Effective Communication Strategies for the Deaf Community

1. Communication with the Deaf and hard of hearing community Deaf Vermonters Advocacy Services KERI DARLING

2. Deafinitions • Deaf • Deaf-blind • hard of hearing • hearing impaired • Late-deafened • Age related hearing loss

3. COMMUNICATION WITH DEAF/ HARD OF HEARING/LATE DEAFENED/DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE • American Sign Language (ASL)

4. COMMUNICATION WITH DEAF/ HARD OF HEARING/LATE DEAFENED/DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE • Oral/lip reading (Exercise)

5. COMMUNICATION WITH DEAF/ HARD OF HEARING/LATE DEAFENED/DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE • Writing (Samples) IT IS BEST TO ASK THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING PERSON DIRECTLY AS TO WHAT WILL BEST MEET THEIR COMMUNICATION NEEDS

6. BRAIN CHANGE

7. I CHANGED MY MIND

8. YOU ME CROSS MISS ME KNOW SORRY

9. WE MUST HAVE JUST MISSED EACH OTHER. I AM SORRY

10. DADDY MANY MANY HIT BLOOD ME SAW ME RAN TELL FREIND ME AFRAID CALL POLICE MAYBE JAIL

11. DADDY HIT (WHO?) SO MANY TIMES UNTIL I SAW THE BLOOD, I WAS SO SCARED AND RAN AND TOLD A FRIEND ABOUT IT. MY FRIEND CALLED THE POLICE AND NOW MAYBE DADDY WILL GO TO JAIL

12. Little Tidbits about Deaf Culture • Touchy Feely Hugs and Hugs and Hugs • Walking through deaf people • Grapevine • Very direct, blunt • ARE NOT DISABLED • Deaf Clubs, Deaf Sports, ASL storytelling, ASL jokes • The long goodbye

13. BARRIERS • COMMUNICATION/PHYSICAL • ATTITUDINAL • EDUCATIONAL/INFORMATION

14. Exercise (Pair up)

15. UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS • Communication is a two-way street • Interpreting is a profession with national standards, a code of ethics and role guidelines • The interpreter Code of Ethics prohibits sharing of work-related information • The interpreter will interpret everything that is said • The interpreter attempts to take on the persona of the person speaking • The interpreter's responsibility is to transmit information accurately and clearly

16. WORKING WITH A CERTIFIED SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER • Position • Lighting • Address the Deaf person directly • Speak at a normal pace and volume • Allow time for questions • Check to be sure

17. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER AND SIGNER/FAMILY MEMBER • Certified professional • Code of Ethics • Professionally trained and credentialed • Understands the interpreter's role • Fluent in American Sign Language • Knowledge and understanding of the Deaf Community DO NOT USE A DEAF PERSON’S CHILDREN/FAMILY MEMBERS TO INTERPRET!

18. Either by using Emergency list provided that lists all interpreters by county. OR Call or contact VIRS Vermont Interpreter Referral Service 802 254 3920 Email VIRS@sover.net Business hours Monday – Friday 8:30am- 4:30 pm Where to find interpreters?

19. CART- Computer Aided Realtime Translation Provides communication access Spoken words are translated into text displayed on a computer monitor or projection screen

20. DO’S AND DON’TS OF COMMUNICATING WITH DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE • How do you get Deaf person’s attention? • Maintain eye contact with the Deaf person • Speak clearly and at a moderate pace • Make sure environment around is quiet as possible

21. DO’S AND DON’TS • Use paper and pen if needed (SSS) • If there is difficulty getting the idea across • Use body language and facial expressions • Check to see if understood

22. VIDEO RELAY SERVICE (VRS)

23. VIDEO REMOTE INTERPRETING (VRI) A PAID service - Combines video conferencing technology with a live remote (off-site) sign language interpreter. (e.g. use a Video Phone, MSN Messenger, Skype, Polycom, etc.) 2-way Web-based Video Application, with computer, webcam & broadband connection. Computer, webcam, broadband connection, Videoconferencing Software Video Phone and broadband connection. Traditional Videoconferencing equipment (Polycom, Tandberg, Sony.)

24. PO Box 61 South Barre, VT 05670 802 661 4091 keridvas@gmail.com www.dvas.org