Deaf Community

Learning and teaching ASL will connect hearing people to the Deaf community. ASL is a very important communication tool for Deaf people and learning even basic ASL will allow for an accessible environment. From the article, “How social media became a game-changer for the Deaf community”, Ryan Commerson a 41 year old media strategist for Communication Service for the Deaf said “While growing up, it was made clear from the beginning that I would not be accepted as an equal – condescending attitude from teachers, perplexing stares from retail employees, and my peers making fun of my sign language during recess,”. By teaching more people sign language and learning about the Deaf culture it develops awareness and sensitivity to the Deaf community.

Communcation

According the Rochester Institute of Technology, one of Americas premiere learning institutions for the Deaf, there are five guidelines to remember when communicating with the Deaf.

1. Acknowledge the fact that your first attempts to communicate will feel awkward and uncomfortable. This will pass as your interaction progresses.

2. It’s OK to use paper and pen. In fact, the Deaf person will appreciate your efforts even more if you use a combination of communication methods, such as hand gestures, facial expressions and the written word.

3. Take the time to communicate and connect. Deaf people consider communication an investment of time and effort. Slow down, take your time and ask for clarification if you need it.

4. Understand that Deaf people listen with their eyes. Vision is the most useful tool they have to communicate and receive information. For this reason, only speak when you have eye contact, even if they are using an interpreter. Maintaining eye contact is a sign of respect.

5. Use the beginning and ending of a conversation as an opportunity to make physical and visual contact with the Deaf person, especially if they have been using an interpreter during your conversation. Smile, shake hands, touch their arm (if appropriate) and make eye contact.

Deaf Culture

Throughout the years there have been many terms referring to Deaf people. Some offensive names that are not acceptable are “deaf and dumb” and “deaf mute”. The terms like “hearing impaired”, “deaf and hard of hearing” or “people with hearing loss” which are used by public institutions, political groups and individuals are an attempt to be inclusive. To the Deaf community, these terms focus on what is perceived as lacking or lost. The term “Deaf” with a capital “D” is an inclusive term because it focuses on what people have, such as a living culture,an available language and the infinite possibilities that being Deaf can offer.

ASL history

There is not one true origin of ASL, but, rather, a combination of stories. There is evidence that in the 1600s inhabitants of Martha's Vineyard off Cape Cod had a genetic pool which caused a large deaf community. They adapted by creating a visual language to communicate. Similarly, the indigenous had members of the village who were Deaf. These sign languages were brought together into the first school for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut which was founded in 1817. Another major influence on ASL was French sign language. The founders of the Deaf school was Laurent Clerc, a deaf teacher from France and Thomas Gallaudet, a hearing American minister. Together the French sign language and various indigenous signs were combined and created ASL that we use today. Gallaudet University was founded in 1864 with a charter signed by Abraham Lincoln.From the Gallaudet University website, “our country created a beacon in the world for visual learning, visual language, social justice and full rights for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. This singular act recognized the importance of higher education to advance the lives and opportunities of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.” The creation of Gallaudet University created larger communities for the Deaf. Although Gallaudet brought the Deaf community together, pivotal moment in ASL happened in 1880 which impacted the widespread acceptance of Deaf people. At the international congress on the education of the Deaf Conference in Milan Italy, educators who supported a bill in which oral instruction for Deaf students successfully blocked the influence of educators supporting Sign Language. The congress voted in favour for oral education for all Deaf children. In the span of 40 years after the conference, the percentage of Deaf children being taught by the oral method went from very small to 80%. Before this bill was passed, there was 45% of Deaf teachers who were Deaf, but after there was only 11%. This approach to teaching became mainstream for the next century and a half, which misplaced societies belief that spoken word is better than sign language. In the 1960s, linguists at Gallaudet University proved that ASL is a fully developed independent language separate from English. Since then there has been positive view on ASL and the Deaf culture as a whole.