Daily Perspectives of a Deaf Mom
Mar. 13, 2006
Your comments---big surprise! My story....
I was so surprised to get this many
responses, especially some of you showing an interest in ASL. I
think it is amazing how God really moves in the ministry. I have
really struggled with ASL for many years. Growing up, sign language was
not accepted in my family because I was the only deaf person on both
sides of the family.
My parents learned about Cued Speech
when I was about four years old. My Mom is the only one who
really utilized Cued Speech in my life. She even became a CS
transliterator for Fairfax County in Virginia. I started learning
how to sign when I met a deaf friend in summer school in 10th grade.
I was the only deaf person in my junior/high school so to meet a deaf
person in summer school was very odd for me. Her name was Becky. She
only went to my school temporarily in the summer to catch up with math
and go back to MSSD (deaf high school near Galluadet University). I
remember seeing her "sign" with her interpreter during lunch. I
remember I was so scared to approach her and say that I am deaf too. I
couldn't even sign to her! I actually had to "talk" to her interpreter
and explain that I didn't know how to sign. Her interpreter
signed to Becky what I said. Becky was AMAZED that I am deaf and
didn't know how to sign.
As it turned out, Becky only
lived two blocks away from my house! Isn't God amazing? He put
Becky in my life to teach me how to sign the basics and to teach me
about deaf culture. I went to a silent supper in my junior year
(11th grade) and met a wonderful family that I am still friends with to
this day. The moms name is Vicki, she used to be a sign language
interpreter for a community college nearby. Her husband is deaf
and they have two children, Jessica and Nathan.
I learned
more about deaf culture being with them and she gradually became like a
Mom to me. Vicki made me FEEL ACCEPTED. I never felt that... as a deaf
person. She treated me like I was normal and that being deaf was no big
deal. Vicki was also the first person to introduce me to
homeschooling. She showed me the Abekka (spell?) program that she used
with Jessica and Nathan. I saw how mature they both were and how well
adjusted in spite of staying at home. This made a deep impression
in my heart. I was young, 17, and already knew at that point that I
wanted to homeschool my children in the future.
Fast track
10 years later.... I am a fluent signer and have many hearing AND deaf
friends. My husband is hearing and I have four hearing children.
Vicki's daughter Jessica and I are really close. Nathan got married and
I was the photographer for their wedding and they are expecting a baby
soon. I have been so blessed by the Lord in many things in my
life and this is one fine example.
The Lord always
uses our lives to touch others and I hope in this homeschooling
adventure that I get to be part of my children's lives and teach them
all that I know, this includes both Cued Speech and Sign Language. I
want them to have the ability to communicate with all sorts of people
that they meet in their lifetime.
Thanks for sharing your stories....I'd love to hear about your ASL stories. :-D
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Comments
Mar. 13, 2006 - so how do you teach your children?
 Posted by homeskoolmom
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I am curious as to how you teach your children. And what unique issues you face?Would you please blog about it?
We met a local deaf lady not long after we moved to the country, I don't believe she knew sign either. I would try to sign to her and she would speak to me. We tried to befriend her, but it never worked out. I still think of her often.
My hubby was Pres of the Dactology club at college (before we were married). I had always wanted to learn how to sign, but never had. We had a deaf friend at college who had a friend that wanted to come to church but he'd need an interpreter. Laura asked if we'd interpret for him. We agreed. Shane did most of it in the beginning, then he went home for the summer and left me and a couple of others to interpret for him. I had a crash course, Wendall was very patient with me. He was a groomsman in our wedding. and was baptized into Christ. We began working with the local deaf school and had a Wednesday night class for the children. It was amazing how many people in the congregation knew sign or were interested in learning. I think the church still has some adults that attend, not sure they're doing a children's class anymore.
Hubby learned at a class at a local church, then a man came into the church he attended one Sunday morning and Shane was the only one that knew any sign. He had a really fast crash course as no one else knew sign there-- he was 14 years old. I think he interpreted for Robert for about one year or more.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
God Bless,
Christine
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Mar. 14, 2006 - ASL stories
 Posted by Jimmie
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Hi! I have no stories at all, but I sure enjoyed hearing yours! Thanks!
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Mar. 14, 2006 - Cued speech
 Posted by ronandjess
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I don't know what cued speech is, could you explain more? My daughter is 2 and has great difficulty with speech so we have taught her some ASL and it frees her to be more expressive. My older kids picked up on it quick and I beleive we will use it as our second launguage for awhile.
Jess
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Mar. 14, 2006 - Neighbor
 Posted by PinayMom
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I would love to have you as my neighbor (grin). Since we move here from the Philippines, I have never had somebody to talk to in signs on a regular basis. That's why I really wanted my boys to learn how to signs. When we first got here, my husband and I saw some deaf group in the food court. I was so happy to see people signing, it's been a long time for me. In the Philippines I got to be with Deaf a lot more than the hearing...hahaha So my husband tried to encourage me to say Hi, I am not very confident about my ASL but then I did try and yeah.. they understand me and wonder how did I learned to sign so fast and naturally so I explained... but I said my ASL is not that very good yet, we use FSL in the Philippines. I only got to know a lot of ASL because I been working with American Deaf missionaries.
Thanks for adding me as a friend!
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Mar. 22, 2006 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by DandelionSeeds
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Welcome! Glad to see you here, and thanks so much for sharing your story! Yours will be an interesting blog to read. I look forward to reading more!
Blessings,
Amy
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Mar. 23, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Apr. 22, 2006 - I could use some Encouragement and Guidance
 Posted by Anonymous
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I found your story when I did a search for deaf homeschool mom. I am Hearing impaired and have five children, newborn, 21 months, 3 1/2, 6 1/2, and 8 1/2. I have been homeschooling for four years and love it.
I have a friend who is deaf and has two hearing children. She wants to homeschool but is not sure how to go about it. I would love to encourage her. I am not sure how too though.
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Apr. 29, 2006 - Loved your story!
 Posted by talkingfingers
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I am a hearing mom of a deaf daughter. My new blog page is www.homeschoolblogger.com/talkingfingers! We have been homeshooling her for 3 yrs now and she is 7 1/2 years old. It's been a bumpy, but wonderful journey. I am currently working on a project with Isaiah's Place (a deaf retreat center in TX) on some materials for hearing parents to help encourage reading with their deaf children. I would love to get with you, if you have any helpful ideas. I see that you used cued speech. I am familiar with that, but we chose not to go that route. My daughter has a CI, but uses ASL too. She really likes her CI, but only has had it for the last 2 years. I'm glad we didn't do that when she was a baby. She had more say in the decision at age 5. Anyway, not trying to get off subject. I am very interested in networking with more deaf homeschoolers. Hope to chat with ya!
Felicia
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