Spotlight on the Deaf-Blind Community
Email this pageMichigan Deaf-Blind Workshop 2008
- Caption Photo: DBW campers gather in front of the Village Commons where conference events took place. Enlarged Photo >>>
After registering and getting settled in, we went to several presentations. I attended one fascinating workshop on Taekwando. Mr. Chris Martinez, a second degree Black Belt, demonstrated various self-defense moves, and then worked with us individually to teach us simple techniques that would help us defend ourselves. My SSP valiantly took a couple punches from me and a head knock too, though I hadn't meant to do that. Blame it on my lack of depth perception! Seriously, my SSP took it all in good stride.
- Caption Photo: Melanie Bond (right) uses CART to participate in a workshop. Enlarged Photo >>>
I then attended a Legislation workshop. The presenter was former state representative Doug Spade, who is the second blind person to serve as a representative for Michigan. He touched on the legislative process and opened up the floor for questions and answers. I, always the renegade at heart, discussed having a rally at the State Capitol to raise awareness of our need for Support Service Providers (SSPs). He told us a rally was a good idea but it wasn't enough. He admonished us to contact our legislators, get to know them, and let them know who we are and what our needs are. He kept drumming into our heads that WE are the boss and that the legislator works for US! He explained that it takes several years of hard work and perseverance to pass a bill successfully.
Next was an afternoon of pampering. My SSP and I received a wonderful head, neck, shoulders and back massage. I had my first-ever manicure, where the manicurist filed my nails and applied clear nail polish. Also, I had a hand-softening treatment which included rubbing my hands with a sand-gritty cream, rinsing it off, then applying a lotion to soften my hands. Later, I told my SSP that when I rubbed the gritty cream on my hands, I ruined my new nail polish. She burst out laughing.
After dinner, SHI-M=DB held its board meeting. I offered two suggestions: think about a poetry book fundraiser for SHI-M=DB; and consider setting up an SSP project in Michigan. I accepted the President's offer to head this committee. Wish me success!
The Ice Cream Social followed soon afterwards. Being a diehard fan of chocolate, I ordered chocolate syrup on chocolate ice cream. Coincidentally, a young woman in front of me had ordered the same thing. I thought she was taking my ice cream, but no, it was hers! We had a good laugh about that.
On Saturday morning, August 9, we had an "Izzy" workshop, Izzy being Isabelle Florence, president of SHI-M=DB, certified rehabilitation instructor, and ASL teacher. She ordered Jill Gaus, our DeafBlind Workshop director, to sing us a song. Jill really, really did NOT want to sing! But she had no choice. She started singing, "Lollipop, lollipop, oh, lolli lolli lolli Lollipop, lollipop!" Throughout this workshop, Izzy would order Jill to repeat the song. It was hilarious!
After a short break, Mike Ellis, a blind entrepreneur and owner of Mike Ellis Enterprises, Inc., presented on "What's New in Assistive Technology for DB." He discussed one of the hottest technologies available for deaf-blind people-- the Global Positioning System (GPS). The GPS shows a person's exact position on earth at any time, in any weather, no matter where they are! It answers five questions: Where am I? Where am I going? Where are you? What's the best way to get there? When will I get there? He briefly explained some braille devices and encouraged us to view his demo products. (For those interested, check out his website at http://www.meewebsite.com/.)
The rest of the afternoon, we enjoyed swimming, boating and relaxing on the beach. When my SSP and I both plunged under the water, she popped back up screaming because the water was so cold! I laughed at her and told her the water was perfect.
Finally, Dance Night arrived, the moment we'd all been anticipating. We were all hot to trot! I hadn't danced in years and was inappropriately dressed in my black biker shorts and flip-flops. But we were amongst deaf-blind friends and it didn't seem to matter. I enjoyed dances such as the Choo Choo Train, the Hocus Pocus, the Chicken Flap, and the YMCA routines.
The next morning, Sunday, I attended Mass. I enjoyed the simplicity and profundity of the service led by Father Mike Depcik and his assistant. I also appreciated the opportunity to reflect and meditate.
Afterwards, Father Mike offered a Decompression Time. He led a discussion and offered counseling to those who had mixed feelings about returning home to face more isolation, exclusion and depression. Some were happy to return home to their families. Others were not. The lonely stories were heartbreaking.
I thought a lot about that day back in 1997 when the six of us volunteered to help set up SHI-M=DB. Looking back, I realize that Jill Gaus has persevered through the years to keep the spirit of the DBW camp alive. Just as De Sales Center has prospered and become more beautiful over the years, so has the DBW camp, with Jill's leadership. I applaud her work.
Author's Note: On behalf of the deaf-blind campers who attended the Michigan DeafBlind Workshop, I want to thank our wonderful sponsors: Holley Ear Institute, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Michigan Commission for the Blind-DeafBlind Unit and Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the CATIE Center at the College of St. Catherine, Self-Help in Independency in Michigan-Equalizing the DeafBlind (SHI-M=DB), and DeafBlind Central. I also want to thank all the SSPs, interpreters, CART transcribers and volunteers who made the DeafBlind Workshop a success.
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted from the September 2008 issue of "Raising Awareness", SHI-M=DB's newsletter, with permission from the author.