have that experience, why? The Deaf Mind knows the energy and connects with others who are already invoked.