Darice de Cuba

Today I was happy when my feed reader updated and ALA newest article appeared: “Deafness and the User Experience” It’s an interesting read, explaining the differences of deaf people, hard of hearing and Deaf people with a capital “D”.

Most of my readers know I became deaf last december. I was born slightly hard of hearing and it always kept getting worse until I became completely deaf. So I don’t consider myself a deaf person or belonging to the deaf community. I never joined any activities or anything with other hard of hearing or deaf people. I went to regular school, did extra my best considering most of the time I couldn’t follow lessons 100%. It’s my passion for reading that helped me get good grades. I was above average most of the times. Only in college I had truly difficulties when working in groups where they wouldn’t really take my hearing in account.

Currently I work as web developer, I became deaf between my first and second job interview but I still went and tried for the job. I must say when picking a profession I kept my hearing in account. Otherwise I probably would have majored in History with a minor in Philosophy.

Back on the subject, the ALA articles focusses more on details for large websites like the BBC or CNN for example. But I don’t fully agree when they say you must keep deaf user struggling with english as their second language in account. And I mean this in the particular case of “Translation” and/or “Subtitles”. Why?

Let’s take a popular website: The Maniacal Rage Podcast. Their content is in english so if they decided to take deaf people in account by providing subtitles or a transcription they should do that in english. It’s something btw I have been wishing some pod-casters would do. I have never followed any kind of podcast due to them not being accessible to hard of hearing and deaf people.

I did look into it two years ago and back then there wasn’t any good software available to add subtitles to your podcast. But now a days podcasting has become “the thing” with people going all the way creating their own home studio, etc. So I’m sure by now there must be some possibilities on the software area for podcast subtitles.

There are large websites out there that I read regularly but much less now as they mostly use video and podcast now without providing the content in any kind of written form. I’m talking about TV Guide and EW. See I have been reading the column “Ask Ausiello” by Michael Ausiello for a few years now for my weekly TV show goodies. But then he started using more and more video or podcast to such an extend that he would mention many times in his column: “check my upcoming vodcast or podcast for details on the latest spoiler on this and this show”. So basically the information door was just shut in my face. That’s a fine example of shutting out users. And I’m sure I’m not the only hard of hearing or deaf person who likes reading TV show spoilers/news.

Hopefully which this article of ALA people with get more conscious of accessibility for the deaf. And do they their best to provide fitted content. Just like adding alt to images was endlessly advocated because your website has to be accessible for blind readers. Well it’s time to start making those podcast and videos accessible to hard of hearing and deaf people.

I just came across this article about employing people with disabilities. The points mentioned are good ones applicable in all countries. I can say for myself that I’m happy with my job and I do my best to deliver good work.

Also today I finally got an answer from the government welfare department. They send me a five page summary telling me that I get approved for health care which also includes a no-risk policy for my employer. They rambled on about every fact and how they where all correct, like I have been telling them for months. I’m very happy this issue worked out well and that they realized I was right all the time and that I met all requirements.

Always focus on what a person is able to do, not on what it’s not able to.