Sign language and its limitations

What's my take on sign language , I am often asked. I am always taken back to that day when Prisha was diagnosed as deaf and I could only visualize those sign language news readers on national TV. I was fascinated like most kids those days. My body started to burn and heart in deeper pain. The thought of my beautiful girl bring isolated with those dancing fingers made me cry more. Desperately trying to look for help and a miracle that could make her hear me and speak. 

Cut to today.... I am glad and most thankful that she has the language of the masses and the world. I can't ever ... Ever ...ever imagine that we are all signing away and me translating to everyone around us. Her being left out with only deaf community who signs and also the same sign language as her. Would I have made these two country moves? Would she have been global? Would I be able to leave her with anyone without worrying? Would I ever ... ever....ever hear her beautiful singing voice? Would we not have lost those precious songs she composes? Would I ever dream of sending her off to a foreign country for higher education? Would I ever have a separate life from hers? Or would I be a permanent chaperone to her? How many people she comes across would have known the translation of her dancing fingers? How many sign languages would I reach her? ASL, ISL, FSL.... Etc etc. every country has a different sign language. India itself has many....wouldn't I be restricted to my comfort zone? 

Ask any adult deaf person or even google and see videos and reactions of people when they start to hear and speak. No one would ever say they prefer signs to speech. I am NOT against signs... But definitely feel that early intervention, right HEARING AIDS programmed right and GOOD SPEECH THERAPY shall eliminate the need of sign language and make them as integrated adults with less adaptations. Signs work for people who had no access to these. But then they should be ready for a lot more adjustments and limitations. 

What would you prefer.... Sign language or speech? Try signing your thoughts to people and see.  #signlanguage #hearingaids#cochlearimplants #speechdevelopment #speechindeaf

Small difference in accent

Prisha has just made out a small difference in a word. How we think it's not possible with the hearing impaired. I felt thrilled and she found it so amusing and couldn't stop laughing ! She is my little wonder.Water is that word that makes her giggle. Small discoveries.

Link to ESL worksheets

      I came across these ESL worksheets which you can take printouts of and give to the kids to work on their language.I found them very helpful.

http://www.eslpdf.com/esl_verbtenses.html

Baking vocabulary

Loving sister and brother

Picture perfect

Perfect team an smiles

Bite my cake

     Yesterday my turned 15 and Prisha was very thrilled.She wanted to secretly bake a cake for him and give him a surprise.And its almost impossible for one to do that without my son knowing it.So in various ways I asked him what cake he would like and then told him to stay away and pretend he would not understand what we were doing in the kitchen. Prisha looked pretty hassled each time he entered the kitchen specially when we put it to bake. So she decided, she would tell him that we were making a pizza in the oven for lunch ! And my son did keep up the full suspense.
    While baking, I used all the vocabulary that was associated with baking a cake.She helped me measure, the gadgets that were needed to bake one,the process and the result. So learnt some new and reinforced some. Words like measure,beat, bake,mixer,whip,batter,temperature,baking tin,dusting,greasing the pan,baking powder,baker,bakery etc all were used.She did remember many but did need to be asked to speak a few a number of times.
     When the cake was ready, the big issue was next where to hide it and so, she hid it behind some spoon stands to cool, so he could not see it  "wink". It was most hilarious and endearing to see her excitement. My son is a bit more serious and mature and so could take all this in his stride and played along.
     In the evening, she realized we for got the candles and so she got some that was at home and she while she arranged it on the table, she shut him in his room ! And then with an eager and excited face she pulled him and gave him the "big surprise" ! The guy was really touched at the same time to see his sister's love.They hugged and kissed while I looked on. We cut the cake and she sang the perfect birthday song for him. In all a very nice and fun day with learning and in this process I too ended up innovating a new recipe -plum and berry egg-less cake !

Some more inspirational and success stories

      It was most inspiring to hear some success stories from Mrs.Hudlikar.2 of her students passed out their class 10 in normal category with no exception for them from school ! The noticeable thing in the interview given to the press was that the girls spoke about their feelings ,aspirations and excitement on their own.Parents did not  prompt them. That shows that have "the language for living" ! No lip reading,no signs only speech through listening !We are proud of you and of course one more star in Mrs.Alaka Hudlikar's cap!All the best for their future.

Making their parents so proud and giving hope to others.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_two-hearing-impaired-girls-pass-ssc-exam-in-style_1556434
http://epaper.dnaindia.com/newsview.aspx?eddate=06/18/2011&pageno=2&edition=40&prntid=142670&bxid=31753634&pgno=2

This is the success story of Priya Kshirsagar. Her mother was the one who lead us to Mrs.Hudlikar. Priya is now running her business of baking from home.She has her regular clients and deals with clients and suppliers by herself. She does her shopping, accounting,selling and dealing with clients herself.This again shows that she is fully integrated into normal life as she has "the language for loving" not just book knowledge.proud of you Priya ,all the best !

Priya runs her own baking business

http://www.dnaindia.com/academy/report_mcvc-the-wonderful-fourth-option_1554528

http://epaper.dnaindia.com/newsview.aspx?eddate=06/13/2011&pageno=7&edition=40&prntid=142306&bxid=35163352&pgno=7

Such stories give hope to us parents that our kids too would make success out of their lives.For me too its very important that Prisha acquires that "language for living" where just studying for exam and writing down for good marks is not so important. That she is able to fully communicate with people around all by herself ,is the key step.Look forward to such more success stories from Mrs.Hudlikar.