[nabs-l] blind students in ASL courses

[Jedi]

Not necessarily. Many, if not most,  of the
deaf/blind folks in the NFB prefer assisted listening over ASL. that 
doesn't mean one shouldn't try to contact the Deaf/Blind division, I'm 
just saying that it might be difficult to get the information you 
request. You might also go to the American Association of the 
Deaf/Blind (AADB) web site at http://www.aadb.org.

I took ASL classes. I would highly recommend using a tactile 
interpreter. Your school's DSS should provide that service. Your 
tactile interpreter is responsible for signing anything she or he sees 
in the classroom and identifying who is signing what. Your interpreter 
can be Deaf or hearing depending on how your class is structured. 
Hopefully, your ASL instructor is Deaf and uses ASL on a pretty regular 
basis if not all the time.

You'll undoubtedly hit a few obstacles as you work in ASL. The fact is 
that both the Deaf and blind communities consider the deaf/blind to be 
more handicapped than themselves. (the Deaf community more than the 
blind). When I was taking ASL, I noticed that the Deaf people I signed 
to didn't know what to do with me. Once they figured out that I'm a 
tactile signer, they'd sign with me. Unfortunately, they grabbed my 
hands a lot because they didn't think I could follow their hands by 
touch to know what they were saying. In a large gathering of deaf 
people, it's also really difficult to interact because people can sign 
across the room from each other and you'd never know it. Once you find 
someone to talk to, you then meet the difficulties I've just described. 
I'd highly recommend making friends in the Deaf community and going to 
Deaf gatherings with them so they can help you break down those barriers.

Let me know by e-mail if you have any specific questions on tactile 
signing techniques. My e-mail is loneblindjedi at samobile.net.

Respectfully,
Jedi
Original message:
> Hello,

> Have you contacted the Deafblind division of the NFB? While this 
> student isn't deafblind himself, I think they would have excellent 
> suggestions as to how to accommodate the blind student for this course.

> http://www.nfb.org/nfb/deaf-blind_resources.asp?SnID=2

> This resource list may be of some use to you.
> Hope this helps.

> Briley Pollard
> On Jun 9, 2010, at 12:29 PM, Loew, Ruth wrote:

>> Hi - I'm a sighted lurker on this listserv.  I know many of you from
>> NABS meetings at the NFB Conventions and Washington Seminars.

>> I participate in another listserv for people who work with deaf and hard
>> of hearing college students.  Today someone raised an interesting
>> question: a blind student has registered for an ASL (American Sign
>> Language) class, and the Disability Services counselor is looking for
>> suggestions as to how to make the class accessible and meaningful.

>> I know that some NABS members have taken ASL courses.  Do any of you
>> have ideas I could pass on to my colleagues?  You may contact me
>> off-list at RLoew at ets.org; or, if you think the discussion would be of
>> interest to others, feel free to post to the list, and I'll see your
>> responses there.  Thanks!

>> Ruth C. Loew, Ph.D.
>> Assistant Director
>> Office of Disability Policy, ETS



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