[nfb-db] A question about learning ASL?

[Marsha Drenth]

Hi,
As a deafblind person, I am not sure that there are do and don't for distance. If I am recieving sign from another perrson, it is usually more comfortable to be closer, so that neither of our arms or hands are having to reach or to be over extended. There are do and don't about getting a deafblind persons attention. But what this is for every person is different. so to answer your first question, I would say as close as you feel comfortable. 

As far as your second question. No most deaf, deafblind persons who use sign, do not perfer to finger spell. That method is called the Rochester method. Most deaf persons do not have the patiences to have a person finger spell. With some they are okay with finger spelling. There is ASL, English Signed language, and there is the finger spelling method. I would say learning the ASL first. ASL is very visual, so in the past has not given a deafblin dperson the visual information, deafblind people miss out on. A new method is now being used, Haptics or Protactual. The little I know, and the little I am learning, is that these two methods use different gestors on the arm, leg, and back to give visual information. Like for example, if your in a meeting, someone nods there head, or smiles, the person who is interperting for you, would give you that clue. Would give you that clue in a way that would not disturb the meeting or other things going on in the meeting. I recently had a meeting at HKNC, and I used this, I was told things I never knew about the people, what they were doing, in the room, that I had never known, because I could never hear them. I would encourage your terps to look into learning PT or Haptics for the deafblind.

No HKNC does not have any materials for learning sign, in or out of the center. My husband I who are learning sign, had began a database of describing the signs. This is sort of on hold, as I am now a student at HKNC. I am learning so many signs a day, it would be impossible for me to keep up. 

I would say the best practice to learning ASL is, to use it. All of the time. 

I personally think that your questions about learning ASL on this list are appropiate. I don't claim to know it all, just can speak from experience in my own journey. 

If I left out any answers to your questions, please don't hesitate to let us know... 

Marsha drenth  
Sent with my IPhone 

> On Jan 28, 2014, at 8:50 PM, maurice mines <kd0iko at icloud.com> wrote:
> 
> Dear list members, I have a question I am enrolled in Munich celebrated ESL course, and a question has come up amongst the interpreters and myself. How much personal space between the interpreter and myself is appropriate? The reason why this is coming up is because I am of course new at learning ASL, but I’m also used to keeping an area of personal space around myself. Is there any clear dues, and or don’ts? In regards to tactile sign language? Since we’re now learning about gender sign and some of those signs if one is trying to actually feel what it’s been signed certainly invades what becomes it or once personal space, are there any good suggestions?
> 
> In a completely separate issue is due most of you prefer finger spelling? Or just straight ASL? Also since many of us certainly don’t see it okay to make it? Sign as opposed to raising one’s eyebrows and moving one had the probably is no good way for us to see that? Since this is probably not the first email that I’m going to spend with questions about learning ASL would it be advisable to take this discussion off list?
> 
> While in the process of writing this I thought of one more question, I believe that going to community events is on my syllabus are there any do’s and don’ts regarding depth lines than this all?
> 
> My last question is somewhat in the area of our proposed teach act? When trying to figure out how to deal with sign language illustrations and proper placement of said signs and other textbook based information, should we be abdicating for accessible AFL study materials, because from the way I’m beginning to figure this out it seems that each institution does for oneself what is appropriate? Is this the reality around the country? Also has Helen Keller done anything in this area? And last but certainly not least asHknc,  done anything in the area of accessible ASL study materials? Don’t want to include my official signature file in the
> 
> Sincerely Maurice Mines  Student accessibility aid. Voicemail phone 360-524-0791. School/work email address, Maurice.mines at pcc.edu.
> 
> I’d like to thank anyone who would like to answer my questions and help me out with all of this in advance. Have a great evening?
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