[Doodlegirl]

the Accreditation of the Recreation Department is an awesome achievement.
People have come to The Villages by appointment and observed the programs and the intent, and the conclusion has been reached that the Rec Dept. meets the benchmarks for a program which meets the needs of most of the participant group. Can we say that TV is all things to all people? No, certainly not, and to Deafdeaf, it is not. However, for those recreational activities such as swimming or pickleball or bocce, he is enabled as a player and the opportunities are abundant. Polo, a boat trip, the arts...so much is still accessible. For times he must rely only on the modality of hearing (lectures, classes), he has not found a ready source of support. A club is a wonderful idea, therefore.

I do not know under which school DeafDeaf was taught, however, I'm guessing that he/she was probably of the age when sign language and lip reading and speaking by the deaf was caught in a tumultuous time, an example of that would be the term, American Sign. Technologies were late coming to now elder deaf and hearing impaired. Having taught and worked with deaf and hearing impaired children the issues facing the deaf
in this Country are substantial, and theorists have argued this subject since
early in the twentieth century. Participation, however, in physical activities
afforded by the Rec program here and elsewhere, very positive. I cannot
think of a better place for my adult elderly deaf friends, teachers, and mentors should they be thinking of a lifestyle such as afforded by TV.

That said, I am full of sadness for so much of what all of us can hear, yet
reticent that there is much cacophony of sound I would like not to hear.
Today their are computers which translate the spoken word to written language. If DeafDeaf wants to encourage others, it should be, and we
should be with him, to have or make access to those possible at the Rec
Centers and the Life Long Learning College on an as needed basis. Even a
funding drive if he feels it would be appropriate. I would also think, the former
grant writers among us could put one together to 'purchase' ten such computers to be stored at the places most accessible.