I finally got to take my hearing aids out after getting some work done and now I can’t hear a damn thing. Yay!
PS: You can buy my “Possessed By A Deaf Demon” shirt here: http://bonfire.com/deaf-demon
Video Description:
Rikki wearing her “Possessed By A Deaf Demon shirt,” drinking water and smiling. Text says, “Deaf gain is not having to hear all the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.”
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #HearingLoss #HearingAids #DeafCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #NYE2024
Out with the old and in with the new… after 3 years of having hearing aids with pink ear molds, it was time to move on to black ones after the original molds had a crack and tear in them. These ones are a slightly different shape and different material. Still a soft material, but not as soft as the old ones. It’s a bit of a strange fit and I’m not sure if it’s the mold itself as in it didn’t fit to my ear right to if it’s just the raised edges being a weird and new feel for me. We shall see how it goes over the weekend!
What color are your ear molds?
Video Description:�Out with the old… in with the new. Rikki taking out her old hearing aids with pink ear molds, then moving to a clip of her with her new hearing aid ear molds, black, in her ears.
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #DisabilityAwareness #DeafCommunity #HearingLoss HearingAids
Are Hearview Caption Subtitle Glasses Repackaged From AliExpress/Temu?
Alright, let's talk about the Hearview glasses thing a bit. Information is probably all over the place now since new updates have been coming out but let's see... Did Hearview grab from INMO? From Temu? And let's talk about the potential lack of disclosing ads. And how companies can end up pulling a fast one on creators.
Correction: Rica purchased the glasses from AliExpress. YouTubers promote Temu so much now that AliExpress has been completely blocked out of my brain and I forgot it exists.
Definitely give Rica's Home a follow! All the concrete and updated information and opinions she has are on her page as there's been new stuff since I filmed this a whole 48* hours ago.
*This is the official Facebook upload after yesterday's original YouTube copy.
Normally, it’s AS-L. But I guess for the first round, it’s ass. And… this is why proper accessibility is important.
Video Description:�Rikki doing a duet with a previous video- a speaker hosting a workshop and ASL interpreters on the screen. Text on that video says, “As a deaf person who isn’t fluent in ASL, I need both captions and ASL interpreters.” Rikki’s reaction as her face covered by a hand, embarrassed. Text says, “When text-to-speech says you’re not “fluent in ass.”
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #DeafCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #ASL #AmericanSignLanguage #SignLanguage #Accessibility #SocialMedia #SocialMediaTips
The deaf community has various ways of communication and accessibility needs. Growing up mainstreamed, English was my first, native, and fluent language. I didn’t start learning American Sign Language (ASL) until my early to mid 20s and lack of opportunities to use it consistently mean that I’m not fluent in ASL. So for workshops, appointments, meetings, etc. my accommodation needs in a perfect world would be both captions and ASL interpreters depending on what is happening.
At the former workshop I went to, my interpreters were available in person. At the latest one, circumstances made it so that it had to be virtual. I didn’t use just my interpreter, I also used Zoom’s auto captions. I don’t do well with virtual interpreting since Internet can make things slow and blurry, so having captions is extremely helpful.
For certain topics, I rely more on captions because I’ll understand it in English, but not ASL. For other topics, ASL is just fine.
My fellow deaf people, what are your accommodation needs?
Video Description:�Laptop open to ASL interpreter on Zoom, captions included, while a woman is speaking to an audience at Elevator Co-Warehousing + Community. Text says, “As a deaf person who isn’t fluent in ASL, I need both captions and ASL interpreters.”
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #DeafCommunity #ASL #AmericanSignLanguage #SignLanguage
I still get asked about if I’ve considered cochlear implants since making this video three years ago.
Video Description:
Throwback video. Rikki with straight/slightly wavy blonde/silver shoulder length hair, red/orange makeup, and a Def Leppard graphic tee of the same colors. Text says, “YouTube channel: Rikki Poynter. On this day December 2, 2021”
Transcript:
Every time hearing people have asked us deaf people if we’ve heard of hearing aids, and if we’ve ever considered getting them, our batteries die. (Rikki takes out her hearing aids.) Hearing people, save us deaf people. [AKA our money.] Stop asking us. This sh*t’s expensive. Thank you! :)
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #DeafCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #HearingAids #CochlearImplant #HearingLoss
The last time I heard such a sound at this volume was in my middle and school years when I had some actual hearing left in me. It’s been years since I’ve worn boots and… yeah, that’s louder and sharper than I imagined.
Video Description:�Rikki dressed up, neutral makeup, hair down. She is walking down the hallway, wearing heeled boots (can’t be seen on camera as it’s a close up).
Text says, “Deaf person hears walking boots on hard floor (with hearing aids in) for the first time.
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #DeafCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #HearingLoss #HearingAids
Really, it’s not just the one. It’s been rejection after rejection in regard to obtaining ASL interpreters for meetings, events, etc. The fight for accessibility in local politics this year has been quite the experience. And if you thought I was going to stop being annoying about it starting November 6, well, you’re wrong.
Filmed at @elevatorspaces who, by the way, emailed me if I was interested in a workshop coming soon so they could get an interpreter hired. Love them. That’s how you do it~
Video Description:
Rikki with neutral makeup on, red lip tint. Her brown shoulder length curly hair is down. She is wearing a graphic tee. She sits at a table in front of a brick wall. She is signing ASL.
Transcript:
Recently, a political organization asked if they really needed to abide by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and get an ASL interpreter for their events. You’re in politics. Why are you even asking that?
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #DisabilityAwareness #ASL #AmericanSignLanguage #SignLanguage #HearingLoss #DeafCommunity #Politics #Election2024
When you’re trying to do your part-time job work and work on your book and your public speaking engagement but it’s a little too loud.
Video Description:
#DeafGain
When it’s free co-working day and there’s a group of 8+ people right in front of you chatting.
Rikki is typing on her laptop, stops, then takes out her hearing aids before resuming work.
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #DisabilityAwareness #HearingLoss #HearingAids
It's been a little over three years since I've gotten my first pair of hearing aids and I can't remember the last time I used a regular sized blender with or without hearing aids in. Anyway. Not a fun time. Don't recommend.
Video Description:
Rikki in the kitchen, using a blender. Text says, "Deaf person hears blender with hearing aids in for the first time." She has a face of fright and takes her hearing aids out.
#Deaf #DeafAwareness #HearingLoss #HearingAids #DisabilityAwareness
Struggling After 30 Years of Child Abuse
I had the opportunity to share my story of three decades of child abuse, the during and aftermath of leaving, at Luli Creative House. There is so much more that needs to be said, and I have been doing so on various platforms and will continue to share my story and add onto it. Here on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok. Written pieces on Patreon. You know where to find me.
My speaking engagement books are always open. Send me an email at [email protected] :)
Video and audio by Michael Hennings.
Introduction by Beaufield Berry.
Video Description:
A woman introduces Rikki as the first speaker. An ASL interpreter stands beside her. Rikki standing at a table, reading from papers. An ASL interpreter stands beside of her.
#PublicSpeaker #PublicSpeaking #InspirationalSpeaker #MotivationalSpeaker #ChildAbuse #ChildAbuseAwareness #ChildhoodTrauma #HealingJourney
Today, I learned that a political and community organization here that works to encourage citizens to vote, etc. unfollowed me because they didn’t like how I was advocating for access, and part of that advocating included asking them to provide their own access along with everyone else. After months of asking them to caption their videos, to provide accessible information so that deaf voters would be included, they didn’t like that I shared a post about the importance of voting and including the fact that it’s important that we all provide accessibility so that everyone is informed. That’s what you strive for, right? I guess not. I guess it’s only for a certain demographic, in your eyes..
They aren’t the only ones though. I and only deaf, disabled voters have been asking for access to videos, images, events, etc. Multiple organizations have either outright refused accommodation or ignored the requests. If they pretend they didn’t see it, then they can just claim they didn’t, right? Oops!
Thankful to the organizations and candidates that have worked to make their online and offline presence as accessible as possible. I just received an email from someone running for Nebraska Board of Education that I’m hoping to be able to secure a call with soon. Your efforts are appreciated. Thank you!
The fight doesn’t stop here. I’ll still be here advocating. And I only live up the block from some of these places, so it’s just too easy.
#DeafAwareness #DisabilityAwareness #Election2024 #Omaha #OmahaNebraska #Vote2024 #Voting2024
Video Description:
Rikki with no makeup on, hair up in a ponytail. She is drinking coffee from a mug, looking in front of her at her computer.
Transcript:
How has advocating for accessible voting worked out? Organizations denying ASL interpreters at events. Organizations refusing to caption their videos, either out right or just ignoring requests. Organizations unfollowing me because they don’t like me advocating for acce
