|
Have you ever wondered about...
HOW DEAF PEOPLE COMMUNICATE (Series 2)
Page 12
MEETING DEAF PEOPLE
Deafness is called "the invisible handicap" because you cannot see
it. You may not know at first that you have met a deaf person. There
are several ways that deaf people tell others that they arc deaf: they
may simply say or write, "I am deaf," or they may show it by pointing
to their ears and shaking their heads at the same time.
Deaf people are not all alike. They may be as
different from each other as you are from your
friends. Some deaf people will use their voices,
others will not. Some deaf people who use their
voices may be easy to understand, others may be
hard to understand. (If a deaf person is talking to
you and you don't understand, relax. Give yourself
time to get used to the deaf person's voice. It is
hard to learn to talk when you cannot hear your
own voice.) Some deaf people fingerspell, others
do not. Some deaf people use sign language, others
do not. Some deaf people use American Sign
Language, others sign in English word order.
No matter how a deaf person prefers to
communicate, that deaf person must see your
message in order to understand you.
How will you know what kind of communication
to use when you meet a deaf person? Ask the deaf
person.
How can you help a deaf person to see what you
say?
- Be sure your face and lips are visible and well
lighted.
- Be sure the deaf person is looking at you.
- Be sure you are not chewing something or
covering your mouth with your hands.
- Speak naturally. Don't exaggerate your mouth
movements, or talk slowly, or shout.
- Use gesture and facial expression.
- If you know some signs and fingerspelling, use
them.
- Be patient.
- Be yourself.
SUMMARY
Communication is a two-way process. In this booklet, you have learned
about different ways deaf people communicate with each other and ways
you can communicate with deaf people. What can you tell about these
ways to communicate?
1) facial expression 2) gesture 3) speechreading 4) Cued
Speech 5) fingerspelling 6) American Sign
Language 7) using an interpreter If you were
talking with a deaf friend, what things would you do
to make sure your friend could see what you say?
"Have you ever wondered about . . . How Deaf People Communicate?" is part
of a series developed by the Info to Go (Info to Go). For more information
about the series or about deafness, contact: Info to Go, Gallaudet University,
800 Florida Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002.
Written by: Loraine DiPietro
Illustrated by: Angeline V. Culfogienis
Editorial Consultant: John P. Madison
THE COCA-COLA FOUNDATION
The Info to Go at
Gallaudet University gratefully acknowlrdges the
support of the Coca-Cola Foundation in making this
publication possible.
| 
