Deafness disability ,, suggestions

[muffyn]

we are traveling with a deaf person.
I have read the faq page, about the assistance gizmos. (not really much help for most of the attractions we will be going on)

does anyone have any suggestions or *anything* that give us advice before we head there?
we are only going to animal kingdom & DHS.

is there a GAC card for this? & what would it accomplish?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Can the person you are going with read lips and/or ASL? If the anser to either or both is yes, then having a GAC will allow seating near the front.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #3 has, near the top, a link to the official hearing disabilities page and further down on Post #3 has a link to more detailed information. I would suggest looking at these.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[Talking Hands]

just got back from a deaf conference and interpreter workshop this weekend with a side trip to the Studios for a few hours. Will answer your questions after I get home from work tmw. HAve to be up at 5:30am

 

[muffyn]

Can the person you are going with read lips and/or ASL? If the anser to either or both is yes, then having a GAC will allow seating near the front.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #3 has, near the top, a link to the official hearing disabilities page and further down on Post #3 has a link to more detailed information. I would suggest looking at these.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

yes she reads lips, I do not know what ASL means < sign language?? she signs, if thats what you mean> ( she is a friend of a friend & I am kinda the planner of this trip & she was brought in last minute, & thought I'd find out something about disney halp on this matter)

yes, I read the FAQ, but since we are only going to the 2 parks only a few things might be helpful with the reflective captioning .

too bad they don't have a gizmo that will help with other things in the park, like what my pal mickey says.

 

[Talking Hands]

too bad they don't have a gizmo that will help with other things in the park, like what my pal mickey says.

They do have a handheld captioning device which can be obtained from Guest services with a $100 deposit fully refunded when you return it at the same place. Which parks will you be going to. If you give a heads up in 2 weeks or more in advance and explain you will be going only to 2 parks they can set up interpreting for the shows you want to see.
Normally interpreting is Mon and Thur- Magic Kingdom, Tuesday and Friday - Epcot, Wednesday and Sunday - Disney's Hollywood Studios and Saturday - Animal Kingdom.

 

[teachermom]

Most deaf people do not view being deaf as a disability. Deafness is a culture with it's own language, ASL (American Sign Language). Saying that being deaf makes you disabled may be considered an insult by some people in the deaf culture.

 

[Climber656]

Most deaf people do not view being deaf as a disability. Deafness is a culture with it's own language, ASL (American Sign Language). Saying that being deaf makes you disabled may be considered an insult by some people in the deaf culture.

Agreed. I am taking ASL 1 at my university and have several friends who are deaf. deafness is not a disability. God has a special plan for all of us. Being deaf is just a different path....

 

[muffyn]

Most deaf people do not view being deaf as a disability. Deafness is a culture with it's own language, ASL (American Sign Language). Saying that being deaf makes you disabled may be considered an insult by some people in the deaf culture.

never was I trying to insult anyone.

"THIS" forum is listed as disabilities, I was just using it in that context(??) , since there are some faq guidelines for deaf visitors to make their trip easier.

I just wanted some more tips, as I have never met anyone deaf before & thought to aid their plans on the trip.

 

[Talking Hands]

Deafness gets placed under disabilities because this is how most of the hearing world views them. They themselves do not consider themselves disabled but as a language group. Because I am hard of hearing and late deafened hearing people rarely even realize I have a hearing loss. I have adapted to my loss. Now those who are deaf and hard of hearing usually realize I have a loss because I switch to sign language as soon as I see another using it. Also we just get to know each other as it is a small world.

 

[Climber656]

Deafness gets placed under disabilities because this is how most of the hearing world views them. They themselves do not consider themselves disabled but as a language group. Because I am hard of hearing and late deafened hearing people rarely even realize I have a hearing loss. I have adapted to my loss. Now those who are deaf and hard of hearing usually realize I have a loss because I switch to sign language as soon as I see another using it. Also we just get to know each other as it is a small world.

This is really cool. A friend of mine has applied to the WDW College Program and is a Educational Interpreting major. I think she is also considering doing Deaf Education.

 

[Talking Hands]

Tell your friend to be sure and test for her language pin for her name tag. ASL is the only one that requires an in person test but as an interpreting student she should have no problem getting it. Anf get to know the interpreters. They are terrific.

 

[TheresaG]

They do have a handheld captioning device which can be obtained from Guest services with a $100 deposit fully refunded when you return it at the same place. Which parks will you be going to. If you give a heads up in 2 weeks or more in advance and explain you will be going only to 2 parks they can set up interpreting for the shows you want to see.
Normally interpreting is Mon and Thur- Magic Kingdom, Tuesday and Friday - Epcot, Wednesday and Sunday - Disney's Hollywood Studios and Saturday - Animal Kingdom.

I've seen this for information for normal interpreting days at the parks. This will be our first trip to WDW. At Disneyworld we've had an interpreter shadow us. My husband has not liked the handheld captioning thing -- don't work great.

So...if I contact them and ask for an interpreter for a park on a day they don't have them scheduled will they get one?

 

[Talking Hands]

Depends if that is the only day you can go to that park. LIke you are there for 2 days and the park you want to see isn't interpreted that day or it is for something special. All you can do is ask and you will have to plan ahead and request it at least 2 weeks in advance. Also they do not shadow you but you will be given a set schedule for the shows they do.

 

[Mazzy]

Most deaf people do not view being deaf as a disability. Deafness is a culture with it's own language, ASL (American Sign Language). Saying that being deaf makes you disabled may be considered an insult by some people in the deaf culture.

Deafness gets placed under disabilities because this is how most of the hearing world views them. They themselves do not consider themselves disabled but as a language group.

Personally I have to disagree with this. I'm partially deaf and have been deaf since birth (it has got worse with time) and definitely see myself as having a disability. A disability is something which prevents you doing things that someone without the disability can do, and deafness causes all kinds of frustrations and communication problems on a daily basis. Even if you sign and your deaf community signs, once you are out in the hearing world it can be very difficult to know what's going on around you.

To the OP: the deaf person in your party will really appreciate the captions and other options for the deaf at WDW, at DHS the portable captioning system is great for lots of attractions, including the Backlot Tour. I hope they enjoy their visit! :d:

 

[mechurchlady]

I live in a multi-ethnic community and each language group has those people who cannot speak or read English but they are not disabled. They are hindered at times by not being part of the English speaking majority but they are not disabled. I agree with Talking Hands about the deaf community not seeing themselves as being disabled. People with a bad knee do not feel they are disabled even if they could use disabled services. It is a mindset that not all have.

OP: The best thing to do is gather all the info from the board and present your deaf friend with that information. Do it early in your planning so you can arrange stuff if need be and reassure her of her trip being fun. She might be more comfortable with the captioning devices or she may want an interpreter which you can arrange through Disney if one is not scheduled at a park on the day you are visiting.

 

[Mazzy]

I live in a multi-ethnic community and each language group has those people who cannot speak or read English but they are not disabled. They are hindered at times by not being part of the English speaking majority but they are not disabled. I agree with Talking Hands about the deaf community not seeing themselves as being disabled. People with a bad knee do not feel they are disabled even if they could use disabled services. It is a mindset that not all have.

I agree with you that the multi-ethnic people are not disabled, of course they're not. The difference between someone who speaks another language and a person who is deaf, is that the former can learn to speak and read English, but a deaf person cannot learn to hear, the two cannot be compared. If you are comparing deafness to a bad knee then you obviously have no experience of deafness and how it can impact on the deaf persons whole life, and I speak from experience and not from observation.

 

[Talking Hands]

I agree with you that the multi-ethnic people are not disabled, of course they're not. The difference between someone who speaks another language and a person who is deaf, is that the former can learn to speak and read English, but a deaf person cannot learn to hear, the two cannot be compared. If you are comparing deafness to a bad knee then you obviously have no experience of deafness and how it can impact on the deaf persons whole life, and I speak from experience and not from observation.

I am hard of hearing and do not consider myself disabled by it in the least. My disabilities are from other issues that affect my mobility. Some days my so called hearing is reasonably good and other days I can barely hear anything because of the ringing in my ears. It fluctuates. Since I do sign ASL I find I get along just fine in the world. With hearing people I communicate resonably well through speech reading and written communication or the use of an interpreter if needed. What frustrates me is some people's attitudes that because I am deaf I can't do other things for myself like decided what to order, etc. Give me a break. I am deaf not an imbecile. My husband finds his hearing loss more of a disablility because he has not learned ASL and finds himself in neither world but he is learning and enjoying hanging out with my deaf friends.