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Students learn about the deaf - MassLive.com
Fourth graders at Academy Hill School recently finished a unit on understanding deafness with a visit from an American Sign Language interpreter.
Their studies, under teacher Sharon L. Desjarlais, included a visit to the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, reading stories about deaf children and even wearing earplugs for a day to simulate what it is like to lose hearing.
Academy Hill is a private independent day school serving bright, motivated students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Edward C. Hebert, a speech and language therapist at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, gave a fast-moving and often humorous presentation on American Sign Language. He signed as he spoke throughout the hour-long session.
Hebert described American Sign Language as an iconistic language because the signs themselves physically convey the meaning of the words they represent.
The sign for "boy," for example, is made with a kind of tugging gesture that one would make will tugging on the brim of a cap.
The sign for "man," meanwhile, is similar. The imaginary brim being tugged, however, is a bigger one.
"Signs relate to what they look like or what the person does," Hebert said.
Hebert told the students that the deaf are just like everybody else except they read lips, use sign language or rely on other ways to communicate.
"The deaf people are not stupid because they don't speak your language," Hebert said. "You are just as stupid because you don't understand theirs."
Hebert touched a bit on the controversy between those who advocate that the deaf rely on cochlear implants, hearing aids and lip-reading to make their way in the world and those that rely on American Sign Language and believe it to be an integral part of deaf culture.
"A lot of professionals say don't teach your (deaf) child to sign because they would be isolated in the deaf world, "Hebert said. "That is not true."
Dejarlais told Hebert that she wanted her students to understand the two points of view.
"I wanted the kids to understand the two sides of it," Desjarlais said. "It's a very personal decision.
Hebert agreed and said a number of factors can go into that personal decision. He said, for example, that a deaf child being raised in an otherwise hearing family might be a good candidate for cochlear implants.
Hebert said told the children that those interpreting the spoke word into American Sign Language should avoid clothing with complex patterns.
"Today I am wearing black not because I am clinically depressed but because it is easier to see," he said.
The students said they enjoyed their time with Hebert.
"I think it's much easier than regular English," Camille M. Forbes, of Southampton, said of American Sign Language.
"It's cool that you can talk with your hands," Nicholas Thorn Guillaro, of Agawam, said.
"I thought it was interesting that you shouldn't wear a lot of color," said Acacia A. Glenn, of Holyoke.
The students said they enjoyed their visit to Clarke and meeting with some of the deaf students there.
"It's been a lot of fun," Desjarlais said of the unit. "They really enjoyed it."
Fourth graders at Academy Hill School recently finished a unit on understanding deafness with a visit from an American Sign Language interpreter.
Their studies, under teacher Sharon L. Desjarlais, included a visit to the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, reading stories about deaf children and even wearing earplugs for a day to simulate what it is like to lose hearing.
Academy Hill is a private independent day school serving bright, motivated students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Edward C. Hebert, a speech and language therapist at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, gave a fast-moving and often humorous presentation on American Sign Language. He signed as he spoke throughout the hour-long session.
Hebert described American Sign Language as an iconistic language because the signs themselves physically convey the meaning of the words they represent.
The sign for "boy," for example, is made with a kind of tugging gesture that one would make will tugging on the brim of a cap.
The sign for "man," meanwhile, is similar. The imaginary brim being tugged, however, is a bigger one.
"Signs relate to what they look like or what the person does," Hebert said.
Hebert told the students that the deaf are just like everybody else except they read lips, use sign language or rely on other ways to communicate.
"The deaf people are not stupid because they don't speak your language," Hebert said. "You are just as stupid because you don't understand theirs."
Hebert touched a bit on the controversy between those who advocate that the deaf rely on cochlear implants, hearing aids and lip-reading to make their way in the world and those that rely on American Sign Language and believe it to be an integral part of deaf culture.
"A lot of professionals say don't teach your (deaf) child to sign because they would be isolated in the deaf world, "Hebert said. "That is not true."
Dejarlais told Hebert that she wanted her students to understand the two points of view.
"I wanted the kids to understand the two sides of it," Desjarlais said. "It's a very personal decision.
Hebert agreed and said a number of factors can go into that personal decision. He said, for example, that a deaf child being raised in an otherwise hearing family might be a good candidate for cochlear implants.
Hebert said told the children that those interpreting the spoke word into American Sign Language should avoid clothing with complex patterns.
"Today I am wearing black not because I am clinically depressed but because it is easier to see," he said.
The students said they enjoyed their time with Hebert.
"I think it's much easier than regular English," Camille M. Forbes, of Southampton, said of American Sign Language.
"It's cool that you can talk with your hands," Nicholas Thorn Guillaro, of Agawam, said.
"I thought it was interesting that you shouldn't wear a lot of color," said Acacia A. Glenn, of Holyoke.
The students said they enjoyed their visit to Clarke and meeting with some of the deaf students there.
"It's been a lot of fun," Desjarlais said of the unit. "They really enjoyed it."
