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Using Signing Savvy to learn sign language

Using Signing Savvy to learn sign language

By Jillian Winn
Sunday, August 12, 2012

Signing Savvy is a great resource to use when learning sign language – whether you are taking a class or just trying to learn on your own.  Using Signing Savvy while taking a class When you are taking a class, you can use Signing Savvy as a sign reference, build your own wordlists related to what you are learning in the class, and practice your vocabulary using the flash cards and quizzing features.  Like using a textbook, Signing Savvy is a great ...
Kaos Signing Choir and Deaf Percussionist Evelyn Glennie are highlights from the Olympic Opening Ceremony

Kaos Signing Choir and Deaf Percussionist Evelyn Glennie are highlights from the Olympic Opening Ceremony

By Jillian Winn
Sunday, July 29, 2012

What was our favorite part of the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games? It had to be the Kaos Signing Choir for deaf and hearing children and Deaf Percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf and Hearing Children If you saw the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games, you probably caught the children in pajamas singing and signing the British national anthem, "God Save the Queen."  The children were from the Kaos Signing Choir for deaf and hearing ...
Kim's Story: A mother's perspective of raising a deaf child

Kim's Story: A mother's perspective of raising a deaf child

By Kim Martinez
Tuesday, June 12, 2012

HI! My name is Kim Martinez, and I am proud to say, I am a mother of a deaf child.  She is now 26, and I would not change the way she is. I know most mothers say this, but this is so true for me. When God gives you something special like this, you do one thing…..PUNT!!  I am not going to say this has been easy, it has been really hard actually, but because of the gift of a ...
A perspective on deaf education: Dr. Joseph Valente's

A perspective on deaf education: Dr. Joseph Valente's "Hearing the Unheard"

By Jillian Winn
Monday, May 7, 2012

Our recent blog article on Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing covered the various educational options available. We did not specify any one option as being "the best" option because every child, family, and situation is different and education is a very personal decision. However, one of our suggestions was to connect with deaf adults who can provide advice based on their own education experience. We found a TEDx video by Dr. Joseph Valente that talks about ...
Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

By John Miller
Tuesday, April 24, 2012

We have received questions from parents, family and friends of newly identified children with hearing loss asking about what we know about educational options. Let me begin by saying that making educational decisions for you child is a very personal decision and takes a lot of thought and discussion with professionals that have specific knowledge of the services available in your area. There are many different education options to explore. You need to determine what is the best fit for your family.
Interpreter 4-1-1: Top 10 Pearls of Wisdom for Interpreters

Interpreter 4-1-1: Top 10 Pearls of Wisdom for Interpreters

By Brenda Cartwright
Thursday, March 29, 2012

Interpreting can be both rewarding and challenging. Here is my list of top ten pearls of wisdom for interpreters...
Celebrated Deaf Artist Chuck Baird Dies

Celebrated Deaf Artist Chuck Baird Dies

By John Miller
Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Chuck Baird, an amazing Deaf artist died February 10, 2012 after a four-year battle with cancer. Chuck Baird was often referred to as a playful mind and a generous heart. I was able to meet Chuck as he visited with a group of young Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. I have to admit his playful mind and generous heart is what stuck out to me the most while I watched him totally pull the children into his wonderful world of ...
The Hammer movie delivers inspirational true story

The Hammer movie delivers inspirational true story

By Jillian Winn
Monday, February 20, 2012

The Hammer, a movie based on the life of the first deaf NCAA Wrestling Champion and UFC Fighter Matt "The Hammer" Hamill, was released on DVD a few weeks ago. The DVD cover says, "the inspirational true story," and it was just that… whether or not you are interested in wrestling, sign language, or deaf culture, the movie is an inspirational story about overcoming challenges and working hard to make your dreams a reality. And if you are interested ...
Quizzing Enhanced with Fill-in-the-Blank Option

Quizzing Enhanced with Fill-in-the-Blank Option

By Jillian Winn
Monday, February 6, 2012

We have enhanced the Signing Savvy quizzing feature to add a "fill-in-the-blank" question type in addition to the two multiple choice question types ("match meaning to sign" and "match sign to meaning"). The new "fill-in-the-blank" question type is a particularly good way to test your fingerspelling recognition skills (as discussed in the previous blog post, FINGERSPELLING……that dirty BIG four-teen letter word!). Quizzing yourself on word lists is a full member feature. All users can sample the quizzing option on the ...
FINGERSPELLING……that dirty BIG four-teen letter word!

FINGERSPELLING……that dirty BIG four-teen letter word!

By John Miller
Friday, February 3, 2012

In all my years of signing, I have never had anyone say to me, "I can't believe how easy fingerspelling is!" or "Man, I really LOVE fingerspelling all these odd words that don't have signs for them." It just isn't a favorite part of the job! It is the thing that makes even seasoned interpreters break into a sweat when they have to start signing for a calculus class or in a court of law with a bunch ...