We re all in: How and why one hearing family chose sign language

Transcription

1 We re all in: How and why one hearing family chose sign language Presented by: Lisa, Steve, Emma and Abby Crawford EHDI conference, San Diego, CA. March 14, 2016

2 Objectives Identify barriers and disincentives that some hearing families face when trying to learn and use sign language with their deaf child. Understand why some hearing families decide to learn and use sign language with their deaf child. Identify resources to assist families to overcome barriers related to learning and using sign language with their deaf child.

3 Barriers/disincentives to learning/using sign language: Lack of prior experience with deafness can make it difficult to embrace a new language and culture for their child. Treating sign language as if it is a temporary language before oral English is acquired can be a disincentive to learning ASL fully. Lack of opportunities to practice. Source: K. P. Meadow-Orlans et-al 2003

4 Barriers/disincentives to learning/using sign language: ** Linguistic interaction is difficult for hearing parents with deaf children who have so little formal sign training that they cannot use it for daily needs, feel uncomfortable signing, and only sign when directly addressing their child. * ASL is not an easy language to learn (feeling awkward, not confident in their level of fluency). Even parents who have been learning ASL for many years are hesitant to say they know or use ASL. * Source: K. P. Meadow-Orlans et-al 2003 ** Using a visual language automatically singles you out as being different which can be uncomfortable for parents. ** Source: We Need To Communicate! Helping hearing parents of deaf children learn American Sign Language Kimberly A. Weaver and Thad Starner, GA Institute of Technology

5 Barriers/disincentives to learning/using sign language: Time constraints- One key finding from the interviews was that parents said time demands from caring for their deaf child was equivalent to caring for two to three children. Source: We Need To Communicate! Helping hearing parents of deaf children learn American Sign Language Kimberly A. Weaver and Thad Starner, GA Institute of Technology If parents wait too long to learn ASL, then they find they have to play catch up with their child s language abilities. One mother reported experiencing this situation. The child became the language model for the parent. This situation becomes frustrating not just for the child but for the parent as well.

6 Why do hearing families choose sign? Parents want to: give their children any chance they can to communicate and leave as much choice in the hands of their children as possible, when they become older (K. P. Meadow-Orlans et-al 2003).

7 Why do hearing families choose sign? Discussions with educators and social workers. indicated that parents had no interest in learning ASL. In our interviews, we learned parents had a number of reasons for deciding to learn ASL. The primary reason was communication with their child which is consistent with previous parent interview studies. Some parents also expressed an interest in providing their children with a bilingual education and access to the deaf community. Source: We Need To Communicate! Helping hearing parents of deaf children learn American Sign Language Kimberly A. Weaver and Thad Starner, GA Institute of Technology

8 Our why? Try a little of everything and see what works best for Emma and our family. Letting Emma take the lead Full access to a primary language for our daughter.

9 Our Family what worked for us Basic and advanced sign language classes taught by qualified teachers who were native signers or very advanced. Early Intervention options and instruction from a highly trained Parent-Infant teacher who was very knowledgeable about ASL and deaf/hh student needs. Interacting with deaf adult role models in formal and informal situations. Steve s words Forced interaction Attending Deaf Community events, Deaf Church services ASL immersion, practice, practice, practice! Family camps and meeting other families like ours we all felt the same way Embracing the awkwardness! Sometimes this is more difficult for Dads..

10 Family Signs (Tele-Intervention model at Texas School for the Deaf Outreach office) Why is Family Signs popular? Free Flexible scheduling Classes available online Classes can be taken from home Up to four semesters of classes offered Parent Quote: I am so thankful for this service. I live 52 miles from the nearest deaf school. I drive my granddaughter every day. I have no access to deaf community - I had no sign before I started family signs. I tried to study the book and failed so badly. It is so nice. I love being able to talk to my granddaughter. The greatest gift I have ever received.

11 Shared Reading (Tele-Intervention model at Texas School for the Deaf Outreach office) SRP is designed to: offer parents and caregivers across Texas free, interactive, tutoring to show how to read to deaf and hard of hearing children using American Sign Language (ASL) or Signing Exact English (SEE) and use strategies to make book sharing most effective for parents and their deaf or hard of hearing students. Parent Quote: For me, the Shared Reading Project has been amazing. It really teaches you to teach your child the story in an enjoyable way. As for my son, he looks forward to the sessions, and watching the DVDs. He is improving his language skills and enjoying books more. It has been such a positive experience for our family and we are thankful for the opportunity.

12 Other resources: See handout for additional programs/resources that can help families learn sign language.

13 Our Family Steve (Dad)- motivated by EI/Teacher of the Deaf during evening home visits. Shared Reading story-telling tutor also reinforced language acquisition. Meeting successful Deaf/HH adults. Abby (Sister) grew up bi-lingual Lisa (Mom) - Aha moments related to incidental learning and language exposure/immersion. Currently working in the Deaf Education/Parent Support field.

14 Emma s Perspective My Story Deaf Child/Hearing Family Communication with Dad, Mom and Abby Deaf adult role models Relationships

15 Questions?