Geez, Daffyd, ease up. I am very sorry that your preschool teachers were so horrid, but you know nothng about me. I am fluent in ASL, have taught deaf children for 25 years, and considering the kids who are now in college, I think they got a damn good start. I also am not an ‘oral’ teacher. I happen to believe that every child is an individual, and that the method we use to teach is dictated by the needs of that child. I don’t believe in a one size fits all for any child let alone a deaf child. As for my comments about parents doing what they can for their child - most do, but many do not have the information they need about all options. Thats where I come in. Oh and btw, I don’t think all deaf children should get CIs, and I believe its child abuse for a parent of a deaf child who is obiviously not going to benefit from speech, not to learn sign.
Waenra, sorry, I meant to add to my post and couldnt edit (I guess I have to be a paid member to do that?) There is something new called a video relay. You dial a number that gets you to an interpreter. That person signs what you are saying, and the deaf person picks that up either via tv or computer screen. So if they are illiterate, they probably could use this system.
I just went back and read some posts I missed. I think several things need clarification
Many parents do not learn sign, even as the child is growing up. I know of HS children who need an interpreter to talk to their parents at parent conferences! I don’t think its just lack of ability. I think for some there is a stigma against signing (esp among my Hispanic families). I know one mom who won’t sign because she doesn’t want people to know he’s deaf (I’ve worked three years to set her straight but its not taking). I have others who just think its too time consuming, and don’t realize that they are losing any chance of having a good relationship, or any relationship with this child. And I know others who honestly can’t be bothered. That being said, in 25 years I have seen an increase in the amount of parents and families willing and able to learn to sign, eager for it, even ones who decide that they want to try cochlear implants. This will only continue, I think, I hope
Someone said that deafness is a minimal disability in the grand scheme of things. Deafness is not just being unable to hear. It means not being able to learn language auditorially. If you can’t communicate you lose the ability to connect to other people. Even Helen Keller said blindness keeps her from things, deafness keeps her from people. For many deaf children esp those whose parents do not learn sign, their disability is ten fold, for not only are they learning minimal language, but language ability affects academic ability. …
Which is why the statistic of Deaf 18 year olds reading at a 4th grade level has been historically accurate since the 1800s (many many studies on this; google is your friend). If you do not have the language that a typical child has (in ASL or in speech) you are going to be stymied by learning to read. Think about it - if you can’t hear, how do you learn phonics? If you are comprehending on a 3 year old level, how are you going to comprehend basic written information?
Note btw that deaf children of deaf parents usually read at grade level, because they started learning language early, but via the visual. Also note that I am talking DEAF kids here; many many hearing impaired children are doing great.
Re the Deaf community and CI- there is a range of deafness from mild to profound, and depending on many factors, people might be involved in the Deaf community, or not. Not all people with hearing loss are against CI, in fact I’d suspect its a minority. Please don’t paint the whole group with the same brush.
And finally, Deafie is an insult, esp if used by a hearing person. There is no reason to do this anymore than there is reason to use the n word.
:smack: :dubious: :rolleyes: