Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
The Exponent - Purdue's Student Newspaper
A simple moment like playing with blocks can illustrate the major life difference between a hearing child and a deaf child.
A hearing child will be playing with blocks and learning about the world around him, Stephanie Adams, director of Deaf Services, said, but a deaf child will only be playing with blocks. The hearing child would be aware of his sister being scolded for leaving out the milk; a deaf child would not.
"Most of what we know," she said, "we didn't learn formally in school, but through peer interaction (and) social observation."
It is because of this difficulty for many to communicate effectively with deaf individuals at any age that Purdue offers four levels of American Sign Language, or ASL.
"All language barriers make everyday situations harder," Adams said. The discrepancy between hearing and deaf friends and faculty is no exception.
However, introductory ASL classes are wait-listed. Adams said this is because ASL is such a cool language to learn.
"There is real potential for personal growth," she said. "Taking an ASL class often leads to challenging one's thoughts about language and community."
American Sign Language director and professor Diane Brentari agreed.
"I think students are attracted to the beauty of a visual language and they want to be prepared in case they meet a deaf person," Brentari said. "That is a wonderful thing!"
Each class session holds 20 people at most to ensure every student receives individual attention.
The Purdue Disability Resource Center also strives to give every deaf and hard of hearing student the individual attention and resources he or she needs.
"The staff is deeply committed to providing the most appropriate services to these students on campus, allowing them the opportunity to achieve their potential," Adams said.
A variety of accommodations are offered. These include a sign language interpreter, note-taker and real-time reporting service for use in the classroom.
"A real-time reporter transcribes the lecture and discussion verbatim, enabling the student to follow (the speaker) and fully participate," Adams said.
Multiple services are necessary, because, as both Adams and Brentari said, the deaf community is a large and diverse population, with ASL being one of more than 200 different sign languages.
"Sign language is not one-size fits all and hand shapes are not universal," Adams said.
Sign languages are not consistent, either. When a spoken language changes, so does sign language.
Some new signs, Brentari said, include those for webcam, e-mail and Facebook.
"Sign language allows deaf people to be barrier-free in the world and to communicate self-confidently and eloquently in a language that is perfectly suited to a visual world."
A simple moment like playing with blocks can illustrate the major life difference between a hearing child and a deaf child.
A hearing child will be playing with blocks and learning about the world around him, Stephanie Adams, director of Deaf Services, said, but a deaf child will only be playing with blocks. The hearing child would be aware of his sister being scolded for leaving out the milk; a deaf child would not.
"Most of what we know," she said, "we didn't learn formally in school, but through peer interaction (and) social observation."
It is because of this difficulty for many to communicate effectively with deaf individuals at any age that Purdue offers four levels of American Sign Language, or ASL.
"All language barriers make everyday situations harder," Adams said. The discrepancy between hearing and deaf friends and faculty is no exception.
However, introductory ASL classes are wait-listed. Adams said this is because ASL is such a cool language to learn.
"There is real potential for personal growth," she said. "Taking an ASL class often leads to challenging one's thoughts about language and community."
American Sign Language director and professor Diane Brentari agreed.
"I think students are attracted to the beauty of a visual language and they want to be prepared in case they meet a deaf person," Brentari said. "That is a wonderful thing!"
Each class session holds 20 people at most to ensure every student receives individual attention.
The Purdue Disability Resource Center also strives to give every deaf and hard of hearing student the individual attention and resources he or she needs.
"The staff is deeply committed to providing the most appropriate services to these students on campus, allowing them the opportunity to achieve their potential," Adams said.
A variety of accommodations are offered. These include a sign language interpreter, note-taker and real-time reporting service for use in the classroom.
"A real-time reporter transcribes the lecture and discussion verbatim, enabling the student to follow (the speaker) and fully participate," Adams said.
Multiple services are necessary, because, as both Adams and Brentari said, the deaf community is a large and diverse population, with ASL being one of more than 200 different sign languages.
"Sign language is not one-size fits all and hand shapes are not universal," Adams said.
Sign languages are not consistent, either. When a spoken language changes, so does sign language.
Some new signs, Brentari said, include those for webcam, e-mail and Facebook.
"Sign language allows deaf people to be barrier-free in the world and to communicate self-confidently and eloquently in a language that is perfectly suited to a visual world."