Communication Modalities and Deaf Education: The BIG Debate.
For a long time Deaf education for children were taught along the lines of the oral or manual approach and the sign language approach. In the early 1800’s Thomas Hopkin Gallaudet, was on a search to find a teaching method that is suitable to teach deaf children. He first encountered Brainwood School where the instructional teaching was in oral speech reading and speech (Zapien, 1998). Gallaudet then came across a French priest by the name of Roche- Ambroise Sicard, whose teaching method was the very own sign language. In 1817, the American School for the Deaf was established, now called Gallaudet University, where the teaching was in sign language in the next sixty three years (Zapien, 1998). These two approaches were the topic of controversies as many hold different views about which method is the best way to be use in teaching deaf children.
The big debate came to be held at the Conference of Milan an international conference where the two instructional methods for the deaf came to light and opinions came to be voiced. Some were against sign language as they see it as threatening a deaf children’s ability to learn how to speak since speaking itself is already a hard enough skill for deaf children to learn (Zapien, 1998). These two approaches have indeed caused a division between the Deaf community as strong opinions and beliefs were hold onto (“History of Deaf,” n.d., para. 5). Before any educational approach should be decided on deaf children, the severity of hearing loss should be taken into consideration (Education Approaches). To learn oral skills depends on the ability of the children and the degree of hearing loss (“History of Deaf,” n.d., para. 6). Only then...
... middle of paper ...
...oned cell phones, video calls have enabled Deaf or HOH to be able to communicate through these technologies. To name a few other devices besides the cell phone there are, computer assisted realtime translation, hearing loops, c-print, multimedia storybook and many more (Krywko, 2010). Advance in technologies has connected students and teachers into better communication in school. Deaf children can connect with many others besides teachers and peers but with professionals.
Regardless of the many methods or approaches into educating Deaf children, there will not be one permanent way that can help with learning. Every individual functions and acquire differently because no one is born with the same ability to learn. In years ahead there will be many more advances in teaching Deaf children and they won’t always be right or agreed upon to be used for Deaf education.
In the following chapters, there is an extensive amount of knowledge to learn about how Deaf culture is involved in our modern world. The pages assigned give us an outlook of how Deaf people are treated in our daily life, and how we should learn from it. Its gives a clear line between what are myths and what are facts, to those who are curious about the Deaf community or have specific questions. This book has definitely taught me new things that I could put to good use in the near future. In specific chapters, my mind really opened up to new ideas and made me think hard about questions, like “why don’t some Deaf people trust hearing people,” or “do we need another ‘Deaf president now’ revolution?” I realized many new things in the course of reading this book, and have recommended this to my family.
The people that should read this book are families that are just diagnosed with deafness, this is a helpful resource for them to see and also it will give them an idea of what is out there for help. I think that everyone should read this book and be able to see what the deaf community is about so they do not judge them because they are different in our society, which tells us all that we have to be the same. With this book, the reader can see that we are sometimes different. I really think that this book puts all these things into a different perspective for me and for other families that might come across this situation themselves. Works Cited Spradley, T. S., & Spradley, J. P. (1978).
After watching the video ‘Through Deaf Eyes’ I’ve gained a better insight into the history of not only deaf people, but deaf culture as well. Even after our eight week course on deaf culture I was still able to be surprised, shocked, and fascinated, and educated by this video. ‘Through Deaf Eyes’ serves a reminder of all the things we learned throughout the semester and those who are familiar with dead history, but a great learning tool for those who are uneducated on the subject matter.
At this time in history, those who were deaf were tried at best to be converted into hearing people. Doctors, speech therapists, and audiologists all recommended the use of speaking and lip reading instead of sign language. Since Mark’s grandparents were hearing, they were closer to the parental position instead of his deaf parents. His grandparents provided him with the best possible education he could get, startin...
Deaf Culture is often misunderstood because the hearing world thinks of deafness as a handicap. The Deaf are not given enough credit for their disabilities even though they are unable to hear. Being misunderstood is the biggest reason why they are not accepted in the world of hearing. The learning process for them may be slower and more difficult to learn, but they are still very bright individuals. The problem at hand is the controversy of trying to “fix” the Deaf when they may or may not want to be “fixed”. The hearing world should give Deaf people a chance to show their true talents and abilities of intelligence before rushing to assumptions, such as hearing aids will fix all Deaf people, because Deaf are dumb, have social problems, and
The documentary of “Through Deaf Eyes” has open my eyes to the deaf culture. The movie has made it “click” that deaf people are just that people and individuals like me. Deaf community has its struggles just like everyone else. They struggle with growing into who they are as a person, harmful situations, and feeling a sense of belonging. They just speak a different language like Italians and Hispanics. Communicating with a different language does not make them lesser than a hearing person. When able to learn to communicate, the deaf are able to learn and gain knowledge just like a hearing person. The only difference is they have to learn more and work harder to achieve their goals and gain knowledge, which a hearing person learns just by hearing their surroundings.
Throughout the course of the semester, I have gained a new understanding and respect of Deaf culture and the many aspects it encompasses. The information supplied in class through discussion, movies, and guest lecturers since the previous reflection have aided in the enhancement of my knowledge of Deaf culture and nicely wrapped up all of the information provided throughout the semester.
What I found most interesting about Jarashow’s presentation were the two opposing views: Deaf culture versus medical professionals. Within the Deaf culture, they want to preserve their language and identity. The Deaf community wants to flourish and grow and do not view being deaf as a disability or being wrong. Jarashow stated that the medical field labels Deaf people as having a handicap or being disabled because they cannot hear. Those who are Deaf feel as though medical professionals are trying to eliminate them and relate it to eugenics. It is perceived that those in that field are trying to fix those who are Deaf and eliminate them by making them conform to a hearing world. Those within the Deaf community seem to be unhappy with devices such
The documentary “For a Deaf Son,” delineates a young boy, Thomas Tranchin, who was born deaf into a hearing family, and the battle his parents endured to decide to teach Thomas in sign language communication, strictly communicate in English, or both. The documentary is educational for the hearing world to shape their own particular opinions on what type of technique would be better for their child in the event that they were to ever be in a comparative circumstance. As Dr. Carlos Erting expressed in the film, 93% of hearing impaired children have hearing parents; therefore, this documentary gives a glimpse at both perspectives of nonverbal communication and oral communication. However, as I viewed the short film, the clashing feelings of Thomas’
From a deafness-as-defect mindset, many well-meaning hearing doctors, audiologists, and teachers work passionately to make deaf children speak; to make these children "un-deaf." They try hearing aids, lip-reading, speech coaches, and surgical implants. In the meantime, many deaf children grow out of the crucial language acquisition phase. They become disabled by people who are anxious to make them "normal." Their lack of language, not of hearing, becomes their most severe handicap. While I support any method that works to give a child a richer life, I think a system which focuses on abilities rather than deficiencies is far more valuable. Deaf people have taught me that a lack of hearing need not be disabling. In fact, it shouldn?t be considered a lack at all. As a h...
Lou, Mimi WheiPing. Language Learning and Deafness: The history of language use in the education of the Deaf in the United States. Ed. Michael Strong. Cambridge: Cambridge Universtiy Press, 1988. 77-96. Print.
Deaf people have been strongly excluded and labeled through out history. Deaf people have had many negative, life changing events. Through out history, deaf people have been excluded from many different opportunities that hearing people are just given. For example, communicating, it is something that we all do but, at one-point deaf people weren’t even allowed to sign. Deaf people have made a strong community and have made a huge difference in how we communicate with each other today. There are many famous deaf actors, artist, musicians, etc. who have all made an impact on deaf culture. One man who made an impact within the use of ASL is Chuck Baird, a famous deaf artist.
Parents of deaf child constantly make decisions and paths for the child and hope for the best. The first decision that my parents made when they discovered that I’m deaf are “old-school” hearing aids and weekly intense speech therapy. At first, I hated both of i...
... using total communication they can still maintain an inclusion of Deaf culture, but also become a member of mainstream society.
So today, I have shared with you my journey in deafness. Being deaf can be hard, but it is not the end of the world. I can do what anyone else can do such as talk, play sports and hang out with friends. Every person’s journey is different. For me the key to success is perseverance.