Related Resources
The Greatest Irony DVD by Amy Cohen Efron
Purchase Online at: http://greatestirony.comWhen The Greatest Irony first was put on the Internet as a four-part series on March 17, 2007, response from the community was staggering. With messages from around the world, Amy Cohen Efron realized that she had touched upon an issue that brought differing, often clashing perspectives. The video, comparing two of the most popular and fastest-growing language programs for hearing babies and Deaf babies, set off heated, passionate discussions among people from all walks of life. It became clear that the majority agreed that it was unfair to deny deaf babies the opportunity to learn sign language, especially with American Sign Language’s proven success rate among babies, hearing or deaf.
On the About.com Deafness forum run by Jamie Berke, The Greatest Irony was recognized as the “Blog of the Week.” Berke had this to say about the thought-provoking blog:
“In her signed vlog masterpiece (a transcript is thoughtfully provided), The Greatest Irony, Amy Cohen Efron discusses and contrasts the benefits of baby sign language for hearing babies with the auditory verbal training given to deaf babies. For example, she notes that one of the objectives of baby sign language for hearing children is that it reduces frustration; auditory verbal therapy does not have the same objective. The irony is that while hearing babies are encouraged to sign, the deaf babies have to use whatever hearing they have, without sign language. This vlog is a must for viewing.
"Everyday Signs"
http://www.contactassist.com/tesiforbami1.html
Everyday Signs is the first of three DVDs introducing you to signing with your baby, giving you guidance on how to begin. Words are separated into six categories: creatures, family, mealtime, miscellaneous, needs and objects.
The Teaching Signs for Baby Minds ™: series incorporates bold colors, sights and sounds with American Sign Language to enrich, stimulate and expand communication between you and your child. Created by deaf mom Missy Keast to teach ASL to parents and families with young children, this series makes early communication between you and your child fun and easy. [Missy Keast; DVD: (2006) 42 minutes
Benefits:
* Boost IQ and verbal ability scores
* Communicate with your baby at an earlier age
* Improve listening skills
* Enhance vocabulary development
* Verbal communications skills development
* Greater spatial awareness
* Reduce your baby's frustration
Anything But Silent
by Mark Drolsbaugh
To Purchase: www.handwavepublications.com
"Anything But Silent is a compilation of the most thought-provoking articles by renowned deaf writer Mark Drolsbaugh. With a perfect blend of humor and insight, Drolsbaugh tackles some of the most profound topics in deafness: deaf/hearing relationships, the rift between American Sign Language and English, the hidden world of the hard of hearing, oppression in politics and education, idiosyncrasies of the deaf and hearing, embarrassing moments, and much more. Anthing But Silent offers a deaf perspective rarely seen in print -- bringing knowing smiles to those familiar with the deaf community and enlightening those who are new to it."
Mindfield by John Egbert
John is one of the founders of the Deaf Bilingual Coalition
To Purchase Book:
www.deafchildrenandsigning.com/mindfield.html
Author’s Notes by Stella Egbert…..
My father, John, the author of this book, has been walking around with a dream in his head and a passion in his heart for more than twenty years. He has always wanted to focus a very bright light on the misunderstood, shadowy world of the deaf. His idea was to write a novel, filled with intrigue that would not only entertain, but bring to life the many complicated facets he has experienced as a deaf person.
What would happen if most of the people in America became deaf almost overnight? Chaos? Financial collapse? Anarchy?
None of the above?
Mindfield is a thrill ride with a message; a premise torn right out of today’s headlines. A terrorist cell ignites an aerosol dispersion of what is thought to be deadly bacteria-spinal meningitis. It quickly spreads from a small town in Montana to nearly 30 states, eventually affecting more than three million people-an epidemic of nation-threatening proportions.
However, the problem isn’t death-it’s deaf. The physical symptoms of the disease disappear after three weeks, the only remaining tragedy is all those who are stricken become permanently deaf-a common side effect of spinal meningitis.
The United States is turned inside out, now a country where millions of inhabitants can’t hear. An underground government is formed deep beneath the NORAD facilities in Colorado. A catastrophe of unimaginable proportions-or is it?
Mindfield is a fast paced, plot driven suspense novel with a pleasant surprising, and incredibly potent message about the way we might live our lives if we all had to listen with our eyes and hearts, and how the world might be a much better place for it.
Alone in the Mainstream by Gina Oliva, PhD
Gina is a professor in Physical Education and Recreation at Gallaudet
Purchase at: http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/bookpage/AITMbookpage.html
“A Deaf Woman Remembers Public School
When Gina Oliva first went to school in 1955, she didn’t know that she was ‘different”. But, when the kindergarten teacher played the piano to signal the next activity and the other students began to move, Oliva didn’t react. She couldn’t hear the music. So began her journey as a “solitary,”, her term for being the only hard of hearing child in the entire school. Gina felt alone because she couldn’t communicate easily with her classmates, but also because none of them had a hearing loss like hers. It wasn’t until years later at Gallaudet University that she discovered that she wasn’t alone and that her experience was common among mainstreamed deaf students. Along in the Mainstream recounts Oliva’s story, as well as those of many other solitaires.
In writing this book, Oliva combined her personal experiences with responses from the Solitary mainstream Project, a survey that she conducted of deaf and hard of hearing adults who attended public school. Oliva matched her findings with current research on deaf children in public schools and confirmed that hearig teachers are ill-prepared to teach deaf children, they don’t know much about hearing loss, and they frequently underestimate deaf children. The collected memories in Alone in the Mainstream add emotional weight to the conviction that students need to be able to communicate freely, and they also need peers to know they are not alone.
A Man Without Words by Susan Schaller
Order at: www.susanschallerSusan Schaller is a teacher of American Sign Language affiliated with the World Federation of the Deaf and founder of In the Name of Deaf Adults (NaDA).
“As Schaller describes Ildefonso’s amazing transformation, she also explores the ways other children deprived of language acquire it as adults, and the reasons their plight has received so little attention. Her passionate, powerful book is both eloquent and elegant.” Andrea Barrett, Washington Post Book World
“A beautiful and meticulous study of a languageless man and of Schaller’s patient, dedicated and brilliantly conceived efforts to make contact with him and to introduce him to language.” From the Foreword by Oliver Sacks
Vital Signs DVD by Susan Schaller
Order at: www.susanschaller.com
Whether you need to treat a Deaf patient, serve a Deaf client, or meet your new baby, Vital Signs can help you communicate better. Viewers will be ready to raise their hands, light up their faces, and sharpen their sights. Armed with some signs, knowledge of available resources, and an appreciation for the language of the Deaf community, viewers will be excited to meet their first (or next) Deaf person.