The Daily Reviewer | Disaboom DeafMom Blog

Disability is Natural, Says Kathie Snow

Sep 22, 2009 6:00pm

An interview with Kathie Snow from Disability is Natural: Tell me a bit about yourself and your son. I’m a public speaker, author, and trainer...happened quite by accident about 19 years ago when I became passionate about disability issues after my baby son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the...

People with Disabilities in the News

Aug 10, 2009 7:33pm

This week's round up of people with disabilities in the news: No Vision? No Problem. This Guy Can Repair. Texas School for the Deaf Athletes Real-time Text in the Future Lee Woodruff: Honesty about Children with Disabilities Heroes Portrays Deaf Actress Summer Camps for Kids ...

Captioning on the Web? Of Course!

Jul 23, 2009 6:51am

Last year, there was a bill in Congress that would have made companies like NBC, ABC and other big ones to make their videos accessible. Finally, there was going to be the chance to see TV shows on the web and access them with captions and descriptive media. It didn't...

IL Budget Cuts Hurt Those Who Need It Most

Jun 16, 2009 6:42am

A friend of mine called me yesterday with some scary news--she wasn't sure if she was going to still have her social services job this summer. The Illinois government is planning huge budget cuts that will affect nearly every social service job that receives state funds. Some centers fear that...

Disney Makes Strides Toward Accessibility for Deaf Customers

Jun 7, 2009 6:50am

Back when my kids were younger, we took them to Disney twice. I was so disappointed in their lack of captions for their movies and TV displays. We haven't been back at Disney for years, but I recently received this announcement forwarded from Dana Craig who works at the LIFE...

Deaf Family in Chicago on ABC News

May 22, 2009 3:04am

I woke up on Sunday morning and tuned into Karen Meyer's ABC broadcast on a deaf family who faced the choice of whether or not to pursue cochlear implants for their deaf children. Michael and Jill Stark are deaf, and when their son Jeffrey was born, he was diagnosed with...

Marlee Matlin Publishes a "Tell All" Book

Apr 24, 2009 1:19pm

Last year, Marlee Matlin, dazzled audiences with her ability to dance to music on Dancing With The Stars. This year, she's flying from city to city to promote her autobiography, I'll Scream Later. The L-Word star stopped in Oak Brook, Illinois last week to sign books at the local Borders. ...

A Trip to Ruby Falls

Apr 7, 2009 8:22pm

The kids were off for spring break last week so we took a road trip to South Carolina and stayed at a Marriott condo on the beach. My sister works for Marriott and with her friends/family discount, we were able to snag a two bedroom condo for a rock bottom...

Plate Juggling, With Some of them Crashing on the Floor

Mar 14, 2009 5:10am

After I started a new job in January, life became truly crazy. I've always been one to spin several plates at once, but lately, those plates have come crashing down. I've probably reached the point where I can't keep plates spinning effectively anymore. Earlier in the week I forgot that...

From Brightly Colored Earmolds to Inconspicious Ones

Mar 2, 2009 7:44pm

"I want the plain, clear earmolds," my youngest son announced at a recent visit to the audiologist. The audiologist tried suggesting a different mix of colors to replace the red-white-and-blue earmolds that were being replaced. "Aw, are you sure you don't want to try a new color combination?" I coaxed. He...

Let's Make Hearing Aid History in Illinois

Feb 16, 2009 7:31am

Senator Ira Silverstein has introduced Illinois Senate Bill 68 in Illinois to require insurance companies to provide hearing aid coverage, up to $2,500 per ear. This bill is unique because it does not have an age restriction attached to it. This bill will provide coverage for people of all ages in Illinois. Isn't it...

The High Unemployment Rate

Feb 8, 2009 10:08pm

Every day, the news seems to get worse every time I open up the business section of the local newspaper. Thousands of people are getting laid off each day. Back in December, my neighbor was laid off from his job as an electrical engineer. Just the week before, we were...

The Z-phones for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Users

Jan 28, 2009 10:52pm

The phone was my enemy when I was growing up. Even with my earliest memories of using the phone, I don't remember ever being able to use it with any success. I could hear sounds, but nothing make sense. The phone was a nightmare for me in high school. I can remember...

Deaf Reporter Continues to Share Stories

Jan 18, 2009 9:42am

Every Sunday and Thursday, Karen Meyer shares stories centered around people with disabilities on ABC News in Chicago. She delivers her news segments using both sign and voice and the segments are open-captioned as well. When Karen first began as a reporter, her first broadcast was met with a small...

Here's to an Accessible 2009!

Jan 4, 2009 10:03pm

Over the weekend, I sat at the kitchen table with my extended family and my cousins, marveling at how quickly the years go by. "Remember that song, '1999?'" I said. "I remember partying to that song in college, and that was in 1984. 1999 seemed so far away."And here it...