| Author | Message | ||
     Nevrenuf |
my son's girlfriend is like 90% deaf with an inockuler implant(if that's how it's spelled) to help her hear. since he rides he is wondering if it would be all that hard to run through the rider's edge course or if there is something else out there that would allow her to help her get on a bike. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I think you should go to your local H-D dealer that offers Riders Edge and talk to the Program Manager. Let him or her know what your concerns are. I don't think it should be a problem if everyone is in the loop. (Program Manager, Coaches and fellow students) If she wants to ride, she will. FYI, when I ride long distance I wear a helmet with ear plugs and I can't hear squat. Riding is a skill of the eyes and mind....... | ||
| Rainman |
The Riders Edge course provides a little more one-on-one and easy going instructor attitude so it may be the best. Teaching both MSF and RE, we make it a point in our locations to let anyone with an "issue" know that we'll work with them. I've taught deaf, ESL, dyslexic, print challenged (can't read for one reason or another) and others. Most have passed and most classes tried hard to help those students feel comfortable. Give it a try. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I was very impressed with my Riders Edge instructors when I took the class. I'm sure something can be worked out to make sure she gets the instructions she needs to get through the course. As for riding, I too wear earplugs when I ride. You can't hear anything with all the wind noise anyway. This is truly a sport where you rely on your eyes. I don't see why she couldn't ride with the best of them. | ||
| Slaughter |
No worries. Explain up front and they'll make allowances. I can't remember which Rider's Edge course had a deaf student but if I recall, they used it in advertising a while back. Besides, there's the Americans with Disability Act which pretty much requires that she be accommodated. I wouldn't worry. Cool story in the Long Beach Aquarium - a volunteer on scuba doing feeding and maintenance in the tanks saw a group of school kids signing to each other and being deaf himself, got their attention (he knew a group of deaf students were going to be there) - and to the amazement of the rest of the non-deaf crowd, he was carrying on a conversation through the glass with all the kids for almost an hour. Really cool. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Can she read lips? Some deaf people are really good at that.. You can also get a sign translator I've been to classes where they had one for a deaf person.. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
she signs, of which my son has gotten pretty good at for her benefit but she mainly relies on reading lips. and of course this all started when we brought the wife's new lighting home and he showed it to his girlfriend. so she tried sitting on it and was able to touch the ground. so it looks like will have another one turn to the dark side. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 WE WILL WELCOME HER TO THE DARK SIDE | ||
| Court |
My niece is deaf and unless someone told you I'm betting you would never know. Many deaf folks quickly acquire and elevate to amazing levels other senses. Next time you see me, remind me to tell you when I used to take her to bid TSDHPT openings and have her sit in the bar before the opening . . .  | ||
| Dentfixer |
FYI, I've been on this forum for about a year now. Haven't really met up with any other Bad Webbers yet but, this subject touches home. I have been totally Deaf since 18 years of age, riding since 12. I too have a cochlear implant. Nevrenuf, your son's girlfriend will have no problems what so ever because of her Deafness. It is true, our eyesight and reflexes actually improve to take up the slack for our loss of hearing. Deaf people have an over all safer riding/driving history due to a natural defensive driving skill. We live by our eyesight! A professional interpreter with her at a riding school is all that is needed. I do stress a pro terp as a friend or family member may not be skilled enough to get all the info across. And getting the info is key to her learning safe riding skills. If you can find another Deaf rider around to do the teaching that will be a good first step, then follow up with a terp at a riding school. Goodluck. | ||
| Jaimec |
Depending on the program and State Law, if you notify the course well ahead of time it will be the school's responsibility to hire a sign language interpreter (if she understands signing) when you two are taking the course. We've done that where I used to work on a number of occasions. There should also be no additional fee for this service. | ||
| Nxtr |
Nevrenuf, Someone on another board started this site http://www.skilledrider.com/index.html there may or may not be some useful info for her... V/R, Nick | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i really appreciate all the input let her go through and see so she can fill more comfortable about even thinking about doing it. | ||
| Lovematt |
I am hard of hearing....I can hear 30% of normal in one ear and 20% of normal in the other. I wear a hearing aid in the worst ear that brings me up to about 60% at best and that is with only part of the frequency range...but then I turn it down quite a bit (maybe down to 45% or less) since the aid squeaks. I have been riding 30 years now with about 20 of those on the street. To be honest, I can't remember a time when hearing something like a siren or horn would have made any difference...riders need to LOOK. I have to consider that perception is probably biased based on the fact that I can't hear as well as others. Most of the time, I look ahead pretty far and end up SEEING the person hitting the horn since I figured out what stupid trail of events were likely to happen in the next few seconds. It should be noted I was pretty well trained when younger both in general driving skills with cars and bikes (defensive driving, track days, racing clinics, etc). My dad was a fireman and saw the results of poor driving...he made sure I knew what the heck I was doing when rollin' on wheels. (Message edited by lovematt on February 03, 2007) | ||
| Etennuly |
My son and I met three deaf riders at Thunder Beach last fall. Those guys were having the time of their lives parading up and down the boulevard on their loud bikes. Their hands were all over the place as they signed to each other. The thing that got me was they communicated really well while they were riding. We had to wait until we stopped to talk or yell our intentions. If it is what you want to do go for it!  | ||
| Gbr |
I would say find a RE program that may offer 6 student classes. I teach both RE and MSF BRC, but my dealership has chosen to only run 6 students at a time in the RE classes. This makes a world of difference when working with students on the range. Its much easier to get to know the students, plus each student gets more practice on the exercises. If your sons girlfriend was in my class, I would be more than happy to find a way to overcome the communication issues. Much of what I coach on the range can be communicated through hand signals anyway. gbr |
