Super Bowl: Signing National Anthem, Monitoring Captions on Commercials
FSDB Student to Sign at Super Bowl
By Jennifer Edwards, St. Augustine Record, 2/6/10
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-02-06/fsdb-student-sign-super-bowl
NVRC Note: Don’t forget to participate in NVRC’s project to monitor captioning of commercials on the Super Bowll. You can get information on our website at http://www.nvrc.org/content.aspx?page=35524§ion=5. Also note that at many past Super Bowls the camera shown the performance of the individual chosen to sign the national anthem. We hope this year will not be one of them.
When Carrie Underwood sings the National Anthem, and Queen Latifah belts out “America the Beautiful” during Super Bowl XLIV Sunday, they’ll be joined by a student from a local high school.
Kinesha Battles, 18, a Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind student, will be there by both, transforming the words into sign language.
By Friday, she’d already made it to Miami Gardens, met Queen Latifah and was “freaking out,” said her mother, Laura Battles. “She’s been texting me all morning.”
The Battles live in Jacksonville.
Laura Battles has done her share of freaking out, too. Hers came earlier, when she found out her daughter was going to be on national TV.
“So, of course, when we got the news that she was going to be signing at the Super Bowl, it was like ‘Oh my God,’” she said.
Kinesha Battles said performing there was “huge” and a “very exciting and great opportunity.”
The only hitch is that she has to work on what she’s going to wear. The dress she chose for the event didn’t show her hands well enough, her mother said, and event organizers are very particular about the garb she can don.
“It’s still up in the air,” Kinesha Battles said.
“It will be a surprise for everybody — even me,” her mom added.
Battles was chosen from among 27 students in her dance troupe who auditioned for the role in the ceremony.
Her dance teacher, Lia Ferrante, said she selected the student because of how expressive she is while signing and because she signed the National anthem several times during a recent basketball tournament.
“She is pretty dependable, responsible; she’s mature,” she said. “She handles herself in a very mature manner.”
Ferrante said the opportunity was provided by the National Association for the Deaf, but that she was given the chance to select who to send.
Laura Battles said her daughter — whom she described as “an outgoing, free spirit” — was born hearing but had suffered from progressive hearing loss since age 3.
She began at FSDB when she was 11, she said: “She will graduate in June, thank God. It’s been very trying for her.”
Kathy Gillespie, FSDB spokeswoman, said auditioners had to know both songs and be able to sign them without assistance from teacher cues.
- Thanks to NVRC, Fairfax
Japan’s Deaf Professional Wrestling Competition
Don’t you love the Internet? Deaf Japan News, a blog that has apparently been in existence since 2008, has a wide variety of information on topics including the arts, medical issues, employment, education, lifestyle, and technology.
I came across this blog on today’s cold, gray Friday. Of course, taking my job seriously as your hard-working detective on all things deaf or hard of hearing, I checked it out. And that’s how came across the notice of a competition for deaf professional wrestlers on February 20, 2010,
The official website for the competition, Deaf Japan Pro-Wrestling Hero, is at http://www.deaf-hero.com/top.html. Tickets are now on sale for 5,000 or 4,000 yen. I asked my friend Mr. Google how much 5000 yen is worth in the U.S. and the answer at the first link he gave me was “10 bucks”. But the information on that website was about four months old.
Deaf Japan News says the event is not just a wrestling competition but also will have a variety of entertainment such as sign songs, sign dances.
See interesting news like this from Deaf Japan – in English! – at http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/.
– Thanks to Cheryl Heppner, NVRC, Fairfax
Gallaudet Welcomes Race Drake, Sr., ‘38 to the 75th anniversary of Homecoming
Sep 4, 2009
Press release – Gallaudet Sports Information 9/4/09
NVRC NOTE: Leadership runs in the family. Mr. Drake’s son, Race Drake, Jr. of Staunton, VA is a member of Skyline Chapter of Virginia Association of the Deaf. He was named Deaf Father of the Year in 2009 and received the NAD Golden Hands Award in 1999.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Gallaudet University is busy preparing for this year’s 75th anniversary of Homecoming that will be held from October 23-25 at Kendall Green. The normal fanfare from class reunions to Bison athletic events will take place but there will be a special moment during the Saturday football game. GU will welcome back Race Drake, Sr., ‘38 the last living member of the 1934 Bison football team that defeated Shenandoah, 7-6, on November 24 in the first-ever Gallaudet Homecoming.
“I remember about the Gallaudet Homecoming in 1934. We played against Shenandoah and we won. It was a very exciting game. I was surprised to learn, later, that was the first-ever Homecoming at GU,” said Drake. “After the game, alumni and students marched around campus with class flags to celebrate Homecoming.”
Arkansas native Drake started at GU in 1933 when he was in preparatory. The following year, the 1934 football team posted a 1-6-1 record under the guidance of Coach Frederick Hughes, ‘13. Drake eventually played football all five years at GU and was inducted into the GU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Drake, who currently lives in St. Augustine, Fla., will be recognized at this year’s diamond anniversary Homecoming as he will serve as an honorary captain for the GU football team. He will also flip the coin at the start of the game as the Bison host Becker College at 1 p.m. at Hotchkiss Field. The Homecoming will have a special meaning for his daughter, Donna Drake, ‘69 and his niece, Bette Hicks, ‘69 as they will be attending their class’ 40th anniversary reunion.
Four of the Bison’s six fall varsity teams will be in action on Homecoming weekend. The men’s soccer team starts things off with a Friday evening contest against Capital Athletic Conference foe Hood College at 7:30 p.m. under the lights at Hotchkiss Field. On Saturday, the Bison volleyball team hosts Lebanon Valley College at 11 a.m. and turn around to host University of Scranton at 3 p.m. in the field house. GU’s women’s soccer team closes out the busy day with a night match against Lincoln University at 5:30 p.m. at Hotchkiss Field.
The Homecoming weekend comes to a grand close on Sunday, October 25, with the Gallaudet University Athletic Hall of Fame Induction with Drake in attendance. A fitting end to a busy Homecoming weekend for a GU Hall of Famer, who was there at the start of it.
The GU Hall of Fame Class of 2009 includes Charles L. Hammack, Robert Jackson, Richard A. Jacobs, Touria Ouahid Boren, Michelle Poole, Vincent Todd Silvestri and Shannon D. Simon. A brunch will be held in their honor on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the Kellogg Conference Hotel on the campus of Gallaudet University. For more information about this year’s Hall of Fame event please contact Anna Hall in the GU Athletics Department at anna.hall@gallaudet.edu.
Gallaudet University Homecoming Athletic Events
Friday, October 23
Men’s Soccer vs. Hood, 7:30 p.m. (Hotchkiss Field)
Saturday, October 24
Volleyball vs. Lebanon Valley, 11 a.m. (Field House)
Football vs. Becker, 1 p.m. (Hotchkiss Field)
Volleyball vs. Scranton, 3 p.m. (Field House)
Women’s Soccer vs. Lincoln, 5:30 p.m. (Hotchkiss Field)
Sunday, October 25
Hall of Fame Induction, 10 a.m. (Kellogg Conference Center)
Source: http://www.gallaudetathletics.com/news/2009-10/racedrake
- Thanks to Gallaudet Athletics.com and NVRC, Fairfax
Deaf Richard “Dick” Sipek played for Cincinnati Reds
Richard “Dick” Sipek (Jan. 16, 1923 – Jul. 17, 2005) was a Major League baseball outfielder. He was the first not to have the nickname ‘Dummy.’ The 5-foot-9, 170-pound outfielder was only the third deaf player to see extensive playing time in the big leagues when he appeared in 82 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 1945. The previous ones were William “Dummy” Hoy, an outfielder who hit .292 for 15 big-league seasons from 1888 to 1902, and Luther “Dummy” Taylor, who won 115 games during a nine-year career from 1900 to 1908. Sipek lost his hearing in an accident around the time he was 5 years old. He was sent to the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville, where his home-father was none other than Taylor, who was a 21-game winner for the New York Giants in 1904. The older man took him under his wing and encouraged the youngster to develop his athletic abilities. Sipek was an all-state back in football, then the Reds had him at Birmingham of the Southern Association, where he hit .336 in 74 games in 1943 and .319 in 134 games in 1944. The left-handed batter hit .244 for Cincinnati with six doubles, two triples and 13 runs batted in. He was 10 for 45 as a pinch hitter (.222). Click this link to view his official stats from Baseball Almanac website.
Read more:
http://fookembug.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/deaf-richard-dick-sipek-played-for-cincinnati-reds/
- Thanks to Fookem and Bug, GV and T
Rob Strano’s Golf Programs for Deaf Youth
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Rob Strano began playing golf when he was six years old and won his first tournament at age 11. He has been touring professionally since 1988. Rob’s National Deaf School Golf Program and national youth golf camps network have helped many deaf youngsters.
Below are some FAQs from the ASL Golf website at http://www.aslgolf.com/youth.html
My child is deaf and loves golf. How do I get a camp to happen in my area?
Camps normally happen because of parents who want their child to have access to the game of golf and want the best instruction possible. Contact Rob via email and tell him you are interested in hosting a camp in your area for the deaf children. Most camps are done in conjuntion with a local deaf school or a strong mainstream program. Rob will handle all the golf related organization and planning while the local camp director is the liason with the school or the parents and is responsible for getting everyone to the camp.
If Rob is in my area can he give a lesson to me or our Deaf Group or Organization?
When in Florida he is at Kelly Plantation Golf Club in Destin. But…when he is traveling and teaching deaf youth as part of the United States Deaf Golf Camps Rob will do clinics for Deaf Organizations as part of the National Deaf Golf Clinic Program. In March 2006 Rob did a clinic for the Louisiana Association for the Deaf in Baton Rouge. There were about 12 to 15 in attendance. In July 2005 Rob did a clinic at the United States Deaf Golf Championships in Rochester for over 50 deaf adults attending the National Championship. So follow his national camp schedule or contact him via email to ask if he is available to do a clinic for your group!
What is Rob’s ASL background?
Rob Strano began his American Sign Language instruction in the Summer of 2003. He learned ASL 1 and 2 in a college classroom from Donna Pierson at Okaloosa Walton College. During his spare time he volunteered at the offices of Northwest Florida Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services and was tutored by good friend Jimmy Peterson. He made it a point of focus to drive an hour twice every month to attend the Silent Dinner and Deaf Club Meetings, and also attended the 2004 Deaf Camp sponsored by NW Florida DHHS. Rob then aggressively pursued further education at Gallaudet University taking ASL 3, 4 and 5 as well as FingerSpelling class and ASL Conversation and Application. Rob feels he has had the best instructors and mentors from the local Deaf Community in Florida and his professors and deaf friends at Gallaudet.
What Deaf organizations is Rob involved with?
Many organizations nationwide count Rob as an involved member and friend. The three most notible are the Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation, Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Services of Northwest Florida and CSD. When in Maryland Rob volunteered his time and talent to take part in the foundation golf tournament for 3 straight years. He played professional host to the event and helped to raise extra funds by playing with every group on a select par three. He also provided a similar service for CSD in 2006 as well as conducting the first gof camp at the Lakodia Leadership Camp for the Deaf in South Dakota. Rob is currently on the board of directors for DHHS Northwest Florida in Pensacola, being voted in during the spring of 2007.
I cannot make it to Florida to see Rob. How can I get him to look at my golf swing and help me?
Rob is able to review your golf swing or any part of your game using video tape. If you have digital video you can email it to him. If you have regular video you can submit it by normal US Mail. Once he has your video he will break it down into individual photos and place the information into a locker in the “Virtual Locker Room” for you. Rob then emails you the locker number and you can then go there and watch your video with analysis and comments from Rob. You will also have photos to look at that will help you understand what changes you need to make to improve your game. This is the next best thing to getting a personal lesson from Mr. Strano. For more information go to the “Programs” page of ASL GOLF.
- Thanks to NVRC, Fairfax
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