Sign+language+program

1. **Who needs this assistive technology?** Students who use sign language are usually deaf, or hard of hearing. "Another large segment of sign language users is hearing nonverbal children who are nonverbal due to conditions such as down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, trauma, and brain disorders or speech disorders." (Jamie Berke)

http://deafness.about.com/cs/signfeats1/a/nonverbal.htm> "American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, complex language that employs signs made with the hands and other movements, including facial expressions and postures of the body. It is the first language of many deaf North Americans, and one of several communication options available to deaf people. ASL is said to be the fourth most commonly used language in the United States." (NIDCD)

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/asl.asp> 2**. What is the history of the assistive technology?**

"The language used by deaf people in the United States is a blend of signs brought from France early in the 19th century. Some signs were already in use in this country. With no formal sign language in existence here at that time, home, local, and French signs blended together to become the American sign language, now considered to be one of the most refined and complete sign systems in the world. Although American Indians used signs for intertribal communication, this does not appear to have influenced the sign system that evolved among deaf persons. The first permanent school for the deaf was established in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817. Many hears later, after Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet had seen the establishment of a number of schools for the deaf people across the United States, he envisioned a college. This dream was passed on to his son, Edward Miner Gallaudet, who was responsible for establishing Gallaudet College, the first and only college for deaf students, located in Washington, The charter for the college was signed in 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln. Finger spelling, the use of hand positions to represent the letters of the alphabet, is considered a vital and historical element of manual communication. The positions of the fingers of the hand do, to some extent, resemble the printed letters of the alphabet. Illustrations of the manual alphabet have been found to exist early in the Christian era. Latin Bibles of the 10th century show drawings of such hand positions and it is known that persons who lived in enforced silence, such as monks of the Middle Ages, used finger spelling as a means of communication. Most European countries used an alphabet that requires the use of two hands Today each country that has a manual alphabet uses its own version, which is therefore understood only by users of that particular system. Signs usually represents ideas and not single words. Many signs are iconic, that is, they use a visual image for signing the idea. Most clearly falling into this category are animals, for example, deer (the antlers), elephant (the trunk), donkey (the ears), and the goat (the beard and horns). Signs are also represented by actions, such as the following: milk, coffee, love, grow. Other signs are arbitrary and although the originators may have reasons for forming or moving a sign in a particular way these reasons are unknown today. It is interesting to note that many of the older signs have remained as originally created even though the connection to the origin no longer exists. One example of this is the sign toast, represented by placing a fork into the bread in order to hold it over the flame although an attempt was made to change this to represent the use of an electric toaster, deaf signers continued to use the old form. The sign for the deaf was originally made by pointing to the ear and the month, probably to match the now outdated terms  deaf and dumb or deaf mute.'' Although a change has been made a point to the ear and sign closed, many deaf people continue to use the old sign. The question is often asked whether sign language is universal. Although signs are used in many countries, each has developed it's own system, which has been standardized to some extent within that country. In recent years an international sign language has been developed that crosses national barriers and permits communication between deaf persons of many countries. This language, sometimes called Gestuno, has been found useful for international events, such as conferences and Olympic Games for the Deaf. Persons knowing the language of signs find they can cross the language barrier more easily using signs with a deaf person then using the spoken language with a hearing person. In educational circles the language of signs has now gained respectability and a number of colleges and universities offer credit courses. Several also accept proficiency in signs to fulfill the foreign language requirement. Sign language is viewed by some as a new art form and is used in performances by the National Theater of the deaf, a professional drama group, as a means of presenting deaf people and their language to hearing the world. Also being introduced is signed interpretation of music, a beautiful and expressive means of portraying the lyrics, emotions and the rhythm of the songs. Both deaf and hearing people are enjoying new experiences through communication in the language of signs, making it possible for them to live together with better understanding and mutual enrichment" (Nancy and Hillary)

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002931/dev.thinkquest.org/history_of_sign_language.htm>

3**. What benefits does the assistive technology provide?** "American Sign Language has been one of the primary means of communication for the deaf since the early 1800s. The use of sign language has proven to be beneficial for children in a wide variety of settings. Hearing parents are now teaching sign language to their preverbal babies, which has proven to benefit children in their later years. Sign language also enables children to communicate effectively with their deaf parents. Sign Language has also proven to be a successful intervention with children with special-needs including autism and Down syndrome. Speech language professionals have used signs simultaneously with speech in treating children who are slow to develop spoken communication. Using Sign Language has also proven to be a successful intervention with children with special-needs including Down syndrome, and autism. Sign language allows the child to communicate using signs and may motivate the verbal language process. Another possible benefit of teaching a child to sign may be the facilitation of their attentiveness to social gestures of others as well as of themselves." (Jenny Carrow)

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/benefits_of_learning_how_to_sign.htm

Students who rely on sign language to communicate also have other ways to communicate. There is speech reading (lip reading) which is exactly what it sounds like. However, "a deaf person can read only 30 to 40 percent of the sounds of spoken English by watching the speaker’s lips. Facial expression and gestures add somewhat to the level of comprehension." Remember to make sure that the student has a clear view of your face when you are talking, speak more slowly, but do not exaggerate your speech, and be prepared to repeat your communication using different words that might be easier to recognize." Another way students who use sign language can communicate is through "a TDD, a device which allows text communication over standard telephone lines. TDD’s are available for faculty to borrow from Disabled Student Support Services." There is also something called a " **//[|Georgia Relay Service],//** which relays telephone calls between a person who uses a TDD and any other telephone. The **//Relay Service//** operators are trained to communicate accurately and quickly while maintaining strictest confidentiality." (Kennesaw State University) (A picture of a TDD) http://www.kennesaw.edu/stu_dev/dsss/Deafinfo.html
 * 4. How does the assistive technology work?**


 * 5. Exemplary examples of how the assistive technology would be integrated into an english classroom.**

"Teaching hearing people sign language would mean that some of the two million hearing-impaired persons in the state would be less isolated and better integrated into the mainstream." (Andrea Adelson) http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6DB163DF930A35752C0A96E948260 Home