Deaf Culture and Communication Access

1
Deaf Culture and Communication Access

• Mandy Christian, Outreach Specialist
• Gallaudet University Regional Center at
• Johnson County Community College
• Carla Keeling, Deaf Services Coordinator
• Johnson County Human Services and Aging,
  Accessibility Program

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Agenda

• Introduction
• Deaf Culture
• Impact of Technology
• Communication Access/Interpreter
• Changing roles of interpreters/technology
• Q A

3
Gallaudet University Regional Center

• Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
• Gallaudet University
• National Mission/Priority Areas

4
Johnson County Human Services Aging,
Accessibilty Program

• Case Management
• In-Home Services
• Deaf Services
• Disability Awareness
• Support Group
• TAP Demonstration Site
• Video Phone Access

5
Fact Sheet

• 37 Million People have a speech or language
  impairment
• 2.1 million cases of hearing impairment are
  reported annually in the United States
• One out of four people over the age of 65 has a
  hearing impairment. By 75, one out of three has a
  hearing loss.
• National statistics range up to 9.2 of the
  population has a hearing impairment

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Cause of Deafness

• Rubella
• Spinal Meningitis
• Exposed to Loud Noises
• High Fever
• Medication
• Hereditary
• Unknown

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Deaf Blindness

• Born deaf, vision loss came later
• Born hard of hearing, vision loss came later
• Born blind, hearing loss came later
• Born visually impaired, hearing loss came later
• Born with vision and hearing loss
• Born with both senses, losses came later
• Source from Helen Keller National Center

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Born with Vision and Hearing Loss

• Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS)
• Premature Birth
• Various Syndromes CHARGE
• Birth Trauma
• Source from Helen Keller National Center

9
Usher Syndrome

• Type I Vision Loss Progressive, Born Deaf, No
  Balance
• Type 2 Vision Loss More Gradual, Born Hard of
  Hearing, Balance in tact
• Type 3 Rapid Vision Loss Progression, Balance
  in tact
• Source from Helen Keller National Center

10
Population

• Known Individuals on the
• Helen Keller National Center Registry, 7/06
• Nationally Known 12,000
• Estimated 70,000

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Deaf Education

• Residential Programs
• Mainstreamed Programs
• Oral Programs
• Inclusion
• Charter Schools

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Communication

• American Sign Language
• Total Communication
• Speech/lip reading
• Hearing aids
• Cochlear implants

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Sign Language (Deaf-Blind)

• Close vision
• Restricted field signing
• Distance
• Tracking
• Tactile
• One-handed
• Two-handed
• Rochester Method (fingerspelling only)
• Print-on-Palm
• Source from Helen Keller National Center

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American Deaf Culture

• Deaf Culture is a set of learned behaviors of a
  group of Deaf people who have their own language
  (ASL), values, rules of behavior, and
  traditions.
• -Dr. Carol Padden (1980)

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American Sign Language

• Has own grammar system
• Facial expressions
• No written form
• Cause Effect
• Registers

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Deaf Culture includes

• American Sign Language
• Facial/Eye movement
• Social Events/Deaf Moths
• Pointing
• Blunt comments
• Attention getting

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Values

• Deaf vs. Hearing

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Rules and Beliefs

• Deaf Pride
• Deaf Power
• Eye Contact
• Adequate Lighting
• Communication Access

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Deaf Heritage

• William Dummy Hoy
• Helen Keller
• Paul Hubbard
• Laurent Clerc
• Abraham Lincoln
• I. King Jordan

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Impact of Technology

• Role of ADA
• Impact on Deaf/Deaf Blind Community

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Technology

• Speechreading
• Use of hearing aids
• Use of assistive listening devices (ALDs)
• Cochlear implants
• Print
• Size
• Quality
• Use with specific technology (CART)
• Braille
• Technology
• VRS
• Relay
• Equipment

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TTY
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TeleBraille
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Sidekick Pagers
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Black
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Video Relay Services
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Instant Messenging
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Communication Access/Interpreter
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Tips for communicating without the use of an
interpreter

• Lip reading
• Eye contact
• Visual aids
• Speak slowly
• Facial Expressions

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Tips for communicating

• Positioning
• Obstructions
• Re-phrase
• Paper and pencil
• Meaning

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How to use an interpreter

• Remember that the interpreters role is to
  facilitate communication. It is inappropriate for
  you to address the interpreter directly.

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How to use an interpreter

• Maintain eye contact with the deaf person, not
  the interpreter.

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How to use an interpreter

• Allow the interpreter to stand or sit near you.
  This will allow the deaf person to watch the
  interpreter and still see your facial
  expressions.

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How to use an interpreter

• Allow the interpreter to stand or sit near you.
  This will allow the deaf person to watch the
  interpreter and still see your facial
  expressions.
• Address the deaf person directly. Avoid phrases
  such as Ask her this or Tell him to

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How to use an interpreter

• Interpreters are bound by a code of ethics that
  require them to interpret everything
  communicated, weather it be signed or spoken.
  This includes comments you make in the deaf
  persons presence. It is inappropriate for you to
  request the interpreter to keep anything from the
  deaf person.

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How to use an interpreter

• Lighting is very important. The room should be
  well lit. However, no light source should be
  situated behind anyone. This may require closing
  the blinds, or changing the seating arrangement,
  or possibly changing the room altogether.

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How to use an interpreter

• Using friends or family members as interpreters
  is discouraged by the Americans with Disabilities
  Act. The family member or friend may not be
  qualified to render the necessary interpretation.

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Function of the interpreter

• Allow more direct communication
• Improve communication and avoid misunderstandings
• Decrease frustration
• Raise the comfort level of participants

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Function of the interpreter

• Facilitate more complete communication, so both
  individuals feel free to ask questions and offer
  more complete explanations.
• Save time.
• Make clear any non-verbal communication

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Code of Ethics

• Keep assignment-related information strictly
  confidential.
• Render the message faithfully, always conveying
  the content and spirit of the speaker, using
  language most readily understood by the persons)
  whom they serve.
• Request compensation for services in a
  professional and judicious manner.

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Code of Ethics

• Not council, advise or interject personal
  opinions.
• Accept assignments using discretion with regard
  to skill, setting and the consumers involved.
• Function in a manner appropriate to the
  situation.
• Strive for further knowledge and skills through
  participation in workshops, professional
  meetings, interaction with professional
  colleagues and reading of current literature in
  the field.
• Strive to maintain high professional standards in
  compliance with the Code of ethics.

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ASL is a time, topic, comment language

• Excuse me. Where is the emergency room?
• (Excuse me. Emergency room, where?)
• Are you my nurse?
• (You my nurse, you?
• I have a headache. I would like a pill for pain,
  please.
• (Headache me. Medication-less-pain I want,
  please.)
• Im hungry. When will breakfast arrive?
• (Hungry. Breakfast arrive, when?)
• Im cold. I need another blanket.
• (Blanket, another, I need. Why? I cold.)

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IDIOMS

• Blue in the face
• Sick and tired
• Save your breath
• Rob Peter to pay Paul
• On the brain
• Off the top of ones head
• Keep your nose clean
• Keep a stiff upper lip
• For crying out loud

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Interpreting written samples from deaf patients

• Look for place appointment, couldnt find door
  in.
• Check my right little finger of the right foot is
  cracked.
• The doctor told me that you will drop my right
  ear.
• A little wood in palm.
• Stairs-fall-pain (pointing to back) legs-nothing.
• Hurt my heart.
• Have problem with wisdom.
• Toothache two days, very agony, couldnt sleep.
• My eyes swallow yesterday.

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Video Relay Services

• Sorenson VRS 1-866-327-8877
• CSVRS 1-800-538-9881
• VRS interpreters are either certified by the
  National Association of the Deaf (NAD,IV or V),
  or RID (CI,CT,CI/CT, CSC) or hold a state
  interpreter certificate at the intermediate or
  master certificate skill levels, or have the
  professional interpreting experience to become a
  VRS interpreter. All interpreters receive
  on-going training.

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Video Relay Services Cont.

• VRS The deaf individual and the hearing
  individual are in two different locations and are
  connected through the VRS interpreter located at
  one of the VRS site call centers.
• VRI Both the deaf and hearing individuals are
  located in the same room and the interpreter is
  in a remote location.

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Resources

• http//clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/InfoToGo/index.ht
  ml
• www.hknc.org
• http//www.nad.org
• http//deafness.about.com
• mchristian_at_jccc.edu
• Carla.Keeling_at_jocogov.org