Communication Needs Not Met At Doctor's Offices

This year I had to go to a well known dermatologist for testing.  After my first appointment I kindly asked the nurse to email or text me the results.  Sorry she said, but they do not provide those kind of services.  So I replied to her how do you notify your deaf patients of their future appointments?

Instead of giving me an answer she asked if I had someone they  could call for me.  After that I suggested that they either email or text me the information.  We do not provide either one of those services she said blankly.  Feeling discouraged I told her to just leave a message on my voicemail.

Since I have a closed captioning phone it can caption my messages in there.  It's got to be difficult for some deaf people dealing with these issues.  It seems like we are still living in the old days.  Nothing much as changed at doctor's offices that I go to when it comes to communication needs.

I would recommend all doctor offices to provide email service and texting for their deaf patients.  It would make the world a much easier place to be.

Security Guard Sleeps Away In Mall

Two weeks ago I decided to go shopping with my hearing dog.   I have him because I am deaf and he assists me to sounds I can't hear.  We went in through Rocky's Big City Games & Sports Bar at the Eastern Hills Mall.   First thing I noticed was there was a Security Guard sleeping in a chair.   There was people there but nobody was doing anything about it.

We went into a few stores with no issues.   Then all of a sudden one of the ladies denied my service dog in one of them.  I decided to find a Security Guard to ask if the lady had any rights doing that.   By law service animals are allowed in public places.  But I thought it would be best to let someone else handle it there.

So I went back into Rocky's to get help.  Except the same Security Guard was fast assleep in the chair.  She has been sleeping over an hour.   So I went to find the Security Guard's office at the end of the Food Court Area.    There was nobody at that desk.   There was a number in there for us to call in case we need to get ahold of one.  But being hearing impaired I'm unable to hear on a regular phone.   And there was no number for texting one.


So after that I went to the center of the mall and I saw a woman in a uniform with a walkie talkie. So I thought that's it, let me ask her a question.  So I tried walking up to her with my dog and she ran the other way in a hurry.   Feeling disappointed from failure from finding someone to help I stopped at the Customer Service Counter.  There I made a complaint about the Security Guard that has slept over an hour at Rocky's.   Then I also told them there was noone in the main office.


So the lady there tried making some calls.  Even she was unable to get in contact of any security guard for me.   I waited for 25 minutes there as she kept trying to call one over.  With no luck, I told her thank you but to just let it go.  She said she would report it to the manager.  It wasn't worth wasting my time on this so I left.

I sure hope I never have to go through something like this again.