ASL 1 Unit 5 Culture Notes

ADA- What does it stand for? ADA- American’s with Disabilities Act Federal law requires equal access to

information and services for all people, regardless of disability

Think of ramps to classrooms and visual fire alarms

Interpreters Sign language interpreters are a way for

deaf and hearing people to have equal access to each other.

Interpreters sign what is heard and voice what is signed

If you use an interpreter, talk directly to the Deaf person- don’t say “Ask him”

Make eye contact with the Deaf person, not the interpreter.

Education options:

Residential School that uses ASL Residential School that uses the Oral

Method and do NOT sign Attend a public school (Mainstreamed)

Residential Schools A residential school is a school

specifically for D/deaf students. Residential schools either use sign

(manual method) or forbid sign (oral method)

The first school for Deaf people opened in the US in 1817- The American School for the Deaf. They used the manual method.

Residential Schools There is usually only 1 school for deaf children

in each state (depending on the state size and population of deaf people)

Some students will stay at school during the week and return home on weekends and vacations.

This is a place where being Deaf is normal- Deaf teachers, sports teams, administrators, etc. Even if a person who works there is hearing, they can sign. Everyone on campus signs!!!

Oral Schools (Oral Method) These schools strive to teach deaf

students to speak and speech read. The focus is on the “Hearing World” Rarely (if ever) are students allowed to

sign The schools are usually preschool-8th

grade. Learning to speak is a long and

challenging process for many deaf people

Mainstream Some deaf students attend a public

school or are mainstreamed Often there are very few deaf students

in a public school- this can be lonely and frustrating at times

Students will wear hearing aids, teachers use a microphone, and/or there will be an interpreter in the classroom.

HISTORY: Milan Conference Occurred in Milan Italy in 1880 Enforced the oral method over the manual

method The only country against this change was the US This had a huge impact on deaf people:

Deaf teachers lost their jobs Students had to sign in secret or be punished Sign language could have been “lost” Organizations were developed to protect the rights

of deaf people and sign language

Gallaudet University Founded in 1864- the world’s only liberal

arts university designed specifically for Deaf and hard of hearing students.

In Washington D.C. All courses taught in ASL Hearing students may attend but they

must demonstrate fluency in ASL

Definitions Prelingual Deafness: Going deaf before

learning a language (first 5 years of life) Postlingual Deafness: Going deaf after

learning a language (after 5 years of life)

How to sign “Mr. and Mrs.” There are no signs for Mr., Mrs., or Miss

in ASL. Show respect by using a person’s sign

name and respectful facial expressions.

If you are late: In formal situations in Deaf culture be

ready to give a detailed explanation of why you are late.

This is considered polite in Deaf Culture.

Time Spot Used to communicate the hour and

minute Number begins at the wrist All time signs face outwards including

numbers 1-5

Classifiers Handshapes in ASL that represents a

class of shared characteristics The handshape conveys details

contributing to the overall concept of the sign as well as the signs meaning

Often used in ASL storytelling and when describing things

Represented by CL:

CL:B (see page 193) Walk/Step Walls, doors Flat surface like a table or ground Flag waving Boat on waves

CL: 1 An individual- walking, hunching over,

moving quickly, falling over, etc. Can increase number for more people

up to 5 for a crowd Can also be cylindrical objects like logs

or poles

CL: 3 Wheeled Vehicles like cars, bikes, or

motorcycles How would you show these?

CL:  ʌ Represents actions of a person’s legs or

eyes Laying down, jumping, falling, how you

walk, where you look etc.