I am just a Guinea Pig
In my recent Vlog, ASL/Oral Data Flow Rate?.? a commenter asked me if I could go to Ontario Association of the Deaf in Canada to help out about ASL. I looked at my Vlog again and noticed that at the end of the Vlog, I said “Could you help me?†I realize that I should have said “Could we work together?†That statement I made in the first place sounded like that I have a degree, etc as a ASL linguistician, but in reality, I am just a guinea pig and what I say is from my experience, right from my heart.
Yes, I would love to speak to parents of Deaf children about my experience as an oralist which have converted into ASList. I have learned recently to be unbiased in communication method philosophy so I could be accepted into an arena so that parents will not have the “mental block†which could do far more positive approachability into their decision for their deaf child’s communication method.
The best I can do to speak to the parents of Deaf children is to write a book. This book, MindField is the best I can do for the Ontario Association of the Deaf and its impact of what ASL can do for deaf children is the best penetrative method about ASL. This MindField book is a must read book for parents of Deaf children and those “authoritarian†that have the “mental block†mind-set.
Gotta go now, to the “drawing board†for my Vlog.
Posted on February 17th, 2007 by egbertpress
Filed under: Uncategorized
Unbiased in communication method philosophy? That’s something we, deaf people, have been fighting against biased information for hearing parents who don’t know what to do with deaf child/ren. I used to be oralist like you, but now I’m ASList.
Now you mentioned it, I google up your book. Now I’m thinking baout buy it whenever I have money.
Yes, I would like to be guinea pig and work together as a team. Is that what you mean that if any of us who already grew up in oral education experience? Pls do correct me if I m wrong or right?
reply to confusing’
Yes, I do like to work as part of the team but there is some strategy methods about talking to group of people. If I don’t have a degree as a lingualist,…. parents and authoritarian decision makers will not listen to me.
I have fought for many years about deaf education for my two deaf kids at schools and it is not easy.
When I said that I was a guinea pig, it means that I am a “nobody”, I have no “voice” to speak for the Deaf Community. There are many excellent Deaf people that have diploma which are certifiable to speak.
The best of what I could do is to plant a seed of thought, like the MindField book and speak to people (parents) about my experience growing up and what my opinion’s are.
I would love to go to OAD on Feb. 28th and have some to say but will they welcome me with open arms? OAD does not know who I am. And it takes expense to go to Ontario and the best I can do for who I am right now is to be there to talk about my book because the book can be very productive in educating about ASL
My future about helping the Deaf Education has just started with the help of my book and right now, I just stepped up to the batter’s box. Am I good enough to hit a homerun? My goal is to get on first base now and there are more coming up to the batter’s box and maybe…we as a team, I (and we) can move toward home plate eventually…..and celebrate for our achievement.