research questions

[averageraptor]

i haven't quite decided yet. i only recently got interested in the idea of being an interpreter because of my ASL teacher, who is pretty much the coolest person ever. i almost want to say i want to help teach kids sign language, or possibly help at like a college and help those who ask the disability help people for assistance. but again, not quite sure yet.

 

[averageraptor]

i think that even by just being able to use ASL right now, though i still don't know all that much, i can help the deaf people who come into my work place. i've encountered groups of people who would be looking around, and no one really knew how to help them, cause no one knew any sign. when i went to try to help, they were glad that they could communicate with me with out having to write every thing down. it made me feel good that even my limited knowledge was helpful.

 

[GrendelQ]

Very common in the mainstream. The even sadder thing is most parents are saying "I'm doing my best for them" in front of deaf people who are telling them exactly what to do.

Then these same parents go off on the deaf community saying all kinds of stuff about the deaf.

So, you as an aspiring interpreter - what will you do for the community?

And from way out in left field -- PFH throws a nasty swipe at parents of deaf kids who interact with deaf adults. Mad at your mommy, PFH?

 

[Hohtopics]

It depends on the individual. I could speak for myself whereas I'm glad that I took the oral / mainstreaming route. And one reason why this path was chosen was based on an evaluation. So, it wasn't all on my parents.

 

[GrendelQ]

lol, i see.


i guess my first question would be, which form of teaching more preferable? Using sign language or oralism?

I think it depends upon the child's access to sound and access to ASL, his ability and preference for communicating, the language and academic environments available for the child, among other things.

For my child, we chose ASL first, because we had missed her critical first year (she's adopted) and her need for language was so urgent that we felt we couldn't wait weeks, much less the months, or potentially years required to research and pursue and develop access to sound. And we had no idea at the time that that CIs would provide her with the full access to spoken English they have, it's possible they might not have done so. So we provided ASL immersion and instruction. She then began developing spoken language naturally because the CIs have been so effective.

Our choice to expose her to both languages, the effectiveness of the technology, and her innate abilities to master both languages made the academic choice an easy one: a bilingual school for the deaf tailoring its curriculum using both ASL and spoken/written English as the means of instruction and peer interaction to the needs of the deaf children attending.

If the CIs hadn't worked, and her access to sound was limited with no receptive ability for spoken language, we'd have preferred an ASL-based school, not needing the auditory access program involving spoken English and English-speaking deaf peers we have now. If she hadn't taken so well to ASL, or ASL was not available in an immersive environment, we'd have preferred a program fully focused on English, without a need to provide instruction and peer involvement in ASL. If we lived elsewhere, where there are not such amazing schools for the deaf, we might have home-schooled or chosen a mainstream path.

So many variables to consider across the population of deaf kids and even for each deaf child over time -- I'd find it impossible to say which approach is best for all kids, based on both my own experience and on the research provided by the most respected. I've seen amazing programs for each approach, but a bilingual approach works best for my daughter's specific situation.

 

[CSign]

i'll have to check out that thread. yeah, that's another question that has been gnawing on me.

what makes you choose sign over oral?

A strictly oral environment isn't 100% accessible for DHH individuals, even those with CI's and HA's. They might pick up on a lot of what's being said, but they will likely miss the nuances of the English language. On the contrary, there are some individuals who are deaf and receive zero auditory benefit, or minimal at best.

Using sign language allows the discussion and instruction to be 100% accessible for those who are DHH.

 

[CSign]

Good post Grendel. That was a very diplomatic way of expressing your opinion and experience.

 

[posts from hell]

And from way out in left field -- PFH throws a nasty swipe at parents of deaf kids who interact with deaf adults. Mad at your mommy, PFH?

Nope. Not mad at all. She did her best. Guess what - I discussed this very topic with her Thursday.

Guess what? My parents felt exactly the same way as these parents that interacts with deaf people I speak of.

Good job on reading into it too much, again.

 

[posts from hell]

So many variables to consider across the population of deaf kids and even for each deaf child over time -- I'd find it impossible to say which approach is best for all kids, based on both my own experience and on the research provided by the most respected. I've seen amazing programs for each approach, but a bilingual approach works best for my daughter's specific situation.

I am curious, is it because you made it that situation?

 

[posts from hell]

Another observation by a CI user:

http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids...urvey-i-know-not-another-one.html#post1788883

See, she claims a lot of her childhood friends do not wear their CI's when they are adults.

I wonder what is the factor in that as well.. Childhood, adulthood....

That says it all, really.

 

[averageraptor]

thank you all for your input. i know that when i first heard about teaching deaf children orally i was slightly confused about it. i didn't really understand how some one who couldn't hear could be taught using speach. but due to some research, and of course a lot of your comments, i'm finding that a mix of oral and sign is a good way to go. and of course i do understand that every one's situation is different, and that one method won't work perfectly with every one.

 

[TheOracle]

I could see using CI as a child and not as an adult. Adults have more mobility, access to other Deaf friends, ya ya, and they aren't sitting in a classroom for 6.5 hours a day.

Anyway. You had speech, right, PFH? Did that ever prove to be useful? Curious, since I know you're voice off.

I think the OP would have better results in this thread if she posted specific questions. Also, oral and sign don't have to be mutually exclusive. As GrendelQ has shown us, bilingual programs can be extremely successful. For some parents, a quality deaf school is not an option...right PFH? So what should happen in that case?

 

[posts from hell]

I could see using CI as a child and not as an adult. Adults have more mobility, access to other Deaf friends, ya ya, and they aren't sitting in a classroom for 6.5 hours a day.

Then what's the point?

Anyway. You had speech, right, PFH? Did that ever prove to be useful? Curious, since I know you're voice off.

It was useful. It was useful in producing wasted time, for me.

I think the OP would have better results in this thread if she posted specific questions. Also, oral and sign don't have to be mutually exclusive. As GrendelQ has shown us, bilingual programs can be extremely successful. For some parents, a quality deaf school is not an option...right PFH? So what should happen in that case?

You're right, It is not an option. It is a must. Why would you even think of sending your kid (of any gender, sexual preferences, color, creed, religion, mind set, or just about anything!) to a second rate school?

 

[averageraptor]

ok, so another question. for those who went to a school who taught primarily, or only, using oralism, what kind of methods did they use to teach?

 

[TheOracle]

Then what's the point?

It was useful. It was useful in producing wasted time, for me.

You're right, It is not an option. It is a must. Why would you even think of sending your kid (of any gender, sexual preferences, color, creed, religion, mind set, or just about anything!) to a second rate school?

1.) Adults are more independent when it comes to finding information and navigating the world. A deaf child in school may find CIs useful since they are in a classroom for most of the day.
2.) That's totally fair. I know you hated the speech therapy and stuff, but I didn't know if you ever used it later.
3.) Deaf schools aren't near every parent. Some deaf schools may be of poor quality. Not all parents can move closer to a good deaf school. Not all parents have that choice.

Not all of us live in Boulder, dear. I live in the SE side of town and I just barely made it within Cheery Creek School District. Yeah, we have choice here, but there are too many parents trying to get their kids into "good" schools and not enough good schools to go around. If my son didn't have a scholarship, I would have been screwed. We lived downtown until recently. While the loft was great, the elementary school was awful...all parents that I know of who live downtown send their kids to charters or private schools. One friend of ours had to apply to EIGHT different schools for their 6 year old son! That's how long the wait lists are.... After I moved, I realized I'd be near a good charter school if the situation called for it. Public school not too shady, either.

You're fooling yourself if you think there's equal access when it comes to education in this country.

Yeah, if Jude were born deaf, I could send him to Rocky Mountain, but he wasn't. If he became deaf for whatever reason, he may actually do better in his current school because of the kind of school it is.

So do you think Grendel's school is second rate because it's bilingual? Or just mainstream schools?

 

[posts from hell]

1.) Adults are more independent when it comes to finding information and navigating the world. A deaf child in school may find CIs useful since they are in a classroom for most of the day.
2.) That's totally fair. I know you hated the speech therapy and stuff, but I didn't know if you ever used it later.
3.) Deaf schools aren't near every parent. Some deaf schools may be of poor quality. Not all parents can move closer to a good deaf school. Not all parents have that choice.

Not all of us live in Boulder, dear. I live in the SE side of town and I just barely made it within Cheery Creek School District. Yeah, we have choice here, but there are too many parents trying to get their kids into "good" schools and not enough good schools to go around. If my son didn't have a scholarship, I would have been screwed. We lived downtown until recently. While the loft was great, the elementary school was awful...all parents that I know of who live downtown send their kids to charters or private schools. One friend of ours had to apply to EIGHT different schools for their 6 year old son! That's how long the wait lists are.... After I moved, I realized I'd be near a good charter school if the situation called for it. Public school not too shady, either.

You're fooling yourself if you think there's equal access when it comes to education in this country.

Yeah, if Jude were born deaf, I could send him to Rocky Mountain, but he wasn't. If he became deaf for whatever reason, he may actually do better in his current school because of the kind of school it is.

So do you think Grendel's school is second rate because it's bilingual? Or just mainstream schools?

In response:

1.) Why wait until they're adults to show them independence? This almost always results in them mooching off the system, taking less than what they deserve because its so deeply embedded in them after the vital time of their life being told that they are 2nd rate.

3.) Tell me why most deaf of deaf move to states like California, Indiana, Maryland to attend schools? Thats because these schools are the best and they MOVE to make sure their kid gets the best education.

I live in Boulder, but never once stepped in a school here.

You did what you had to, move, so your kid could get good schooling.

I was asked this very question at FRCC (Front Range Community College) when I was working with students there -"but deaf school so far away, what do i do?!!" with a pity-ful look...I replied "One should re-evaluate how important the education is for their child and act accordingly."

This is not about Grendel's kid. This is about the general sense of the things that is going on out there.

 

[TheOracle]

In response:

1.) Why wait until they're adults to show them independence? This almost always results in them mooching off the system, taking less than what they deserve because its so deeply embedded in them after the vital time of their life being told that they are 2nd rate.

My son is learning to be independent and he's six. That doesn't mean he can go navigate the world by himself. ALL CHILDREN are dependent. This has nothing to do with raising kids to be incompetent morons. :P

3.) Tell me why most deaf of deaf move to states like California, Indiana, Maryland to attend schools? Thats because these schools are the best and they MOVE to make sure their kid gets the best education.

I live in Boulder, but never once stepped in a school here.

You did what you had to, move, so your kid could get good schooling.

No, you didn't go to school there, but you do live in a community in which poor people are scarce and PhDs are high.

NOT EVERYONE CAN MOVE. I sure couldn't move right now. Do you think deaf kids are only born to the wealthy, the affluent, the upper middle class or to parents near a great school? Sounds like yuppie privileged attitude to me.

I was asked this very question at FRCC (Front Range Community College) when I was working with students there -"but deaf school so far away, what do i do?!!" with a pity-ful look...I replied "One should re-evaluate how important the education is for their child and act accordingly."This is not about Grendel's kid. This is about the general sense of the things that is going on out there.

I believe most parents DO act in what they think are the best interests of the child. I can't believe you think that any parent could just up and move to be near a deaf school...people have jobs, families, situations, spouses...

It's OK for you to have different opinions, Matt, but you're acting like it's so easy.

 

[Jiro]

methinks one is just arguing for the sake of argument. one should learn a thing or two about deaf issue by actually getting involved in one. one is getting too personal here.

 

[TheOracle]

Methinks Jiro's opinion doesn't count.

 

[Bottesini]

methinks one is just arguing for the sake of argument. one should learn a thing or two about deaf issue by actually getting involved in one. one is getting too personal here.

Methinks Jiro's opinion doesn't count.

Thinking the OP is lucky to live in AZ, and maybe this situation won't be repeated and force the rest of us to watch.