Today we’d like to introduce you to Loni Friedmann
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in Nevada and I was “hearing” based on my mom’s experience when she gave me birth. I got sick with a high fever and chicken pox at three months- ended up going to ER and I was still “hearing”. From birth to 13 months old- my mom will call my name verbally and I will look at her immediately. one day that completely stopped and she was confused. She took me to the audiologist and found out I’m profoundly Deaf. When I was two years old- my mom and I moved from Nevada to Maryland- close to Washington DC because of the Deaf community there. She immersed into the Deaf community along with me and I learned quickly from the immersion. One year later we both moved back to Nevada and lived in Elko- a very rural small town with little to zero knowledge about Deaf people. She became my advocate for my education in K-12- she required interpreters and having a speech therapist that knows sign language so I can have access to both languages; sign language and English in reading and writing form.
After graduating Elko high school, I got my AA degree in Deaf Studies from Carson City, Nevada then I moved to California and attended California State University, Northridge (CSUN). I graduated with my BA degree in Deaf Education. I did credential program for K-12 and realized it wasn’t for me and I dropped out then started teaching ASL full time as a self-employed tutor and some jobs teaching ASL.
I found out that I have retinitis pigmentosa (RP)- it’s a degenerative genetic vision loss. I was 19 when I first found out and I was in denial for many years. Once I was ready to embrace that I have RP and learned that it means Usher’s Syndrome because I’m also Deaf. RP is for hearing Blind people while Deaf and RP means Usher’s Syndrome and there is three types. I’m type 1. I took a genetic eye exam and it took a year to find out how and why I became DeafBlind. The test results said I was born DeafBlind. I found out at age 29. It changed my life and perspective 360 degrees. I’m now an advocate for Deaf and DeafBlind communities related to accessibility, audism, vidism, Deaf & DeafBlind awareness on Instagram for over 4 years now, I do consulting for access, teach ASL and my business is called Functional ASL. I’m an artist as well- I make a lot of tactile art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not a smooth road. It is a roller coaster with some harsh sudden stops and curves. My mom was my biggest advocate and she was the only one that knows sign language and is fluent. Almost none of my family knows any sign language. Once I started to grow my Deaf identity in college- my relationship with my family started to get strained and now most of them don’t talk to me. My mom and I had a rocky relationship due to her alcoholism and addiction to narcotics. She passed away February 2022 and it devastated me. No one in the entire family checked on me- I was always there for most of them whenever I had the chance to. 90% hearing people have Deaf babies. Less than 30% parents learns sign language. Ive met so many Deaf people who have families that doesn’t sign. It’s not a unique experience in the Deaf/DeafBlind community. Ive experienced audism (discrimination to Deaf/DeafBlind/Hard of Hearing people- thinking that speaking is superior over sign language and not willing to accommodate.) everyday and I still do. I also have PMDD- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder- basically PMS’s evil twin. I battle with PMDD on top of inaccessibility as a DeafBlind advocate every month. I experienced oppressions from Deaf individuals online and in person. It can be mentally, emotionally, and physically draining for me some days. However- from the challenges it teaches me new perspectives every time and I keep going and learn from my mistakes and lessons.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a content creator and an advocate on Instagram.
I teach about captions and making sure captions are readable and in the right place for reels. For DeafBlind community- ALT text on Instagram is not accessible because it’s not shown on IG posts. So I show how to do photo descriptions, video descriptions, transcriptions of captions. Hearing people can auto record their voices for captioning and it’s easier compared to Deaf/DeafBlind content creators manually adding captions to their videos. I show my life as a DeafBlind person- all the good, bad, and raw sides.
I make art and it is my passion. I’ve always loved doing art since I was young. My passion started to grow more in 2022. I create different mixed media art such as geode style resin, skull resin, braille art, drawings, paintings, and so many more! My art is mostly tactile because most of the time art isn’t accessible to DeafBlind people and even Blind people- I want them to feel included with my artwork. One day I will love to open an accessible art gallery!
I also make digital art mixed with ASL and recently opened a new shop selling shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and many other accessories!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
COVID-19 changed everything. Masks were a nightmare for Deaf/DeafBlind community. It is used for safely but we constantly had to deal with it. I refuse to read lips because it’s a LOT of work. Try watching a movie without sound for an hour and WITHOUT captions. Bet most hearing people cant do that. SO people always asked me if I read lips and I always say no. It’s even worse with masks. They will keep talking and I have to keep telling them to stop talking and write on paper or use phone to text a message. It is a constant hassle and it still is.
Pricing:
- ASL classes (all levels vary each round) $300.00 per person for 6 weeks and classes meet once weekly.
- Art products- prices vary and I accept commissions.
- Stickers and soon coming shirts & sweaters/hoodies!
- Presentations/Workshops $750 for one hour, $1,000 for 90 minutes, and $1,500 for 2 hours.
- Private ASL sessions- $75 for 30 minutes and $150 for one hour. Zoom sessions only. All the information is on my website! www.functionasl.com
Contact Info:
- Website: Functional ASL & Feel That!
- Instagram: Loni Friedmann
- Other: https://www.functionasl.com
