Moot Thoughts & Musings

Jeanette,

My heart is full that you wrote this entry on your blog that you understood "The Greatest Irony" - and you were able to explain to your readers so well that it makes me so happy.

What even makes me happier is that you are a parent of a Deaf child who learns ASL since birth, and receives cochlear implant and learning to listen and talk and still using ASL.

I wish I am like Ellis when I was younger. But, I am very proud of you that you and your husband made this kind of informed decision, and Ellis will be eternally grateful for you as very loving, involved and caring parents.

You have shown your love for your son, unconditionally, and accept him as being Deaf, and Ellis is so fortunate to learn two languages that will enrich his learning for the rest of his life!

Big, major and enormous hugs from me.

Amy Cohen Efron

I agree with a lot of things you have said, But I thought he was Scottish?
Why call him a Hero?

Also what he has said caused a great deal of myths long after his death. :-(

If I understand a commenter correctly, was your son implanted after learning sign language? How old was he implanted? Is he able to understand a spoken conversation of a stranger either in person or on phone? Help educate me. :-)

Thanks, Jeannette! I had no idea so many deaf babies were being encouraged NOT to use ASL! I've just always assumed that we hearing families were stealing advantages from the deaf community. That ticks me off.

Thank you so much for sharing! This is wonderful, a hearing parent speaking out on the topic. Thank you!

What a great video - thanks to Amy for all the info. And, Amy, you have such a beautiful smile. I didn't know that there was any structured ideology that discouraged deaf children from learning sign. How crazy! That makes no sense. It's the best language for them, and they're robbed of it, and at an age when they can best assimilate it and have no idea what they are being robbed of. If they feel that earlier access to communication comforts/helps a hearing baby, how much more does having sign give comfort and help to a deaf child of any age! It seems bizarre that they think having ASL would keep a child from using hearing. Knowing English doesn't keep people from learning Spanish, if they need it and want to. A person acquires as much language as he is able, and as is useful to him. Thanks so much for all this great info!

"I agree with a lot of things you have said, But I thought he was Scottish?
Why call him a Hero?"
I was just trying to be witty. Calling him the "great American hero" was tapping into his general persona and being somewhat ironic at the same time. ;-)

"If I understand a commenter correctly, was your son implanted after learning sign language? How old was he implanted? Is he able to understand a spoken conversation of a stranger either in person or on phone? Help educate me. :-)"
My son has been learning sign language since about 5 months old, which was when we started learning and teaching him. He was implanted a few weeks ago at 2yrs old, so I have no idea what he'll be able to do in terms of telephone usage, stranger talk. It's all new territory for me.

"That ticks me off."
Me too!!!

Jeannette

I can't find your e-mail... can you send one to mine??

-M

Funny you mentioned this because on another site, there's a cartoon that sums this issue up...
http://www.moeart.com/blog/?p=32

Hi Jeanette,

thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the Greatest Irony, it is wonderful to see a hearing person understand what we're trying to share...

So many people out there are unaware, there must be a way where everyone is aware. Perhaps 60 minutes? :)

thanks :)

Jeanette,

You, as a parent who is learning sign language, are the hero in your son's tale. Bless you!

~ LaRonda

As a proud (hearing)father of a Deaf son, I am ecstatic to say Seth and I began learning sign when he was a year old or so and began with S.E.E and am now starting to work my way into ASL from PSE and I can see the gears turn in his head and the thought process in motion when ASL is used, if I try an sign in a proper manner(SEE)using English grammar I can see where Seth becomes lost somewhere between structure and lack of descriptiveness. ASL is all inclusive, personal and interactive rather than a grammatical monstrocity as proclaimed by others. He was implanted at 1 1/2 and it didn't work well and no longer uses the device for various reasons and have never been able to advocate this procedure. I work with him on his voice now and again because I love to hear the sound of an innocent and untrained voice and furthermore think that time spent early on,in a life size game of memory for pursuit of vocal training is merely a wasted youth. I can't say enough about ASL not only can my son have beautiful language but also communication that rivals poetry, music and art. Thanks to those who made this possible and gave so freely for our enjoyment.