Shari Eberts is the founder of the popular blog Living with Hearing Loss. She has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story through the blog, she will help others to live more comfortably with their own hearing issues. In addition, Eberts serves on the Board of Directors of Hearing Loss Association … Continue reading
Once upon a time, someone shared the saying, “The days are long but the years are short” and I didn’t fully understand the significance of these words. That is, until my children became adults. The photo I have featured here is from October of 2008. At the time, my children were ages 8, 4, and … Continue reading
I did not grow up as a CODA or Child of a Deaf Adult. This is a hearing child who has one or both parents identify as culturally Deaf. The new Apple TV+ film ‘CODA’ highlights the experience of a teen girl who lives with her parents and an older brother, all of whom are … Continue reading
Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush 30 years ago, I have personally witnessed several excuses for lack of communication accessibility in public spaces. “We don’t have the budget for that.” “You must be a paid subscriber to enable subtitles.” “We don’t handle accessibility matters. So and so … Continue reading
Now you see me, now you don’t. Which face mask do you prefer? For the 30 million people in the U.S. who have hearing loss, clear, visible face masks allow us to read your lips and detect other visual cues, such as your smile. That is 1 in 8 people in this country who depend … Continue reading
One year ago, most of us first experienced the reality known as COVID-19 life. The school where I work shifted to remote work operations at that time. For two months, I worked from home using all kinds of technology to keep in touch with my colleagues, parents, and students. Then we shifted back to in-person … Continue reading
Pecan pie, stuffing, and falling off my Pappaw’s horse. That’s what Thanksgivings are made of. The earliest Turkey Day memory I have has my older sister and I riding bareback on our Pappaw’s horse Brownie. He picked the tamest, gentlest pony for us to ride out on his pasture. Picture a man with the looks … Continue reading
“You have until midnight to do your interviews and take your photos,” The Star County Newspaper editor said. Three of us junior reporters sat squished in the backseat of our editor’s mile-long 1970s-era Chevy. Two weeks before my career-defining internship with the major metropolitan newspaper, I had the assignment of a lifetime—and from a small … Continue reading
I hope you are doing well during these unbelievable times. My family is making the most of our time at home and trying to stay healthy. For the next few weeks, my workplace and community will follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. What does that look like for a Lipreading Mom? The Power of Captioned Video … Continue reading
One of the most challenging aspects of my teaching job is lip-reading multiple speakers’ voices during group meetings. When hands go up for Q & A at the end of staff meetings, I try hard to decipher what is being spoken from multiple mouths scattered across the room. Of course, it helps when the meeting … Continue reading
