Comments on: Voting: Deaf or Disabled?

By: norma

norma — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:54:56 +0000

By: norma

norma — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:50:48 +0000

Hello! everyone, I am deaf. I just check ur website.. i find it. thank u very much. I am so happy. i want to chat with deaf ppl. i like to the world and culture. Nice to meet u. Have a good day! ASAP

Norma

By: Cuban

Cuban — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:01:39 +0000

Hi Amy,

I want to send you a big THANK YOU for your vlog. You spread so much good information and help. Keep going!

You are right. Deaf does not equal physically disabled. You are a great role model.

\,,|_ _|,,/

By: Peachlady

Peachlady — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:58:47 +0000

I just learned in Georgia that it is against the law to give free food away near the election!

By: Kristi

Kristi — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:40:35 +0000

I had voted four weeks in advance and the line was already relatively long- took me 70 minutes. Even if it was going to take me 8 hours as it did for the unfortunate ones who picked other days in Georgia, I most definitely would have stayed in the line (after paging my folks to bring me a foldable chair and some food). This is the most important election of my life thus far, I was not going to cheapen the experience by taking the easy way out. There was nothing wrong with my legs that day. I was not sick that day. My mind was functioning well that day. My ancestors went through worse just to cast their vote, who was I to complain. It was not easy standing in the line, nobody likes waiting in lines, but we all stayed, and we came out feeling mightly proud.

I asked around with my deaf peers about whether they stood in the line or if they went ahead to the front- the finding was interesting. Most females waited in the line, said the idea of taking advantage of the line waiver was tempting since we’re humans, but still felt it to be morally wrong- as if they’d be sending the wrong message about deaf people in general. Some just felt that going to the front would be telling themselves that they are weak or something.

Those who opted to go to the front were mostly males under 40, and tended to be out of touch with current deaf issues. I am not sure if gender as in the male mind being more oriented to the pragmatic than the emotional component is much of a factor as it’s about a certain kind of awareness and a sense of responsibility toward the community in which you belong to. This reinforces the saying that the personal *is* political.

By: Dennis Bacon

Dennis Bacon — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:10:09 +0000

Proud to vote on Vote Day. I just walked in and voted then left in few minutes. No line at all. They are very good organized. Also they give free food away for thank you to vote. Nice.

By: DT

DT — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:02:04 +0000

Bob Smith, foot in mouth for lunch? Lol…anyway, went to that link you provided and was aghast at the definition of hearing impairment there!

By: abcohende

abcohende — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:07:07 +0000

This is to response to Bob Smith,

I know very well what is the definition of physically disabled. I don’t take an advantage of my deafness to use this opportunity to get ahead of the line. I am Deaf and I am capable.

I am very proud that I stood in line for two hours to vote just like any other able-bodied people. I am capable to stand in line and walk for two hours to vote.

It is very interesting that you made an assumption that I vote for McCain…

Unfortunately, you are incorrect.

I am a life-long Democrat and I am very proud that my vote counts!

Thank you for visiting my blog/vlog and leaving a comment.

Amy Cohen Efron

By: MishkaZena

MishkaZena — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:41:54 +0000

Deaf Mommy, that has been a long standing serious problem. Too often the voting sites are not accessible. Many blind people complain about the voting booth not being accessible. Some of the voting places don’t have ramps available for the physically disabled.

I suggest you file a complaint with the county election office regarding the lack of accessibility. In fact, I encourage others to do that, too. We need to be heard, no longer the invisible minority.

By: MishkaZena

MishkaZena — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:37:55 +0000

In the past, I stood proudly on the lines, refusing to take the disability short cut. Since I was physically able, I waited for hours.

I did use the disability route one time when I was very sick. That day I wasn’t able to stand up for long, but dang it, I was going to vote. I’ve never missed a presidential election and I wasn’t going to miss it.

This time I used the absentee vote ballot as I was unable to go to the ballot place. My husband did and he stood in the line for two hours. His attitude is the same as me. He is able, though he cannot hear, so why would he cut the line short?