Comments on: HELP! SAVE THE U.S. DEAF COMMUNITY!!!

By: Tim Riker

Tim Riker — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:51:34 +0000

I think it is clear, and more research may be needed to effectively support this in America, that regardless of the degree of hearing loss, children who are deaf or hard of hearing need to be taught sign language at a young age to boost their ability to learn English, whether it is spoken or written.

The idea is that with partial or no hearing, deaf and hard of hearing children have distorted or limited access to sound. Rather than exposing them to more sounds and hoping that they will somehow acquire a spoken language, these children need to have a visual language foundation which would lead to learning other languages, including spoken languages.

By: Anonymous (#66)

Anonymous (#66) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:56:57 +0000

Two respondents assume that the book ‘How language comes to children’ and research by Petitto are ‘the only’ proof.
I need to first read that book and Petitto’s research before giving a response.

By: SEK

SEK — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:48:03 +0000

“Sweden’s democratic system”
http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2853

By: DE

DE — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:07:57 +0000

Kristofer,

THANK YOU for the clarification. Yeah, I was very impressed by the Swedish Deaf Community’s ability to unite behind a common vision of Sign Language. It will happen here in America! Thanks for showing the way.

By: Kristofer

Kristofer — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:02:30 +0000

A comment from Sweden… Just want to clarify that Sweden’s political system is absolutely not socialist, we have parliamentary democracy. Anyway, what political system doesnt matter.. maybe theres less diversity in our deaf community, but to not invite other group than pure deafs into our community, our lifestyle, our thoughts, our needs…. that doesnt make sense at all.. its all about how NAD can work for a only group - sign language users. There’s We all can find and understand deaf awareness, cultural identity, human and childrens’ rights… and thereafter our needs. “Accessibility through Sign Language” - thats what SDR (Swedish National Association of the Deaf) has as its philosophy.

I like this phrase: “Possibilities rather than Limitations”

By: Thinker in Austin

Thinker in Austin — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:39:02 +0000

62. Peachlady… Yes, you are correct!!! Thanks for the correction. It’s law in Florida that the doctors have to refer the Deaf children to Florida School for the Deaf/Blind first before they are referred to anywhere else.

By: Barb DiGi

Barb DiGi — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:52:14 +0000

Great inspirational vlog, DE, as always!

Anon #66, your argument provides a weak moot point since there is a proof showing that Deaf babies actually babble up to the age 5 or 6 months old. See How Language Comes to Children book found at http://books.google.com/books?id=hNN8HENZ68kC&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=do+deaf+babies+babble&source=web&ots=8wc_qfEt8f&sig=eEVyx8rrZHwZT5yuHrtKo1udsMA#PPA68,M1 page 66. It also mentioned that Deaf babies babble manually at the age eight months if they are immersed in ASL environment. We all know that research shows that babies, no matter if they are hearing or Deaf, who use signs since birth show an increase of 12 - 16 I.Q. points. Babies are less frustrated, so there aren’t as many negative interactions or interferences with learning.

It is a no brainer that using signs with babies speed up language and promotes intelligence. It is important for families, not because it raises IQ, but because it makes for a warmer relationship during the toddler years and takes a lot of the frustration out of your baby’s life.

This is all relevant to what DE and Amy on her Greatest Irony were pointing out and to what DBC is doing. It is too important for us to work together to ensure the Deaf babies’ quality of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

By: retarded

retarded — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:11:45 +0000

The hearing who don’t want to communicate with deaf children are retarded. Simple as that. Everyone knows the hearing are lazy and let the world slit and load the machine in ears.

By: Ella Lentz

Ella Lentz — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:31:26 +0000

to Anonymous (#66)
Your argument would be convincing except the Deaf baby HAS a machine inside him/her that is not organic thus his/her babbling is NEVER normal as other hearing children.
Research I believe by Petitto shows that Deaf babies babbles in sign organically and just as normally as hearing children babble with voice. What’s wrong with this since this is much cheaper and much more organic..

By: DE

DE — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:38:06 +0000

From the Gallaudet Research Institute’s Annual Survey.