Re: sorenson vp-100 videophone

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/23/2006 3:32:43 P.M. Central Standard Time,

posdirection@... writes:

It is a videophone designed specifically for the deaf/hh community that

works with a high speed internet connection and your television to

enable you to sign back and forth with your caller/friends/family etc.

It is supposed to be the best technology on the market (so I hear).

I love my videophone! The videophone has given me opportunities to " meet "

people from all over. For example, I read Oliva's book " Alone in the

Mainstream " and then I was able to call her up and talk with her face to face.

She was in D.C. and I in Chicago. How cool is that!

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/24/2006 9:13:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

tkwood1988@... writes:

Maybe you can find a place where you are that does something like the

silent lunches or dinners.

Don't I wish there was something like this around here! I sign only with our

family and ASL tutor, and occasionally with a deaf adult at a fair or

something. I'm very nervous about signing with deaf adults ... my receptive ASL

is

terribly slow and I seem to just forget everything when I get nervous.

We've just had a videolink installed -- at the busiest time of our year and

we have yet to use it except with our ASL teacher. I keep wanting to try and

set up stuff with people from here ... but my days are filled with work and

the evenings with kids. I need a vacation from my own life right now. (grin)

Best -- Jill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/24/2006 9:29:52 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

Parentsofdeafhoh@... writes:

I would be happy to chat with anyone via videophone-- just shoot me an

email

and we'll set something up.

,

I have been wanting to take you up on this since the videolink was installed

.... but my only " breaks " during the day are answering email. You know ut's

busy when you're grocery shopping at 10 at night! LOL

Best -- Jill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/24/2006 8:41:00 A.M. Central Standard Time,

posdirection@... writes:

Okay...now I'm getting nervous about my signing abilities...you did read

that I've just been learning for 3 months! *smile*

I was there once! I started learning sign when I became deaf at 19, so I'm

a late bloomer. I also teach Level one at a local college, so you'll be

fine!

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/24/2006 10:06:03 A.M. Central Standard Time,

JillcWood@... writes:

I have been wanting to take you up on this since the videolink was

installed

.... but my only " breaks " during the day are answering email. You know ut's

busy when you're grocery shopping at 10 at night! LOL

Ah, I hate shopping at night! Hopefully things will slow down for you!

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/27/2006 3:25:05 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

babydewe2@... writes:

I beleive we fall under the " not deaf enough " catagory. My understanding

is that sign language would have to be our primary mode of communication, and

it is not. is an oral child that also has a small vocabulary of sign.

Debbie

We've actually just hit this road block with Sorenson. The issue apparently

is the signing ability. Sorenson themselves approved us, but the installation

person has decided Ian isn't deaf enough or some such nonsense. Since he is

oral and doesn't use sign as his primary communication mode, she has declared

we cannot have one.

I intend to take this up with the company, but to be honest, I have not had

the time yet. My argument will be that Ian's is a deteriorating loss which is

still progressing. Where we live, he does not have the opportunity to sign

with other D/HOH kids simply because there aren't any to sign with -- and there

are very few adults as well. He is learning sign because he needs to learn

it, because he wants to learn it in order to communicate with other deaf

people.

Ian will probably never sue sign as his main communication mode, but that

doesn't mean that he isn't " deaf enough " to need the equipment. The phone is

getting harder and harder for him to use. We finally got the t-coil on his new

aids to interact with the phones, but for a few months, he was not able to use

the phone at all. For almost 2 year now, if given the choice, Ian will text

message -- it's just always easier for him.

Anyway ... sorry to get into a rant. I found the judgment of Ian being

undeserving as rather offensive. No, he wasn't born deaf, but that's where his

life is taking him. And it's often hard to be stuck between the hearing and

deaf

worlds, not quite fitting into either. This initial approval and then

rejection by the Sorenson installer is just an anecdotal example of what he runs

into on a regular basis.

The on people, however, were very supportive and installed the d-link

for us. Once I had exchanged emails with the official people, the installer

was wonderful -- there was no question as to whether Ian deserved the

equipment. So ... now we are hooked up and need to get practicing!

Best to all -- Jill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/27/2006 3:25:05 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

babydewe2@... writes:

I beleive we fall under the " not deaf enough " catagory. My understanding

is that sign language would have to be our primary mode of communication, and

it is not. is an oral child that also has a small vocabulary of sign.

Debbie

We've actually just hit this road block with Sorenson. The issue apparently

is the signing ability. Sorenson themselves approved us, but the installation

person has decided Ian isn't deaf enough or some such nonsense. Since he is

oral and doesn't use sign as his primary communication mode, she has declared

we cannot have one.

I intend to take this up with the company, but to be honest, I have not had

the time yet. My argument will be that Ian's is a deteriorating loss which is

still progressing. Where we live, he does not have the opportunity to sign

with other D/HOH kids simply because there aren't any to sign with -- and there

are very few adults as well. He is learning sign because he needs to learn

it, because he wants to learn it in order to communicate with other deaf

people.

Ian will probably never sue sign as his main communication mode, but that

doesn't mean that he isn't " deaf enough " to need the equipment. The phone is

getting harder and harder for him to use. We finally got the t-coil on his new

aids to interact with the phones, but for a few months, he was not able to use

the phone at all. For almost 2 year now, if given the choice, Ian will text

message -- it's just always easier for him.

Anyway ... sorry to get into a rant. I found the judgment of Ian being

undeserving as rather offensive. No, he wasn't born deaf, but that's where his

life is taking him. And it's often hard to be stuck between the hearing and

deaf

worlds, not quite fitting into either. This initial approval and then

rejection by the Sorenson installer is just an anecdotal example of what he runs

into on a regular basis.

The on people, however, were very supportive and installed the d-link

for us. Once I had exchanged emails with the official people, the installer

was wonderful -- there was no question as to whether Ian deserved the

equipment. So ... now we are hooked up and need to get practicing!

Best to all -- Jill

[Guest guest]

Trust me when I say that is most paitent when it comes to new signers.

She's been watching me try for the past two years.... grin.

Debbie

Parentsofdeafhoh@... wrote:

In a message dated 3/24/2006 8:41:00 A.M. Central Standard Time,

posdirection@... writes:

Okay...now I'm getting nervous about my signing abilities...you did read

that I've just been learning for 3 months! *smile*

I was there once! I started learning sign when I became deaf at 19, so I'm

a late bloomer. I also teach Level one at a local college, so you'll be

fine!

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

I beleive we fall under the " not deaf enough " catagory. My understanding is

that sign language would have to be our primary mode of communication, and it is

not. is an oral child that also has a small vocabulary of sign.

Debbie

Tamala Woodburn wrote:

Why would you not be eligible for the Sorenson?

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

---------------------------------

Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo!

Messenger with Voice.

[Guest guest]

I beleive we fall under the " not deaf enough " catagory. My understanding is

that sign language would have to be our primary mode of communication, and it is

not. is an oral child that also has a small vocabulary of sign.

Debbie

Tamala Woodburn wrote:

Why would you not be eligible for the Sorenson?

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

---------------------------------

Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo!

Messenger with Voice.

[Guest guest]

- the problem is the video WITHIN the VRS. They are going to

come replace it.

mary

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/28/2006 5:58:31 A.M. Central Standard Time,

maryemapa@... writes:

.. I am able

to make calls and I can see the interpreter but because the screen

looking at us is green - they can't see us. Any suggestions?

It sounds like it's the other person's VP not up to date. One way of

troubleshooting is to unplug and plug it in again.

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/28/2006 10:33:19 A.M. Central Standard Time,

maryemapa@... writes:

- the problem is the video WITHIN the VRS. They are going to

come replace it.

We've had ours replaced once already-- I guess it's par for the course.

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

Parentsofdeafhoh@... wrote:

I wish we were eligable for one of these. I would love to practice with all of

you.

>You can probably get one as long as you have a DSL or broadband hookup.

Hmmmmmm, that would be the other sticky point. We just got Direct TV after

hounding my husband for the past 18 months to get it. My next challenge is to

get DSL. I'm guessing it will be another year or two.

Debbie

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

---------------------------------

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

countries) for 2¢/min or less.

[Guest guest]

Parentsofdeafhoh@... wrote:

I wish we were eligable for one of these. I would love to practice with all of

you.

>You can probably get one as long as you have a DSL or broadband hookup.

Hmmmmmm, that would be the other sticky point. We just got Direct TV after

hounding my husband for the past 18 months to get it. My next challenge is to

get DSL. I'm guessing it will be another year or two.

Debbie

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

---------------------------------

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

countries) for 2¢/min or less.

[Guest guest]

Parentsofdeafhoh@... wrote:

I wish we were eligable for one of these. I would love to practice with all of

you.

>You can probably get one as long as you have a DSL or broadband hookup.

Hmmmmmm, that would be the other sticky point. We just got Direct TV after

hounding my husband for the past 18 months to get it. My next challenge is to

get DSL. I'm guessing it will be another year or two.

Debbie

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

---------------------------------

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

countries) for 2¢/min or less.