Hearing Mother/Deaf Son Team Margie and Luke Make the Final Four on The Amazing Race

For anyone who may have missed this week’s episode of The Amazing Race, Margie and Luke have survived another week and are now among the final four teams left in the competition. This after the competitive nature of two teams (Margie & Luke and sisters Kisha & Jen) got the better of them, resulting in some physical jostling followed by name-calling. In the end, both of these teams advanced, as stuntmen brothers Mark and Michael were eliminated. The remaining weeks should be interesting.

Luke and Margie have proven to be an interesting team to watch in action over the course of the competition. Luke has been deaf since birth and his hearing mother Margie became his link to the hearing world. They use a combination of American Sign Language and their own sort of short hand sign language to communicate.

According to their official bio on the CBS website, one of the most moving moments they shared previous to the competition was when Luke surprised his mother by delivering a valedictorian speech at his graduation ceremony from Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

After the many moments of joy, stress and sheer emotion the viewing public has witnessed over the past months, it seems clear that teaming up to compete on The Amazing Race is sure to be among Margie and Luke’s most lasting and satisfying memories.

The Amazing Race airs Sundays at 8:00 pm EST on CBS. For more information about Margie and Luke, go to Margie and Luke Biographies for The Amazing Race

US Department of Education Awards Northern Illinois University $200,000 Grant for Blind and Visually Impaired Services

Amidst seemingly endless reports over the past months of cutbacks in both the public and private sectors comes welcome news from the office of Congressman Bill Foster of Illinois. In a news release last week, it was announced that the Department of Education has awarded Northern Illinois University a $200,000 grant to improve its services for the blind and visually impaired.

The grant, which is targeted to personnel development, will allow NIU professors to recruit and train teachers of blind and visually impaired children. In addition to benefitting to the blind and low vision community, Program Director Gaylen Kapperman points out that this grant is also a potential opportunity for those who have lost their jobs and are looking for a new career.

Follow the attached link for the full story:

NIU Receives $200,000 Federal Grant

Texas Man Lobbies for Visual Smoke Alarm Law for Deaf Tenants After Losing Wife and Two Kids in Fire

Four years after his wife and two of their four children died in an apartment fire, Tyrus Burks was in Austin last week supporting a bill named in honor of his wife. The Sephra Burks Bill, written by Dallas Senator Royce West, would require landlords to install smoke alarms equipped with visual alerts if they are requested by a hearing impaired tenant.
The bill further specifies that the smoke alarms be placed in highly visible locations, including bedrooms. In the case of the Burks family, there was a visual smoke alarm, but building management had installed it in a stairwell.

To read the full story, click this link:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent

April Winner Chosen for Maxi-Aids $10,000 Keep That Catalog Contest

Congratulations to Debra S. from Kentucky, winner of the Maxi-Aids 'Keep That Catalog' Contest for the month of April. Debra has been using Maxi-Aids as a resource in her efforts to provide solutions to people with special needs. She works with a non-profit organization operating in eastern and central Kentucky that helps individuals with disabilities live more active, independent lives and provides support to them and their families.

The Maxi-Aids Blog... Bringing News, Information & Product Updates to the Special Needs Communities

In our ongoing efforts to serve the blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, diabetic and arthritic, as well as those with mobility challenges and other special needs, Maxi-Aids Products for Independent Living will be using this blog as a means of presenting interesting, relevant, timely news and product updates. Check back often to see what's happening ...