Check here for important information and announcements.

Introduce yourself to other participants.

Have questions about deafness, Deaf culture, or the Deaf community, that don’t fit into other topics? Ask them here!

A description of the process and a brief tutorial are posted here.

Share your experiences in schools for the deaf and/or mainstream programs.

More deaf kids are being mainstreamed. Is this good for them, or for the school districts overseeing their placements?

There are some excellent programs that bring deaf and hearing kids together—and benefit them both.

Discuss why traditional residential schools for the deaf are a valid option.

Do you have one in your area? Want to start one?

What are your thoughts on the Deaf community’s literacy problem?

If you’ve had a Bi-Bi background, or are advocating for it in your school, share your thoughts here.

Share your views on tutors, educational interpreters, and notetakers.

What can be done to encourage more deaf kids, especially children of color and girls, to excel in scientific, technological, and mathematical fields? How can we improve science/math education for deaf kids?

Thanks to the ADA and Section 504, deaf high-school graduates supposedly have unlimited choices in colleges. Some choose the Big Three (Gallaudet University, CSUN, and NTID), while others opt for totally mainstreamed colleges (with or without support services). Share your views.

Share your recollections of college life here.

Who should decide what makes a “qualified” interpreter? Who pays? Who’s best? How to find one when you need one?

Keeping in touch has never been easier—with a bit of help from technologies such as the Internet, IP-Relay, Videophones, and, especially text pagers. Share your views.

Hearing people have cellphones. We have text pagers—Sidekicks, BlackBerries, Palm Pilots, and others. What’s the best deal for the money? Which one do you love passionately? What’s your addiction?

We all want more and better captioning—including online video clips. How can we get it? What can we do if we’re not getting it?

All too many parents have gone through the same frustrating experience: going to 'the "experts" for advice, and being told not to sign with their deaf baby, but to use an oral/auditory approach exclusively from the start—advice that they later regretted heeding.

An unknown number of sign interpreters working in schools where deaf children are enrolled can describe the dirty politics being played there—being controlled by teachers, the promotion of hearing aids and cochlear implants, and banning ASL.

When education of the deaf or language rights are discussed, who are the “real” experts on the topic? There are a growing number of Deaf scholars with fine credentials—and what they have to say corroborates what grassroots-Deaf people have been saying.

We know that sign language benefits deaf babies and enhances development of their cognitive and linguistic skills. This “folk wisdom” is supported by scientific research. Recent and ongoing research can be noted and discussed here.

New research in ASL and other national signed languages is ongoing and always coming up with new discoveries about cognition, creativity, and communication.

A number of deaf adults have gone through NTID and mainstream colleges without ever learning to sign. Should all deaf adults know how to communicate with each other? Why or why not?

Is it a boost for literacy, or unreadable signals?

Have you read Susan Schaller’s A Man Without Words? Do you know any deaf children or adults who are languageless?

A number of deaf adults have gone through NTID and mainstream colleges without ever learning to sign. Should all deaf adults know how to communicate with each other? Why or why not?

Should deaf people be classified as disabled, or as an ethnic minority? If being Deaf is an ethnic identity, should they be collecting disability benefits like SSI? If we’re not “disabled,” should we claim protection under the ADA?

Looking back on the 2006 Gallaudet University “Unity” protests—is there such a thing as not being “Deaf enough”?

Are you a late-deafened or progressively-deafened adult? Do you feel part of the Deaf community? What can we do to make LDAs more welcome?

Hard-of-hearing people can choose their identity—to identify as Hearing or Deaf. Should HoH people be considered members of the Deaf community? Or should we assume that most will want to identify as hearing?

Are you a late-deafened or progressively-deafened adult? Do you feel part of the Deaf community? What can we do to make LDAs more welcome?

Hard-of-hearing people can choose their identity—to identify as Hearing or Deaf. Should HoH people be considered members of the Deaf community? Or should we assume that most will want to identify as hearing?

Have you actually filed an anti-discrimination suit? Are you planning to? Considering doing so? Know someone who sued? Talk about it.

Have you experienced anti-Deaf prejudice or outright discrimination? Have you taken legal action, or plan to?

Are Deaf people of color (African-Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Asian-Americans, American Indians, biracial, and multiracial) welcomed into the general Deaf community? Do we have a problem with racism and discrimination? What can we do about it?

Is there a lack of ethics and morality in the Deaf community? Have you been a victim of backstabbing or Crab Theory? How have you coped with it? Has the boom in blogs and V-logs made the situation worse? What can be done to combat the problem?

We have had some outstanding Deaf leaders. What’s the current situation? Do we have leaders who inspire us? Do we have what it takes to succeed?

Share your experiences growing up or (currently) being part of a family.

Share your experiences as parents of deaf and hearing kids.

Can they work? How do friends and couples make them work?

Are the elderly Deaf an invisible community? Discuss the special needs of elderly Deaf people . . . or yourself.

On being “different”—a Deaf person of color, mixed-race, gay, bisexual, multi-handicapped, CP, dyslexic.

Share your concerns as immigrants, new citizens, foreign students, tourists, visitors . . . or friends.

Your experiences/views on ASL poetry, DeVia, etc.

ASL theater & Deaf performers & Hollywood/Broadway/film/video roles.

Do you have a cherished memory of a Deaf ancestor or a bit of Deaf family lore you’re especially proud of? Did one or more of your grandparents/relatives tell you about their experiences attending the old-style schools for the deaf? Did they know a famous Deaf person? Share your recollections.

What’s yours? Bonsai enthusiasts, candymakers, collectors, quilters, craftspeople, Feng Shui practitioners, and ultralight pilots welcome here.

Have a substance-abuse problem? In your family? Know a friend who’s out of control? Talk about it.

If you’re HIV+ or have AIDS, or have a friend/partner who’s HIV+ or has AIDS, talk about it here.

What can be done to improve fair access in hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices?

What can be done to improve Deaf/police relations? Have you ever been in an emergency/crisis situation? Had a bad encounter with the law? What’s your view?

Favorite quotes, terrific jokes, books you’ve just read and recommend, or a terrific Website or V-log.

Just want to talk?

Ask questions about the BB, report problems you’ve experienced, and make suggestions for new topics.