In a Deaf World

1. In a Deaf World A Resource for Teachers By Allie Sturk

2. What we’re all about • This presentation will provide you with information and instuctional strategies to implement in the general education setting for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (d/hh). • Possible classroom accommodations and general things to think about are also included in the presentation. • You will also have an opportunity to learn more about sign language and the Deaf culture. Next

3. What would you like to do? Accommodations for deaf and hard-of-hearing students The teacher’s best friend: the educational interpreter The Deaf Culture A bit of American Sign Language Outside Resources

4. The teacher’s best friend: the educational interpreter • The first really important thing to realize when teaching students who are deaf is that they may not know English. American Sign Language is a completely different language • Which is why we have the educational interpreter, a language facilitator/instructional aide extraordinaire to help you • This person is a great resource for teachers to learn some of the best ways to teach students with a hearing loss who sign. Next

5. The educational interpreter • Though by definition the educational interpreter is not a teacher, she/he can support learning in the general education setting and present material chosen by the classroom teacher in a way that can be better received by the student. • The educational interpreter, among other things, can facilitate language in the classroom to better include the student in the setting as well as discussion and group work, helping to provide the least restrictive environment to the student. Next

6. Be familiar with the students needs and goals • If an educational interpreter is not appropriate, then it’s up to you to be well-versed in the needs and educational goals of the student, study that IEP! • Have a discussion with the teacher consultant or other school professional and find out where the hearing loss lies. • What educational level is the student at? Curriculum adaptation is sometimes necessary depending on the students language and academic level. Next

7. Quick Quiz Question 1 • The educational interpreter provides all the learning material in the general education setting for a student who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. • True • False

8. Wrong! READ MORE CARFULLY!!

9. Well done! You’re clearly paying attention The TEACHER is the one who provides the instructional materials as well the instruction itself, the educational interpreter helps with the language and communication needs of the student and adapts the language to make it understandable for the student. Next

10. Quick Quiz Question 2 • You may need to adapt your curriculum to fit the student’s language and academic levels • True • False

11. Wrong! Having some troubles, are we?

12. Spot on! You’re on fire! The student’s language abilities has a great impact on his/her academic levels, adaptations to the curriculum may be necessary. Next

13. Accommodations to think about • If you have a student who is hard-of-hearing or receives great benefit from hearing aids, keep some things in the forefront of you mind: • Seat the student facing in a direction where most of the teaching is done. This way the student will be able to see the speaker as well as hear them. • Make sure the student is looking at you whenever you are talking to him/her. • Seat the student towards the front of the room for to prevent background noise overshadowing the speaker. Next

14. More accommodations • If your school is wired with Soundfields, use it! Your d/hh student will receive maximum sound usage. • If your student only has a hearing loss in one ear, make sure the good ear is facing you. • Request the parents send extra hearing aid batteries to school and keep them in your desk or the student’s cubby in case of emergency. • When taking notes in a class lesson, have a student (with good note taking skills) use carbon paper and create a copy of the notes for the d/hh student, so he/she can watch you during the lecture. Next

15. Even more accommodations • Try not to stand in front of the projector when talking, the bright light can make it difficult for the student to see your lips. • When using an interpreter, don’t place her/him in front of the window or bright lights, it can make it difficult to see the signing. • Working in an old building? Ask administrators about upgrading alarm systems to include flashing lights for the student who cannot hear the sirens. Next

16. Quick Quiz Question 3 • Which seat would be best suited for a student with hearing loss who benefits from hearing aids? Board/Projector Table 1 Table 3 Table 2

17. Wrong! Remember the accommodations!

18. There you go! Sitting front and center can provide an optimum listening environment for the d/hh student Next

19. Quick Quiz Question 4 • For a student with a hearing loss in the right ear, where might the best place to seat him/her be? Board/Projector Table 1 Table 3 Table 2

20. Wrong! The student has a hearing loss in the RIGHT ear

21. Yay! If the student has a hearing loss in the right ear, you will want the student’s good facing the speaker. This can also help keep out background noise. Next

22. Good things to know about hearing loss: the audiogram The yellow area shows where normal speech falls as far as frequency (pitch) and decibels (loudness). The read line represents a student’s hearing in the right ear. This means the students cannot hear speech in his/her right ear. The blue line is the hearing in the left ear. The student can hear some speech sounds at low to middle frequencies. Next

23. Good things to know about hearing loss: amplification • Students with hearing loss can be fitted with hearing aids or have surgery and get a cochlear implant. • If an FM system such as a soundfield is available, it can be very beneficial for the student. Next

24. Want to learn more? Learn the alphabet in Sign Language! Tell me about the Deaf Culture! What’s an educational interpreter? Tell me about accommodations Outside Resources I’m all set, let’s go back to the beginning…

25. American Sign Language • Let’s keep it simple and start with the manual alphabet • The manual alphabet can be made using one hand • Look carefully at the way each letter is shaped; meaning look at the fingers, palm, wrist, etc. Next

26. A B Next

27. C D Next

28. E F Next

29. G H Next

30. I J Next

31. K L Next

32. M N Next

33. O P Next

34. Q R Next

35. S T Next

36. U V Next

37. W X Next

38. Y Z Next

39. Were you paying attention?!

40. Quick Quiz Question 5 • What is the following letter? S V A Y

41. Oops! Should’ve paid better attention!

42. Way to go! Nicely done!

43. Quick Quiz Question 6 • What is this letter? R U B D

44. Yikes! Careful, now…

45. That’s it! You should be an interpreter!

46. The Deaf Culture • American Sign Language, like other sign languages that have developed in other countries, has a long and storied history. • Schools specifically for the deaf were founded in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. • They focused on attempting to teach hearing impaired children to speak, read lips, and master their native language. Next

47. In the beginning… • For a long time, there wasn’t one particular signing system used in Europe. • Signs were made up locally and shared when Deaf people met one another. • This made it hard for educators. • The informal sign system grew and flourished in much the same manner as nonstandard dialects around the world are maintained and taught outside of the main educational system. They are preserved and used by speakers in informal situations and passed down through family and social ties. Next

48. Gallaudet and Clerc • Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc, who had studied the European signing systems in the 1800’s, went to America and opened the first American school for the Deaf • They adapted the French signing systems to fit American dialects, and resembled the grammar structure of spoken English • Today, American Sign Language has it’s own grammar system completely separate from spoken/written English, which makes it very difficult to teach Deaf children to read and write. • The most respected Deaf university in the United States is Gallaudet University Next

49. AMERICAN Sign Language • One of the most common misconceptions about American Sign Language is that it is universal • ASL is one of the most complete signing systems in the world, but different countries/regions have their own sign language: British Sign Language, Japanese Sign Language, etc. Next

50. Today’s Deaf community • Today, Deaf communities are scattered throughout the United States • These consist of tight knit groups of Deaf and hearing people (family members of Deaf people, interpreters, advocates, etc.) who are proud of their Deaf heritage • Deaf (with a capital ‘D’) people do not see their deafness as a disability, but more of a common bond • A common attitude is that Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do, except hear Next