KEYS to Working with Students Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing Dee Johnston, M.S., CI, CT, NAD V, QMHI, ADBIT ASLTA/Provisional, SCPI/Superior Plus Alabama State Interpreter License #L00003 Lead Interpreter AL Institute for the Deaf and Blind

American Sign Language (ASL)  Is a true language with no limits. –Has a completely different linguistic structure from English.  Is the natural language of the Deaf. –English is their second language.  Is the 3 rd most used language in the U.S.

Deaf Culture  Have their own distinct culture. –Have different social norms, values, beliefs, and cognitive functioning.  Are an oppressed minority.  Are socially and linguistically isolated. –Sharing information and giving details is VITAL.

Teaching Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students  Teach English as a second language.  Use mostly visual aids and hands-on demonstrations.  Don’t lecture – explain one idea and DRILL.  Emphasize vocabulary and DRILL.  Reading: Show them how to answer questions from a story/paragraph.  Math: Their biggest problem is usually carrying over and borrowing.

Signers vs Interpreters  Interpreters are professionals.  Should not be teachers, tutors, aides, etc.  Signers as linguistic models for children?  Signers don’t follow the Codes of Ethics.

Do’s and Don’ts  Do default to Deaf.  Do use eye contact, facial expressions, and body language.  Do take turns.  Do walk right through signed conversations.  Don’t say Deaf Mute, Deaf and Dumb, or Hearing Impaired.  Don’t talk weird (e.g. Big Mouth Bass, mumble).  Don’t let everyone talk at once.  Don’t be guilty of doing the“Excuse Me Dance”.

REMEMBER…  Just because someone doesn’t use spoken or written English like you, doesn’t mean s/he is stupid.  Just because someone “signs”, doesn’t mean s/he is a professional interpreter.  If in doubt as to how to refer to or interact with a D/HH person, ask his/her preference.  Deaf people are individuals, and kids are kids!

Resources  Disability Support Services at JSU – dss.jsu.edu or 256/ dss.jsu.edu  AIDB Regional Centers – or 256/ www.aidb.org  Alabama School for the Deaf – orwww.aidb.org 256/  Vocational Rehabilitation – or 800/ www.rehab.state.al.us  Janice Capilouto Center for the Deaf – community.al.com/cc/JCCDES or 334/ community.al.com/cc/JCCDES

Some School Signs  School  Teach/Teacher  Learn/Student  Paper  Pencil *Natural Signs  Good Morning!  Play  Work  Start  Finish

Any Questions?