Questions and debates about blindness:

Hear Again said:
when my tactile terp makes the sign for "myself," she flattens her hand in a 5 position against her chest. i feel this and flatten my hand in response. i don't feel uncomfotable with signs that touch the signer's body. it's all a part of tactile sign. i was a little uncomfortable about it when i first started learning sign, but quickly learned that it wasn't a big deal since terps who use tactile sign are very comfortable with physical touch between themselves and their deafblind client.
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What about a client that dosent feel that way? *awkward*
 
Well in general I do understand the need for physical touch for communication purposes, but touching my chest area often sends me into flashback. So I am just wondering if there are other ways to sign signs that involve touching the chest. I wouldn't mind a tactile terp touching my face or arms, just not my chest.
 
Nika said:
Well in general I do understand the need for physical touch for communication purposes, but touching my chest area often sends me into flashback. So I am just wondering if there are other ways to sign signs that involve touching the chest. I wouldn't mind a tactile terp touching my face or arms, just not my chest.
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I agree, but i dont like people to touch my face either.
 
nika,

i also experience flashbacks whenever i'm touched, but i've tried *really* *really* hard to overcome this because i have no choice if i want to use tactile sign. if you use a terp, your best bet is to request that they fingerspell all signs that are made against the chest. you don't have to explain why, just make the request and they will.
 
typeingtornado19 said:
What about a client that dosent feel that way? *awkward*
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this may sound harsh, but you just have to adapt to it. that's all a part of using tactile sign. it's awkward at first, but becomes much easier as you go along -- especially when you are at the point where you understand over 90% of tactile sign.
 
Hear Again said:
this may sound harsh, but you just have to adapt to it. that's all a part of using tactile sign. it's awkward at first, but becomes much easier as you go along -- especially when you are at the point where you understand over 90% of tactile sign.
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Not harsh at all, i guess i will. *shudder*
 
typeingtornado19 said:
Thanks, so why is the sign for idea modified? I cant think of any other sings that are close.
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the movement is made a little shorter than usual so that the deafblind person doesn't have to extend their hand and arm in an uncomfortable position.

one important thing to understand about tactile sign is how physically demanding it is. don't be surprised if after your first day of using a tactile terp, your shoulders, arms and upper body are achy.

another adaptation that is made is for signs that are made near or at the head. to make them easier for a deafblind person to recognize, the tactile terp bends forward towards the deafblind client and brings their head down slightly so that they can recognize these signs tactually.
 
Hear Again said:
the movement is made a little shorter than usual so that the deafblind person doesn't have to extend their hand and arm in an uncomfortable position.

one important thing to understand about tactile sign is how physically demanding it is. don't be surprised if after your first day of using a tactile terp, your shoulders, arms and upper body are achy.

another adaptation that is made is for signs that are made near or at the head. to make them easier for a deafblind person to recognize, the tactile terp bends forward towards the deafblind client and brings their head down slightly so that they can recognize these signs tactually.
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Ahh, thank you *light bulb* My only other concern is that the teachers will freak out, because i went from *trying to* watch them sign, skipped a close range terp, and went straight to tactile.
 
don't worry about that typeingtornado. it doesn't matter what your teachers think. what matters is that you pass your asl classes. the best way for you to do that is to use a tactile terp.
 
Hear Again said:
don't worry about that typeingtornado. it doesn't matter what your teachers think. what matters is that you pass your asl classes. the best way for you to do that is to use a tactile terp.
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Very true, i dont know why i am having a harder time seeing my teachers this semester, but... I am confused...
 
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