Albuquerque Videotape about SignWriting...

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
April 23, 2002

Dear SignWriting List Members!
I have been watching the most remarkable videotape, made in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, by teachers of the SignWriting Literacy
Project.

Teachers Cecilia Flood, Lorraine Crespin, Jennifer Thompson,
Elizabeth Allen, Kate Lee and one other teacher (I am sorry I
couldn't catch her name)...discussed their classroom experiences with
SignWriting at the CASA conference for educators in Albuquerque, on
April 12-13, 2002. Cecilia setup a video camera during the
presentation. I have only viewed the video once, but I plan to really
study it, because there is a wealth of information there.

In the past, James and Judy Shepard-Kegl supplied us with video clips
showing Nicarguan deaf people reading SignWriting....Those videos
were always exciting and important...But ironically, we never had the
equivalent in the US until the New Mexico SW Literacy Project began
three years ago...

This recent presentation in Albuquerque means a lot, since for the
first time, there are American deaf children reading and enjoying
SignWriting on a video, and typing signs on computers....and teachers
who are totally convinced it is a valuable tool in the classroom.

Three of the teachers had used SignWriting longer than the other
three. So I was interested to learn what the three new teachers
thought of SignWriting...Apparently they are all having positive
experiences, and although skeptical in the beginning, found the
students became so enthusiastic, that there was no denying its value.

Thank you so much, Cecilia and everyone, for sharing this with me...I
think it would be great if we can transcribe the English on the
video, and even the signing of the interpreters, so that a document
can be published in both English and American signs..... and I hope
that President Bush answers Julio and the other Deaf children - they
wrote to the President to tell him about SignWriting!

Val ;-)
..