Summer Blog # 1: Enable

Deaf people and sign language are sometimes displayed by the media. For this blog posting, I want you to view how the media portrays Deaf people. I have selected three commercials. These commercials all use sign language as their primary communication method. I want you to watch there commercials and think about what message they are sending about Deaf Culture and Deaf people. Do you feel these commercials show the strengths of Deaf people and their language? Who were these commercials for? Did they reach both the hearing world and deaf world? Which commercial do you think portrayed the best image of Deaf people and their culture? Which do you think portrayed the worst? Support your responses. Watch the Pepsi commercial "Bob's House", the Chinese Pantene Commercial and the Thailand Toothpaste commercial (located on the YouTube links to the right). For the Thailand Commercial view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeAhnagJdcA
and for the Chinese Pantene Commercial view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opOQlA0LVqo which of these commercials do you feel are based on Deaf folklore. In Deaf folklore being deaf allows the person to triumph or succeed. As a result of their deafness they are able to overcome an obstacle. How does this commercial portray that being Deaf allows triumph rather than defeat?

Feel Free to add any comments and questions that you wish. This blog is designed to be used for a class discussion. All comments, opinions, thoughts, ideas, and questions are welcome. Be sure to read all students postings and to comment on those as well. You must respond to at least 2 students.

Monica

Hmmmm.. What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdhXmLtBLQY

Hearing Dogs

I know that most of you know what a Seeing Eye Dog is but have you ever thought about a Hearing Dog? Hearing Dogs are becoming increasingly popular. They are trained to do several things for their owners such as alerting them when their name is called, the phone rings, someone is at the door, their children are crying, a person is near, their alarm clock goes off, the fire alarm is blaring, and several other important messages. Hearing Dogs can greatly enhance a Deaf person's life and make them feel more secure in a hearing world.

Please watch on youtube the Sam Simon Foundation (part 1)

Have you ever thought of Deaf people using Hearing Dogs? Have you ever seen one working? What do you think?

No Blog this week

Hello Everyone,

There is no blog discussion this week. Please just focus on your tasks at hand.

Good luck,

Monica

Creating Storybooks for Deaf and Hearing Children

It is story time! It is so important that children are read too. Reading, is everything. Reading books to children at home, equips children for their education and opens up the entire world for them. However, many parents with deaf and hard of hearing children do not read to their child. They do not know how.

Shared Reading was created by Gallaudet University to instill parents with the tools to read to their children. This program has been successful in giving parents the tools they need to share the joy of reading with their family.

Why should parents use Shared Reading?

Deaf children read, on the average, at the fourth-grade-level when they graduate from high school.

We know that early booksharing experiences contribute to higher reading ability in school.

Many parents do not know how to share books with their young deaf and hard of hearing children.

If parents can learn how to share books, the reading ability of deaf and hard of hearing children should improve.

You are going to write, create a book and read to children in a different way! ASL!

Not only will you have the opportunity to create a wonderful book, you will translate it and sign it in ASL so it is accessible to both Deaf and Hearing children.

Here are some great ideas for helping you develop your story. Be sure your story has a valuable lesson.

1-Apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, too!
2-Grandma has diabetes
3-The biggest bubble
4-Debbie's big day
5-Mommy's birthday present surprise
6-There's a skeleton in my closet
7-Where does the sun sleep?
8-I feel happy, I feel sad
9-My upside down day
10-Lemons in the coffee?(crazy things in odd places)
11-My own little garden
12-Jessica goes to kindergarden
13-Painting is fun
14-She sews satin on the sofa eating a sandwich(consonant connotations)
15-lets make a collage
16-Danny goes to the pet store
17-Swimming lessons are fun
18-A puppet show for the neighborhood
19-No girls allowed
20-Hide and seek
21-My baby brother
22-Twinkie and her magic flute
23-Laugh, laugh, laugh
24-My sleepy time book
25-The day I was a super hero!
26-Clown for a day
27-Bubbles, bubbles everywhere
28-Mudpies and grass salad
29-Kristen's lemonade stand
30-The boy who loved candy bars
31-Ouch, my leg hurts!
32-My little friend
33-Miss Molly comes to visit
34-Keep Out!
35-Muffie's new bed
36-Fluffy, scratchy, sticky(different feelings or textures)
37-Baby's outing
38-Anna's loves dots
39-My cousin Ryan
40-The secret of Steeple Hill
41-364 days until Christmas
42-My key collection
43-My bike is gone!
44-Gone fishing
45-My day at the office with dad
46-There's a cow in my bedroom!
47-Shhh! Everyone's sleeping.
48-Chickenpox? Oh no!
49-A visit to the doctor
50-Megan and Katie, best friends

Use your imagination. Soon your thoughts and ideas will be flowing freely. Start creating your book now, don't procrastinate. Happy writing!

What are you writing about? How will you incorporate ASL grammar into your story?

Need help? Ask students here!

Giving and Recieving Directions in ASL

Directions are not easy for ASL students to learn. I have provided you with clips of students giving directions. I have also included the clip I showed in class so you may view it again to help you develop your directions siging skills.

Practice signing how to get to these locations for Friday. (use our room as your starting point)
-Library
-Somers Lounge
-Mail room
-Chapel

Please ask each other questions about the clips as well as any questions you may have in regards to giving directions in ASL. The clips include a range of skill levels, keep in mind what components make good directions when using ASL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9gi1fBl_kI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XMFDPQPiE4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1HwHVKIvko&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQc2qR_cf1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F9hONoo_iU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9gi1fBl_kI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ocbOgj0Gg

Remember:

*landmarks (Deaf people tend to sign directions more like women do!)
*indexing as well as signing LEFT and RIGHT
*facial grammar for near and far
*using classifiers A and 5
*Move body as you are explaing directions
*starting point
*use body
*explain where not to go

Cochlear Implants-From a Deaf Perspective

Can you imagine having a baby that was born deaf and have no knowledge of what to do or even how to deal with their deafness. When a child is born deaf, most hearing parents have no knowledge of sign language or that there is even a culture that exists. Parents are often devastated beyond belief and consumed with grief. They want their child to hear as they do, they want to sing them lullabies, they want read books to them, they want them to know their name, and they want them to talk. They fear they will never be able to bond properly with their child because a huge barrier is standing in their way, communication. They research for something to give their child the ability to hear.

We are seeing more and more deaf children being implanted with cochlear implants and oral methods being focused on rather than sign language and exposure to Deaf Culture. Often times, these parents are persuaded not to use sign with their children, as it will hinder their auditory and speech training. The Deaf community sees this as a tragedy and not allowing the child to know their true identity as a Deaf person.

When a baby is born deaf to Deaf parents, there is celebration and often relief. Learning your child is hearing, can be as devastating for deaf parents as it is when hearing parents learn that their child is deaf.

Cochlear implants are controversial for obvious reasons. The Deaf community does not like to see members of their community not to be given their right to be who they believe they truly are, Deaf.

Please watch this clip and post your comments. Be warned this video clip may cause very strong emotions. Please feel that your comments, whatever they may be are safe here and I wish you to discuss your feelings, thoughts, and opinions freely.

My Son Is Deaf, Finally! (Subtitled)comments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YN5Fdz1En0&NR=1&feature=fvwp