Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheri
I disgree speaking is as important as signs, why limited communication there's no one better than the other. I don't think deaf people should rely solely on signs and not speech. The speech may not be perfect for some deaf people, but it should be good enough to communicate so that they can be comfortable in both worlds.
A bilingual approach supports development of ASL as a child's first language, with development of English as a second languaage I don't agree because speech is not requirement with that approach.
Total Communication (TC) includes use of all modes of communication—sign language (ASL or manually coded English) spoken language and that's why I like TC approach better than Bi-Bi approach.
the methodology chosen would not be frustrate to the deaf child if learn speech and signs the same time, if they learn signs and not speech, they'll be delaying in speech or will not have no speech skills at all or will have diffculties to be understood. I don't agree with focusing on spoken language alone, but signs should be added as important as well as speech should be.
|
The Bi Bi programs do provide speech classes. It is referring to learning English as a 2nd language in the written form because to be able to read and write, one must have a strong foundation in the first language which is ASL since it is 100% accessible for all deaf children and then learn English via reading and writing. However, speech training is offered to all deaf children when they are babies. The difference is if we see that some children arent benefitting from it or becoming too frustrated, we address it instead of continuing to force the child with the speech training classes. However, the parents always have the last say whether to continue or discontinue the speech training but our staff is more senstive to the children's visual needs while in the public/oral schools, most staff dont even know how to properly address their visual needs.
Also, one of the greatest things about the BiBi program is the Deaf culture awareness such as taking the students on field trips to ASL plays, Deaf shows or have Deaf artists come to our school. We just had Deaf performers come from Hong Kong to have workshops with our students teaching them artistic dancing. Do public schools offer that? I dont think so.