handicapped child - able to listen and understand - unable to speak

Mon Nov 27 16:12:55 UTC 2006

SignWriting List
November 27, 2006

Hello Fernando, Stefan, Charles -

Thank you, Fernando, for this message.... Part 1 is below. I will  
discuss Part 2 in a separate message about LIBRAS. I want to be sure  
that everyone sees this Part 1, since it is specific to the  
handicapped child...I do not know anything about NoteVox or other  
methods you mention below, Fernando, but your work sounds very  
impressive and thanks for this input...

Our SW List is so busy sometimes, it is impossible to digest all the  
messages and understand them all, unfortunately...and in the case of  
handicapped children, I am sure it must be very individual and each  
child needs a lot of special attention to their specific  
problems...and no one child is probably alike...

See next message about your Part 2, about your work with SignWriting -

Val ;-)

> Fernando Capovilla from Brazil wrote:
>
> Dear Valerie, Stefan, Charles and colleagues,
> Thank you for the message.
> This message has 2 parts. Part 1 refers to your message (Stefan's  
> boy). Part 2
> brings an update on very good news for SW.
>
> Part 1: Over the last 20 years I have had the opportunity of  
> working with
> cerebral-palsied children, many of whom deaf or blind, and some  
> deaf-blind. I
> have accumulated extensive experience in Augmentative and Alternative
> Communication techniques, devices, and theoretical models. I have  
> developed a
> number of procedures for literacy acquisition that have proved  
> quite effective
> indeed. In case this boy were deaf, I would definitely recommend  
> Sign Language
> and Sign Writing. But since he is hearing but merely anartric, I  
> would not
> recommend neither of them, unless he is in close contact with a  
> Sign Language
> community. Even if he were in that contact, since he is hearing, I  
> would
> recommend close contact with a hearing community as his primary  
> language
> source. I would like to suggest a visit to ISAAC, the International  
> Society for
> Augmentative and Alternative Communication. But I would definitely  
> discourage
> semantographic systems such as Blissymbols because the main focus  
> must be using
> AAC techniques as a temporary resource until literacy acquisition  
> takes hold.
> The ultimate objective must be assistid writing-talking system,  
> such as our
> Brazilian NoteVox or the American system used by S. Hawking. I am  
> sure there
> must be a German version. Best regards for you and Stefan and Charles,
> Fernando Capovilla

------------

>
> Citando Valerie Sutton <signwriting at mac.com>:
>
> SignWriting List
> November 12, 2006
>
> Charles Butler wrote:
> I believe that part of Fernando Capovilla's work in Sao Paulo is
> specifically addressing this kind of situation.  He is working not
> only with the Deaf but with people with speech impediments and
> specific physical handicaps where speech is difficult.
>
>
> Hello Charles and Stefan....
> Yes...that is true. Dr. Fernando Capovilla has used SignWriting and
> also works with multiply-handicapped people....
>
> Perhaps you can write to Dr. Capovilla, Stefan?...
>
> You can read more about his work at the University of Sao Paulo here:
>
> SignWriting in Brazil
> http://www.SignWriting.org/brazil
>
> Val ;-)
>
>
> --------------
>
>
> SignWriting List
> November 12, 2006
>
> Stefan Wöhrmann wrote:
> Excuse me,  if somebody feels that this question is not subject to
> SignWriting  ... I need your support. Last week I  met a 5 year
> old boy in my classroom–  He is  physically handicapped. He can
> hear and understand spoken language but is unable to speak a
> single word and this will not change in the future. So he uses
> gestures as far as possible. Now we are in the process to develop
> ideas – what kind of education – program would fit his needs at
> best? He is able to understand questions and to follow
> instructions given in spoken language at his level of age without
> any problem. So he is smart ... smile! In the long run he probably
> will choose to use kind of computer software – to type his
> comments on a screen –  but will this support his need for
> everyday – communication? His mother has heard about
> GebaerdenSchrift (SignWriting ) and she decided to check out
> whether this could support her and her son to improve their
> communcation. Believe it or not but this smart little boy was able
> to identify the signs of a two pages GebaerdenSchrift-Document
> after only a 45 minute session!  And even when I wrote some sign-
> names at the blackboard he could understand and sign immediately
> the idea : written names  - well of course written  SignLanguage.
> I am wondering wether anybody who reads this message knows of a
> child in an almost parallel situation. Would be great to get some
> enriching ideas, comments, weblinks ... Thanks for your attention!
> Stefan ;-)
>
>
> Hello Stefan and SW List!
> Thank you for this message, Stefan...It is a good message for this
> List...Using SignWriting with children who are not deaf, is still
> on topic for this List for sure! So please keep writing to us, to
> tell us of your progress with this young man...
>
> There have been other teachers who have used SignWriting with
> students who are not deaf, but who use Sign Language for other
> reasons, such as being mute, or people who are mentally-handicapped
> and cannot speak. I also know of teachers using SignWriting with
> deaf children who are also multiply-handicapped, such as autistic
> deaf children. It is my understanding that in all cases,
> SignWriting was a useful tool. I will try to gather together the
> email messages sent to me on this subject, and get permission from
> the teachers to post their experiences and get back to you...
>
> I can see that you are already making progress with your student,
> Stefan, so please keep us informed...I am very interested as to
> your progress...
>
> Maybe later I can create a link on the Teacher's Forum, for working
> with SignWriting and the multiply handicapped...
>
> http://www.SignWriting.org/forums/teachers
>
> But to do this, we would need permission from the parents of the
> students, to be able to post information as to their progress...
>
> Thanks again for sharing and keep posting messages!
>
>
> Val ;-)
>
> Valerie Sutton
> Sutton at SignWriting.org
>
>
>
> Fernando Capovilla, Ph.D., Livre Docente
> Professor Associado, IP, Universidade de São Paulo
> Av. Prof. Mello Moraes 1721 São Paulo SP 05508-900
>