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Commission News | Tactile ASL & Protactile | Mark your Calendar | COEHDI | Live captions in Real-Time on iPhone

Retraction and Apology

The May 2023 Navigator originally included an article titled, DeafBlind Services: What is the difference between tactile ASL and Protactile? The article contained inaccurate statements that were confusing and should not have been published.

We appreciate our stakeholders and deafblind community who reached out to us to share concerns and hold us accountable. In light of all of the above, we formally retract this article and apologize for the confusion and any harm it may have caused. We have retracted the article, below.

We do NOT approve of the use of the article as written for public consumption or reference.

As an alternative to the information in the article, we would like to share an InfoGuide created by Roberto Cabrera and the Outreach and Consultative Services Team: Accessibility and accommodation considerations with the deafblind community. It is informative, accurate, and vetted by our deafblind stakeholders.

The remainder of the May 2023 Navigator is still accurate and can be referred to as such. Please reach out with any questions or concerns regarding this article, retraction or apology at outreach.ccdhhdb@state.co.us.

The below article has been retracted. We have included the retracted language for transparency, accountability and analytic tracking purposes. Please do not refer to this article as fact or for public reference.

DeafBlind Services: What is the difference between tactile ASL and Protactile? 

Image Description: Feminine hands with blue nailpolish and manicured nails wrap around a unisex hand with unpainted nails to determine the shape and meaning being conveyed.

One historical example of this modality is how Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller, by using her hands to convey the sign by touch.



Protactile

Protactile is an emerging touch-based language that consists of seven parameters. In comparison, ASL has five parameters. Protactile is not a modality. Instead of trying to interpret all components of visual ASL through hand-under-hand modifications, Protactile encourages individuals who are deafblind to add haptics, tactile classifiers, and tactile mapping to add greater detail during communication.

Haptic Communication is a form of non-verbal communication that is presented through touch. Protactile uses haptic communication to give information including emotions, conversational feedback, and audience reactions, as well as environmental information, tactile classifiers, and tactile mapping. 

Tactile Classifiers show the direction where someone or something is moving, where it is, and its appearance by using touch signals directly on the listener’s body, such as their palm or back. One of the best examples is during a presentation or conversation. If someone in the environment is walking past in the background, an SSP will use the hand shape of a person walking on the deafblind individual’s back. This technique provides equal access to the visual information of someone walking in the scene. 

Tactile Mapping refers to maps designed to be read by touch, It can be used in different ways. It can create maps for rooms, neighborhoods, and even sports events. Deafblind people can use mapping to touch to be aware of what kind of environment and what events happen. 

Check out this YouTube video of tactile mapping 

“Interpreter Helio Araujo Fonseca built a hand-made replica of a soccer field and used it to communicate with Carlos - indicating where the players were on the field and using sign language to “commentate” on the game as it unfolded. He rigged up a tabletop model of the field, and recruited his friend Regiane to provide additional assistance for all the complex information which would need to be relayed during a match. Here you can see Carlos watching the opening match of the tournament live. Helio provides sign language interpretation, which Carlos follows by feeling with his own hands (tactile signing), while Regiane provides information regarding fouls, cards, and jersey numbers with social-haptic communication on Carlos's back.”

The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind believes all consumers have the right to access their preferred communication. We make every effort to adjust based on consumer needs and requests.

Contact Ryan Hawkins for more information on SSP and DeafBlind Services at ryan.hawkins@state.co.us

Commission News

Reminder - FY 2023-24 Grant Application

The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind is now accepting applications for community grants for fiscal year 2023-24 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024).  

You can find the application (Form A and Form B), budget template, and application RFA guidelines on our Grant Program Page

Please read carefully before you complete your application. We are available to respond to your questions until Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023.

Mark Your Calendar

Tactile Communications staff will lead an immersive, touch-oriented space and experience Protactile firsthand. There will be games and activities. Refreshments will be provided.

ASL/English interpreters will be provided. For other accommodation requests, please email office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us or call 720-457-3679. For any questions or to RSVP, contact outreach.ccdhhdb@state.co.us  

Rural Auxiliary Services Advisory Council Rulemaking Subcommittee Meetings 

Wednesdays, May 10, 17, 24, 31

3-4:30 p.m. 

The focus of these meetings is on the definition of rural, eligibility for the program, and other issues. These meetings are also held in Zoom and are also open to the public. Email ras.ccdhhdb@state.co.us if you are interested in meeting information. 

Legal Auxiliary Services Advisory Council Meeting

Thursday, May 18, 2023

3:30-5:30 p.m.

Douglas County Library, Event Hall, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, CO 80124

The meeting agenda includes updating LASAC membership and terms beginning July 1, 2023, and setting the agenda for the upcoming fiscal year. Email las.ccdhhdb@state.co.us with any questions. 

Online Distantism/Vidism Training Offered

May 18 through June 1, 2023

As part of its Protactile Training series, an online distantism and vidism training and discussion board is available for deafblind community members and those who register for the Protactile 101 and 102 training. Access will be granted between May 18 and June 1. Contact office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us or 720-457-3679 with any questions and/or to register.

Quarterly Commission Meeting

Thursday, June 1, from 4-7 p.m. 

Platt College 5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Suite 100 North

(in the blue stripe building at the triad) 

Greenwood Village, CO 80111. 

For those wishing to attend in person, please contact Cliff Moers at office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us to RSVP. Platt College will provide a buffet-type dinner for all attendees who RSVP.  For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual option is provided via Zoom - online registration is required. View the commission’s tentative meeting agenda. 

Rural Auxiliary Services Advisory Council Meetings

Wednesday, May 3, 2023 (CANCELED)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (time TBD)

These meetings are held via Zoom and are open to the public. The Rural Auxiliary Services Advisory Council (RASAC) generally holds meetings the first Wednesday of the month. Email ras.ccdhhdb@state.co.us if you are interested in meeting information. 

DBCC Meeting

Thursday June 8, 4-5:30 p.m. 

The meeting will be virtual and online registration is required.

Contact Ellie Calrson at eleanor.carlson@state.co.us with any questions. 

COEHDI Alliance Meetings 

Next meeting: June 16 from 10-11:30 a.m. 

The COEHDI Alliance meeting scheduled for May 19 has been canceled. 

Contact kcue@coehdi.org for the Zoom link.

COEHDI Task Force Meetings

• Diagnostic/Identification and Transition to Intervention: June 1, 4-5 p.m. (Contact astredlerbrown@coehdi.org for the Zoom link) 
• Families of DHHDB Children: June 12, 1-2 p.m. (Contact habraham@coehdi.org for the Zoom link)
• Screening: June 13, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Contact astredlerbrown@coehdi.org for the Zoom link) 
• Early Intervention: June 20, 2-3 p.m. (Contact habraham@coehdi.org for the Zoom link)

EHDItion Newsletter

The Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (COEHDI) program publishes a bimonthly newsletter.

Check out our May/June issue online, and subscribe at www.coehdi.org (via the footer).

Ascent Program Video

The Ascent Program is a free program for Colorado families with deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (DHHDB) children, ages birth to 36 months, to connect with DHHDB adults. There have been two promotional videos developed: a short (1 minute) and long (5 minutes) version.

Videos are available in both English and Spanish and can be viewed on the Ascent Program webpage. To learn more about this program, contact Family Support and Engagement Manager, Heather Abraham (habraham@coehdi.org). 

Communications Technology Program

Get Live captions in Real-Time on an iPhone

The accuracy of Live Captions may vary and shouldn't be relied upon in high-risk or emergency situations.

Set up and Customize Live Captions

1.Go to Settings > Accessibility > Live Captions (Beta).

2.Turn on Live Captions, then tap Appearance to customize the text, size, and color of the captions.

3.By default, Live Captions are shown across all apps. To get live captions only for certain apps such as FaceTime or Real-time text, turn them on below In-App Live Captions.

4.You can customize the appearance Customization is just changing the appearance of the captions in the Live Captions (Beta) area.

There is no need to sign up for anything. For example, instead of using a captioning app, this accessibility setting just has to be turned on. By doing this, you can use your iPhone phone number and not have to create a new one through an external service.

If you are in need of a new iPhone or any other mobile or home communications device, email ctp.ccdhhdb@state.co.us or call 720-949-7457 (VP) or 720-315-9493.