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From: janice@cs.fau.edu (Janice Nardandrea)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Again, just some thoughts!
Message-ID: <17080@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 22 Jan 91 21:26:06 GMT
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Reply-To: janice@cs.fau.edu (Janice Nardandrea)
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Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference

Index Number: 13091

Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker) writes:

> Index Number: 13026
> 
> While you may feel signing is better than oral communication, it 
> is not for everyone.  I don't mean to cut down signing but I do feel 
> that speechreading and oral communication is possible for ALL.
>  
> I would love to see all hearing impaired come out of isolation  
> and we all mingle as a whole using total communication...this
> separating into different groups is for the birds!               
>  
> I know I'm biased in my opinion but I've seen too many deaf individuals
> miss out on so much due to the fact they only use signing as their 
> mode of communication.  I guess I just don't believe in the easy 
> way out.  Don't get me wrong because signing does have its place
> but only in certain circumstances.
>  
> 

I, for one, concur with you, Ann, about the total communication.  I'm
a strong believer in oral communication, and I'm hearing impaired. The
major thing is if the deaf person who has the ability to talk well from
speech therapists, parents, and other resources (communication disorders
departments in various colleges), then she/he can improve as time goes by.
I started this therapy when I was 3 (preschool age) throughout high
school.  Unforunately I stopped taking it because of the time being spent
on my college studies, part time job, and a couple of extracuricular
activites for about four years or so.  Moreover, I returned to the differ-
ent speech clinic at the college for a semester.  Upon my Associate of 
Arts degree, I transferred to other college for my BBA.  I didn't continue
taking speech therapy (for about two years and half due to the same
activity I had before--part time job and study) until now that I am back
to school full time along another extracuricular activity on my schedule.
I have to make several oral presentations for my classes so my new
speech therapist will provide me speech corrections when necessary.

Hope it helps.  Nuff said !  :-) :-)