Hearing people as the minority

May 28, 2009 in Deaf Experiences, deaf culture
Tags: Anabella Cuachin, Andy Yambao, Cesar Castro, Deaf Bible Camp, Ervin Reyes, Jefferson Cortez, Jericho Manalo, Julius Andrada, Korean Deaf Mission, Leonor Vizoro, Loida Alvarez, Luzon Baptist Camp, Mamerto Cortez Jr., Maribel Tablo, Mario Tomboc, May Andrada, Rolando Landicho, Shon Cheon Sig

From the 300 or so participants of the Deaf Camp, I estimate that there were only around 20 of us who can hear. We were not even 10% of the total attendees! We really belong to the minority.

Philippine National Anthem Video in Filipino Sign Language

March 28, 2009 in Anything Filipino, Deaf Video, Filipino Sign Language
Tags: Ervin Reyes, Filipino Sign Language, Jefferson Cortez, Lucky McGill Paltep, Maricris Siping, MCCID College, Philippine National Anthem

Watch this 1.24-minute video-dramatization of the Philippine National Anthem signed by deaf students using Filipino Sign Language. The nineteenth century costumes were used highlighting the country’s condition and uprising against colonial Spanish era. It has both Tagalog and English captions. The presentation was videotaped behind the picturesque mountains of San Mateo in Rizal province. It [...]

Gadgets Madness

March 23, 2009 in Anything Filipino, Deaf Experiences, Technologies
Tags: Ervin Reyes, Jefferson Cortez, Nokia 2110i, Nokia N80, Sammy Mazo, Susan Abada, Vicky Jamoralin

I know this is somewhat off-topic. It’s my blog! I can write whatever pleases me so long as it is informative and I won’t be cajoling my readers. I might probably even ask for your help in deciding. I’ll relate it with the deaf a bit later.

Last Wednesday (March 18), was one of [...]

Ervin Reyes, the Philippines’ Top Deaf IT Expert

March 9, 2009 in Deaf Video, Famous Filipino Deaf, Technologies, web designing
Tags: 2003 International Abilympics Skills Competition, Abs-Cbn Digital Tour, Abs-Cbn Upload 2008, Ervin Reyes, Philippine School for the Deaf, web accessibility

“Because of the computer age, it is very sure that the world is getting smaller and smaller everyday. Communication barriers are slowly being removed. But now, the biggest problem to the Deaf’s acceptance into the hearing world is the hearing person himself.” – Ervin Reyes

My 3rd Mini-web design conference experience: Exposing them to the Deaf World

January 28, 2009 in Anything Filipino, Deaf Experiences, Technologies, web designing
Tags: 3rd mini web design conference, ATRIEV, Basic Web Accessibility Guide for Filipinos Book, CIIT, Ervin Reyes, Jerome Marzan, Julius Charles Serrano, Philippine Web Designers Organization, PWAG, PWEDO, Rene Orense, Stellify

Since my topic is about proper use of ALT text, I can easily promote accessibility issues for the visually impaired. However, it’s the concerns of deaf people whom I’m having difficulty inserting into my talk. You see, the only significant accessibility issue applied for the deaf is the use (or non-use) of closed captions on videos posted on the Internet. So how can I make them feel the presence of the deaf in the audience? Solution? Sign language.