Now, is that phrase true today? Can deaf children, which could mean children with mild to profound hearing loss, learn how to talk? Was that phrase true 40 years ago as well? Or should deaf children be best not to be taught on learning how to speak early in their life such as 40 years ago? 30 years ago? 10 years ago? Today???
Look at Deaf Jeff's (aka The Terlinguan blogger) recent video of him talking (although there is no captioning which I'm sure has raised a lot of eyebrows but I give him mega kudos on talking though) about ABC's recent show on discrimination against deaf people, ironically so. He also used his voice in an earlier video back in November 2010 for his hearing family and that's fine as well. Jeff is an example of that oral success. Just like mine, Tim Riker's, and many others.
Looking back what would have been the consequences of not getting that early opportunity on learning how to speak? Now, remember, it says that deaf children can learn to talk and it says nothing about the inclusion of signing nor does the phrase presume to say (especially today) that signing shouldn't be included, either. Regardless, what are you thinking when you read that bumper sticker?
2 comments:
It is a reminder of oppressive days of AG Bell.
That's how hearing people oppressed deaf since 1880.
i think maybe it means "don't say deaf and dumb because some deaf children can speak"
but i think "talk" means to have a conversation with someone else. i call it talking when i type on my computer, or when i speak out loud, or when i sign. when i write in my blog, i am writing because i don't know if anyone will read it or not. but when i am commenting on someone else's blog, i am talking, because someone will read it. :)
so of course deaf children can talk, whether they use speech or asl.
As for whether they should be taught speech or asl, I think asl is best and a much more natural way of communicating, but it depends on the situation the child is in, and what resources are available to the family. I can understand if, for example, a single parent working 2 jobs to keep the kids fed can't fit learning sign language into the schedule, even though it's sad. And children with mild-moderate hearing loss that are doing well with hearing aids can do well with speech only. I have also heard of people with profound hearing loss who learned speech very well are happy with it.
I still think children should be exposed to signing deaf adults and Deaf Culture, if possible, whether they learn to speak English or not. This way they can make their own decision too.
I'm not deaf, but I have capd (auditory processing disorder), so I can hear sounds but I don't understand spoken words very well. I learned ASL when I was 11, but my parents don't know any sign. My hearing partner (we'll be engaged soon) is enthusiastically learning sign though, and we will teach our kids ASL, whether they are deaf or hearing.
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