The hip-hop community wants to make their products accessible to the Deaf community. Superstar singer and songwriter Chance the Rapper partnered with DEAFinitely Dope’s Matt Maxey and Kelly Kurdi to interpret the first verse of Chance’s song “Blessings” into American Sign Language. Learn more about their partnership by reading this Billboard Magazine article, and by watching the full video here on Pigeon and Planes‘ YouTube channel.
Anticipating, escaping and recovering from a natural disaster takes a heavy psychological toll on survivors. As they rebuild their lives economically they frequently need emotional support from their community. This article by Tony Plohetski, Andrea Ball and Melissa B. Taboada in the Austin American-Statesman (and reprinted inChicago Tribune) describes how Texas social workers and psychologists are treating patients with psychological trauma after the storm.
An article from The Baltimore Sun says The Kennedy Krieger Institute, a research facility focusing on pediatric developmental disabilities, has a therapeutic program that teaches patients with paralysis how to scuba dive. One therapist even theorizes that the pressure of deep water affects how nitrogen is circulated through patients’ tissues and improves their sensitivity.
Wendy Lu from theColumbia Journalism Review interviewed NCDJ Director Kristin Gilger about this site’s advice for covering disability beats. Some top recommendations include being wary of “inspiration porn” and avoiding words that “assume a negative relationship between people and their disabilities (e.g. wheelchair-bound).” Check out more tips from the article by clicking HERE.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month and one community arts center in Wales is using the occasion to host a series of dementia-friendly films. The goal of the series if to spark memories in dementia patients so the films will be silver screen classics like Some Like It Hot and Calamity Jane. Follow this link to a BBC News article by Karl Yapp to learn more.
David Uzzell is a deaf chef at Marcel’s, a high-end restaurant in Washington D.C. Uzzell and his colleagues use laser pointers, hand signals and a notepad to communicate meal orders and discuss kitchen operations. NPR reporter Kristin Hartke interviewed Uzzell and his boss Robert Wiedmaier about Uzzell’s work and creativity. “I couldn’t have hired David if he had no taste or sense of smell. Being deaf hasn’t stopped him from being a damn good chef,” Wiedmaier said.
Starbucks has begun providing baristas who identify as Deaf with aprons that spell out ‘Starbucks’ in American Sign Language. Here is an article by Taylor Rock of www.TheDailyMeal.com with more info.
Video game designers want their products to be enjoyed by as many players as possible, which is why many now prioritize accessibility from the beginning of the creative process. The creators of ‘Way of the Fist’ at Household Games prioritized accessibility from the beginning and agree it improved the game’s overall design. Read more in this article by Joel Couture on www.Gamasutra.com.
The 2017 Disability Equality Index (DEI) reports U.S. businesses are increasing efforts to recruit employees with disabilities. Click here to read the full article by Kellie Ell in USA Today. An excerpt: “With the help of the Index, more companies are integrating online chat features for deaf and hard-of-hearing employees, guide dogs for blind workers, internal company affinity groups, external recruitment efforts, hiring goals and retention and advancement policies for people with disabilities into the work place.”
