mdrejhon 8 #1 July 30, 2008 Hello all, First, to introduce myself... I went to Perris P3 bigway camp during May 1-4th, 2008, and successfully completed my first 49 way (clicky for photo). In this photo, I'm pointing at my slot where I docked approximately 43rd or so. (My somewhat low jump numbers for the bigway leagues, is currently being compensated by several hours of 3-way/4-way tunnel time and near-RW-exclusive jumping.) I'm still pretty much a bigway newcomer, after all.I'm going to Perris P3 again to do exactly the same thing again at Perris' twice-annual bigway camp. I am definitely looking forward to doing this again. I also have a provisional slot in the Perris 100-way if I do well (hopefully). Now My Problem: Deaf help during video debriefs... I'm deaf, and video debriefs are critical safety lessons I must 100% fully absorb. I'm a deaf guy that often needs some interpretor help in the debrief rooms. If you went to Perris P3 during May 2008, or went to a previous bigway event that I participated in, you already know what I mean -- I relied on the "buddy system" of having a volunteer notetaker write what the organizer is saying. Potential safety issue of the buddy system... The "buddy system" often worked well (many wonderful volunteers, and lots of thanks to people such as Laura of UK, and Brett of Skydive Burnaby, and others who I was unable to get email contact info on time). However, as I try to get closer to the invitational leagues eventually, it is argued that distracting a participant to help me, is not safe for that particular participant. Although in some cases it may actually help some because it forces them to focus on the debrief more by listening and transcribing (much like how writing classroom notes helps a student memorize better). I also often have tips and suggestions to help some buddies make it -- I believe that my pep talk helped the last dockers dock on me for example, so the interaction with me may actually compensate for the distraction of interpreting for me. So this has to be kind of balanced out. Understandably, this is not the case for everybody who prefer to concentrate on the debrief and it's unfair for paying participants to have to do something that's not normally part of the bigway cirriculum (i.e. helping me)! I am thinking of some solutions: Hire an official interpretor for a few days Expensive. Probably non-skydiver, and would not know skydiving terminology. This would be expensive proposition, as they'd sit around most of the time. Hire a non-participating skydiver (even you?) Preferred option, a skydiver regular who's not participating in the bigways. I'm willing to pay something like $10 per video debrief. (That's $360 for over two weekends). This person can just hang out and have fun until paged into the video debrief room about 4 to 6 times per day. He/She could even be one of extra packers. Rely on opt-in buddies This could be Plan B. Early on, ask around for participants who have excellent abilities for this task with no safety issue. Rely on these people as backups, in unexpected event when the interpretor is unavailable at certain parts of the day. I would probably need to collect a list of 5 to 10 opt-in Perris P3 participant volunteers to reasonably maximize the liklihood that at least one of them is on my load though. After all, I need to be low-maintenance to the organizers. I have already consulted with the organizers and they know I'm going to look for help. Any other suggestions? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #2 July 30, 2008 To those who want to volunteer: Please send me a PM. If you'd like to volunteer to help a deaf guy like me achieve his bigway dreams (I'm willing to pay $10 per debrief) even if you can only go on specific days. You only need reasonable paper notepad abilities and/or reasonable typing abilities. No sign language knowledge needed; as I use different methods of communications. Just being at Skydive Perris, being on stand by to rush into the video debrief about 4 to 6 times per day, to spend 5 to 15 minutes writing/typing notes to me of what the organizer is saying, so I can read at the same time. (Just like the buddy system I successfully used during Perris P3 last time, but using non-participants rather than participants) I will need help on these September dates in decreasing order of priority: 21st, 20th, 19th, 18th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th. Basically formations are biggest at later dates, where critical safety information is most important for me. These dates cover two separate 4-day spans Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun covering two weekends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfan75 1 #3 July 30, 2008 I'll be at the big way camp too (but not the 100 way$). I'd be more than happy to help with plan B. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #4 July 30, 2008 Quote I'll be at the big way camp too (but not the 100 way$). I'd be more than happy to help with plan B. Thanks! I've sent you a PM. I still need to fill Plan A -- volunteer help who's not a participant. (And add several more opt-in volunteers to my list for Plan B. That way, I can avoid inconveniencing others.) Know a skydiver friend, or even a poor student skydiver, who'd like to earn a bit on the dropzone? At $10 per video debrief, it is the equivalent of $40-$60 per hour since the debriefs are short (but super duper important to me). I've made a new web address: www.marky.com/help-a-deaf-skydiver automatically links to this thread, so there's an easy web address to give out! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jsaxton 0 #5 July 30, 2008 Mark, good luck. Unfortunately I won't be at the BWC, just the 100WC this time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #6 July 30, 2008 I look forward to seeing you again if I make it that far! If I make it past the BWC and my provisional slot in 100WC becomes confirmed, that is! BTW -- Those attending only 100WC can still volunteer to be part of Plan B. I need multiple Plan B volunteers, may never be needed, but just in case. I am definitely still interested in volunteers that is only attending on one weekend. Only for those of you who feel that it doesn't inconvenience or distracts you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
klingeme 1 #7 July 31, 2008 Would a tape recorder in the debreif, then replay with a participant afterwords (not distracting the participant during the bebreif) letting you know what was said be an option? Just trying to help out. Mark Klingelhoefer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #8 July 31, 2008 QuoteWould a tape recorder in the debreif, then replay with a participant afterwords (not distracting the participant during the bebreif) letting you know what was said be an option? Just trying to help out. Mark KlingelhoeferThat's an excellent idea, but interactivity is often critical. Often, the instructor/captain is pointing at the video and talking about something. Or they need to ask me questions directly such as my viewpoint of a mistake I may have made. So I kind of need near-real-time transcription during video debriefs. This is how it was done last time, using the "buddy system" -- just that this time I need someone dedicated (not a participant) to avoid distracting participants inside the video debrief room. I think I may have found someone! However, still looking for multiple people for Plan B (opt-in participants). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
klingeme 1 #9 July 31, 2008 QuoteQuoteWould a tape recorder in the debreif, then replay with a participant afterwords (not distracting the participant during the bebreif) letting you know what was said be an option? Just trying to help out. Mark KlingelhoeferThat's an excellent idea, but interactivity is often critical. Often, the instructor/captain is pointing at the video and talking about something. Or they need to ask me questions directly such as my viewpoint of a mistake I may have made. So I kind of need near-real-time transcription during video debriefs. This is how it was done last time, using the "buddy system" -- just that this time I need someone dedicated (not a participant) to avoid distracting participants inside the video debrief room. I think I may have found someone! However, still looking for multiple people for Plan B (opt-in participants). Got ya, jsut trying to throw out another possibility. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,117 #10 July 31, 2008 John Woo has done a whole bunch of big ways. Have you asked him?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brettski74 0 #11 July 31, 2008 QuoteJohn Woo has done a whole bunch of big ways. Have you asked him? I'm assuming that this is someone other than the movie director John Woo... you never know, though. This is California. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MakeItHappen 15 #12 July 31, 2008 Quote.... Often, the instructor/captain is pointing at the video and talking about something. Or they need to ask me questions directly such as my viewpoint of a mistake I may have made. ..... It is clearly obvious that you cannot make any mistakes that need 'pointing out'. You need to be the guy that they use to show 'this is how it is done.' Problem solved. ;) .. Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brettski74 0 #13 July 31, 2008 QuoteIt is clearly obvious that you cannot make any mistakes that need 'pointing out'. You need to be the guy that they use to show 'this is how it is done.' Problem solved. ;) I think you're misunderstanding what he has written, or perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, but Mark is hardly the skygod type. He's saying he needs someone there to help facilitate the communication when he has made a mistake and the organizer wants to discuss it with him during the debrief. I think your post seems a little harsh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redlegphi 0 #14 July 31, 2008 I'm fairly certain Jan was making a joke. One which made me chuckle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MakeItHappen 15 #15 July 31, 2008 Quote........perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, ............ Yeah I think that's it. .. Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #16 July 31, 2008 Quote I think you're misunderstanding what he has written, or perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, but Mark is hardly the skygod type. He's saying he needs someone there to help facilitate the communication when he has made a mistake and the organizer wants to discuss it with him during the debrief. I think your post seems a little harsh. Nah. I'd only be offended if she wasn't the volunteer. Yep. Jan just volunteered to help me during all 36 video debriefs for me. Thanks Jan! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #17 July 31, 2008 Quote John Woo has done a whole bunch of big ways. Have you asked him?I have notified him of this thread. He wouldn't be a suitable interpretor as he is deaf too, but obviously he would have some very useful insight to offer as being one of the major deaf bigway jumpers, a World Team member! P.S. Still accepting volunteers, including volunteers who are participants, for Plan B (in case of Murphy's Law, and for other field stuff) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #18 August 2, 2008 Quote Quote John Woo has done a whole bunch of big ways. Have you asked him? I have notified him of this thread. He wouldn't be a suitable interpretor as he is deaf too, but obviously he would have some very useful insight to offer as being one of the major deaf bigway jumpers, a World Team member! P.S. Still accepting volunteers, including volunteers who are participants, for Plan B (in case of Murphy's Law, and for other field stuff) John is a very good teacher at flying your body in big ways and he is a past student of Skydive U. However, he has never been a member of the World Team. That's Hiro Masuda, from Japan. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #19 August 2, 2008 Quote Would a tape recorder in the debreif... Mark Klingelhoefer Good Idea but he'd have to wait a few year for a time machine to be invented so he can go back to 1980 and bring a tape recorder.."BACK TO THE FUTURE!"The better idea is to stop being deaf. I mean just knock it off, Mark.Of course, talking with other deaf skydivers to get ideas may be helpful the only deaf postwhore I know of is billy but I dont think he is fully deaf. How did you get by thus far? You had a buddy jumper explain what's going on, right? That is a good way to get to know more people but have you asked around (or emailed) Perris? One of the local jumpers may know sign language. Maybe one of their friends knows sign language and will help out. If you are planning on becoming a regular at Perris someone may be willing to learn sign language. I used to know sign language when I was a kid but I have used it in 20 years. I remember very little.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #20 August 3, 2008 Quote John is a very good teacher at flying your body in big ways and he is a past student of Skydive U. However, he has never been a member of the World Team. That's Hiro Masuda, from Japan. Thanks for the correction! I got the deaf World Team members mixed up. Hopefully I'll be part of a future World Team but it all depends on the budget pretty much -- bigways are expensive but fun! Quote Good Idea but he'd have to wait a few year for a time machine to be invented so he can go back to 1980 and bring a tape recorder.."BACK TO THE FUTURE!"The better idea is to stop being deaf. I mean just knock it off, Mark. If I had a time machine, why bother going to 1980 -- how about 2380, and getting my ears fixed with Star Trek technology instead... Of course, I'd want a remote control power switch added too, so I can still have my peaceful sleep and not need to worry about aircraft sounds or other loud sounds....! Quote How did you get by thus far? You had a buddy jumper explain what's going on, right? That is a good way to get to know more people but have you asked around (or emailed) Perris? One of the local jumpers may know sign language. Maybe one of their friends knows sign language and will help out. There are two problems with this approach: - I've been told that organizers would prefer it not to be a participant but an outside person, one not participating in the camp. For more info, see first post... - I don't do A.S.L. ... I do cued speech, and usually I do other alternative means of communications, so I usually rely on notepad and keyboard methods. Either way I managed to get Jan to volunteer all 36 days. (It helps that she knows quite a bit about bigways, wouldn't hurt my chances of making as far as the 100WC...knock on wood!). So that's now covered! All I need is a few more backups for Plan B (not that I'll ever need to rely on backups but just in case for a sporadic session or two.), as well as out in the field where interpretor help might not be available. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MakeItHappen 15 #21 August 3, 2008 QuoteEither way I managed to get Jan to volunteer all 36 days. 36 days?!?!?! uh Mark....uh I thought it was 8 days and 36 jumps..........???? In the 'olden' days it was 20 jumps over 4 days. That's been cut to 18 per 4 day gig. I think it's because a lot of peeps have to catch flights out a bit before 5 pm on Sunday. .. Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #22 August 3, 2008 Whoops, yes, 36 jumps. I sure typed that that too fast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivermom 0 #23 August 6, 2008 Hi, You can count on me for plan A in about a year and a half (except I won't take any money for itGood luck to you....Be safe and have fun! Mrs. WaltAppel All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #24 August 7, 2008 That's great! Actually this interpretor doesn't need to be certified as I need to mainly capture some critical details from the video debrief in semi-realtime. But that's always useful. An interpretor that happens to be familiar with skydiving, would be even more useful, especially in future bigway camps! (Would have to do keyboarding, cued speech or notepad methods, rather than ASL) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivermom 0 #25 August 8, 2008 I am so looking forward to being of assistance in the future. It has been a lot of fun learning the langauge. BTW, during my first semester, I did a presentation on Deaf Skydivers and I think you were in a couple of the pictures. Can't wait to meet you one day.Mrs. WaltAppel All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
