Monthly Archives: Jun 2024

Helen Keller Day is a significant day that commemorates the extraordinary journey of a woman who, despite her profound challenges, managed to make a lasting impact on the world. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller

The theme for Deafblind Awareness Week 2024, ‘Embracing Diversity: Breaking Barriers Together,’ is not just a slogan but a potent call to action. It echoes the challenges faced by the Deafblind community and underscores the strength of unity and collective effort in overcoming these barriers. This week, a symbol of solidarity, runs from June 25 to July 1, serving as a poignant reminder of the community’s ongoing struggle and collective power.

This week is timely, reminding me about Helen Keller Day. I have been involved with a small group of Deafblind people for many years. Only one particular person was Elsa, who moved to New Zealand from the United Kingdom and lived in Auckland and Cambridge, Waipa. Elsa was born deaf and lost her eyesight from time to time. Her communication was sign language in tactile form, and she used reading tools such as a magnifying screen pad. Then technology came, and magnifying screens improved but were expensive for reader use. Here are the photos and the video from the Central Library, Hamilton.

I recently had an eye test and was referred to the Waikato Hospital for further tests. The diagnosis of my eye test was early, and I knew what to expect in my life and the future. I sit back and enjoy the moment as I go through daily life at work and home.

In the past, the Deafblind community grappled with significant challenges, relying on braille equipment, walking canes, and tactile sign language for communication. However, the advent of technology has ushered in a new era, offering fresh possibilities and enhanced accessibility for the millions of Deafblind people worldwide, instilling a sense of hope for the future.

Today, many ITs and inventors are improving technology to match and fit the lifestyle and workplace of Deafblind people through a friendly, accessible environment. However, the main problems are the cost of technology, the need for more funding, and low income.

Jobs are struggling for Deafblind graduates and qualified people while other Deafblind people stay home, struggling to have their freedom in the community. Yes, several Deafblind people are working in a different area of work, but it is not fully accessible, and they receive low incomes. The result of the difficulty and struggle is due to the lack of awareness and understanding of their (Deafblind) disability/disabilities. People without a disability have no experience or limit of empathy with the family, friends and staff in the community because people without a disability have no idea of how to live with the impaired disability themselves. Why not learn and try to understand from us?

Today, the world is changing faster than anyone expects, for example, global changes, future technology, financial and economic decline, job cuts, increasing poverty, crimes, health issues, etc. Mm, let you know we will have an increasing number of disabled people plus children’s everyday lives, and there is so much to tell you and expect you to learn about us, including Deafblind people.

Have you ever thought about yourself losing your eyesight and then losing your hearing loss or losing hearing loss then eyesight?? Let me tell you; it is a more significant challenge to learn late than early if you do not think about Deafblind people or any other people with disabilities.

Here is one of the famous quotes that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities used when addressing the assemblies: “Nothing about Us Without Us” by James Charlton. I use this quote wherever I attend meetings, Government agencies’ meetings, Health Advisory groups, and other places.

Here is the link from the newspaper HuffPost, and feel free to read the article “Nothing about Us Without Us – Mantra for movement.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nothing-about-us-without-us-mantra-for-a-movement_b_59aea450e4b0c50640cd61cf#:~:text=To%20quote%20James%20Charlton%20who,of%20Persons%20with%20Disabilities%20and

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.” Helen Keller’s quotes – Optimism

Here is the funding page I am making a book and a website for the everyone to learn about our Deaf History in New Zealand. Thankshttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nzdeafprojects/waikato-deaf-soceity-inc-1956-1999-dissolved-2004/

The Moon is the reflection of your heart, and moonlight is the twinkle of your love.

Debasish Mridha

As we step into this chilly evening, the waxing Moon above our home hints at the approaching Matariki, a significant event in the Māori culture, set to occur next week on June 28th, 2024.

Have you ever wondered what Matariki means to you, readers?

Matariki, also known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters, is a cluster of stars in the Taurus constellation. For the Māori people, it holds a special place in their culture, symbolizing the start of the Māori New Year. The name Matariki is a shortened version of Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea, or ‘the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea’, a name that reflects its celestial significance.

https://www.learnz.org.nz/location192/bg-standard-f/matariki

Here is another link – https://matariki.co.nz/

Matariki

It was a night filled with a unique ambience as I called our dogs back from their night runs. The waxing Moon cast its ethereal glow everywhere, and the distant sounds of traffic passed by.

I like to think that the Moon is there, even if I am not looking at it.

Albert Einstein

While we were sleeping overnight, the sound of the rain came heavy until it disappeared in the morning today (June 23rd). Note that I did not hear the sound, for I am deaf at night without hearing aids.

Worked with a disabled, elderly man (with cerebral palsy, speech impaired and deaf), and his name is Jacek. Jacek asked me if he needed his raincoat while we were going to make his requests for groceries, an outing, and lunch. He bought his raincoat in case. Jacek learns about the public holiday on Friday, June 28th, because he does not know Matariki and what it is all about. I explained to him, and he replied that it is good for us (my partner and myself) to sleep more.

Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.

J. R. R. Tolkien

I want to share with you all the links I plan to use to raise funds or donate to specific projects of Waikato Deaf Society Inc. and Waikato Deaf Units, such as [Project 1] and [Project 2].

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nzdeafprojects/waikato-deaf-soceity-inc-1956-1999-dissolved-2004

https://gogetfunding.com/deafhistoryprojects

There are no resources or stories in the library or on the website. Many people and the families of their ex Deaf members do not know a lot about the Deaf seniors’ lives through Waikato Deaf Society Inc., Their experience in their Deaf community is unique and different from other communities. They face unique challenges, such as specific challenges, which can often be hidden, silenced, or forgotten. These struggles are usually due to barriers such as communication within the families, staff, and the people in the community, where we may not resolve the difficulty in the Deaf Seniors’ lives. The Deaf Seniors’s children (CODA – Children/Child of the Deaf Adults) may remember the good times and learn to understand their parents’ struggles with many barriers and the good times such as camping, outings and getting involved with social.

The projects are the main resource for publication, such as publishing books for the community and websites I made under WordPress.com

       – https://www.mydeaf.blog/

• https://waikatodeafsocietyinccom.blog/
• https://waikatodeafeducationunits.blog/

I have started collecting and scanning photos to write stories along with the Deaf senior who is supporting me. I need the funds for travel costs, hours of research and writing, scanning photos to a good laptop with large memory (GB), video chats by recording, the cost of paying monthly through the WordPress site and many other tasks.

Here are a couple of fundraising/donation links to the projects. If you can help, please share them with your family and friends and spread this message. Your support, no matter how small, is invaluable to us, and we are deeply grateful for it.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nzdeafprojects/waikato-deaf-soceity-inc-1956-1999-dissolved-2004

https://gogetfunding.com/deafhistoryprojects

If you have any questions about paying to the account, please send me the request so I can send you the account when you do online banking.

Thank you for your time.

Jean

Before the storm hits New Zealand this week, bright, colourful leaves are falling on the fields everywhere. I remember a time when I was walking and watching our dogs play and romp around the fields, and it was such a delight to see so many colourful leaves. I couldn’t help but join in their playful chase, feeling the crisp air on my face and the crunch of the leaves under my boots. It’s moments like these that truly make winter unique.

“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.” – Victor Hugo. This quote from Victor Hugo beautifully captures the essence of winter, where the external cold contrasts with the warmth and hope within us. It reminds me that even in the coldest times, a spark of life and joy can always keep us going.

“Blow, blow, thou winter wind, thou art not so unkind as man’s ingratitude.” – William Shakespeare.

Last Wednesday, late afternoon, the storm came across the North Island, and we were prepared for safety and warmth in our homes. Several power cuts, high winds, and trees falling over in Greater Auckland and Raglan as we saw the news on the television. The storm disrupted our daily routine, but it also brought a sense of adventure and resilience. Thursday morning came, and I inspected the property while the dogs romped under the watchful eyes because our young pup managed to slip through the fence while chasing the bloody rabbit. There was no damage here except that the wall of the roof sheet in the garden blew down, and loose dead branches were everywhere. As I wear hearing aids, I can hear the crushing noise, but it is not strong enough when I walk through fallen colourful leaves.

“Winter is a glorious spectacle of glittering fractals complete with a soundscape and atmosphere entirely its own.” – Anders Swanson. Winter is a time of unique beauty and wonder. The way the frost sparkles on the trees, the sound of the wind whistling through the bare branches, and the crispness of the air are all part of the magic of winter that I truly appreciate.

Putting the gumboots on, I walk while the dogs play, chase each other, and romp over the leaves. Our older dog, Jazz, accompanies me side by side. The vibrating of the sounds through my gumboots gave me the echo-vibrating sound travel up to my upper body through my hearing aids of the leaves crushing sounds when I walked on. The air was crisp and cold, and the sound of the leaves under my boots echoed through the quiet winter landscape. It was a moment of pure winter magic.  

It’s Saturday here. My partner suggested we need a blower vacuum instead of raking all the leaves yearly. We headed over to Bunnings Warehouse in the city of Hamilton. We inspected the prices and the weight of handling the blower vacuum for me as I have Cervical disc Degeneration Radiopathy on my right side, and to ensure I don’t prolong the period when using the equipment and strain my right side overnight, which causes soreness and pain. Winter brings challenges, but with some creativity and support, we can find ways to overcome them and enjoy the season.

“Winter is nature’s sleep.” – H.S. Jacobs