Success!! SignWriting with DeafBlind...

[Valerie Sutton]

From: NCIcewolf at aol.com
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 18:23:55 EDT
Subject: Re: Success!! SignWriting with DeafBlind...
To: Sutton at signwriting.org

Hi again!

Let's see...I use a variety of methods.  One is to write the English
words and sign symbols with color glue.  I don't know if that is the
right word for it, and enlarge the pictures.  She touches the card,
and puts it close to her face.  She has some sight, like she can see
some shapes.  I try to add to her vocabulary book everyday and write
alot to her using symbols and signwriting.  When I can, I try to look
up the signwriting symbols, or make it up if we are in another class
and she has to wait or something.  I bring a erase board and write
what she is doing.  She always puts the paper or board to her face.
But the raised glue works the best.  It takes her awhile to try and
figure out the sign on her own, but I'm patient.  I use the thick
black marker alot too.  The computer is my next challenge with her.
We have a special keyboard, but I'm trying to figure how to teach it
for her.  I might just let her play the first time with it.  So far
so good!  I love my job!!

Smiles
Nancy Cole


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>SignWriting List
>August 27, 2002
>
>Hello Nancy and Everyone!
>
>You are the first Deaf teacher to report to us, that the Deaf-Blind
>can read and use SignWriting! Congratulations on this. If your
>student is truly Blind, how does she read the SignWriting?  By
>feeling the page? Thanks for your information, Nancy!
>
>Please write back and tell us more about how you are teaching your
>DeafBlind student...
>
>Val ;-)
>
>-------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>At 7:58 PM -0600 8/26/02, Nancy Cole wrote:
>>I don't know if this will work or not, but I wanted to share an
>>experience I had today with one of my students.  She is Deafblind,
>>and I have been teaching her signwriting since the first day of
>>school last week.  She is already in 9th grade, and has CHARGE
>>Syndrome.  I decided to use signwriting because she reads symbols to
>>help her with English words.  Her language development is very
>>delayed, and I was desparate to help her.  Today, for the first
>>time, after working again on the Goldilocks coloring workbook (which
>>she really loves) she looked at the B handshape on it's side and
>>signed "know."  She got so excited, as I did!  This is an absolute
>>first for her, and last night her mother told me she is finally
>>trying to write to express herself!   Anyways, I thought I would
>>share this with you all!
>>
>>Have a super week!!
>>Smiles
>>Nancy Cole
>>Teacher for the Deaf/HH