However, the idea of cued speech is sensitive in the deaf community, where many consider American Sign Language the central part of deaf culture. Protests erupted this spring at Gallaudet, the nation's only liberal arts college for the deaf, over the incoming president, partly because she had not learned to communicate with sign language until later in life.
"Often in the deaf community, it is thought that cuing is used only for speech purposes," said Amy Crumrine of Germantown, Md., who is among the first generation of deaf adults who grew up using cued speech. "This is not the main purpose of cuing _ it's for literacy."
Research shows that learning about word sounds and how they fit into language are critical elements of learning to read and write, said Gallaudet professor Carol LaSasso.
