fingerspelling?

[doh]

Read more here: The Deafblind Manual Alphabet Page

I'm wondering how sensory defensive deafblind people (and the people with whom they communicate) deal with the physical nature of the deafblind alphabet.

 

[Interpretrator]

ook it is more clear now...i read b4 that someone fingerspelled in a theatre in the dark into their sisters palm of her hand which sounds like litrerally just taking their finger and "drawing" out the letters, whch doesnt sound like ur meaning of fingerspelling

If you wrap your hand around the hand of someone fingerspelling, you can recognize the letters. It might take some practice but the sisters probably have been doing this for a long time together.

 

[deafbajagal]

I'm wondering how sensory defensive deafblind people (and the people with whom they communicate) deal with the physical nature of the deafblind alphabet.

I have many friends who are deafblind. Some need me to write out the letters on the palm, using shapes of the letters. Others need me to sign (fingerspell) in ASL by placing their hands on top of mine. Some knew Braille before becoming deaf, so I use braille on their hands. I had a friend from England so I used a book as a guide to fingerspell with their way of signing the alphabet (which is VERY different than America's). And I have a friend who is deafblind but has enough hearing that I can use a FM sytem to talk into it - so he doesn't have to rely on signing all the time. Other deafblind friends have limited vision...so they can sit directly across from me and I will sign in the view (like a tv screen) that they can see.

In other words, there's not a "one-size-fit-all" method to communicating with deaf-blind. There is a lot of different needs, thus different ways to communicate.

 

[Hear Again]

deafbahagal,

Excellent post! I couldn't agree with you more about there *not* being a one size fits all approach when it comes to communication skills -- especially for the deafblind. I'm deafblind myself and have worked with many deafblind people who cannot use fingerspelling due to finger insensitivity. In addition to those you mentioned, there are a variety of alternative communication techniques that can be used in place of fingerspelling such as "fingerbraille" (using the first 3 fingers of each hand to Braille out letters and numbers on one's back, arm or lap), Braille/raised print alphabet card (a small plastic card that contains numbers and letters of the alphabet -- a person's finger is placed on each letter or number to spell out words and sentences -- a similar "card" can be made out of a block of wood with nails serving as Braille dots for those with severe finger sensitivity) and "jumbo" Braille (Braille dots that are larger than standard sized Braille -- a person can communicate to a deafblind person by typing on a Perkins Brailler that produces jumbo Braille and asking the deafblind person to read what has been written).

 

[Lanee]

As a current ASL student, we do fingerspelling drills. We do it to become accustomed to doing combinations of letters, and to pull our brain out of "hearing mode." For more practice, I'll sign roadsigns and billboards as I drive down the road.

This is a great explanation, Reba...

Dactylology (fingerspelling) is not used just one way. Someone using the Rochester Method will use the ABC's much differently than a person using ASL. Same alphabet but put to use differently. ASL uses the alphabet to spell proper names and titles, technical terms, and jargon. ASL also uses the alphabet in "loan signs" and specially constructed abbreviations and acronyms that incorporate specific movements in the spelling. PSE/SEE signers use the alphabet to initialize basic ASL sign forms or modify signs for English use (such as using the V hand shapes for HAVE).

I can't tell a deaf person my address without fingerspelling. (Unless I happen to have paper and pen... which at this point would still be a necessity! )

Reba also mentions the "loan signs." The days of the week, for example, use the first letter of the word... like Wednesday, which is the right hand in a 'W' shape, moving in a small circle.

One of my favorite sites for practicing fingerspelling is here: American Sign Language (ASL)Fingerspelling

 

[dreama]

Hear again and deafbahagal:

Yes, there are several methods of commuication although the UK deafblind manual is the easiest for me. I suspect the UK signing system is easier then having to feel fluttering fingers. I used to use a communication card but the problem was some people weren't allowing me time to feel the braille dots properly. They were trying to spell words too fast and sometimes you didn't have it on you so if someone doesn't know the deafblind manual I ask them to write block capital letters. Although that if not done properly can be hard too when people try to write really tiny letters and start moving along the fingers.

Hear again. What is your prefered communication method. Has it changed since having a CI?

 

[Hear Again]

dreama,

I'm sorry for my late response to your post...I was quite busy over Thanksigiving and haven't had the chance to visit AD until now.

You asked what my preferred mode of communication was now that I have bilateral CIs. I prefer using speech, but this depends on the environment I'm in.

For example, I'm able to hear quite well in quiet one-on-one environments, but I struggle a bit in noise or where distance is a factor so depending on the situation I'm in, I use a combination of an FM system, print on palm (tracing block letters into one's hand), Braille real-time captioning or C-Print.

Sometimes I feel like I should be able to function better in noise than I do because I have bilateral CIs, but it has been over 10 years that I've had severe-profound hearing loss before being implanted. I used a Comtek FM system for 6 out of the 10 years for communication and alternative communication methods such as tactile sign, TeleBraille, etc. for the remaining 4 years, so I'm sure the skill of being able to function well in a noisy environment is one that will have to be developed.

It's also something I'm constantly working on and hope to improve upon eventually.