Yes the reality - that if a child has ASL that usually only the mother learns it and everyone else only knows a few to get by with a simple conversation.
Why?
1. It requires time and commitment - regular classes over years in order to achieve fluency. In this time the child will have easily overtaken the parents and stays at a more advanced level. Some parents are bothered by this.
2. The difficulty of learning a foreign language generally - ASL is similar to other foreign languages in complexity. Many people struggle in learning a new language other than their own particularly when they are adults. Children have a much greater capacity to absorb a new language.
3. Lack of opportunities to practice with anyone other than the child - unless they join the local deaf community (assuming there is one nearby) and go along there frequently. The deaf child may also live in at their schools - reducing opportunities for parents to practice. I notice with my hearing niece that she fingerspells a lot to my nephew, even though receptively she understands sign - it's due to the fact of lack of practice. You probably know that language is learned fastest by complete immersion.
Parents like Jillio who have almost adopted the deaf culture are uncommon. Jillio, if you are reading this, how many of your extended family have also learned to sign, out of interest?
It may not seem fair but that's the reality and social policy has to take account of this. They want the best outcome that can be provided with the givens that over 90% of children are born to hearing parents.
