Hello Valerie,This topic has been discussed on the BB over the years. I hope my personal "take" on it may be of use to you, in deciding what to do in your own situation. Feel free to write anytime.
L7martinez@aol.com
In the early 70's, I and others in my work group took a full year of Sign Language classes at Sacramento State (college level) because we had an employee in the computer center at Pacific Telephone who was deaf. It was tremendously helpful, to us and to her. She felt accepted, and we learned alot about "the deaf community," from her and the deaf people who came to our class. At that time, I used my signing skills everyday in order to communicate with our employee.
Over the years, without her around, I lost my signing skills but grew to understand that "the deaf community" is a true community and ASL (sign language) is the third most common language in the US. It is not only a skill. It is a language. A language of a community, as well as an asset for anyone in the US to learn. Just as Spanish and French (or others) would be an asset to learn.
In the past few years, many of us SD'ers on this BB and in the SD community have taken ASL (American Sign Language) training.
In our local area (suburbs of San Francisco) several of us with bad voices have taken the classes together. It's been a way to work on communication issues together. Some of us have even attended events at the Fremont School for the Deaf together. We've grown to understand and appreciate the language and the deaf community, locally.
For hearing people and those who have bad voices, I hope these comments help:
-- It's impossible to crack into the "deaf community" if you aren't deaf. Even with ASL.
-- Sign Language (ASL) is a "language" and a valuable one, worthy of teaching in all schools.
-- For hearing people (SD'ers, etc.), it's best to take training with others. To "sign" in a group (even if people can talk) will cause others to stand back and not approach, such as to say, "you sound bad." (Some of the nasty comments we get). Can be a powerful tool for a group of voice patients, to just get the basics down so nobody has to talk over noise. You may be able to sign 10 feet away, even if you can't talk that far.
-- Sometimes we sign to pretend we can't hear, just so people don't bother us, since they think we're deaf. That can be fun!
-- It's a great tool/language to use with the grandchildren, when we can't read them stories. They will benefit from knowing ASL as it is an official language, and it allows us to be "quiet." There is so much "noise" in the world today.
Hope these suggestions help, Valerie. I recommend ASL training enthusiastically, for all. Doesn't solve the SD issues, but is an education in diversity and will give you a new, positive tool for communication.
Best wishes, Lynne (AD-SD; RLN surgery; California)
