Re: Posted for Michelle Katz

[LynnCGiff <LynnCGiff...>]

Does anyone think it important to have the sign taught directly to the

children by someone in the deaf community, or is it acceptable to simply

learn it and then pass it on.

Michelle

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Yes, definitely. My experience with the hearing 
impaired is that thy define themselves as a culture
 - much more than a "community".
ASL is a real language. Would you ask a "knowlegeable" 
Catholic to teach about Judaism? Maybe, but probably 
only if you couldn't get a Jew!

When you take ASL out of context and add it to your worship
it becomes like folk dancing or "actions" for the songs. 
When I have asked hearing impaired folks
about this they have explained how uncomfortable 
it makes them feel.

Children should be encouraged to learn ASL 
for the same reason that they learn any "foreign" 
language - so that they may communicate with 
others for whom that language is "mother tongue".

I suggest you find some hearing impaired folks 
in Newsgroups and ask them how they feel about this. 
My info may be outdated and I may be way out in left field.

Lynn in Fargo