OKLAHOMA CITY – Do all deaf people know sign language? What’s
an acceptable way to get a deaf person’s attention? Is it helpful to shout when
talking to someone who is hard of hearing? Can all deaf and hard of hearing
people read lips?
Those who don’t know the answers to these questions may have difficulty
communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Bridging this
communication gap and educating others about hearing loss are two reasons for
celebrating national Deaf Awareness Week Sept. 20 – 26.
In honor of National Deaf Awareness Week, the Oklahoma Department of
Rehabilitation Services has posted this media release video in American Sign
Language (ASL) for the deaf on the agency’s Web site, www.okdrs.gov.
Deaf Awareness Day at the Oklahoma State Fair will be held Thursday, Sept. 24.
DRS’ Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will staff a booth from 10 a.m.
to 9 p.m. in the Carriage Hall Building to provide information about the
services available through DRS programs. Songs and skits will be performed in
American Sign Language by agency staff members who have been taking sign
language classes two days a week before work. DRS Director Michael O’Brien will
pre-record a signing presentation for viewing at the fair.
According to U.S. Census-based estimates developed by Gallaudet University,
13,674 deaf and 162,125 hard of hearing people live in Oklahoma. Gallaudet
University, located in Washington, D.C., is a four-year liberal arts university
for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
DRS’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation counselors coordinate with the
division’s Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to help clients reach
employment goals in careers of their choice. As a result, those whose deafness
was a barrier to employment become taxpayers each year, eliminating or reducing
their need for disability benefits and social services.
The Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD) provides residential, early intervention
and outreach education services at no charge to students who are deaf or hard of
hearing. The school offers preschool programs for children who are deaf at
regional sites in Chickasha, Collinsville and Edmond.
OSD provides critical outreach services for deaf or hard or hearing students
attending local public schools. These services include audiological, speech and
language and other assessments; in-service training programs; and
recommendations for adaptations to the students’ educational environments.
With Deaf Awareness Week just around the corner, here are those questions again,
with the answers:
Do all deaf people know sign language? Many deaf people, especially those who
were deaf at an early age, use American Sign Language. Many others do not. There
are several different sign systems in America which have been developed in
addition to American Sign Language - the language commonly used by profoundly
deaf people.
What’s an acceptable way to get a deaf person’s attention? To gain attention, it
is acceptable to tap a deaf person lightly on the shoulder or arm or to wave a
hand, small piece of paper or cloth gently in the person's direction.
Is it helpful to shout when talking to someone who is hard of hearing? Shouting
is not helpful, because it distorts both the sounds of words and lip movements.
Can all deaf and hard of hearing people read lips? Some deaf and hard of hearing
people are very skilled lip readers, but many are not. This is because many
speech sounds have identical lip movements. For example, b and p look exactly
alike on the lips.
For more information about DRS programs, contact Services to the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing in Oklahoma City toll free at 800-833-8973. The Oklahoma School for
the Deaf can be reached in Sulphur toll free at 888-685-3323. All the numbers
are accessible by phone and TTY.
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On-Camera Interpreter: Keri Nutt
Interpreter for Keri: LV Berglund
Narrator: Jim Ward