78 choosing and learning a language
How many people will your child be able to communicate with?
It is important for children who cannot hear well to communicate with
many other people. A child who uses home
signs can communicate with only the people
in his home. A child who uses a more complete
sign or spoken language will be able to
communicate with more people. A child who
can also read and write the local spoken
language will be able to communicate with
many more people.
Whether you use a spoken or sign language,
it is very important that the whole family
use it together. This way your child can
communicate with everyone in the family.
Make sure everyone signs
whenever a child who uses
sign language is present.
He will also feel included in the family and
can learn about the world from their conversations.
People without hearing problems can learn sign language if they want
to. The story on page 150 tells how people in a town in Brazil learned to
communicate with deaf children.
What if your child’s first language is not your language?
Using the same language helps communication. But often the sign
language used by deaf children to develop their minds and learn about
the world is not the language used by their families. Many parents
and deaf children who use different languages find it difficult to
communicate with each other. They may not feel close to each other and
become frustrated because it is so hard to understand each other. Deaf
children may feel left out in the family home.
Sign language may be best for the child but less convenient for the
family. Or it may draw attention to a child who communicates in a
different way. But with the support of their communities, parents of
deaf children can help their children learn the language that is right for
them.
I feel so happy
now that I can use
sign language with
Amadou.
And we can help
his cousins learn
to sign, too.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)