Really? That's awesome for u. In my case, I had a good bond with my mom and brother only despite having good oral skills.my extended family didn't really take the time to ensure that I was kept in the loop of what everyone is saying. Even with one on one situations, I got the feeling that they dumbed down their talk. I honestly don't know my aunts, uncles or cousins very well. I did my part but I can only do so much. Maybe that's why I feel more connected with my deaf friends than I do with them except for my mom and deaf brother. I have 4 other brothers who are hearing andthey are practically strangers to me even though I can understand them and they can understand me. With my deaf brother who has absulotely no oral skills, there is absulotely no connection with him and our family members due to the big communication barrier. They can learn sign but guess it was too much trouble so my brother is the one who suffers being isolated in family gatherings.
If the deaf child is unable to develop oral skils no matter how hard they and the family tries and the family doesn't learn sign language, what is that?
I know sooo many of my friends, students and even my own brother in that situation with their families. Why is it that the deaf children must always learn oral skills but the families don't have to learn ASL? Why can't everyone do both? Teach the deaf children oral skills but the family take the time to learn sign language? That's just a burning question I have and it frustrates me to see that happening too often.
Oh well..nothing I can do about it only to express how I feel about it.
