More Work for deaf Journalists ?

Hope for Limping chicken yet.....Technology means that there are more employment options for deaf journalists in the 21st century than there were in the past.

Speaking to the Columbia Journalism Review, deaf Pittsburgh journalist Lisa Goldstein stated it is easier than ever for her to interview sources as a result of the rise of technology.  She explained that she believes there has been no better time in history to be seeking employment as a deaf journalist, describing it as having evened out the playing field.

Ms Goldstein requests the chance to carry out her interviews through either email or an instant messaging programme, which she noted means she has a written record of the conversation.  It was pointed out by the journalist that this means she can be sure she is accurate, noting: "I can't rely on relay calls because there's an intermediary relaying the words."  When Ms Goldstein has no choice but to carry out in-person interviews for her work, she relies on lip-reading, while she also uses her cochlear implant and a digital hearing aid to enhance the early lip reading and speaking training she was given rather than learning American Sign Language at a young age.

The journalist stated she believes her employment options have been restricted as a result of her disability, despite the progress that has been made in this area in recent years.  "No way to prove it but that's for sure what happened. One job was right up my alley," she said, adding she discloses her deafness in interviews and she also often writes articles about life without hearing.  "Being deaf is all I know but it's not all of me. It's challenging, but I think people think being deaf is more difficult than it is," Ms Goldstein said.

However in the UK all is not so rosy..... here they take away the means to search for a job !

Deaf protester Lisa Pepper, of Bromley in London, recently told the Daily Mirror she is worried about losing her benefits despite the fact she is searching for a job.

SOURCE