For the past week, I have been playing with a new device. I am totally loving this!
An Agency for the deaf purchased me a DeafBlind Communicator. I can now make my own phone calls using TTY, do face to face conversations with people who can not sign, send and receive SMS text messaging, and do instant messaging on Google Talk.
When I lost my hearing, I couldn’t do text messaging on my cell phone anymore. In order for me to use my cell phone, I have to use talking software, which doesn’t really help a deaf person. There were some of my contacts who only do text messaging and nothing else. When I was unable to do it anymore, I lost contact with them. But now I’m back!
I feels wonderful to be able to do something as normal as sending a text massage. Also, the face to face feature has opened a lot up to me again.
My brother and I used to talk pretty often. Since I lost my speech recognition, and he doesn’t sign, we didn’t talk much lately. It’s been about a year or more since I have really talked to him. We would always say “hi” to each other, and give each other a hug, but that was about it. This weekend I was able to talk to him, his wife, and oldest son.
It was great! The conversation, the feeling of actually being in the same world everyone else is in. They type to me on a little cell phone keypad and it comes to my device in braille. I can speak my response, or type it and it will go to the cell phone they are holding. It’s fantastic! I don’t have to be lonely anymore. This DBC will make my world open back up, and I won’t be so isolated.
Edward and I are now able to talk at a distance. Before, if he was gone to the store, we had no way to communicate even something as simple as “do we have enough milk?” Now we can just text each other and get our answer or whatever it is we are needing.
I love technology. It makes so much possible for me. Whoever thinks of this stuff is amazing! I wish all deaf-blind people had a DBC. It really does open up the world to us.
by Yvonne Foong, on 03.03.10 @ 12:06 am
Hello Holly,
It is heartening to read that an agency got you the DBC. I am touched anbd encouragaged by the blessings you received. It’s a comfort to know that you have a way of communicating with people now and not remain isolated anymore. Like most people out there, I have been worried about you and feel sorry too. Now that you have the DBC, I am truly comforted knowing that you can return to living as full and productive as possible.
by Carin, on 03.03.10 @ 9:30 am
Sweeet! You got a DBC! I’m so happy! Yea agency for the deaf!
by John, on 03.03.10 @ 12:50 pm
That is excellent news indeed, Holly, and a great follow-on from your recent op, about which I’ve been reading the updates regularly.
During my time subscribed to the deafblind techies list, the DBC was discussed at length, both before and after its launch. At the moment and likely for the foreseeable future, this device is only available in the US of A.
I wish you many years of success with your newfound liberation and hope for no breakdowns along the way.
by hollyalonzo, on 03.03.10 @ 4:39 pm
Yes, it’s a blessing for me to have this technology and not be as isolated anymore. Carin, you’re right. Yay for agencies that comes to our aid! Jon, I used a tella touch while I was in Los Angeles. It served its purpose, but it is very outdated. It works though! That’s awful that people in other countries don’t have access to the DBC. Hopefully that changes soon.
by John, on 03.03.10 @ 8:48 pm
Holly, I’ll bet my bottom dollar that DBC is speeding yur Braille skills bigtime.
Good to know someone had the sense to use a Tellatouch while you were in LA and that the device served its purpose.
As for being “very outdated”, perhaps compared to the first world that is the case, but the guy who moderates the deafblind techies list is from South Africa and he had a thing or two to tell Americans about their situation compared to his own.
He never heard of the Tellatouch and neither would I have, only for visiting Sweden in 2002. He also said that in his part of the world, any form of technology is a valuable asset to disabled folk, however old it may be. In other words, they are a ways behind in developing countries and will probably be forever playing catch-up.
I think, though, that as a person who learned Braille at the tender ages of four and five, using it all my half-century life, and having a fair amount of usable hearing, the Tellatouch was a tonic to me. Yes, the Braille pinpricks feel different from paper, take a little familiarization, and you certainly wouldn’t want cold fingers when reading the Tellatouch; maybe it’s more suitable to the needs of hard-of-hearing blind than profoundly or totally deafblind ones. Plus, it doesn’t run on batteries or mains, so won’t break down in mid-conversation. Just my thoughts.
by hollyalonzo, on 03.04.10 @ 6:16 pm
My DB friend, J, out in L.A. had a tellatouch and brought it to the hospital for us to use when needed. He also got me a little alphabet card with braille and print, like you were talking about, just to have as a backup. I never had to use the card, but it’s nice to hanve just incase.
Yeah, my braille reading is getting a little faster. Hopefully it speeds up more, because I’m still slow.
by John, on 03.04.10 @ 8:39 pm
Oh, yes, it will speed up gradually, though you may not notice at first. You’ll be driven along by the urge to know what your nearest and dearest are saying, just the same as I was when Braille display was away for repair and I was relying on Mr. Jaws going baw, baw, baw, to deliver the word.
Actually I find jaws and all amplified sounds easier to understand on analog than digital hearing aids, though the latter are good for outdoors mobility.
A guy in Boston I e-spond also has a dbc and finds it brilliant, so it must be the best device ever invented for db folk. Rave on.
by edwardalonzo, on 03.05.10 @ 1:34 pm
Hello everyone. Yes, this is definitely opened up a ton of doors for Holly and myself. I know that the DBC, is really a big improvement in technology for persons who are deaf and blind. I know, when I got my first iPhone, or I guess I should say, my only iPhone, I really enjoyed it as a new piece of technology, that I could use, without having to purchase any third-party screen reader software for the phone. I found it a very easy piece of useable technology, without having to worry about all the fuss and muss. I think that Holly, has finally found her piece of technology, that she is really going to enjoy. It’s a shame, that other countries, are far behind the United States, but this seems to be the case with a lot of situations, not just in technology. It’s definitely opened The communication lines for both Holly and myself, and that’s something to be greatly said because it always felt like we were lost in communication. So thank you death blind communicator!