How Two Deaf Mountaineers Thrives on High Peaks

How Two Deaf Mountaineers Thrive on High Peaks

Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger converse in ASL on a snow covered mountain

Communication can be the difference between life and death in mountaineering. Climbers Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger know that as well as anyone.

During their 2018 ascent of Argentina’s 22,837-foot Aconcagua, climbers Scott Lehmann, 33, and Shayna Unger, 30, carried pads of paper and pens in their pockets. As they stayed at Camp 2 at 18,000 feet and awaited good weather, the two wrote down questions on the pad about the forecast and about route conditions, and then showed their written inquiries to other climbers they met. It was a cumbersome means of communication, but it was the best way for Lehmann and Unger to obtain the information, since both climbers are deaf.

Other climbers proved to be unhelpful and indecisive in answering their inquiries—Lehmann and Unger believe the climbers didn’t want to be responsible for their safety on the peak. So, the two tried a different strategy. They awoke one morning at 4 A.M., unzipped the flap of their tent, and stared out into the darkness to see if other teams were preparing to push for the summit. Every few hours, they peeked their heads out of the tent, searching the camp for headlamps. Eventually, after two nights of staring into the dark pre-dawn sky, Lehmann and Unger saw lights flickering in a neighboring tent and then climbers emerging to move up the mountain. They knew it was time to climb.

Read on at https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/climbing/deaf-climbing-couple.

Rehoboth Beach Museum ASL Tour (October 1, 2022)

Rehoboth Beach Museum ASL Tour (October 1, 2022)

Rehoboth Beach Historical Society Museum logo with caption - 'Dive into history'

The Rehoboth Beach Museum invites deaf and hard of hearing visitors to join a museum docent and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for a tour of our current exhibits. Visitors will explore both permanent exhibits and our new seasonal showcase, the Needlework Exhibition. The tour is free with registration.

More information and to register for the tour – https://rehobothbeachmuseum.org/index.php/calendar/121-asl-guided-tour-2/2022-10-01-10-00.

– Thanks to Mariella Trosko and DDSC for sharing the event!

Revolution Signs: Programs in American Sign Language (Aug. 21st)

Revolution Signs: Programs in American Sign Language (Aug. 21, 2022)

tour discussion on top of a old boat with cannons

Join us Sunday, Aug. 21 for a day of programs, tours, and talks translated into American Sign Language (ASL). ASL interpreters will accompany Museum guides on talks and tours to share narratives and observations and to facilitate question and answer sessions. Tickets include Museum admission, an ASL-interpreted Museum highlights tour beginning at 11:30 a.m. or 12:45 p.m., an ASL-interpreted showing of Washington’s War Tent at 1 p.m., and an ASL-interpreted 20-minute Meet James Forten first-person theatrical performance.

For questions, please contact Meg Bowersox, Manager of Gallery Interpretation, at mbowersox@amrevmuseum.org.

Revolution Signs is sponsored by The Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation.

More information and ticket purchases at https://www.amrevmuseum.org/events/revolution-signs-programs-in-american-sign-language?blm_aid=245167120.

ASL Scuba Diving classes

ASL Scuba Diving classes

Interested in learning scuba diving?? Not sure? Have questions and want to talk with me or Scuba World? Feel free to DM me or call the Scuba World at 302-697-2882. It will be one of your best lifetime experiences!

We have 2 open water certification classes using ASL (end of August and September). If the dates do not work for you, please do let me know and we will have more offerings in near future.

Several epic facts that all divers should know: 1. Sharks ARE friendly beasts (watch shark week this week on the discovery channel!). 2. Ocean is the last frontier. 3. Water absorbs light. 4. Recreational diving is limited to 130 feet. 5. Soon, ocean will contain plastic more than fish.
https://oceanwideexplorers.com/15-epic-scuba-diving-facts-every-diver-should-know/

SCUBA World Inc Aqua Hands, LLC PADI

– thanks to Mindi Failing

Israeli Startup to Make 2022 World Cup Deaf-Accessible

Israeli Startup to Make 2022 World Cup Deaf-Accessible

i24 News – Planning for the 2022 World Cup is reaching its final stages, including for people with disabilities, who are the focus of an Israeli startup that is working to make the mega-event in Qatar accessible to the deaf community.

“There are going to be thousands of deaf people coming to Qatar from all over the world,” Tomer Levy, founder and CEO of Sign Now, told i24NEWS.

Read on at https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/07/22/israeli-startup-to-make-2022-world-cup-deaf-accessible.

Free Museum Pass through Delaware Libraries

Free Museum Pass through Delaware Libraries

caption - Museum Pass with icons (seach, network, library, unclear if fire orange pic, twitter) on top of a column. bottom shows URL for museum - same as link here in post

The Museum pass program is available to adult Delaware Library cardholders (18 years+). All pass reservations are processed through the MuseumKey link which can be found on the library’s website under the services tab. Patrons can access the page from home or in the library to reserve passes. Patrons are responsible for calling museums for hours of operation. Please note that each museum pass has its own admission rules. A museum pass reservation represents a commitment by the patron to abide by the library’s museum pass policy.

Check out https://lib.de.us/museum.

Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights

Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights

This Bill of Rights describes the fundamental rights of air travelers with disabilities under the Air Carrier Access Act and its implementing regulation, 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 382.

Please click this link to download the latest version of the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights consists of:

  1. The Right to Be Treated with Dignity and Respect.
  2. The Right to Receive Information About Services and Aircraft Capabilities and Limitations.
  3.  The Right to Receive Information in an Accessible Format.
  4. The Right to Accessible Airport Facilities.
  5. The Right to Assistance at Airports.
  6. The Right to Assistance on the Aircraft.
  7. The Right to Travel with an Assistive Device or Service Animal.
  8. The Right to Receive Seating Accommodations.
  9. The Right to Accessible Aircraft Features.
  10. The Right to Resolution of a Disability-Related Issue.

Read the rest at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/disabilitybillofrights.

– Please note that this is an update to previously established transportation rules/laws and generally applies to airplanes only.