Miss-Delectable
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Maryland: Palmer teaches the silent 'art' of sign language
Mary Jo Palmer feels strongly that hearing people should learn sign language. So much so that she thinks it should be taught in schools as another language.
"I want people to know there's another language out there that's just as beautiful as French, Spanish and English. It's the only language where you use your hands. It's a form of art," Palmer said of sign language.
She recently held a program at Boonsboro Free Library to introduce people to sign language. During the program, Palmer began teaching participants the finger spelling for letters.
Palmer, 45, said libraries are a good resource for books on learning sign language.
Her ultimate goal is to teach sign language in the school system, but for now the Sharpsburg resident tutors some private students, along with her part-time job working the switchboard at Washington County Hospital.
Her interest in sign language goes back almost 30 years. Palmer was a typical high school student in search of a career path at the Rockville, Md., high school she attended.
After taking three years of drafting, she was leaning toward that field. Then a friend signed up for a sign language class and encouraged Palmer to do the same.
Palmer said there were some deaf students at her school, Robert E. Peary High School, which is why they offered sign language classes. She agreed, and upon taking the class decided she wanted to be an interpreter for the deaf.
After graduating from high school in 1983, Palmer took courses at Montgomery Community College, then went to Gallaudet College, now Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C. The school serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students, as well those interested in the areas of study they offer.
Palmer said she was a student there for more than three years, taking courses in their deaf interpreting program. During summer breaks, she volunteered at Maryvale Elementary in Rockville, where she was a teacher's aide for deaf students.
Volunteering as a sign language interpreter at her church, St. Jude's Catholic in Rockville, added to her experience, Palmer said.
Locally, she has taught sign language at Mt. Nebo Christian Day Care, for the summer program at Sharpsburg Elementary School and at Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, Md.
"I think interpreting is great, but I think more people need to be educated in sign language," said Palmer, who said that is why she is leaning more toward teaching.
She has been married to Tim Palmer for 15 years and they have an 11-year-old daughter, Laura.
"My future goal is to be able to continue on this quest of teaching," she said.
Mary Jo Palmer feels strongly that hearing people should learn sign language. So much so that she thinks it should be taught in schools as another language.
"I want people to know there's another language out there that's just as beautiful as French, Spanish and English. It's the only language where you use your hands. It's a form of art," Palmer said of sign language.
She recently held a program at Boonsboro Free Library to introduce people to sign language. During the program, Palmer began teaching participants the finger spelling for letters.
Palmer, 45, said libraries are a good resource for books on learning sign language.
Her ultimate goal is to teach sign language in the school system, but for now the Sharpsburg resident tutors some private students, along with her part-time job working the switchboard at Washington County Hospital.
Her interest in sign language goes back almost 30 years. Palmer was a typical high school student in search of a career path at the Rockville, Md., high school she attended.
After taking three years of drafting, she was leaning toward that field. Then a friend signed up for a sign language class and encouraged Palmer to do the same.
Palmer said there were some deaf students at her school, Robert E. Peary High School, which is why they offered sign language classes. She agreed, and upon taking the class decided she wanted to be an interpreter for the deaf.
After graduating from high school in 1983, Palmer took courses at Montgomery Community College, then went to Gallaudet College, now Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C. The school serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students, as well those interested in the areas of study they offer.
Palmer said she was a student there for more than three years, taking courses in their deaf interpreting program. During summer breaks, she volunteered at Maryvale Elementary in Rockville, where she was a teacher's aide for deaf students.
Volunteering as a sign language interpreter at her church, St. Jude's Catholic in Rockville, added to her experience, Palmer said.
Locally, she has taught sign language at Mt. Nebo Christian Day Care, for the summer program at Sharpsburg Elementary School and at Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, Md.
"I think interpreting is great, but I think more people need to be educated in sign language," said Palmer, who said that is why she is leaning more toward teaching.
She has been married to Tim Palmer for 15 years and they have an 11-year-old daughter, Laura.
"My future goal is to be able to continue on this quest of teaching," she said.