Dispatcher Hailed Hero For Helping Deaf Woman's Mother

WKRN-TV - Dispatcher hailed hero for helping Deaf woman's mother.



Nashville, Tenn. - A Clarksville woman is grateful to a 911 dispatcher who got help to her Deaf mother Monday night. Lisa Prichard lives in Clarksville and was home when her mother texted her that something was wrong.



Prichard was able to video call her mother Joy Gournaris, 68, at Gournaris' Antioch home. "She was confused, she didn't understand what was going on and was getting ready to pass out," Prichard said.



Prichard knew if she tried to drive to her mother's home from Clarksville it would take her an hour. She was also concerned because it appeared her mother was having a stroke and every second counted.

Video by Joseph Pleasant



Prichard kept her mother on video phone and called 911 from her Clarksville home. Clarksville's 911 center transferred her to Nashville where 911 Dispatcher Lori Bentley took over the phone call.



"While, I'm communicating with sign language with my mother I was talking to the dispatcher," Prichard said. "I had to really be calm and think about what I was saying. I wanted to cry and scream, but I stayed calm for my mother."



The video relay system Gournaris uses has a 911 emergency component that allows her to make emergency calls... Read more: http://www.wkrn.com/story/20538233/operator-praised-for-helping-woman-get-help-to-deaf-mother

Deaf Produced BMW Commercial Gets National Attention

CHATTANOOGA, TN. - A locally produced BMW of Chattanooga commercial, which features a Deaf employee and highlights the dealer's dedication to customer service is receiving national recognition.



In the advertisement, which is the fourth in a series produced by Moss Media Labs local BMW employee Scott Carpenter, who oversees the detail department at the dealership, uses sign language to express the importance of getting a BMW serviced by a BMW-certified technician.



Carpenter has been Deaf since he was 9 years old, and he conveys the message with only a smile and shoulder shrug.



“Scott exemplifies everything great about BMW of Chattanooga," Daniel Bellemare, BMW of Chattanooga’s general manager, said in a prepared statement. "He is a long-term employee who is always willing to lead the way into change. He is always a problem solver instead of a problem creator. We love Scott and are so happy he is part of our team.”



Leaders said the commercial has drawn attention from BMW USA leaders and from the National Association of the Deaf.



The association's CEO, Howard A. Rosenblum, said he encourages other employers to follow BMW of Chattanooga's example in displaying the important contributions that Deaf people bring as employees... Read more http://www.nooga.com/157908/locally-produced-bmw-commercial-gets-national-attention/



Video by MMLabs

Oppression At West Tennessee School For The Deaf

Video: Oppression At West Tennessee School For The Deaf in American Sign Language.



A terror of oppression and audism at West Tennessee School for the Deaf (WTSD), which state-operated elementary school for Deaf children ages 2 to 13 from throughout west Tennessee in Jackson.



Regarding to the terrbile story that the Deafies to pay the visit at WTSD, all of suddenly the staff's rude attitude toward a deaf visitor and discriminated ASL users, and kicked out for no reason. However, a vlogger felt an insulted from the WTSD staff members and decided to posted a vlog.



We (deafies) should make effort to visit Deaf schools when we travel to some states. Good reminder to all of us. We need to watch out for red flags so we can stand up and protect Deaf children. The Deaf community agree with vloggers that there is something wrong with that school. The way how they treated deaf visitors is quite alarming because if they showed no respect for you as a Deaf adult then their treatment to Deaf children could be far worse.



WTSD's web-site says "An Individual Education Plan is developed for each student enrolled at WTSD. Total communication is used throughout our program by all staff members. Small class sizes and individualized programs aid in the success of our students. Continuous collaboration between teachers, speech pathologists, and audiologists provides optimal information for instructional programming." Is that a joke? watch the vlogs and weep.

My WTSD Visit: Red Flag!

 Video by ridor9th



This vlog fully explained about the visit to West Tennessee School for the Deaf two days ago and it was surreal experience.

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Message for Principal of West Tennessee School for the Deaf.

Video by WonderGent



Message for both Principal of WTSD, Kristi Lindsey and Superintendent of TSD, Alan Mealka regarding Principal's rude attitude toward a deaf visitor on Aug 7, 2012.



Check it out at WTSD's staff of the oppression and supremacist at web-site: http://www.wtsd.tn.org/staff.html



Have A Nice Day!

DYV Administaff.