AsiaOne News has a story about a deaf child slave in Bangladesh. The article calls him a "labourer," but also uses the word "master," making it clear it is slavery. The boy is only seven years old and is referred to as deaf and dumb (obviously no education). Illustrated with pictures of the boy being hit on the face by his "master."

Everyone knows that a busted (perforated) eardrum can cause hearing loss. How do you know when your eardrum is "broken?" What can be done about it, and is the hearing loss caused by it temporary or permanent?

After reading this article in the Fernandina Beach, Florida News-Leader, I think you will agree that "horrible" is a perfectly appropriate term. Imagine going to court over a child support case and the person who ends up interpreting for you is your ex-spouse! This is what happened to one deaf man who went to court and found his court-assigned interpreter was so unqualified that she could not even interpret the judge's questions.

It gets worse. According to the article, Florida does not have any laws to require national interpreting certification. In addition, there is no licensing requirement, AND interpreters only have to be "qualified" with that term lacking clear definition.

Deaf and hard of hearing people in Florida have been trying for years to get a licensing law passed. Their efforts are being stymied by the Florida Medical Association.

Hat tip to Deaf News Today.

In Australia (The Age, December 7, 2009), movie theaters are asking to be exempted from the country's Disability Discrimination Act, for two and a half years. In return for the requested exemption, they are offering to slightly increase the number of movie theaters accessible to deaf and blind people. Presently they offer access in just 12 theaters, and claim they are doing it in "good faith." They would increase this to 35 theaters, but one parent quoted in the article calls that offer a "joke."