Today, I learned that WOSU has interviewed Bryan Grubb, a deaf-blind right activist and a motivational speaker from central Ohio, about deaf-blind rights. It was assumed that his interview would be telecast on WOSU-TV channel (Columbus, Ohio) sometime in the near future, with captions, of course. Instead, as Mr. Grubb learned today, his interview will be on RADIO.
Hello? Radio?
Many in the Ohio deaf/deaf-blind community know Bryan Grubb and his passionate fight for deaf-blind rights. He is the president of Ohio Association of the Deaf-Blind and own a motivational speaking service, BRGMS. I know him and his wife, a very nice couple and he’s a fantastic guy. We met socially at DPHH and ASL Social Night events and, at one time, I voluntarily interpreted for him during a meeting to support the Deaf Protest of 2006.
Mr. Grubb is very disappointed with WOSU’s decision to broadcast the interview on radio instead of TV. I don’t know what’s the WOSU’s reason for that decision, given that Mr. Grubb is well-recognized in the Ohio deaf/deaf-blind community and his interview on TV would be seen on WOSU-TV channel in Ohio by the community. Perhaps a radio version would reach a wider hearing audience who tune into PBS radio? WOSU Radio has about 140,000 listeners weekly. Nevertheless, WOSU should have been a bit more considerate to broadcast his interview on TV instead of going into radio first. For goodness’s sake, the man is a deaf-blind motivational speaker! For the hearing people, it seems easy to listen to a hearing motivational speaker – in the ear, out the ear, get the message and the motivation in between. In the Deaf world, it’s all about appearance, presentation and giving the message and the motivation visually.
If you’re interesting to rant, go to WOSU’s “Contact Us” webpage.
Check back from time to time for a further update.
