hemdeaf.org

Well, as it turns out, the d/hh kids at the high school (see my last post) felt they weren’t quite ready to do a presentation this year. They asked if I would be willing to do it this time, so I did, despite my pleading with them to do it.

I agreed to do so, and since this was a Global Awareness Week event, decided to do a Global DEAF Awareness presentation. I used video clips of Deaf leaders around the world - France, Sweden, Germany, etc. to demonstrate that the Deaf community around the world is alive and well and comprised of Deaf and hard of hearing people of all ages and backgrounds. They’re standing up for their rights, for their education, and for their future and the future of upcoming generations. While some of these D/HH individuals face frightening risks in doing so, they do it in the hope that they will be seen and not ignored. I applaud them with an enthusiastic wave of hands.

My presentation showed that language is happening, and people can communicate. It showed that natural, visual language has the ability to be understood and to empower. It showed that Deaf culture includes the full range of human experience with a visual orientation. Natural, visual language has common components that reflect the common experience of Deaf people wherever they are. Expression, body movement, the use of vertical, horizontal and 3D space in signs are similar across languages. While individual signs may be different, understanding still happens because visual language communicates meaning, not words.

The main point of the presentation is that there are Deaf people all over the world, all working, living, and communicating.

The presentation opened a lot of eyes and was apparently well received.

I grew up oral, during a time when conventional “wisdom” dictated that deaf kids should not be permitted contact with other deaf people, because once exposed to sign language, the child would stop talking. Looking back, we think, how ridiculous, right? Would you believe there are still people who think that idea is valid?

Look, it’s common knowledge that over 95% of deaf kids are born into hearing families. If taught to speak, the child will likely to use her verbal skills with the hearing people around her. But why deny her natural language? Why take away from her the right to use a natural approach to learning - a visual approach? It’s true that a deaf child will naturally prefer visual communication, but that is because the meaning that comes with visual communication is so much richer than the mere words that she reads on the lips of others. She not only gets the word, she gets the meaning (the conceptually accurate sign for the meaning of the word), the emotion (facial expression) and that indefinable third element that communicates intent (subtle body or hand movements). American Sign Language is a 3-D language that packs a full range of meaning into communication. Watch a small child at play, and you’ll see how the child is constantly absorbing and assimilating the things she sees and touches. This is natural.

So, why is it so hard for people to imagine that children do what is natural for them?  Isn’t it written somewhere that “… a little child shall lead them”? Deaf children can lead the way for their parents to enter a brand-new and wonderful world, where communication is natural and visual and so much more enriching and engaging. In this world, Deaf children are not merely ears and mouths, but whole, complete people with personalities, talents, minds, and limitless potential.

Parents, I urge you to empower your children from birth - give them opportunities to communicate and learn naturally and visually, using American Sign Language. This is the best first gift deaf children can get from the people who love them: the first tool empowering them go forward and develop into whole and complete human beings.

If given a choice between words or meaning, the better option is obvious, don’t you think?