Miss-Delectable
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FCC American Sign Language instructor tries to build bridges - The Frederick News-Post Online
David Martin's first job out of college was traveling the United States and Canada, recruiting students to attend his alma mater, Gallaudet University.
Martin grew up in Frederick and attended the Maryland School for the Deaf.
"I could see it in their eyes, they got it, and I wanted to be a teacher," he said.
Martin returned to graduate school for a master's degree in deaf education, then began teaching middle and high school drama at the Texas School for the Deaf.
Within a year, the Maryland School for the Deaf recruited him to teach a kindergarten class, which he did for six years.
Then Martin decided he wanted a change, and started teaching American Sign Language to hearing college students.
"I wanted to be a bridge between the deaf and the hearing community," he said.
Martin, 43, has taught ASL for the past five years at Frederick Community College, where he's now the American Sign Language program manager.
On his first day of class, Martin asks his students to imagine what it would be like to live as a deaf person, not having the benefit of being part of a society geared toward speaking.
Just walking into a store, where a clerk greets you and expects a verbal response, can turn into a frustrating and awkward situation, he said.
Many people have little patience or simply freeze when they encounter someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, he said.
"Don't be afraid of deaf people," he said. "Make an effort to communicate, we appreciate it."
This, he explained, would further strengthen the bridge between worlds and communities he has seen grow stronger in Frederick through the decades he's lived in the area.
Some of his students have already become an important part of that effort as they sign with people they meet in the street or who work at local businesses, he said.
The county has become more deaf friendly, and many deaf people want to live here, such as former Gallaudet President Robert Davila, he said.
Frederick 's deaf community has grown to about 3,000, he said, though there's no way anyone would notice walking down the street.
"It's kind of like the invisible culture," he said.
Martin said he will continue his education goals with more of the same -- promoting awareness and introducing students to what he described as the intricate beauty of ASL.
"Deafness is not a disability," he said. "My goal is to have people realize we can do everything hearing people can do."
David Martin's first job out of college was traveling the United States and Canada, recruiting students to attend his alma mater, Gallaudet University.
Martin grew up in Frederick and attended the Maryland School for the Deaf.
"I could see it in their eyes, they got it, and I wanted to be a teacher," he said.
Martin returned to graduate school for a master's degree in deaf education, then began teaching middle and high school drama at the Texas School for the Deaf.
Within a year, the Maryland School for the Deaf recruited him to teach a kindergarten class, which he did for six years.
Then Martin decided he wanted a change, and started teaching American Sign Language to hearing college students.
"I wanted to be a bridge between the deaf and the hearing community," he said.
Martin, 43, has taught ASL for the past five years at Frederick Community College, where he's now the American Sign Language program manager.
On his first day of class, Martin asks his students to imagine what it would be like to live as a deaf person, not having the benefit of being part of a society geared toward speaking.
Just walking into a store, where a clerk greets you and expects a verbal response, can turn into a frustrating and awkward situation, he said.
Many people have little patience or simply freeze when they encounter someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, he said.
"Don't be afraid of deaf people," he said. "Make an effort to communicate, we appreciate it."
This, he explained, would further strengthen the bridge between worlds and communities he has seen grow stronger in Frederick through the decades he's lived in the area.
Some of his students have already become an important part of that effort as they sign with people they meet in the street or who work at local businesses, he said.
The county has become more deaf friendly, and many deaf people want to live here, such as former Gallaudet President Robert Davila, he said.
Frederick 's deaf community has grown to about 3,000, he said, though there's no way anyone would notice walking down the street.
"It's kind of like the invisible culture," he said.
Martin said he will continue his education goals with more of the same -- promoting awareness and introducing students to what he described as the intricate beauty of ASL.
"Deafness is not a disability," he said. "My goal is to have people realize we can do everything hearing people can do."
It is great for DM! I am happy that he has made something accomplished.
Way to go!!!! 
