Many of you heard about SAG/AFTRA and WGA, right? There is lot of Guild in US, maybe in the world. Who knows. Guild is like Union or Club.

My parents have card of AWG. Alabama Woodworkers Guild. My dad’s skill is Intarsia and made many projects. He won few prizes. My mom is just following up and helping with toy like airplanes, jets and cars. They joined Toy Group to make toy for kids. They done that annual to give them away.

Okay, I am non-union SAG/AFTRA myself. I know it is hard to hold them accountable but happy to take in the time when it calls again. SAG/AFTRA. Screen Actors Guild – American Federation Television and Radio Artists. I could remember when I was late 20s and have contracts for SAG/AFTRA and a year later, I lost it. I still remember it very well. I never been in that list so non-union then. I could suppose them for their wish on their needs. Those actors and artists are not easy because they are dependent on financial and support their life. I know people who are successful and keep going on but not all of them.

The world not understanding about their guild is about. It is GROUP or CLUB, not meant that they are success. Guild is UNION job and support by group or club that pays for. Their skills are whatever they are having in their life. Can be Woodworkers, Artists, Actors, Workers or Athletes, etc.

One year, I was working with healthcare company and asked for UNION to pay for supporting. I never been UNION to work but NON-UNION to work because I did not get any paid in the future. Union does. I guess I get from my dad because he refused when they asked him. He works for 22 years and forces retired. I understand about union is good chance for everyone because it pays well and keep going working with. I been laid off three times because of non-union. If I had union, then I would not have been laid off.

Well, I am unemployed to actor access and hope hear from them again.

Peace out! ~ DW

I met few people like that because they do not know how to face with me being deaf and screaming for help. I know you would agree with me for something point of view. I have few to talk about. One is on Zoom meeting, two is on Phone and Three is at the doctor office. All three to talk about, Okay.

One on Zoom meeting. I was asked to be on Zoom meeting but not know I am deaf. I told the host that I am deaf and need some captioned or ASL interpreters. The host asked me to bring friend to join with them. Geez! That kills me because if they like my friend and ignore me completely! My friend isn’t interesting in our business. Keep that out of my friends or family. The host and I are in business, not others business for access.

Two on Phone. In my past, when had TTY (Teletypewriter), had 3rd person as agent on tty (obviously can’t see them). When I made a call and many times, the caller hear beep and hang up on us. If I could warn them about me using TTY then might would stay on. Now, we have video phone. YAY! I know VP is easy for everyone to use. We can see agent communicating with us forward and backward each other on video. When made a call and agent tend to announcement about deaf caller and the caller will stay on. Anyway, when I made a call to make appointment and asked me to bring friend come in person. The agent and I looked at each other. What is the F—? I told the caller, No thanks. Not their business to involve my friend for that.

Three in doctor’s office. I used to have my mom to interpreting for me while I was growing up. Now I am old enough to handle. When I made a call with doctor’s office for appointment with doctor. I asked for interpreter. The office said, not have interpreter and can you bring friend with you. Geez! That killing me again about bring friend with you. Again, those friends have nothing to be with me for some reasons. I told them no, will come (to scare them). Also, they offered me VRI and I would have said no.

VRI is Video Remote Interpretation. Yes, there is live interpreter. It is hard for us to understand because of freezing or stretch on video. In hospital or doctor’s office has firewall protection in the building and cannot allow any of Wi-Fi showing up. I do not know about court or lawyer’s office. Something to think about on next time.

~ DW

I used two hands sign language as growing up. Maybe you do not know which hands you are. Lefty or right? What do we do all the time?

I have ambidextrous. Some uses on Right or Left. FYI, I played softball; at bat left and thrown right. I can eat or drink on my left if needed. I am righted hand. I signed mostly right but used some left, too.

I met one deaf guy who has one arm and half uses sign one hand. That was awesome. It is hard to understand at the beginning but become used to his sign language with one hand.

It’s funny when we got a driver license and would love to chat with friends or family. Right? What about us deaf drivers? 🤔

Many people think it is dangerous for us to drive and talk at the same time. Well, we are stubborn and skilled. I still talk with one hand and eye contact with the passenger. Don’t guess that I was full of attention to passengers. I get to know where to go before talking to them. You know I am a very quiet person and not talk much in person. In the car, I would use the radio, but passengers love to chat, so I have attention to them and watch road at the same time.

Can you?

DW

Yeah, that happened to me. Not know about you. One time, I was on trip for my work travel last few months ago or so. I was hungry for lunch so find some restaurant I would like to eat. I can’t remember which restaurant so anyway. I had my phone and type on note what I wanted to order. The gut feeling about that cashier. He looked around to see anyone else to help him out. Nothing. He looked my phone (note I typed in) and made order. He gave me that receipt and I looked at. It said LADY DON”T SPEAK. Shoot! He has been dumbed to called me that. I looked at him with my ugly looks and he was fear of me. Who cares. No one liked me. LOL My meal arrived and made all fuss about that receipt on social media! Oh yes, I did.

My deaf friend private messaged me to sue that restaurant. I don’t do that because it is stupid way to call like that. I do not need to sue for that silly issue. They need a education for communicating with no matter who we are. Arabian, Asian, or European customers. Oh yeah, also deaf or disabled, some has speech issue. Know that.

Oh well. That is the life I had faced with.

~ DW

Today, I went to MILO’S for just drink. OK, let’s me tell you what. I wore few holes over my t shirt and wore black shorts because I was come out from 24e Fitness. I do not care what I look like, just want to get sweaty! LOL Of course wore that tennis shoes to support my feet. Smiles.

Okay. Back to the point. I want a drink and can’t think where I find anyplace to get me drink. I do not want to drink that SODA, just yet. I had water bottle but need something for my thirsty. Mapco? No. McDonald’s? No. Arby’s? Too Far but no. I look over my right and pop my mind before I would turn to my street toward home. MILO’S! Yes. MILO’S Perfect!

I forget how small restaurant of MILO’S on that corner and just open last year. That place used to KRYSTAL’S. Anyway, I parked and walk to the door. WHOA! There is so SMALL! Only had cashier front of you about couple foot away from the door. Big enough for Drive Thru. The lady was ordering lunch for her coworkers. I was wait for her finishing ordering. The cashier seems young and don’t care. That lady looked at me like I am bum! Oh please. I only want a drink! LOL

I told the cashier; I want medium sweet tea. He said something I do not understand his lip clear because he was like mumbling. I kept saying, sweet tea. Whatever. I waited him to pack meal in bag for the lady. I was standing and watching. When she got the bag and walked away. I was expecting to get a drink……guess what. He IGNORED Me!

I was like puzzled, what is F—- Sorry my language. He walked towards to drive thru and wait for the female worker moving. Oh man! He still IGNORED me or not give me a drink that I asked for. The female worker saw me after moving and asked me, How I can help you? I showed my receipt that I ordered a drink. Medium Sweet Tea. I have paid and not get a drink, yet. She said Sure. She gave me a drink. I thanked her and walked away.

Come to my car, He just Ignores me like everyone else does! I hated that.

How is that helps us? Impossible? No. Possible? Sure! Customer always right! Agreed?

Winks ~ DW

I never thought about seeing people thrilled to see someone else who simply alike. I am saying black to black, deaf to deaf or Arabic to arabic, etc.

Let’s say here. On the plane, I was sitting at the window with a big white guy sitting in middle and black guy on sat aisle. He talked to the black guy. Black guy just nobs and talk little. I watch across from us. White lady in middle talks to black lady at the window and nobs at her. I am wondering what everyone talks about. Hehe. Of course, I am quiet but making noise because I am restless! Lol

Today, I watched people at fast food for breakfast. The cashier is black and the customer is also black. Their behavior were awesome to see each other and talk like best friends or something. I could see myself chatting deaf people like we are friends! Fact, we never meet like that. I am sure they had this situation in their own world like that.

Funny. Back to airplane. I sat at the window on the other side. I had a lady on the aisle until the old lady decided to sit middle between us. She started to talk to me. I was like, nods, and smiling, not response back. I was like, oops! She does not know I am deaf and not talking. Same thing as the white guy talked to the black guy.

Hearing people talking to deafies, and they just nod and smile at them. Oh my! I knew deafies have different types of their behaviors. Some are good, nice, and respectful. Some are snob, attitude, and mean. Diversity like LGBTQ and the color of races are alike.

You faced yourself? Good to hear!

~DW

Maybe I already wrote in last time. I have seen more and more about disability. Like in LinkedIn page and give each ones get the sense in everywhere with job postings. Backstage page isn’t getting any sense but some success, not enough. I had both in my pages posting and read some about that.

Many deaf people suffering about promotion jobs and missing a lot of opportunities with jobs. Blind? Wheelchair? Any disability? No arm? No leg? ANY DISABILITY. Those job postings can’t hold them down because of disability reasons. Remember all restaurants, grocery stores, medical jobs, or any jobs are LOSING those people who passed away, leaving for their retirements or leaving for crazy reasons. Everyone put up FOR HIRE or NEED HELP. They learned those people are disability then not want them to work!

Blind can work because they can hear. They can read Braille and keyboard has it. I know one place where braille on F and J so they can type without looking at the keyboard. I am sure you know that because you are typing whatever you do.

Lost arm or leg isn’t problem because they have experience with using them. We can’t. They are flexible and can use the keyboard, kitchen, driving, or reading like us. They are human like us.

Wheelchair is alike lost arm or leg. They are human like us.

I have experience with work duties as executive level and not speaking role. They want me to take speech lesson and wear the CI (Cochlear Implant) that will help them to be happy to have me. FACT, I don’t wear CI but hearing aids. I took speech lesson for YEARS! Sure, I don’t need work at warehouse or entry level. Those jobs are old and used in my resume and not need them again.

I have few deaf coworkers who speaks and got the promoted position. One person cannot read the lip but can speak. They had hard time to explain to her. I take the minutes to explain to her in ASL because I CAN READ THE DAMM LIP! I know I don’t speak. Everyone surprised and confused. TOO F-K BAD!

I have been in public school with ASL interpreters all of my life. I have lot friends who went to deaf education and deaf school themselves. I see two different between deaf and hearing. I understand them better than just deaf to deaf. I can help deaf with understanding about hearing itself.

Let this breath.

~ DW

As I told you that I am mentor with ASL Students. Can they be working as ASL Interpreters? If have trainee with the certified ASL Interpreter, then can they learn from them. ASL students are not certified to work with because they can make errors over the deaf people communication access requirement. When ASL students graduate and get exam to pass the certification or license. They can go up to level 5.

Level 1 are like Interpreters with a Level I can be used in one-on-one situations where communication can be interrupted easily for clarification and situations where there will be limited voicing required. Level 2 are like who is evaluated for Level 3 certification and receives less than a seventy-five on any portion of the Level 3 test is certified as a Level 2 interpreter. Level 3 are like Interpreters with a Level III can be used in most one-on-one situations, most group sessions, or most workshops with limited voicing required. Level 4 are like Interpreters with a Level IV should not be used in the following situations: civil or criminal court cases or extensive mental health therapy. Level 5 are like able to excel consistently at interpreting in the mode (simultaneous, consecutive, and sight) required by the setting and provide accurate renditions of informal, formal, and highly formal discourse.

CODA Interpreters are cool but should have certification for the job. I knew it is silly but TRUE! Because they are working and need that license or certification.

Everyone is required to have license or certification to interpreting for the deaf. You know there is Certification Deaf Interpreter! Yes, there are few around in the USA. They have done the exam for the certification like ASL students.

ASL student can work as nurse, police, or lawyer! That is our dream! LOL

Winks! ~ DW