Dear Delani Huntoon of Michigan...

Dear Delani Huntoon of Michigan...

I got your message under my Blog of “Super Nanny...What More Can We Say?” (2008) I went ahead and post your message to my blog and I don’t know if anyone will bother to read it. That’s fine with me but I’m glad you read my :-)

Well, if you’re considered a problem parent because you have to fight the school system, It’s isn’t you the problem! It’s the problem that we face the system and the real problem is the school system who decides what the best without looking into the child’s need. It’s tough to put up the fight to two kinds of people: Ignorant and BIAS. I may be bold to say this and that’s how my parent has to put up with and they didn’t give up because they got to where I am today with Bachelor of Arts in ASL/English Interpreting and Master of Arts in Theatre Arts. I’m doing well here, thank you very much!

It’s not that I brag about my degrees but I brag about my parent who never gave up on raising me to who I am today. My parent wants to know is how to put language in a child’s mind. What are the ways to do this? It’s tough for them during 1970’s because it was the beginning of recognizing American Sign Language and a battle with education with sign language. I’m sure the system told my parent about oral method but they visited some school that offered it and found it is not the quality they have in mind. My parent told me that they do speak ‘OK’ but have no understanding what they are saying as if it put in the mouth to say it without meaning. Not a free mind speaking or academic freedom that they have in mind.

During the 1970’s, there was a system developing called ‘Total Communication’ which it is today called it ‘Similarly Communication.’ (Someway they are alike…maybe I’m ignorant or bias this subject because I first heard that name not too long ago and that I heard it in 2000!) Anyway, my parent meets my first teacher and her name was Laura Backman. That was back in Napa Valley, California. I don’t know where she is today and I wish her a big ‘Thank You’ for being a good teacher as in good listener (and fun as well!). She used sign language and speech therapy and taught about 20 to 30 deaf students in ‘mainstream’ or like where they think… “Special Education.” I can’t remember what they called exactly but it never was a “Special Education.” In the point, my parent was impressive with the students they meet because they all speak and sign for themselves and really show the free thinking. The students that they saw used sign language without speaking and some just uses sign language with some speaking. They were able to read and write and that happened in a public school. I believe they did check into Deaf school but they are like you…they don’t want to be apart from their child and rather raised themselves. It tough to where what the school wants to me do while my parent doesn’t agree. During 1970’s, I would say there weren’t a lot of materials need to teach me on how to learn sign language but as for today, we got more that we have. Back then, American Sign Language was getting young and what I mean by that was William Stokoe had acknowledge this sign language and started the research on sign language; It was a beginning and today we are beyond with more research and education of American Sign Language.

My parent fought to get education in me with language. Although, I later entered to Deaf school during Jr. High School because the number of deaf students was getting smaller at public school and I was getting restless and bored around with the same group of deaf students and the hearing students. I didn’t get the respects from the hearing students but a few do. The reason was that, they didn’t get the information on about deaf students or sign language because I think the school just doesn’t encourage this or have no knowledge with materials on sign language. Another reason I go to Deaf school was that I have a hard time understanding to what the students were saying and their voicing sound different. It was like lost in translation. I went to Deaf school and it was tough on my parent by letting me go but my father didn’t let me go completely because he keeps visiting me to make sure I get the education I need.

When the school wants to place your child into “intelligently gifted child in Special ED,” just because she can’t hear…here’s the problem I see…Public school believe in teach auditory and that goes for college. I have to put up with the system with this belief but one thing I learned out of this…make good friend with teachers and faculties because some of the teachers and faculties listen because they are open to this new idea and new view by learning new language and environment. That what my parent do by working with teachers and faculties at public school in learning new things.

Sometime, it tough to lead with little help and you are taking the right road to teach your child by standing your ground. You took this road and it may not be smooth ride BUT at the end it will pay off and like I said while ago…degrees:-). Some parent just don’t want to put the effort to raise a deaf child and I don’t have a direct answers for that because of varies reasons.

Word of advice, never back down when you ask for using American Sign Language to teach your child in public school; it is a Language and its fun to learn new language! Never say never.

One last important for you with family; get your family involves expectantly the father/husband! He better get into this because he is import role for the child…no matter what! I am grateful for my parent by putting themselves to teach…both of them and my sisters. It breaks my heart to see a father reject or not getting involves in child’s life just because she/he can’t hear or can't learn sign language... Just Do it! Don’t forget the eyes of the child is working fine and see it and do think! You don’t need to be the victim of the situation but to be the situation by taking control!

As for education need for the summer with books in American Sign Language, some new ones and some old one but they both still good. All I can think of where you can find a way to teach your child during summer; I’m living in the western part of America, check into Dawn Sign Press (http://www.dawnsign.com/), there’s quite a lot of materials here. One book that I always love to look into is the American Sign Language Handshape Dictionary. This book just show many different way of using sign language with handshapes. This can be creative with language. Harris Communication is one another I can think of (http://www.harriscomm.com/); now this just has many different devices for the deaf but it has sections of books in it, too.

I hope this will lead you in the right direction with teaching and learning of American Sign Language with your daughter. Be wise with your spending and don’t go broke! I wish you well Delani Huntoon with this wonderful journey because there is love at the end of the road!