Having lived with some exceptionally intelligent DEAF people and worked with many more it just makes me wonder if you have talked to any actual DEAF people from your area.
Uhm yes. In highschool I had 2 friends who were deaf and used sign language as well as read lips. As well, as my years in the "Org" ....in my Livonia congregation I spent a great deal of time with people who were both deaf and interpreters as we were one congregation in a large area that had a small deaf community. We had sign languages classes in our congregation, instructed by a special pioneer whose husband was deaf. My husband has worked with deaf people and went to college with someone with hearing impairments.
Or even going online to National Universities for the deaf such as Gallaudet, or NTID (National Technical Institute for the Deaf)....I hope this is not coming off as a tirade but I use ASL daily in such a WIDE variety of complex ways that to see the "ABC"'s of sign language used in reference to Downs Syndrome, Special Olympics WITHOUT making mention of the other myriad of ways ASL is used on higher levels is somewhat frustrating....
Oh boy where do I start?!
You are all over it and have said some things that are interesting and helpful. I see your point, however, I wonder how much time you spent on reading the about us....
The ABOUT US is about us, who we are, why we're doing what we're doing...
Unspoken Love is Not going to be just about ASL as is highlighted here:
More clothing, greeting cards, e greetings, educational products and many more unique concept items that will both promote awareness of communicationother then that of the spoken word are on their way.
Unspoken Love is just that...
Unspoken communication, non verbal communication. ASL is included in that as a given, as we Hope we will be able to somehow include PECS and Braille. This is still a smattering of what we believe to be non verbal communication. The ASL hands were the first thing we completed and so are the first things you see....
ASL Is used in a wide variety of complex ways. I think many people know or have known some one who has used or uses it to communicate with people who are deaf. But I would think you would agree that it has other purposes. And for us, from our perspective, children and adults who are quite capable of learning just as much as anyone else are being taught sign language to help them communicate effectively with teachers and therapists.
That is just as much a part of the Wide Variety of Complex Ways as say D-Pan or Deaf West Theater, to name only two.
In fact, there is A Lot the general public needs to be aware of when it comes to people with not only hearing impairments, but other 'differences' which put them in a minority. Because our goal is not to concentrate on the disabilities of people, but rather to focus on learning effective ways of communication with everyone, regardless of capabilities.
Imagine a world where Everyone knew sign language? Where it is not only taught in the schools, but required!
The idea is to open doors of communication period.
And I really do appreciate your thoughts, and there is honestly more I could say, I have a question for you though, although I'm not sure if you'll return to the thread. So, I'll post it here, but will pm you as well:
in your bio it talks of downs syndrome and the special olympics but u use sign language like as if to say it is the language of the disabled over ALL disabilities?
We really don't understand what you're saying here. Perhaps it is the fact that we got to sleep around 4 am and are a little fuzzy... but before I even try to address that, I would rather understand better what you mean.
Ultimately, Z, come back to the site and see what will be added. Please, please do. There are things we really want to get involved with and support. As I mentioned, D Pan (a MI group- check this out for instance: http://www.d-pan.com/index.html) is one group.
meagan
