NDBI: National Design Business Institute
NDBI: National DataBase Inc.
NDBI: National Deaf Business Institute
The word deaf is used differently in different contexts, and there is some
controversy over its meaning and implications. In scientific and medical terms,
deafness generally refers to a physical condition characterized by lack of
sensitivity to sound. Notated as deaf with a lowercase d, this refers to the
audiological experience of someone who is partially or wholly lacking hearing.
In legal terms, deafness is defined by degree of hearing loss. These degrees
include profound or total deafness (90 dB - 120 dB or more of hearing loss),
severe (60 dB - 90 dB), moderate (30 dB - 60 dB), and mild deafness (10 dB - 30
dB of hearing loss). Both severe and moderate deafness can be referred to as
partial deafness or as hard of hearing, while mild deafness is usually called
hard of hearing.
Within the Deaf community, the term "Deaf" is often capitalized when written,
and it refers to a tight-knit cultural group of people whose primary language is
signed, and who practice social and cultural norms which are distinct from those
of the surrounding hearing community. This community does not automatically
include all those who are clinically or legally deaf, nor does it exclude every
hearing person.
Most deaf people, at least in developed countries, have some knowledge of the
dominant language of their country. This may include the ability to lip read, to
speak, or to read and write. Having some knowledge of both the dominant language
and sign language is called bimodal bilingualism.
Origin of controversy
The word "deaf" functions in one context as a simple label connoting a neutral
fact of physiological circumstance. However, deafness as an issue touches on
some of the complexities surrounding core issues of what it means to be human.
Historically, the deaf have often been aggrieved, ostracised, oppressed,
disenfranchised, and even the targets of genocidal policies by various figures
throughout time.
Since the drive in humans toward language is so strong, sign language naturally
developed in every sizeable deaf community on Earth. Since language is a key
component of culture, once sign languages flourished, new cultures sprang up
within the larger hearing communities. Given a thriving Deaf culture,
controversy arises because those in the hearing community tend to think of
deafness as a disability or social problem to be treated. From the other point
of view, "treatments" are unneeded: a person who lives in the deaf community
experiences every nuance of happiness, fulfilment, and emotional, spiritual,
vocational, and intellectual edification that is possible within the hearing
community. Given access to the Deaf community and identity, deafness is often
not seen as a disability but as a positive attribute.
Deaf identity and culture
To many who are deaf, the label is one of identity, not audiological status. It
is seen by them as akin to an ethnic division. It describes shared experiences
in the world, not only those directly related to sight and sound (the increased
awareness of one over the other) but also the cultural experiences that often
inevitably follow from that. The term deaf then, used by many of those who are
within the category, has little to do with an ability or inability to hear.
Because of all this, and many other sociological forces, you will find some who
identify themselves as deaf with much more ability to hear than many who
self-identify as hearing or hard of hearing. In print, you can sometimes
ascertain that the word is being used to reference the cultural identification
because many people now capitalize the word when using it as a cultural label.
People who are part of Deaf culture typically use a sign language (such as
American Sign Language) as their primary language and often emphatically see
themselves as not disabled, but rather as members of a cultural or language
minority. Members of this group use Deaf as a label of cultural identity much
more than as an expression of hearing status. Hearing or hard of hearing people
may also be considered culturally Deaf if they participate in Deaf culture and
share Deaf cultural values; this is sometimes referred as 'attitudinal
deafness'. For example, children of deaf adults (CODAs) with normal hearing
ability may consider themselves, and be considered, culturally Deaf or as
members of the deaf community.
Logo for the organization CODA International. In Deaf culture, a child of Deaf
adult (or simply CODA) is a hearing person who was raised by a Deaf parent or
guardian. Many CODAs have dual identity between Deaf and hearing cultures. A
similar term KODA (Kids Of Deaf Adults), is sometimes used to refer to CODAs
under the age of 18.
Because the children are hearing, but raised in a visual signing environment,
they may face difficulty with social and cultural norms that differ from the
norms within their deaf community, especially when attending hearing school. In
some cases, CODAs may need speech therapy due to limited exposure to spoken
language. Generally though, CODAs are exposed to spoken language models through
extended family members, neighbors, and television. Though they are raised in a
Deaf home, CODAs do not go through the same experiences as their parents, such
as going to a deaf school. As such, many feel that they don't fully fit in with
either the deaf world or the hearing world.
The organization CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) was established in 1983 by
founder Millie Brother. CODA began hosting annual conferences in 1986 in
Fremont, California. The conferences have grown and become truly international
with members from all over the world. CODA has raised awareness among CODAs
themselves, the deaf community and the hearing world about the unique
experiences and issues of growing up between these two cultures. These
experiences and issues seem to be universal among CODAs regardless of what
spoken and sign languages they used. In fact many issues also apply to CODAs
raised with deaf parents who are oral and do not sign. An example of similar
cultural identity issues can be found with children of expatriates in a
phenomenon known as Third Culture Kid.
There are support groups for Deaf parents who may be concerned about raising
their hearing children, as well as support groups for adult CODAs.
There are also several camps established for CODAs, such as the one at Camp Mark
Seven which hosts two separate 2-week programs for CODAs, one from age 9 to 12
and one for CODAs from age 13 to 16 and it usually occurs during the summer,
from the last month of June to mid-August.
Notable CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults)
Alexander Graham Bell; both his mother and his wife, Mabel Hubbard, were deaf.
Edward Miner Gallaudet, founder of Gallaudet University, the world's only
university for deaf and hard of hearing students. He is the son of Sophia Fowler
Gallaudet and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, founder of the American School for the
Deaf, the first school for the deaf in the U.S.
Homer Thornberry, a United States Representative from the 10th congressional
district of Texas from 1948 to 1963.
Keith Wann, with two other Deaf actors, perform regularly in a troupe called
Iceworm, to showcase the cultural and linguistic barrier faced between the deaf
and hearing worlds in a comedic fashion.
Lon Chaney, Sr., American actor raised by deaf parents, whose upbringing allowed
him to better communicate in silent film.
Lou Fant, actor, acting coach in Hollywood, California.
Lou Ann Walker, who wrote A Loss for Words, a story about her experience as one
of three siblings growing up with two deaf parents.
Louise Fletcher, American, Academy Award, Best Actress for One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest. In 1975, when Fletcher won the Academy Award for Best Actress,
she spoke and signed her acceptance speech for the benefit of her deaf parents.
Richard Griffiths, English actor.
Stefan LeFors, Canadian football quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Other Deaf culture acronyms
SODA - Spouse or Sibling of a Deaf adult
OHCODA - Only Hearing Child of Deaf Adults (deaf parents and deaf siblings)
OCODA - Only Child of Deaf Adults (no siblings)
NERDA - Not Even Related to Deaf Anyone/Adult (sometimes referred to as "NERD")
Terminology
Deaf vs. hard of hearing vs. hearing-impaired
Deaf generally implies a profound loss of hearing; someone with a partial loss
of hearing is more likely to be referred to as hard of hearing or the qualified
partially legally deaf. People with varying degrees of hearing loss have also
been referred to as hearing-impaired
The term hard of hearing may be used to describe all degrees of hearing loss up
to and including total deafness. In the case of profound deafness this may be
political correctness, a euphemism for the simpler and accurate "deaf."
Interestingly, this is seen as a euphemism only from the side of the mainstream.
The Deaf community does not generally aspire to be hearing and sees the hard of
hearing label as an indication of a mindset that views them pathologically.
Total deafness is quite rare. Most deaf people can hear a little. However, since
hearing loss is generally frequency-based rather than amplitude-based, a deaf
person's hearing may not be usable, if the normal frequencies of speech lie in
the impaired range.
People with a moderate hearing loss, of about 36–50 dB, generally describe
themselves as "partially deaf." Others who were born hearing, but who have
partially lost their hearing through illness or injury are "deafened." Those
with a slight hearing loss (eg. about 16–35 dB hearing loss), or have lost some
of their hearing in old age may prefer an informal term such as "hard of
hearing" or "hearing-impaired".
Those with some functional hearing generally do not take part in the Deaf
community, and typically work and socialize with hearing people to the best of
their ability. People with all degrees of hearing impairment may encounter
discrimination when looking for work, while at their jobs, or when socializing
with hearing people.
Other meanings of 'deaf'
Deaf is also used as a colloquialism to refer to a recalcitrant individual or
someone unwilling to listen, obey or acknowledge an authority or partner. The
third line of Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 provides an example:
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
Are you interested in
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Game Online-games, tips, cheats and kids forumsAnother
good forum is the Internet Junction For Gamers IJFG.COM
Internet Junction For Gamers, Runescape Market and
More IJFG.COM Jokes, Pranks, Runescape and other cool games at IJFG.COM.
RuneScape is set in a medieval fantasy world, similar to "Guild Wars" or
"EverQuest", where players control character representations of themselves. As
with most massive multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPG), there is no
overall objective or end to the game. Players explore, form alliances, perform
optional tasks, and complete quests for rewards and to build character's skills.
RuneScape has often been one of
the top massive online role playing games. It is a unique game. But, with a
unique game, comes unique players. Players get bored, and then try to develop
cheats....autos or bots that will help them achieve success in their beloved
games of Runescape 2.
RuneScape is a virtual world which
is divided into two part: Members Areas and Non-Members areas. People who pay to
play (p2p), receive access to the special areas. They also have access to the
free areas. The members' places are much larger, offer "better" items for the
gameplay of rs2, and much, much more. The character that you create when you
first start playing runescape, moves around the game on foot; either by running,
or walking. Players are challenged to their utmost skills by fighting new
monsters, completing difficult quests, and manipulating marketing. As Runescape
2 is an RPG (Role playing game), there is no set path a person must take to play
rs. They can choose what to do, and when, whether it be training their
money-making skills, or fighting another player. Players usually interact with
each other by chatting through public chat, or private chat.Internet
Junction For Gamers, Runescape Market and More IJFG.COM IJFG.com was a
runescape 2 based site. They have now, however, taken another look....
Of course the king of all game
cheating websites is
trick
the trik (otherwise known as RPG Cheats Site), where you can find cheat
forums, mmorpg topsite, arcade games and any mmo game related topics.
The master of massive multiplayer
online role-playing games (MMORPG) cheats can be found at Trik.com
Trik.com; this site is one of the best today. The forum section,
Trik.com forum, originally came from IJFG.com (Internet Junction For
Gamers) , which was one of the best websites that discussed various gamers'
issues. The full name was Internet Junction For Gamers, Runescape Market and
More. This site had Jokes, Pranks, RuneScape and other cool games. RuneScape is
set in a medieval fantasy world, similar to "Guild Wars" or "EverQuest," where
players control character representations of themselves. As with most MMORPG,
there is no overall objective or end to the game. Players explore, form
alliances, perform optional tasks, and complete quests for rewards and to build
characters' skills.
Trik.com continues IJFG.com's
success, but Trik.com has more to offer. Trik Topsite can be found at
Trik Topsite; the TopSite is a great addition if you want to find the best
MMO RPG site(s) or raise your site in the rankings. Trik.com also has a
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prove yourself at Trik.com arcade:
Trik arcade. Trik.com ?Trik.com/topsite ?Trik.com/forum/arcade.php
With the rising popularity of
commercial MMORPG games came the desire from ardent players of these games to
run their own servers beside the ones run by the game's creator. Since the
original server software is not usually available, the behavior of the server
has to be re-engineered. This can be done by analyzing the data stream with the
original server, or by disassembling and analyzing the client which is
available.
Ultima Online was one of the first
large MMORPGs. Due to its openness in implementation, server emulators arose
very quickly, even during the beta stage of development. The destination to
which the client connects was changeable by simply editing a text file. In beta
stage the client-server data stream was not encrypted yet. The term server
emulator became known through Ultima Online server reimplementation such as UOX,
which was the pioneer. Many forks and reimplementations followed UOX, because
its source code was released under the GNU General Public License relatively
early. RunUO is today the most widely used UO-server emulator. After RuneScape
implemented anti-cheating measures, many gamers left and started their own
private servers. The best place to discuss the private server is at
Trik- The Master of Private Server.
Another useful site is
Rune
Web ruwb.com . This site is about more serious RuneScape gold trading,
account exchange, gold for real life cash and many services. It includes tips on
how to avoid getting lured/scammed while using the marketplace. For programming,
visual basics, java, C/C++, scar and all other languages such as PHP, HTML, ASP,
Delphi. There are also sections for graphics talents, plus many cool videos and
fun stuff.
A defining moment in internet
gaming history was when a group of gamers called (hygo 7) decided to start an
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hygo.com. It has the best financial backing, the friendliest game community,
and the highest quality of information. Currently Hygo.com has entered a new
phase...Hygo.com is offering the best private server game. With thousands of
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a community and economy.
Hygo.com - The Online Adventure Game. is definitely one of the top sites you
want to join right now!
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