You Learn Lessons in Some Strange Places

I was at my endocrinologist‘s clinic this morning – wowing him with my stellar physicality – when an interesting exchange took place. It appears, that his patient immediately after me, required an interpreter. “Sign language?” I asked, obsessive individual that I’m known to be. “Nope, Spanish,” he said. “Problem is, they won’t wait – they’re

Hero of Galveston Island: The Legacy of Leroy Colombo (1905-1972)

Here is another deaf athlete (similar to Dummy Hoy who David wrote about) who our readers may not be familiar with–Leroy Colombo, a deaf lifeguard of Galveston, Texas.   Leroy Colombo, best known on Galveston Island for his swimming prowess, was a gifted athlete, an indefatigable lifeguard, and an admired humanitarian who saved 1,000 lives

An E-Mail From Change.org

Child abuse victim Terry Williams killed the man who raped him for five years — now Terry faces the death penalty in three weeks. Help stop his execution. Sign Sue’s Petition David – Terry Williams is facing the death penalty in three weeks for killing the man who repeatedly raped him. But when Terry was

HEARD’s Writing Campaign

Want to help write sorely needed letters to Deaf inmates in prisons throughout America? Here’s your chance to help alleviate someone’s insufferable solitude. Hello Fellow HEARD Supporters: Its that time again, writing time. HEARD Board members and volunteers we will be gathering for a few hours to write to some of our Deaf inmates that

Hunter Spanjer, 3-Year-Old Deaf Boy, Told By Preschool To Change Way He Signs His Name (VIDEO) – From Huffington Post

This story originally appeared in the Huffington Post, and was brought to my attention by HEARD. The article contains a video which is not captioned, but you can read the story as well. In a move blasted by rights groups, a 3-year-old-deaf boy has been told by his Nebraska school district to change the way

A Brief Update

After quite some time, we are finally in a correspondence with Thousand Kites Campaign: Justice Silenced. They publish videos about prison reform and discrimination against the Deaf. I’m in the process of getting them to release some of those videos to us for captioning and publication here on DeafInPrison.com. Pat Bliss’s 22nd chapter of the

Illinois Governor Seeks to Close States Only SuperMax

This article originally appeared in Truthout. The only supermax facility in Illinois, meaning it is the only prison built to keep the majority of its prisoners in isolation, Tamms prison was consigned for closure by the state’s governor in July. But the battle between former prisoners, the families of those hurt by conditions at Tamms,

Miranda, Hearing Juveniles and Deaf Juvenile Offenders

In a case involving Juan Garcia who at age 15 was found guilty and is serving 99 years for the murder of Jesus Veliz (age 22) that appeared in the Houston Chronicle, Sunday, September 9, 2012, p. 1, A1, A12-13), reporter Claudia Feldman analyzed Texas’ “broken program” for juvenile offenders. She states that Juan Garcia

A Letter From Felix Garcia to HEARD

This is a letter I received from HEARD. It is Felix’s most plaintive communication yet. We really need to help this innocent man gain his freedom. Here’s the PDF link to his latest letter. Felix – HEARD letter As I work on these videos, I come to see Felix as an intelligent, compassionate, ethical and

Finally! Felix #6 is Up!

Here’s the 6th installment in our interview series with Felix Garcia, in prison. Copyright Jim Ridgeway, Interviewers Jim Ridgeway and Pat Bliss, Tech and captions, Me :), and our awesome wonderful interpreter still opts for confidentiality – but I’m working on her. We’ll make a rock star of her yet. So, enjoy – here’s Felix