Discerning

I know that it is often very difficult for our kids with severe disabilities to express their emotions in the usual ways. As parents, we learn to read their feelings. Even when they are infants, we learn the sound of a hungry cry versus a tired cry.

When our children are older, we can usually tell without their ever saying a word if they are angry or frustrated or happy. I'm not sure though that we can always figure out some of the more subtle feelings, being lonely, for example, or being worried about something.

I also wonder if our children with severe disabilities can read the emotions of other people. I believe they can even if they can't always put words to what they sense.

For example, I know that Ashley can tell when I am worried. I know she can tell when I feel bad but try to hide it. She can tell when I am sad or extremely stressed, and more often than not, her emotions will begin to match mine. That makes sense as it relates to the mother/child relationship.

But how about with the other people in their lives? Can our children tell if someone is truly being nice to them, or being nice to their face and making fun of them later? Can they distinguish the subtle emotions of others? If someone tells them that they love them, but as a parent, you know otherwise just from the other actions or words of that person, do you think our children can read that? Do our children understand pity, envy, and yes, even lies?

What do you think? Even if your children can't give voice to their emotions and the emotions of others, do you think they understand? I'm leaning towards an answer of 'YES'.

Score One for MickeyD's

I found this on YouTube and just had to share. I don't believe it is ASL, but it is something very similar. I just like the easy flow of the commercial and the thought of universal communication, even if it is about fast food!

How To Speak Deaf

Since Ronnie joined our family, we have had lots of situations, mostly medical, in which an interpreter is present. It's always interesting to notice the reactions of the hearing people in the group, especially people who are there to relay and solicit information from Ronnie. What I have learned is that a lot of people don't quite understand how to have a conversation with a Deaf person and that person's interpreter.

So here are some tips that I found at Deaf News Today for communicating with people who are Deaf or hearing-impaired. If any of you have other tips, I would love to hear them.

• Make sure you have eye contact with the person before speaking


• If there is an interpreter, speak to and look at the deaf person not the interpreter


• Face the person to whom you are speaking (that helps with lip-reading)


• Stand in good lighting and avoid standing so that light is on the face of the Hearing-impaired person


• Avoid background noise whenever possible


• Move your mouth to articulate but don’t exaggerate


• Speak a little louder and slower than normal but don’t shout or drag


• Keep your hands away from your face and particularly your mouth


• Use lots of facial expressions and body movements


• If something is unclear, rather than just repeating the same thing, rephrase thoughts in shorter and simple sentences

Friday News Reel

Can you hear with your skin? Or perhaps see with your ears? Researchers at MIT think so. Check out this article – it’s pretty short – but packed full with interesting information about what our future might hold.

Using All Our Senses

If you are deaf and a passenger on a plane, how do you know what instructions and information the airline staff is giving you? If the plane you are on has landed but you aren’t allowed to disembark for an hour, would you get nervous and maybe agitated because you couldn’t hear what is happening?

Students at the Rochester School for the Deaf have been in that situation, and have come up with an idea on how to make things much better, not only for deaf passengers but for all passengers. Check out their idea here:

Students Develop Innovative Plan

And finally, because it is Friday, I thought we needed a little entertainment to kick off our weekend:

Rhapsody

Enjoy and do something fun this weekend!