hearing student/ graduate Speech-Language Pathology program at Gallaudet

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maryp

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I'm a junior in an undergrad Communication Disorders program and have started the process of deciding where I will go for my masters. I just finished my first ASL class and I love how expressive and graphical this language is. Although I am far from fluent and I still have a lot to learn about Deaf culture, I realized that I want to specialize in working with people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. I plan on taking as many ASL classes as possible before I apply to graduate schools, probably during summer semesters as well.

From my lack of ASL ability now, it seems like a long-shot to be able to go to Gallaudet, but I think this would be the ideal place to become as comfortable as possible with ASL and to become friends with people who I can learn a lot from. I know there are other places where I can practice my ASL and other universities where I can specialize in working with people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, but I really thing that Gallaudet would be the best possible place for me to go. I want to become the best therapist I can be for whoever I help and I want to be able to develop techniques that take some of the redundancy out of some typical speech and language programs.

I was just wondering if anyone is/has been in the Speech-Language Pathology graduate department at Gallaudet can give me some tips about applying and admission as a hearing student, what the classes and professors are like, or any other information that might be helpful. Thanks! :)

Mary

*edit*
oops... sorry I didn't introduce myself first. I have to run to class, but as soon as I'm back I'll let ya'll know a little about me.
 
There is a whole major dedicated to "communication disorders"? Interesting.

Can't help you on the question though, except to say, yes you must absolutely be fluent in ASL if you want to go to Gallaudet.

Personally, I think you may be being a little overly ambitious here. I don't think you need to go straight to the heart of the Deaf community (which, traditionally, Gallaudet is) in order to experience the Deaf community or sign language, especially if you already have little experience with it. You can certainly learn sign language fluently and be involved in the the Deaf community wherever you are currently located, provided there is a Deaf community near.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
There is a whole major dedicated to "communication disorders"? Interesting.

Can't help you on the question though, except to say, yes you must absolutely be fluent in ASL if you want to go to Gallaudet.

Personally, I think you may be being a little overly ambitious here. I don't think you need to go straight to the heart of the Deaf community (which, traditionally, Gallaudet is) in order to experience the Deaf community or sign language, especially if you already have little experience with it. You can certainly learn sign language fluently and be involved in the the Deaf community wherever you are currently located, provided there is a Deaf community near.
Click to expand...

No, she doesnt have to be absulotely fluent in ASL in order to attend Gallaudet. I wasnt when I entered the program in 2000. Several of my hearing classmates in the grad program were level I ASL users. After two years at Gallaudet, they became fluent.
 
shel90 said:
No, she doesnt have to be absulotely fluent in ASL in order to attend Gallaudet. I wasnt when I entered the program in 2000. Several of my hearing classmates in the grad program were level I ASL users. After two years at Gallaudet, they became fluent.
Click to expand...

Ah, perhaps I'm thinking about just undergrad admittance?
 
Thanks for replying. I'll have taken 2-4 more classes and have practiced a lot when the time to apply comes. There are other places that I would love to go to school, so it's just a matter of time and seeing where I fit. I'll definitely visit Gallaudet before I decide to throw myself somewhere where I might struggle or have a hard time fitting in. I just thought I would ask, because I've heard that there are more than a few hearing students in the graduate programs.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
There is a whole major dedicated to "communication disorders"? Interesting.
Click to expand...

My school calls my major Communication Disorders, but it's the same thing as Speech Pathology. I'm studying to become a Speech-Language Pathologist, but you have to have a M.S. to be able to practice.
 
maryp said:
My school calls my major Communication Disorders, but it's the same thing as Speech Pathology. I'm studying to become a Speech-Language Pathologist, but you have to have a M.S. to be able to practice.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, we are all so familiar with the SLP from our school days. :lol: :hmm:
 
maryp said:
I'm a junior in an undergrad Communication Disorders program and have started the process of deciding where I will go for my masters. I just finished my first ASL class and I love how expressive and graphical this language is. Although I am far from fluent and I still have a lot to learn about Deaf culture, I realized that I want to specialize in working with people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. I plan on taking as many ASL classes as possible before I apply to graduate schools, probably during summer semesters as well.

From my lack of ASL ability now, it seems like a long-shot to be able to go to Gallaudet, but I think this would be the ideal place to become as comfortable as possible with ASL and to become friends with people who I can learn a lot from. I know there are other places where I can practice my ASL and other universities where I can specialize in working with people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, but I really thing that Gallaudet would be the best possible place for me to go. I want to become the best therapist I can be for whoever I help and I want to be able to develop techniques that take some of the redundancy out of some typical speech and language programs.

I was just wondering if anyone is/has been in the Speech-Language Pathology graduate department at Gallaudet can give me some tips about applying and admission as a hearing student, what the classes and professors are like, or any other information that might be helpful. Thanks! :)

Mary

*edit*
oops... sorry I didn't introduce myself first. I have to run to class, but as soon as I'm back I'll let ya'll know a little about me.
Click to expand...

Mary - Have you investigated exactly the role of a SLP would have with people whose communication choice is ASL?
 
loml said:
Mary - Have you investigated exactly the role of a SLP would have with people whose communication choice is ASL?
Click to expand...

It doesnt have to be one or the other. One can use both. There are deaf people who are ASL users out there who would like to develop speech skills.
 
:welcome: to AD. I would love to see more speech therapists who respect ASL. You sound like the right person for that! Although I went to grad school at Gallaudet, I dont know much about the program there. However, I do know that you dont have to be fully fluent in ASL in order to get in..maybe a level II or III user. Good luck!
 
loml said:
Mary - Have you investigated exactly the role of a SLP would have with people whose communication choice is ASL?
Click to expand...

I know very generally what my role would be. What exactly I would do would depend on the individual, the degree of hearing loss and, more importantly, what their preferred way of communication is. I know that I would help with cued-speech, if that's what the parent or child wanted, that I would facilitate lip reading, etc. I would imagine that there are way's that an SLP could make things easier on someone who primarily speaks ASL. In my middle school there was a girl a grade below me who was Deaf. The ASL interpreter and SLP collaborated and got a sign language club together and made people more aware of deafness in general. Whether or not I end up working as a SLP somewhere where I am working mainly with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, I still want to be more aware and be able to communicate clearly and help in the most appropriate way when that time comes.

I don't know an incredible amount about Deaf culture from lack of exposure, but I realize the importance of a language in unifying people and I'm not going to be the person who demeans something like that.
 
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