When I was a teenager, I first became interested in sign language because I was just trying to do something "different". That was a pretty shallow, typical teen reason. I took lessons from a CODA at the YMCA. The other students were older than me, and one was a young man, HoH, becoming deaf. The CODA instructor told us about her Deaf family and friends, and it was interesting. She introduced us to the original members of the National Theater of the Deaf (which was established in my home town). We went to their performance. I got more and more interested in Deaf people. In those days (the late 60's) there wasn't as much information about sign language and Deaf culture available to the general hearing public. Looking back, some of my exposure would be sneered upon now. "ASL" wasn't even a common term; it was "Ameslan". Our textbook was Lou Fant's "Say It With Hands", with a whopping 500 signs. There was more emphasis on fingerspelling. We used to practice spelling
sentences! Back then, I was impressed with movies like "Johny Belinda," "Man of a Thousand Faces," and "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", and I watched any episode of TV that had a "real live" Deaf actor or actress (like Phyllis Froelich on a "Mannix" episode).
However, when I joined the Navy, I put all that aside. I became very busy with my career, and then later, my family. It wasn't until much later that I got "serious" about learning sign language. Except for the ABC's, I really had to start over. Our church had a Deaf Ministry, and offered free "sign language" lessons at church, and an opportunity to meet Deaf people. That's how I
started. Then, I wanted to meet more and more Deaf people. I joined local and state Deaf organizations, and attended all the social and business meetings, and all the local silent dinners. Now, I know more Deaf people than some of the local Deaf people know! Many have become our good friends. I know Deaf kids, young adults, middle aged, and senior citizens, black, white, Asian, Hispanic, and multi-racial. I know oral deaf, HoH, with CI's, ASL signers, English signers, MLS signers, low-vision and blind Deaf, rich and poor, urban, suburban and rural. There are some Deaf friends that I've known for many years, and I've
never heard a peep out of them. There are other friends who
never shut up! Everyone is different. :P
As an aside (a little off topic, if you don't mind). Deaf and HoH members at AllDeaf are mostly informed, thoughtful, literate, and skilled communicators (despite our occasional misunderstandings). However, many of the Deaf people that I meet at interpreting assignments and in the community are NOT informed or educated, NOT empowered, and DON'T have social or job skills. They can't use a TTY, email, or IM. CART and captions are of no use to them. I'm NOT saying that they are less intelligent or less motivated. Many of them simply grew up in times and places that didn't provide them with good educations. Many of them have not just "fallen" into society's cracks; they've been "swept" into the cracks. Sometimes they are even snubbed by the more "advanced" Deaf community members. I'm not saying this in any patronizing way. It's just a fact that often gets overlooked. My point is, there are still many positions in interpreting and Deaf Ed that need to be filled, and not enough workers qualified or dedicated to that end.
Off my soap box. :P
That's my "condensed" story.
