working with the deaf & hard of hearing community

Working with the Deaf & Hard of

Hearing Community

Introduction

Brittany HoffTravel Trainer, MTM, Inc. Washington, DC

What Will We Talk About Today?

Deaf (Self) Identity Deaf History & Culture Interpreters &

Communication Travel Training Situations Questions

Deaf (Self) Identity

Key Terms

Deaf• A cultural identity: “Deaf

Culture,” “Deafhood,” etc.• A person could have any

degree of hearing loss deaf

• An audio logical/medical term used to describe a severe to profound degree of hearing loss

Hard of hearing • An audio logical/medical term

used to describe a moderate to mild degree of hearing loss

• May or may not identify with Deaf Culture

Oral deaf• An individual who only

communicates by reading lips• Often does not identify with

Deaf Culture

Key Terms

Late-deafened • An individual who becomes

deaf after childhood• Often does not identify with

Deaf Culture Deaf-blind/low vision (LV)• An individual who is Deaf &

blind/LV• May identify with Deaf, Deaf-

Blind/LV, or Blind Cultures

Hearing• A term used to describe

those who are not D/deaf Hearing impaired• Audio logical term/medical

label • Generally avoided as it

implies disadvantage & negativity

Deaf Culture

What is Deaf Culture?

Shared language Oppression (audism) Political agendas Experiences Behavioral norms Values & traditions

Deaf History

1817First deaf school founded in US in CT; other states quickly followed

1864 Gallaudet College

established

1870s Alexander Graham

Bell, oralism,

“Dark Ages”

1880s Milan

Conference, NAD

founded

1910s-50s Employment boom

1960sFirst ASL dictionary, deaf theatre, clubs,

community, TTY invented

1960s-70s Mainstreaming/

manually coded English

systems

1970s - 80s Access Legislation

Interpreters +/- impacts

1817 1980s

1972RID established

d

1988Deaf President Now Protest, Deaf Way

1990

1995Cochlear Implants

available for those age two &

over

1993 IDEA identifies Deaf Schools

as “most” restrictive

1995 Miss

America

1986

1980s 1990s

1980s Captioning

widespread, linguistic research

grows

1988 Marlee Matlin

wins best actress

2

2000s Handheld devices, video phones/

video relay service

2000s

2010s

2010s Deaf schools

struggling2006

Over 30,000 cochlear implants worldwide,

controversy continues to grow

Late 2000sVPs & Interpreters

common in workplaces

2010s Technology!

Mobile VP/VRS, social media, YouTube, etc.

Early 2010s Interpreters in

the news: fake interp. at

Mandela funeral,performing on

Fallon

2011 ABC Family’s Switched at

Birth

Interpreters & Communication

What is Sign Language Interpreting?

According to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Sign Language interpreting: • Makes communication possible between people who are

deaf/hard of hearing & people who can hear• Is a complex process that requires a high degree of linguistic,

cognitive & technical skills in English & ASL• Is more than replacing spoken English with a signed depiction of

the word• Has grammatical rules, sentence structure & cultural nuances• Can incorporate cultural information

When Should You Use an Interpreter?

The individual requests an interpreter

Signing papers Completing

assessments Travel training sessions

Communication Tips

Eye contact & facial expressions

Body position Allow extra, extra time Turn taking Visual, visual, visual Written English

What is a Qualified Interpreter?

Required under the law (504, ADA, IDEA)

Bi-lingual Pass rigorous testing

procedures Interpret concepts &

meaning, not words

Held to a professional code of conduct• Confidentiality• Professionalism (message

equivalency)• Conduct• Respect for consumers• Respect for the profession• Business practices• Professional development

Qualified Interpreters are NOT

Helpers Secretaries Bookkeepers Personal care attendants Teacher’s aids Travel trainers

How to Request an Interpreter

RID Independent living center Interpreter agency Transportation agency

RememberWho. What. When.

Where. Why.

More Details = Better

Travel Training Situations

Questions?

Resources

ASLwww.lifeprint.comwww.aslpro.comhttp://www.handspeak.comwww.gallaudet.edu

Interpreterswww.rid.org

General Information/Advocacywww.nad.orghttp://nationaldb.orgwww.wfdeaf.orghttp://hearingloss.org

Publishershttp://gupress.gallaudet.eduhttp://www.dawnsign.comhttp://www.signmedia.com

Resources

Films & TV ShowsThrough Deaf Eyes (PBS Film) Joel Barish No Barrierswww.joeybaer.comSwitched at Birth (ABC Family)

Deaf Newswww.deafworld.comwww.ideafnews.comwww.deafnewstoday.comwww.deafnation.com

References

Fox, M. (2007). Talking hands: What sign language reveals about the mind. New York, NY: Simon & Shuste, Inc.

Garey , D., & L. Hott (directors), K. Chowder (writer). Through deaf eyes. PBS short film.

Groce, N. E. (1985). Everyone here spoke sign language: Hereditary deafness on Martha’s Vineyard. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Lane, H., R. Pillard, & U. Hedberg (2011). The people of the eye: Deaf ethnicity and ancestry. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

References Lane, H., R. Hoffmeister, & B. Bahan (1996). A journey into the deaf-world.

San Diego, CA: Dawn Sign Press. Novak, J. (2010). Deaf community and interpreters Presentation

[PowerPoint Slides]. Novak, J. (2014). A timeline of impactful events in deaf history. Unpublished

document. Novak, J. (2015). Personal Interview , July 15, 2015. Sacks, O. (2000). Seeing voices: A journey into the world of the deaf. New

York, NY: Vintage Books. Valli, C., C. Lucas, & K. Mulrooney (2005). Linguistics of American Sign

Language: An introduction. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.

Helpful Contacts

Jodie Novak, MAASL Linguist & InterpreterJodie.Novak@Live.com

Gallaudet University Museum

Holly Rioux, MSWDirector, Deaf & Hard of Hearing ServicesGreater Nashua Mental Health Centerriouxh@gnmhc.org

Contact Information

Brittany HoffTravel Trainer, MTM, Inc.

Bhoff@mtm-inc.net202-681-4745

300 M St. SE, Suite 825 Washington, DC 20003