Obama Campaign Reaches Out To Deaf Community

Fulton Sun:

Dialing number after number, Martha Eisenhour sat at a single table working her way through a phone list of unreachable people that most campaigns might have abandoned.

But Eisenhour understands what most people don't - that sometimes there are people on the other end of that line.

The numbers - which give a pattern of electronic beeps and clicks - typically are discarded as faxes or computer modems. However, some connect to the homes and lives of people in the deaf community who communicate with a special text telephone called TTY.

Read the whole story: Fulton Sun

Comments

[Katherineo]

Obama/Biden you have just won my heart.
This is truly a presidency conscious of all its people.
Way to go!!!

[TGCNY]

This is a man and a campaign that is all inclusive

[apoyo]

A simple message: Everyone Counts.

[Bronxcutie]

This is great! ALL Americans should have a voice! Sen. Obama is ahead of his time!

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

THE CLASS OF THE NEW GENERATION HAS BEEN MAKING 2 MUCH NOISE :)

[MoeB]

WOW. Just when I think that this campaign and its volunteers have reached a peak, they go and unleash something else spectacular. I get more and more proud of this campaign and the future of this country day by day.

Obama/Biden '08

[Matt7]

I am not hearing impaired, and I don't know how extensive his knowledge of sign language is. But I think it admirable and a good thing that Obama both acknowledged, and attempted to communicate with the supporter. Even if he knows no other words than "thank you."

I don't know what Republicans tell themselves to justify their continued support of their obviously flawed ticket. But things like this, and so many others, make me continually pleasantly surprised and proud to be associated with people of the calibre and integrity of Obama, Biden and their families.

And once he's president, I'll be REALLY proud to identify as an American again.

[Lalama]

That's the kind of leader i want in White house !!!!!!!!!
to get that i'm willing to knock on some doors , kiss some babies
organize some more , donate some more , volonteersome more and ultimatly vote and make poeple vote for him

[tlgeiger62]

Yet another example of the smartness of the O campaign. Reaching out to those who otherwise not be touched. Wonderful.

[mom2sons]

That's why I love this man. Obama-Biden are about being all-inclusive. This touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Making people feel relevant; that they have a voice and are important too! That's why he has my vote, because of his compassion, respect and love for all people. Vote Obama 08!

[TuffCookie]

wow

[markkraft]

I posted about this yesterday and got a great response from one member!

"I'm hearing, but I'm disabled (I have cerebral palsy and some other issues), and I was an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention. I came away *very* impressed by the Obama campaign's disability awareness . . .Obama has disabled/Deaf people working in major positions in his campaign. I had the pleasure of meeting many of them. Having "real" disabled and Deaf people in charge of major sectors of his campaign means that our concerns are heard and dealt with. . . Plus, Tom Harkin is his disabled/Deaf community liason. If you don't know who Tom Harkin is, he is the chief architect of the ADA, and he got into politics because his brother is Deaf and it upset him that his brother was incredibly intelligent but couldn't get a job because of discrimination. Harkin is a *tireless* advocate for the disabled/Deaf community, and signed most of his convention speech. . . My point being, this is one case where a politician seems to be practicing what he's preaching."

http://community.livejournal.com/deaf/808721.html

[markkraft]

Barack Obama also knows some basic sign language... and visited the Iowa School for the Deaf during his campaign!
http://deafcampaign2008.blogspot.com/2008/08/barack-obama-knows-basic-sign-language.html

Also, several members of Gallaudet University, the leading deaf university in the U.S., were invited to participate at the Democratic National Convention,

There has also been an active group of deaf individuals using YouTube and sign language to communicate with others about the issues, with many of their videos getting thousands of views. Some of the most viewed ASL political videos include "Let Our Voices Be Heard! (How?)" and "FDR and Obama".