Scott Stone Speaks out for the Deaf

  Scott Stone was invited to post on my blog to explain why it is important to have visual aids for the deaf. I offered to share his point of view and opinions on this post. This post will benefit deaf people who need visual aids to learn effectively.

 Why Is It Important To Have Visual Aids?

  Visual aids are important for all kinds of learning situations, but I believe that it is most easily seen that they are essential for the education of those who have hearing deficiencies. This may seem obvious at first, but most people don’t consider it from my own observations. Because these students cannot hear what the teacher has to say, it is all the more important for them to be able to have some sort of visual aid to go along with the reading material.

  Because it is so essential for the deaf to have some sort of visual aid, the quality of the visual aid must be improved even more to compensate for the inability to use auditory aids. Certain precautions must be taken when making a visual aid for those with hearing problems. It may seem obvious, but there can be no sound used in the process. 

 How Do Visual Aids Help The Deaf?

  That means any extra explanations must be done in a visual way; whether it is text, sign language or anything of the sort. Most would not think too much on this, but it is important to realize that just because you make a video for the lesson; it doesn’t mean that your video will be able to work without sound. 

  A truly effective visual aid will not necessarily need any auditory backup to work in this situation. It is important to note that anything that applies to making a visual aid more effective to those with good hearing goes double for a person who does not. This means it has to attract attention without sound, it needs to be able to explain a topic without anyone talking, and it needs to be able to make the lesson easier without spoken word to accompany it.

  Some examples of this are obvious; when the teacher writes on the white-board, it is usually accompanied by an explanation as well. However; in a situation with the hearing-impaired, there can be no audio to help. Therefore; the writing on the white-board becomes the main focus of the lesson. It must be more detailed than usual to make it easier to understand.

Deaf Education Originated in France

 Deaf Education in France

  Deaf education began in Paris, France. French deaf educator  Charles-Michel de l’Epee’ was fascinated with the deaf-mutes. He had two sisters who were deaf and used sign language. Since then, he devoted his time with the deaf, and tried to christianize them to save their souls.

  In the mid-18th century, l'Epee' established the first public school for the deaf. He taught them religion and French. He believed deaf people are capable of communication. After his death, the Paris Institution was established based on the academic and governmental interests.

  French educators observed the intellectual, cognitive, social, and educational issues in deaf children.  Elsewhere, there was no interest in observing the deaf-mutes. In contrast with the French educators' devotion to the deaf, German Samuel Heinicke sought a utilitarian approach to the deaf which is Oralism. Deaf students were not allowed to use sign language, if they did, they were punished severely.

  Laurent Clerc was one of the deaf student who was abused by his teacher's assistant, Abbe Margaron for not being able to speak correctly. Jean Massieu was the first deaf educator who was fond of Laurent. Massieu became Laurent's mentor.

Deaf Education in America

  In 1817;  Laurent Clerc, came to America after he met Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet who taught him English. In return, Laurent taught Gallaudet sign language, and they established the first American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

  Laurent was the first deaf teacher to teach deaf students with Gallaudet. Gallaudet married a deaf graduate, and had eight children. The youngest child, Edward Miner Gallaudet, decided to administer a deaf school in Washington D.C.

  In 1864, Edward accepted a charter for the world first deaf college signed by President Lincoln. The college was named after Thomas Gallaudet which became Gallaudet University.

What led Gallaudet to teach Deaf Education?

  Thomas Gallaudet discovered a young deaf  woman, Alice Cogswell. He didn't know how to communicate with her. He tried to use a method by pointing at his hat and wrote HAT in the dirt. Alice comprehended what he was saying, and this led Gallaudet to take interest in teaching deaf education.

With Laurent's help teaching Gallaudet sign language, Cogswell was the first deaf student to learn sign language in alphabet. Deaf people are able to learn how to communicate, otherwise they would still be ignorant.

Diagnosis of Hearing Loss

  Parents may wonder how their children lose their hearing. Some children may have partial hearing, and some may have no hearing at all. Diagnosis of hearing loss may vary. Congenital hearing loss occurs at birth, and Acquired hearing loss occurs later in life.

Types of Hearing Loss

• Conductive Hearing Loss: Issues with the outer and middle ear, ear canal, and eardrum. Blockage or interference that makes a sound into the ear seems low. It can be repaired by medication or surgery.  
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Damage in the inner ear or auditory nerve.  The common issue is caused by the malfunction the outer hair cells, and it is permanent. Hearing aids or cochlear implants can be treated.
• Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: Damaged of the inner hair cells or nerve in the ear. Transmitting sounds from the inner ear to the brain is disrupted. Medical device, therapy, and visual communication procedures can help children develop communication skills.
• Mixed Hearing Loss: Children who have both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

 

Causes of Hearing Loss

  Audiologists may not be able to tell parents exactly why their children are deaf, but they can tell parents possible reasons why their children are deaf. That doesn't mean audiologists are wrong about the diagnosis, it just means they do not always have answers.

  Some children may be born deaf from a genetic disorder that obstructs the development in the inner ear and the auditory nerve, and some are born deaf due to complications before or at birth.

  Other children become deaf after birth due to infections or illnesses. However, sometimes adults can become deaf due to the same complications. Loud noises, injuries to the ear or head, and medications can cause a person to become deaf.

  Hearing loss cannot be prevented. In America; about 28 million of people are deaf or hard of hearing, and about 30 million becomes deaf from loud noises. At this point; when the parents find out their children are deaf, they should remind themselves their children are not incapable.

  If adults became deaf later in life; it's much harder for them to accept it, because they were able to hear everything until they hear less or nothing.

Educational Deficiency Hurts Deaf Children's Future

I chose educational deficiency as my topic for several reasons. I will point out why I chose this for my blog, but first, I will define what educational deficiency means.

Defining Educational Deficiency

Educational deficiency can be described as a lack of education. It describes how children are not getting the proper education they need. Why? Because lack of resources is a common problem.

 For centuries, deaf children were viewed as deaf and dumb. Deaf people were treated as if they were mentally imprisoned and incapable,  because they could not communicate with others.

Reasons Why I Chose Educational Deficiency

  I probably have said why I chose educational deficiency as my topic. However, I want to be able to explain more on why I chose my topic. My reasons have a lot to do with 35 years of observations on other deaf children and their education.

Based on my observations, I've chose educational deficiency because:

• Many children experience educational deficiency.
• I had seen other children who lack communication and social skills.
• I helped a junior in high school who needed help with a 5th grade level in math.
• Many deaf children were in special education.
• Some deaf people lived on disability income.
• Some deaf people were unemployed most of their lives.
• Some parents were not aware their children are capable of learning because of the history of deaf children who were mentally imprisoned.
• Some parents felt they had to take care of their children because they were incapable of taking care of themselves.

  These issues may cause some deaf children to feel frustrated, because they do not understand why they can't do things others can do.  However; some deaf children do have other types of mental disabilities, but my focus is not about handicapped children. Handicapped children have nothing to do with my observations; they are disabled.

  Some hearing children have learning disability, and some have been held back. It can happen to any children. I am more interested in the deaf children, because I am deaf. I do wonder how deaf people raise their hearing children like I do.

  It is difficult to raise hearing children when deaf parents cannot speak, but teaching them sign language will help both parents and children communicate with each other effectively. Hearing children can socialize with their hearing peers very easily.  Think about it. I have 4 hearing children, and I am close to getting my Bachelor's Degree.

  My oldest daughter is graduating high school this year, and my other 3 children are in honors. Being deaf should not interfere with my ability to live productively. I hope this will help parents who have so many questions that need answers.


 

My Experience in Deaf Education

I recently made a video about my experience in deaf education. I felt that I should share more information about it, since the video was short. I wanted to provide some insight about my experience. I intend to explain my mother's perspective on hearing impairment.

A Mother's Pride and Joy

 Sometimes; parents might feel grief when they find out their children are deaf, because they assume their children's hearing loss may impair their abilities to learn.  I know for a fact it isn't true. I am sure with my mother's experience, parents will find this quite comforting.

 I was not born deaf, but it is no different than becoming deaf as an infant. Either way; parents are going to react to their children's hearing loss. My mother told me I was learning how to speak Spanish at 6 months old before she found out I became deaf.  I didn't think a 6 months old baby could talk.  I was quite amazed with what I could do.

 When my mother took me to the doctor due to severe ear infections; it was so bad that my ears and eyes were bleeding. Yes; she was upset, and it was a normal reaction for all parents. However, my mother did not see it as a disability. She sought help to find a way to help me keep my verbal skills, and to help me develop communication skills. Sign language was my secondary language, and I was able to talk really well.

 My mother knew I was capable of learning, and she made sure I was provided with proper resources when I was in pre-K. As I continued my education, my mother discovered my I.Q. score was 157, and that is above average. She was so proud of me, and saw nothing wrong with being deaf.

My Success

 Today, I am working on my Bachelor's in Arts and Technology. I want to remind parents that being deaf does not mean being incapable. All they need to do is to find the right school with proper resources to help benefit their children's future.

 I have provided some resources on my blog, and don't fret. If my mother can help me achieve academic success, so can other parents.  There is nothing to be upset about. We are all the same; the only difference is the hearing loss, not the ability to learn.

My experience in Deaf Education Video

I created a video about my experience in deaf education. I used both verbal and sign languages.  I am hoping to inspire parents to help their children achieve academic success.

What Can You Do About Your Children's Education?

Parents should help their deaf children by creating a list of needs that the children have and implement that list to schools to decide what school is right for their children. Some schools may have deaf education program, and some do not.

 To help parents find the best program, they should ask themselves, "What can I do about my child's education?" Parents should be able to list all the needs their children will acquire. Creating a list of needs should include service, education, and community. Parents should have guidelines to find what their children need.

Parents can find services for their children

 

1. List what type of services their children need:

•  Find deaf services in the area, such as Disability of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and Texas Education Agency.

• Facilitate communication among school staff and deaf students.

• Find out if the school has a support system for families.

•  Interpreting service in public school that provides RID certified sign language interpreters.

• Teachers with credentials in deaf education.

• Teachers of the state schools for the deaf must be skilled in sign language.

 

Parents should focus on their children's educational levels development

2. List of what area in their children's education should they focus on:

• Focus more on promoting reading levels. Note: Parents teaching their children high English vocabularies increase their ability to read.

• Focus on speech, language, reading and writing.

•  Use math, science, and technology to develop skills.

 

Parents should consider the requirements to meet their children's need

 

3. List the requirements in education their children need:

• List the schools that have deaf programs.

• See if the school has a Communication Specialist Program for parents to learn communication skills with their children.

• Find out what curriculum these schools provide.

 

Joining the deaf communities will benefit the parents and their children

 

4. List of ways for them and their children to join a deaf community. This is a good way for deaf children to learn social and communication skills with the others:

• Do some research on deaf community and its activities.

• Ask someone at school if there is a deaf community in the area.

• Ask DARS or other deaf services for more information on deaf community.

• For churchgoers, find one that has service for the deaf.

• Find a volunteering program that helps deaf children, such as tutoring, after school programs, and social activities.

 

Why should parents do this?

The listed instructions are the key to success. Parents should acknowledge the importance of their children's needs, and how it can have a major impact on their children's future. Without guidelines, parents will experience difficulties finding the best education for their children. Lack of guidelines will result educational deficiency and major setbacks.

Interviewing a CART Provider

  I decided to interview a CART provider for students with hearing impairment. She was also my CART provider several times in the past three years. 

  I chose her because she was in school studying to become a court reporter. She was not deeply familiar with the deaf community, but she became influenced by an instructor who recommended her to be a translator for the hearing impaired.

CART Provider Takes Action

 

Q: How did you get involve with the deaf community?

A: When I was a pre-teen, I wanted to grow up to be a marine biologist. While on that kick, I discovered that the dolphin trainers at Sea World used sign language to communicate with the dolphins. That fascinated me.  

  Upon entering high school, I had to sign up for a foreign language. While all of my friends signed up for Spanish, I knew I wanted to learn ASL. I found that I had to justify my reasons for going with ASL to everyone I knew. “You will not wake up one day in Mexico needing Spanish to communicate. You can wake up one day without your hearing. By taking ASL, I’ll be prepared for that.” Of course they all thought I was crazy.

  While being drawn to take sign language because of dolphins is quite silly, once there I learned many things about the deaf and hard-of-hearing population and culture that demanded my respect. Fast forward eight years and I’m in court reporting school (the marine biology plan didn’t pan out).  

  While nearing the end of my schooling, an instructor began telling stories about providing CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services to college students, which entailed writing everything that is said in a college classroom for a single, hearing impaired consumer reading along on a laptop as it’s said. I knew immediately that’s what I wanted to do.  

  Though at a very different point in my life, once again, I have my run-in with the deaf population. I knew then it was in my cards. So I inquired, researched, and worked to get to a point to where I could be a facilitator of language between the “hearing world” and the hearing impaired.

Q: What service do you provide for the deaf?

A: I provide CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services in a variety of situations including for students in college classes, professionals at work or in training, and at group events and meetings, including church. I am also employed as a broadcast captioner.

Q: What type of skills do you use to communicate with the deaf?

A: I use direct eye contact when I voice in a one-on-one setting. I also rephrase if what I have said seems to not be understood. I know some sign, but I do not assume that the deaf people I come across know ASL.

Q: The majority of deaf children lack the same education level as their hearing peers. What do you intend to do to help deaf children get a better education?

A: I would like to make CART services more known all around, but especially for kids in primary schools. By having to read and follow along all that is being said, I feel as though CART services may help to increase the reading level and vocabulary of those who take advantage of it. Understandably, there can’t be a sign for every word in the English language.

  With CART services, words can be translated as they are said so as to not use a more generic substitute word, thereby potentially increasing the recipient’s vocabulary. If started at an early, but appropriate, age, I think this method could increase the reading level of students with hearing impairment.  

  While I can agree learning ASL is appropriate in certain situations, I don’t believe it’s as much the cure-all for those with hearing impairment as is led on. (To expound, I have found that people who are unfamiliar with deaf culture assume all deaf people know sign language.)

Q: What legal issues do you assist deaf people with?

A: While not versed enough to assist anyone legally, I do try to encourage people who receive CART services to advocate for the services and quality they are entitled to receive.

Q: What concern do you have with the deaf education?

A: I am concerned about the overall quality of education, especially the low reading level of hearing impaired students upon high school graduation. With ASL and English being two different languages grammatically, it stands to reason that part of where this lower academic achievement could be stemming from is the fact that while ASL is the standard taught for deaf students to communicate; books are not written in ASL.  

  They are getting two different languages at once. These students are communicating with their peers in ASL, but having to read the same textbooks English speaking students are. While I certainly haven’t the slightest clue as to a solution, that is my concern.

Q: What is your goal to ensure better service for the deaf?

A: I would like to continue to encourage recipients of CART and captioning services to advocate for the services they are entitled to. I also intend to stay on top of all continuing education so I can to keep myself abreast of the latest in technology in order to best assist the hearing impaired people I may encounter in my career.