Speechreading Instruction Opportunity

SPEECHREADING  INSTRUCTIONAL  OPPORTUNITY  FOR DEAF OR  HARD-OF-HEARING ADULTS

REGISTER FOR AN UP-COMING LEVEL I

What is speechreading?  The reading of lips and using other visual cues to enable the identification of speech movement and speech sounds.  Acquiring this skill provides an excellent coping strategy to those who are deafened or hard of hearing.  Speechreading eliminates the need or want to isolate from the oral world.  It greatly reduces the frustration and disappointments experienced by those who are experiencing hearing loss.

INSTRUCTOR:  Melanie Elliott - an experienced instructor, a skilled speechreader, curriculum writer and a recognized leader in the hard-of-hearing community.

Fee - not a requirement

When:  The ten-week course will begin 5 October 2016

Where:  in a calm, quiet residential setting in central Halifax

The number of students is limited,  so register early.  If interested in this opportunity, contact Melanie Elliott for a registration application.  She can be reached at carpe.diem@ns.sympatico.ca or by fax at 902 425-2277.

Refugee Transition and Gender Equality

     I will step outside my box and express a concern with respect to gender inequality in conjunction with the influx of the Islamic refugees.

      My dilemma is that of the confidence of both male refugees and North American hosts expecting the practice of dishonor towards women will miraculously vanish in the Islamic men's transition to their new home in North America..  

     It is one thing for a male immigrant to believe he is capable of honoring the practice of gender equality at the level North American women now experience however I question how long this can be sustained ...... it is only a matter of time when new male refugee finds himself in a situation where he experiences a woman "with power".
      After decades of living the culture whereby women are oppressed,  he will at some point in his transition face a North American female in a leadership role.  Should this present a negative outcome for the immigrant Islamic male, he will likely instinctual and spontaneously act out without consciousness and do so from the depths of his birth roots. This type of acting out would likely be in a moment of frustration that would escalate to rage and violence toward a North American female.

     Why do I have this concern?....Answer:  from personal experience.

     Several years ago, I found myself in a situation whereby I delayed the progress of an Islamic male in his effort to proceed through a small parking lot. Shortly after he entered the lot he encountered my car blocking his path as I backed out of my parking space......a situation whereby I had to make two attempts in order to find enough room to turn the car backward and continue to proceed in the backing out of a the small space.

     As I was looking over my right shoulder to ensure I had enough room, I felt a force to my left face.......to my horror I had been punched by an Islamic male who was behind me and in a rage which evolved from the fact that a women (myself) had caused him a delay as he intended to move forward without hesitation.  He had left his car (unnoticed by myself)  to walk up to my passenger door in order to present a form of a violent act.

     Despite being in a state of shock, I did manage to remember his licence plate number, drove home and called the police.  Friends encouraged me to charge this Islamic individual and once I gathered my wits about me, I did go to the police station and gave a statement which would be the basis of my charging this immigrant of violent behavior.

      Representation by a Queen's Counselor was assigned to represent my charge and I met with her on the assigned court date.  I was very nervous and feared retribution after the Judge would make his statement.  The Judge first called the Islamic immigrant to the stand and relate the incident that caused him to stand before him. I was then asked about the event and it was only a matter of a few questions and answers when the Judge stated he was satisfied with my description of the event. 

     The Islamic's lawyer was then called to the stand once again and in a matter of a few sentences, the Judge announced that the Islamic individual would be deported.  The Judge's last statement was "when privileged to live in Canada you do as Canadians do".
   
   
Following:  a sketch similarly representing the event of violence, namely a car trying to back out of a small space and in doing so delays the car behind him.

A Life-changing Valentine Moment

     This image is a lovely rose quartz necklace with a silver locket superimposed on a valentine message from my dear late Aunt Dorothy.  On this Valentine weekend (2016), I have reason to share one of an exceptional and life-changing valentine moment of my past.....a moment when Aunt Dorothy gave me a precious gift of self-authored poems with heart-filled messages.  This gift was presented to me after my sustaining an acquired brain injury....a dark time when I did not even know myself.

      Time was my greatest demon...I would got to bed each evening with the idea that the limitations the injury imposed would be gone and I could return to business as usual......such was not the case as days became weeks and weeks became months ... time did not heal, it just made my limitations more familiar. 

      In essence it took years to begin a new life since my past, as I knew it, was not retrievable.  There were only a few elements of  that did stay strong and unshaken.....one being the inspirational spirit of my twin.  Aunt Dorothy was aware of this and included this lovely silver locket with her valentine book of poems and to this day, the locket is worn with a photo of myself and Melodie (my twin) close to my heart.  Aunt Dorothy's book remains at my beside and frequently returned to for comfort.

 

This particular poem (as above) reads: 

 

 "Tomorrow?  Not yet.  

Let today be your day ...  your gift.

Time is precious - use it well.

Make every day a special day.

Think about our gift of life.

Today is our day ... your gift.

Hold this closely in your thoughts.

I will share my memories,

my impressions,

my love of nature

all woven together in a tapestry of love for you - Melanie"  

 

 

Another poem that I find great strength in is as follows:

"My wish for you is that this small book will bring you happiness

This is my world....

My every day.

The people I love,

The wonder of nature,

My dreams.

Share it with me?"

Oh how I wish Aunt Dorothy knew how much I have coveted her poems and have grown with her widsom, grace, motivation and beauty in her exceptional and spiritual descriptions of nature's gifts !

 

This third poem (following) is always a delight to read as it rings so, so true to those family members whose love I have shared with Aunt Dorothy:

"My mother's love of everything in her world,

My Mother's love of nature

every day,

every season,

I believe she bequeathed this love to many of her family......a rich endowment."

 

Love you, Aunt Dorothy --- forever, Melanie

 

 

2015 Remembrance Vignette: Canada.ca/RememberThem

2015 Remembrance Vignette

link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=h0uoVogONa8s 

Click on top line "2015 Remembrance Vignette and the link will appear via direct access

If vignette does not appear, go to toolbar and click on "link" and enter the link as listed in second line of this post.

This video was in keeping with the Remembrance Day events to be held in 2015.  In the third frame, there are RCAF Women Division members marching........the third individual in the front line from the left is my Mother, Frances Evelyn Elliott (then Bent).  After finishing basic training in Rockcliffe, Ottawa, the site of this marching exercise she returned to Nova Scotia to board a troop ship to sail to Britain.  She was posted to London (Department of Intelligence) and worked in "Churchill's War Rooms"......so, so proud of this amazing women of great courage, fearless and of great belief that there would one day be World Peace. 

Kindergarten and a Special Teacher

The first image in this blog is my Kindergarten class of 1952.
My teach was Mrs Hope. Bustin - middle row on the right.
In approximately I received this letter from her -- a letter
which I wish to share as it has such scope and reflects her
passion as a teacher.
The occasion in which she has written in approx. 2000, was after
Melodie and I appeared in a documentary addressing the nature
of twins and titled "The Twin Thing....the show was a CBC one-hour uninterrupted film on the series "Man Alive".
     Mrs. Bustin wrote:
Her letter reads:
"I called the "Twin Thing" a beautiful love story.....the program
was just so lovely.  I wish I could see it again.  I often planned
to write you and kept putting it off -- your Mother gave me one of your crafts some time ago and I love it,  It is hanging on my wall
in my bedroom and Melodie gave me one of her paintings (a
sunflower).  I love it too.
     You were so beautiful on TV.  It was wonderful hearing you and you spoke so well.  My writing is not
at its best but now I'm that much older.
    I write too fast.  I hope you can cifir it.  I think of you often.
My love        xxoo
Hope Bustin
(in the photo, Melodie is in the front row - far right and I am on the far left - same row)

If you wish to have a larger photo - please contact me and I can send it along.

Melanie

Nightingale 
    

A Seasonal Collection of Paintings 2014/2015 - Artist: Melanie Elliott

An error has occurred and unable to load further paintings on this page

Seriously "Shingles": Get Vacinated !

Seriously "Shingles"

 In the early hours of April 2015, I suddenly awoke from unexplainable pain - a pain that increased as seconds passed.  I looked in the mirror to see a large area on my skin looking like an advanced second degree burn (fluid-filled, very painful blisters, etc).  The ugly sight visually continued to increase.  Out of desperation for an explanation and resolution to this unmanageable situation,  I frantically called 911.

      Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, I was immediately seen by an emergency physician and the first differential diagnosis I heard was that of a rapidly advancing "cellulitis".   In the true nature of my very vivid imagination,  my mind went to "flesh-eating disease".

     Infectious Disease and Immunology Specialists were called for their expertise and that wait will be a timeline I will never forget.  Their prompt simultaneous arrival increased my fears however, all de-escalated when the final diagnosis of early "shingles" was made. 

    I remained in the hospital landscape for several hours while pain options, recommendations and prognosis were addressed.  Additionally, I was given an antiviral prescription - for reducing the advancement of this virus and clearly warned that it was not a cure. 

     I remained astounded to this day that I was not aware there such a high proportion of persons (1 in 3 over the age of 55) contract this virus and most importantly that there was a vaccination that could have prevented it.  This fact amazed me as I am one to keep informed of the progressive nature of prevention and a proactive approach to disease....I certainly was blind-sighted by this information and strongly encourage all who have had the chickenpox and in the later years of life to get vaccinated despite the fact that there is a $200.00 fee.

     As my immune system is compromised, it was of no surprise to physicians that I had become a target of this very nasty virus.....one that is debilitating in nature and in my situation has become a prolonged experience.  Many weeks later, I continue to experience symptoms secondary to this virus - fatigue is horrendous, severe pain when least expected, sensitivity to clothing coming in contact with the area that was the first sign that there was a crisis aboard, etc.

     It has been suggested that I now wait for one year and then move forward and obtain a vaccination.  Even if I had not been affected by this virus, there is no guarantee that a vaccination is a sure preventative measure.

     In  keeping with the fact that I continue to have symptoms and health care providers are not giving me any immediate hope that the end is in sight and such is based on a compromised immune system.

IN CONCLUSION:  Get Vaccinated !!!

Nightingale