The Deaf Community: Ready for Deadliest Second Wave?

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Coronavirus is a deprecatory period—what about the second wave coming in the Fall/Winter 2020? It might be more deadliest this time. Deaf patients in hospitals around the country would be a life-threatening crisis. Is it an immunoprivilege (immune privilege) obstacle in the Deaf community?

The Coronavirus has unfolded on the Deaf community across the country, in the words of Ernest Hemingway,

“Gradually, then suddenly.”

As always, the Deaf community is foremost in the minds of the Deaf citizens from all walks of life. [Deaf People of Color, Deaf Latinx, Deaf Indigenous, and other marginalized groups would be much harder.]

What about the mental health that could have lead to many consequences and impacts a lifetime scar? ‘Hospital’ derived from hospitium, to make sure the relationship between the guest and the shelterer, in principled standing.

Not only risks wasting the Deaf patients’ experience but also human compassion are missing for future advancement. What and how the Deaf patients have perceived in their struggles limit our understanding of the hospital(s).

It is not an opportunity to practice a vulnerability tool in the Deaf space, and the bias is critical when the problem is gravely ignored. Does that mean it makes the Deaf patient as a vulnerable that does not make a better solution for humanity?

The Deaf patients whom life-threatening in hospitals are unnecessary cruelty because if the hospitals do not stop this, it would reinforce more power to medical neglect, it is also part of immunoprivilege, becomes a powerful force from withholding community accountability.

Think of the consequences what medical negligence is the cousin of Immunoprivilege. When it is not necessary to practice the marginalization of Deaf patients’ experience that could lead to making them feel unprotected; how would we discuss this serious problem in the socialization and the production of Deaf patients?

The influence of the Deaf patients seeks to illuminate how hospitalization inequalities between the hearing community and the Deaf community. Hearing privileges. From long-term oppression and not the rights of the Deaf patients define socialization as the process in which Deaf patients would have to deal by carrying themselves both mentally and physically following societal expectations.

The hospitalization system, which is significant because it strongly reinforces the traditional power, established in the hearing space, the Deaf patients portrayed in supplementary roles. Throughout all of this, hearing privileges continue to gain power in themselves while Deaf patients continue to power-struggle for beliefs that they should be “less powerful and more vulnerable” than hearing patients.

The consequences of Deaf space are starkly manifest through chats and figures. Despite their hostile environment, learn to deal with stereotypes.

The author of Slavery and Social Death, Orlando Patterson writes:

“It is difficult to treat humans so inhumanely while continuing to acknowledge their humanity.”

With five months away from the second wave of Coronavirus (COVID-19), would the Deaf community be prepared for the worst phrase? The psychological, cultural, and biological dimensions would easily forget the dehumanization of the Deaf.

We need to get ready more than ever. Sharing profound emotional and social implications, and we need to be well positioned with the right tools and capabilities, and share stories under the nose.

Deaf patients are the ultimate human tools, a loss of Deaf status, of immunoprivilege. Many Deaf citizens are particularly vulnerable and may be facing new pressures during the coming second wave. Areas of urgent need include emergency funds for Deaf patients; overnight, the Deaf community has changed. The Deaf community is no stranger to adversity.

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Here the Deaf community moves to the cultural struggle to reclaim the past, to that problem that becomes a medical authority more heavily in favor of the hearing dimensions. In the second wave and third wave of the Coronavirus, we need to emerge determined for any kind of experience.

That is a big issue right now. The optimism is now critical comes from understanding with the Deaf community that shall find solutions and ways to push back and tackle the issue. This is the time now. Do not waste waiting too long. Be prepared.

2020: The year that could shape the Deaf community forever. Rejecting video conferences or video remote interpreting would be a good step. A death sentence is not optional.

-JT

Copyright © 2020 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

CREDIT FOR THE FIRST IMAGE:

https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-what-causes-a-second-wave-of-disease-outbreak-and-could-we-see-this-in-australia-134125

SECOND IMAGE:

https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/180556-hospitalization-of-patient

Chicago MED: Profiting Off Deaf People in Hollywood Industry?

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Dear readers,

I had technical problem with iMovie and tried to upload YouTube video via ASL, but it is not working for some reason. My apologies. “IMovie quit unexpectedly” twice—argh!

Few hours ago (Wednesday, September 26 evening), I was watching NBC show, “Chicago Med”—and there were plenty of red flags. And, that is not cool how to politicize Deaf people out of their journey to make NBC earn huge profiting.

The show was showing about the marvel of cochlear implants, and a nurse who was using very poorly ASL to a patient who is Deaf—forced to use cochlear implant, and inspire viewers that cochlear implant is a marvel invention. Not only that, but the show with millions of viewers, like nurses, doctors, hospital administers, board of trustees, and all that, thinks it is OK to allow a nurse who barely knows ASL and rejects ASL interpreter for communication, information, and knowledge is being denied for policing. It put Deaf patient in greater danger.

Enough of criminalizing of the Deaf community—NBC is number one network. Really, it is. I grew up admiring NBC, like funny shows, “Frasier”, “Marlon”, “Friends”, “Cheers”, “Last Comic Standing”, “Alf”, “Diff’rent Strokes”, “Sanford and Son”

Come on, NBC! It is not funny about exploiting Deaf people at all. No, it is not. Deaf people matter. And there is no doubt that Deaf people are the forgotten course of our democracy for generations to come. Come on, it is not cool! Hollywood industry, can they listen to us, Deaf signing people?

The truth is that the Deaf community is vulnerable because there is no mobilization of Deaf database to explain our lawmakers or sign a petition is not a project, and should not be seen as an organizing tactic and recruitment tactic–for example, when it increases Deaf people’s mental health to be process within moving forward in media.

Showing cochlear implant in “Chicago Med” is showing an inspiration that makes all financial services are created equal—and equal access to them through oppression layers. It is important to present a unique Deaf community—signing community, showing how to have or have not, access to higher education journey. As the media giants like NBC, becomes increasingly connected to viewers, cochlear implants grows, that becomes demand and supply, is a dangerous democracy grows out with it.

“Chicago Med” show like tonight, 2018, is continuing to explore how cochlear implant are changing the future about image of Deaf people.

Inspiration porn about cochlear implants in Hollywood showing in hospital shows is hurting many of us in Deaf community, no matter what. No one deserves to be asked whether to get cochlear implant surgery while living in health crisis, for example, heart attack survivors.

Millions of viewers are fan of this show, “Chicago Med”—missing out what it is important that Deaf patients have the right to have access to ASL interpreters right away. It is their human right.

-JT

Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

VRI: Stop the Exploitation of Deaf Patients

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Last Sunday, January 21, 2018: I experienced heart problems in the wee early morning. When I was brought into the emergency room, the VRI screen had brought before my face where I politely refused a service of my own decision, I asked for ASL interpreters immediately, the VRI was not even working and been delaying for 10 minutes and it has continued by the time ASL interpreter arrived on the premise from upstairs, VRI was still in struck mode when there is NO Wi-Fi in the ER.

I was actually gasping for some damn air! My mouth became dehydrated. Literally, I was! I want to thank that ASL interpreter for quick response! Bless the interpreters from Access Interpreting Inc. It was surreal and intense experience. I was in high risk situation as a heart attack survivor, the nurses then realizes that the VRI machine was still in trouble with no Wi-Fi, I signed to them through ASL interpreter, “That is exactly the problem right there that has been causing a great deal of stress for Deaf patients” and the nurses then said to me that they agreed with me. That is the message that we all need to see.

I thought it is extremely important that it is time for VRI (Video Remote Interpreting) companies to read this post:

Your Excellency,

Deaf patients who are in high risk situations do not need to face a life sentence and not be threatened a human security for expressing their rights to refuse VRI. I urge VRI companies to ensure the harassment of Deaf patients ends.

Deaf patients has braved years of VRI oppression in their own faces when they are standing up for their rights to refuse VRI. No Deaf patients should be evicted of their human rights.

Deaf patients continues their human activism, and it is time for VRI companies to overturn Deaf people’s life sentences so Deaf patients can continue to earn their pursuit of happiness and end all charges of being oppressed and release them immediately. Deaf patients have been intimidated by VRI companies for refusing their services. They have rights to ask for live interpreters on the site immediately.

The discussion of how oppression becomes invisible in Deaf community, then it requires a formal distinction between respect and disrespect as the two components of compassion. By compassion I mean any movement of people from that place to another place when Deaf patients are considered as outsiders.

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By the ways of movement that put human understanding often to see and discuss about it, and when I look up a word in dictionary, it takes me a minute. When Deaf patients who are in high risk situations, for example, heart attack survivors, they do not need to deal with more stress, fueling their traumatic experiences, to share their stories.

Deaf patients in high-risk situations need to stand up and speak out more about their experiences dealing with VRI companies in hospitals, to reduce stress, the labor of VRI need to question themselves for their lack of compassion. By definition, getting rid of VRI companies and gives Deaf patients more power to seek for live interpreters is a human right.

Deaf patients have a moral duty to continue their rights of seeking live interpreters. As good example of this quote we all should follow: “Each has a right to the other’s attention and correction action.” Our duty is to stand up to stop VRI oppression for high risk Deaf patients in emergency rooms and the human right to rebuke VRI companies who do not have any compassion and undermine the ground rules of Deaf patients who experience language hegemony in the hospital settings.

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We demand the changes that VRI companies be stopped for exploiting Deaf patients. We demand the changes that ASL interpreters be on hospital sites 24/7 with their own office.

Even with live interpreters became necessary to make a measurable effect, the less harm on Deaf patients. VRI companies and hospital administration are passed by politics primarily for reasons that are best understood in the context of disrespect and the appearance of Deaf patients is being exploited in hospitals and the crucible for the lack of discourses about compassion. The exploitation of Deaf patients is all about money and politics. This has to be stopped.

Finally, we need to stop allowing VRI companies to exploit Deaf patients and demand changes to have interpreters on site 24/7 and the studies of language hegemony for political pleasure and that shall lead Deaf patients to stand up and speak out more.

-JT

Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

NAD: VRI Concerns

National Association of the Deaf releases for anyone to carry with them all times with VRI card for medical settings (doctor, dentist, hospital, etc) that questions the liability and credibility with VRI companies.

Video Remote Interpreting: Sue NAD and Chris Wagner for Breach of Human Ignorance

 

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While I was a patient last November 2016, VRI has broken down four times due to “technical difficulties”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit wrote that Deaf patients could sue against hospitals for neglect of live interpreters instead of using video remote interpreting (VRI). I never liked using VRI myself as a patient. In fact, last November 2016, when I had a massive heart attack, I remember the first thing when one interpreter said to me, “Look, you need to use VRI–much easier for you to use it” and I said, “No, thanks! I prefer live interpreter” and I realized that they breached against my wish as a human being. Do you even realize that it was also a culture of fear by pushing fear in patients’ faces?

From the link I will provide you below:

A jury could find that [five Deaf patients] were denied effective communication; that nurses were aware of the denials; and that the nurses refused to correct the denials….The evidence indicates that the nurses, knowing the patients required an interpretive aid, relied on the VRI to facilitate communication with the patients; were put on notice that the VRI was not accommodating the patients; and chose to persist in using the VRI without correcting its deficiencies… In fact, it appears that the nurses even abandoned the VRI altogether at times without providing an alternative interpretive aid.” 

I hated using VRIs. There are couple of times that VRI would not work while I was in the hospital recovering and noticed that they do not understand the seriousness of language barrier and hegemony. The worst thing is that I was forced to “live” by hours ordered by the interpreter—how dare the interpreter who is employed by the hospital staff makes rules for me?

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The unthinkable is happening everywhere throughout the country that Deaf people are vulnerable that are being exploited, physically abused, and emotionally abused by the hospitals on Mother Earth that was supposed to love thy neighbor. It is impossible to know just how many Deaf patients who struggled for human rights are out there.

When I made complaints against the hospital and asked National Association of the Deaf (NAD) for help, know what NAD said to me? “Sorry. The case is closed!” and bid me good day. That was fucking bullshit. Even more distributing that in many cases, NAD are doing very poorly job not to give Deaf people enough protection.

Is it the reason the systematic failure that makes it very difficult for Deaf people to seek for rightful justice? Also, we must remember former NAD president, Christopher Wagner who supported the idea of VRIs, which caused huge conflict of interest while he was working for zVRS to bring into political favouritism.

Through those stories are a way for all of us to escape our minds and experience their pain, deep down the problems are very real. And in many ways, our characters are what the reflection of the light. We need to help them and set a good example. We need to understand them that would bring quintessential to the human condition.

Deaf patients who were pressured to use VRI or face consequences promoting human rights abuse—I think it would be good idea for them to hold Christopher Wagner and NAD accountable. Stop abuse of power, corruption, undermines rule of law, money, bullying, ignorance and bullying!

Time for those Deaf patients to sue against NAD and Wagner. Do not be a bystander. VRIs has done major damage more than they really think.

-JT

Copyright © 2017 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

References:

http://brombergtranslations.com/2017/06/05/2236/

 

 

 

Why is ASL in Silence?

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Today is August 1st—the day I will never forget. Eight years ago in 2008 that day, my beautiful mother experienced the most severe heart attack, her fourth heart attack in 12 years and died for 20 minutes before coming back to life. I just do not know how to explain this—when I first saw my mother had to deal with all the tubes in her mouth being in coma—I cried very hard. I was 33 years old and healthy. It was incredible. I was there in the same room when she woke up for the first time and used American Sign Language (ASL) in her left hand, “H-E-L-P” several times asking to have the tube removed and confused why she was in the hospital—it was a wake-up call for everything. I am really blessed that ASL has been brought on Mother Earth for a reason.

To be clear, ASL is very important, more so than any in our lifetime. To be Deaf is something that begins with us. It begins in our hearts, in that place that is never separate from the living heart of ours. To be Deaf is something that begins with ourselves that finds it mirrored back to us by the Deaf community. This community, our people, ASL, between right and wrong, between night and day, and between matter and spirit is very important right now.

The hospitals in America can be difficult for Deaf people to deal with when they ask for certified ASL interpreters, I am talking about cheap ASL interpreters that are not even certified or know nothing at all is very offensive for Deaf people. There are hospitals that refuses ASL interpreters for so long that we have defined ourselves in opposition to how the general society has viewed us. We have defined ourselves, and been defined, by that which seemed to be in us most different. Wait…. ASL makes us different, right?

In this time of crisis, it is Deaf leaders who hold out, by our very nature, the deepest vision of healing and peace that is possible for Deaf community to have the rights to get certified ASL interpreters. It is all about common ground to connect—and enter into the collective unconscious. Why I write this because that day when I asked for ASL interpreter, the hospital refused to offer ASL interpreter even a particular doctor, an asshole who refused to believe that she was my mother and I was clearly pissed off just because I’m Deaf and different. After that, I got fed up and became an activist many months later.

Hospitals today in 2016—Deaf people still are struggling to get ASL interpreters. The hospitals need to be criticized on moral, economic and political grounds. Every Deaf American must face defining moments—we are facing one now. We do not need to deal with feelings of discord and despair—not only that, but we should not deal with this to find a way forward. It is all about ideals of dignity, equality, and justice. Today, we need Deaf leaders to be stronger than ever to overcome the crisis and Deaf people are in a moment of human rights to get ASL interpreters, no matter what! It was very difficult time for me that day.

Today, I survived four heart attacks in a year ALONE unlike my mother with four heart attacks in 12 years. I wonder what if it happened to me when the hospitals refuse to offer ASL interpreter or whatever it means. Most recently, about seven months ago, I had experienced pain in my heart and went to the hospital and asked for ASL interpreter right now instead that I be in the “waiting” room for five hours before finally ASL interpreter was available. National Association of the Deaf (NAD) said, “too bad” and moved on. I was very offended what NAD said to me and the CEO did not even bother to do anything about it. After that, I will never ask help from NAD ever again just because they lack in that area due to shortage of lawyers, Bullshit!

There are two important amendments to the United States Constitution that help to explain the rights of Deaf patients at hospitals. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances. Here’s a breakdown: freedom of press, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; not shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 

Here’s a breakdown: provides “equal protection of the law”, therefore preventing discrimination in hospitals—think about that. Again, I wonder—what if I experience severe heart attack right now, what would it look at this hour? I wonder…with all the tubes in my mouth? Why is ASL in silence?

-JT

Copyright © 2016 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

Intellectual Property in Hospitals: Driving Force for Cochlear Implants

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Nancy Rourke’s Fix 

Happy one year anniversary! That is the day I suffered heart attack at age of 38, before entering into hospital walls to prepare for an emergency room, I can remember very clearly that I was treated well with two paramedics in the ambulance making sure I am OK, they were professional and I appreciated their service very much. The professionalism I endured into the emergency room was capricious and harsh where the doctor asked me if I would like to receive a cochlear implant, of course, I was disconcerted more than anything. Not only that, but I had two witnesses that day next to me as well. It actually happened.

That doctor need to learn her actions that had consequences because she was lenient. The hospital allowed her to escape punishment, there is an idea that the hospital rules for the doctors to have the right to preach genocidal dictators against Deaf people, it is very real concern that has generated a lot of public oppression. It appears that doctor literally got away with Audism, calling attention to the relationship between wealth, privilege and justice. Encouraging cochlear implants in hospitals, the spread of these “disorders” with very limited scientific way to prove, has been very alarming. Driving all of it, of course is the cochlear implant makers and the increasing use of “hearing” as a form of social control. Cochlear implants does not tell doctors everything.

How might the scales of justice tip towards Deaf people with more resources in hospitals? As much as it is invisible in hospitals, it needs to stop their open secrets. Hospitals needs to be more sympathetic to Deaf patients, not the doctors. The Deaf people are the pillars of the community, and the rules of hospital justices are occasionally applied differently from medical arrogance, dividing up Deaf community. Not only that but the doctors would get a lot of money or commission if they succeed their job. I mean, they do not get like five dollars for their commission, no….I mean, a lot of money. Two figures or maybe more. Who knows?

I just realized that the doctors are “power-tripping” their own social behaviors that violates cultural norms towards Deaf people. The cochlear implant makers are teaching the doctors to welcome rising diagnosis rates as evidence that being Deaf is a disorder that needs to be recognized, even though there are many weak evidence about the success of cochlear implants, they must learn that cochlear implant must be shared with or sold to other doctors with the information which can be a diversion long tolerated in hospital settings and gaining ignorance in high-achieving medical practices are particularly dangerous, the doctors are becoming more dangerous because of their medical privileges being abused.

The real truth is that the sounds through cochlear implants are very much part of man-made known as synthetical.

Deaf patients who comes in emergency rooms will likely to be treated with all kinds of flavors and fun packs, brainwashing them to make sure they are designed to push themselves as lab rats to get cochlear implants to be part of standardized test maze the cochlear implant companies and the hospitals agree to create in the medical system.

The doctors in white lab coats are identified as symbols of oppression around Deaf patients, in fact, when it comes to Deaf patients, the discussion often forward as they are seen as uniquely non-oppressive people that they needs to be hear again with their ears. Ironic, right? The factuality of Cochlear Implant is more complex and challenging today and tomorrow.

Let’s get all together and play a board game, Monopoly….shall we?

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-JT

Copyright © 2013 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.