What communication tools was you raised in?

I was in oral program for 5 years, made me dumber. Then one day I got hit by car( I was unhurt), I was emotional wreck by not able to express my fears that was when my mother decided I should learned sign language. She fought to get oral program out and put TC in. She got it then I learned sign language. It freed me from being trapped inside me and being prisoner of no language. Then at 9 I was being forced to send to deaf school three hours away against my parent's wishes. I stayed there for three years, still made me dumber except for ASL (I loved my asl). Somehow my mother won school board by established dhh programs at public schools which I was in from 12 years old till graduated from high school. Those were my happiest moment of my life, being in hearing classes with interpters and did very well. I also had one period with my ASLer teachers each semster if I need some help with my weak subjects at high school.
 
Oral and hearing schools all the way. Then I went to CSUN and learned ASL there. I use sign language (ASL/PSE) and still speak at work and around hearies.
 
grew up with total communication and mainstreamed since i was 3 years old
graduated from hearing HS
 
deafdyke said:
That makes sense. I now understand your posts a lot better. Posties and peris tend to be more "hearing impaired" and ID as "almost hearing"....I can totally undy why folks like you tend not to be pro Deaf culture. You guys have the option in that you've experianced the world as a hearing little kid who lost their hearing.
It's always good to be openminded about other options. That way, you can choose which tools to use. For example if there are 'terps around and you know Sign, you can use them.
Click to expand...

Hang on there - from an identity/culture perspective, I am far from being hearing kid that lost his hearing. I am in hearing culture, yes; but being HOH is a legitimate part of my identity, as much as my other disabilities (in other words, my HOH-ness fits in closer to disabled culture than deaf culture; as I've said before though, "disabled" is not a negative for me). Just because I didn't have a hard time learning to speak doesn't mean I haven't had problems communicating, and just because the culture in which I participate is hearing doesn't mean I'm not Othered. And being more culturally hearing doesn't make me anti-Deaf, either.
 
ismi, well then in that case, I think I'd probaly call you more Hoh. (culturally hoh) rather then Hearing impaired. You definitly don't strike me as one of those SHHHers who is always sitting around whining that they wish they were hearing and how it's so horrible to be deaf. Your attitude is VERY healthy, I must say. Wish there were more posties and hohies who had your outlook on life. I lurk at a couple of other sites, and it does seem like most posties and hohies are extremely negative about being dhh.
And being more culturally hearing doesn't make me anti-Deaf, either.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know. I'm hoh, and while I can ID with the hearing world on a lot of things, I also don't know what it's like to be hearing. I am Deaf too!
And I can understand those people who have been exposed to Sign and have decided it's not for them.
 
I went to Oral school when I was maybe 2 years old but I was too STUBBORN to learning to speaking and read the lips plus they did teach me to sign language in some too. So they moved me to mainstream and total communication school from 4 years old to Middle School, I was in 7 grade. My parents decided to send me to Deaf School because my teacher did my homeworks, never teach me how to do the math. But I learned ALOT in deaf school and I improved alot, became smart and I'm very happy with myself and I graduated from Deaf School :D
 
At home.. ASL with my mother... Spoken English with the rest of my family since my family were not interested in learning sign language (sigh)
At school.. Oralism, S.E.E. then SimCom but after classes, during recess, etc we use ASL
I went through the oppression on sign language. I still clearly remember the day when our school announced that oralism method had been discontinued and that the teachers must learn sign language. Many teachers cried because they were forced to learn sign language. That was the second time I saw them cried.. the first one was when JFK was killed. (yes, I am that old! :) )
 
I was taught oral speech and I didn't learn ASL until I was in third grade--which is also the same year I went to a deaf school. I stayed in the deaf school and started mainstreaming part-time in seventh and eighth grade at a local Catholic school (hell on earth!).
I was the only deaf one in High school, and it's probably going to be the same in college. I'm better at oral--my ASL skills are still on the poor side (I'm trying to learn.).
 
Well, I'll have to admit that I knew little if anything of the Deaf community until mid 06.
I seldom saw anything signed, nor heard of any events or orginizations for the Deaf and lived in a town for over 2 years before I learned we have a regional deaf school.

I grew up in the DEEP south. So..needless to say, my skills were pure oral, and pure souther trash.
Today, I'm well versed in English, well educated in such, well spoken in Spanish and on my way to be well "versed" in ASL as well.
I encountered a group of high schoolers while working as a substitute, none of which could speak or hear. (I think they chose NOT to speak)

Not long I learned how many of our Deaf children are being mainstreamed and there simply aren't enough signing people to keep them in the mainstream, and many fall behind. Once you get into this rut, not only are you Deaf, and some children see you as different, but you are also now behind and some see you as dumber than themselves.

Once recent event pointed this out: A Deaf 4th grader received a cochlear implant, and began increasing his performance in school. His Deaf peers now think that "hearies" are smarter.

I intend to teach math and to the Deaf kids and we have now started ASL classes FREE in the middle school. Hopefully more teachers will become fluent and assist their children in keeping pace and proving that hearing loss doesn't prevent learning.
 
I started out lipreading and speech... then cued speech from age 4 til i hit kindergarten.. learned sign language but was so shy i rarely used it until middle school.. was mainstreamed all my life. family was strictly oral with me at home. Used more sign language in middle school and high school.. visited the state school for the deaf but never really felt comfortable there, I don't know why and I wish I did feel comfortable.
 
BearBeauty said:
I started out lipreading and speech... then cued speech from age 4 til i hit kindergarten.. learned sign language but was so shy i rarely used it until middle school.. was mainstreamed all my life. family was strictly oral with me at home. Used more sign language in middle school and high school.. visited the state school for the deaf but never really felt comfortable there, I don't know why and I wish I did feel comfortable.
Click to expand...

I must say that I visited a completely deaf school, where I experienced deaf culture first hand, but I never fit in at all, God knows why? But, honestly I don't regret having gone the oral approach, because I've seen so much!! My parent's speak with me, well, everyone does, and its nice, because they don't isolate me!!

Kashveera
 
Let's see... I went to school very early as my deafness was discovered at 9 months. I went to a oral preschool and one of my earliest memories is of me learning to say ball and the teacher holding my hand to her face. I was oral with some cued speech. I've forgotten it but I still can understand it.

I didn't get my first hearing aid till I was 2 1/2 yrs old. I picked up words very fast. Learned to read at five.

I remember my oral class would go to a different school each year. I remember that every one hated using the headphones in class as it caused our ears to ring and gave us headaches.

Then in fourth grade I was mainstreamed and I was the only deaf girl. I had to wear the Phonic Ear. I didn't mind at the time as the Six Million Dollar Man was popular at the time. Then a deaf girl came in 6th grade and she knew sign and I learned some sign.

I started having a lot of trouble with school because I'd avoid writing anything on paper. I really hate writing by hand. I"m glad I can use computers instead nowadays. It didn't help that my rescoure teacher made me redo my papers if I made a spelling mistake. I also was having trouble with math as well.

Then I went to middle school for 3 months and I hated being seen with the Phonic Ear. I hated middle school.

Then I transferred to the state school for the deaf which allowed sign language. Did better there. It was strong ASL but this was before the Deaf Pride movement.

Then I went to a different school for the deaf and graduated from there. It was TC there.

I think the only communication methold I haven't tried is the Rochester methold. Thank goodness. :P
 
ASL was my primary commuication tool bec my family are deaf.. when i growing up using PSE...bec was back and forth in deaf schools and hearing schools... so now havin 2 deaf sons myself.. so use ASL too
 
Oral and mainstreamed as the only deaf student at my school until high school when my best friend and I finally were able to attend the same school.

Learned ASL at ASU and fell in love with it.


My brother was oral until at age of 5, he was so delayed in language due to not being able to pick up on spoken English so he was sent to the Deaf School where he learned ASL.
 
Grew up using the TC method now a days i just sign not use voice unless absolutely necessary
 
signer16 said:
Short answer: Total Communication is signing and speaking at the same time.
Click to expand...
Reba's post (http://www.alldeaf.com/sign-languag...ommunication-tools-you-raised.html#post580923) is correct

Also...

TOTAL COMMUNICATION (TC)

Total Communication is an educational philosophy. “Total Communication can best be defined as eclectic, borrowing techniques form a variety of different methods.”110 Ideally teachers can use sign, writing, mime, speech, pictures or any other communication method that works. The method of communication should depend upon the needs of the student and the situation. In actual practice, most Total Communication programs use some form of Simultaneous Communication. Children are encouraged to work on speech and listening skills. “All children are encouraged to develop skill in all areas (sign language, speech and audition), although children are allowed to develop a mode of communication that is best for them.”111

A benefit of Total Communication is that it can provide a “safety net” for children who have difficulty following oral methods by using English that is supported by sign. It also allows the child some form of expressive communication. One of the big disadvantages associated with Total Communication is that it tends to limit a child’s language experience. Children are never exposed to complex English or complex ASL.112 “Dumbing down” both languages prevents children from attaining fluency in either language.
Click to expand...

source: Options in Deaf Education-History, Methodologies, and Strategies for Surviving the System
 
oral 3 months in 1966 JBS Chickasaw, OK
ASL 7 yrs 1966 to 1973 OSD Sulphur, OK
Mainstream and total communication and oral 10 yrs 1973 to 1983 Muskogee, OK

I use ASL and fellowship deaf community now.
 
Back
Top