UK Deaf leader argues for video technology

[Stuart Thiessen]

Here, the local teacher (hearing) said that he would not even consider 
use of SignWriting until Deaf people use it. I told him, "2 Deaf people 
are right now telling you it is a good idea!!!  ;-)"  Really, what he 
means is until NAD or Gallaudet or some formal group adopts SignWriting 
as a writing system for ASL, he won't consider it.

But I agree with Valerie. First time, they may be resistant or 
hesitant, but if we are patient, they will realize the benefits of the 
system.

Thanks,

Stuart Thiessen

On Oct 19, 2006, at 13:15, Bill Reese wrote:

> Val,
>
> Last night my late-deaf group had one of it's regular coffee socials 
> and a sign teacher from a local college showed up with her class of 
> about 10 hearing students.  I showed her www.signwriting.org on my 
> sidekick and she admitted that she had looked at it a couple months 
> ago.  Her students are just beginners and most are taking sign as 
> their required foreign language.  As such, most won't be going far 
> with it.  The teacher suggested that signwriting would most likely fit 
> in with the sign language structure class, which is normally a fourth 
> semester class in sign instruction.  I asked her to pass the word 
> along to the teacher of that class.  Not sure where it will get but a 
> couple of her beginning students snuck a look at what I was showing 
> her and expressed curiousity.
> This was probably the first time I had received constructive dialogue 
> instead of skepticism from a local teacher.
>
> Bill
>
>
> If it's anything like the UK, it will be a long ways to go
>
> Valerie Sutton wrote:
>> SignWriting List
>> October 19, 2006
>>
>> Ha! Well...my experience is that it takes around three times, before 
>> people become convinced to look at it...
>>
>> The first time they are against it, the second time they discuss it 
>> more, and the third time they decide to look at it...
>>
>> So maybe in time he will come around, as others write BSL around 
>> him...
>>
>> reading and writing English took centuries to become established...so 
>> there is hope!
>>
>> Val ;-)
>>
>>
>>
>> On Oct 19, 2006, at 9:46 AM, Shane Gilchrist O hEorpa wrote:
>>
>>> I did invite him :-)
>>>
>>> He said he have better things to do...
>>>
>>> (!)
>>>
>>> :-)
>>>
>>> Shane
>>>
>>> On 19/10/06, Valerie Sutton <signwriting at mac.com> wrote:
>>>> SignWriting List
>>>> October 19, 2006
>>>>
>>>> Shane Gilchrist O hEorpa in Belfast wrote:
>>>> > Was talking to a deaf leader in England about that system - he 
>>>> said
>>>> > that its no good - what with the development in video technology 
>>>> i.e.
>>>> > video messages etc - so why the signwriting etc?
>>>> >
>>>> > I said having videomessages etc will not improve kids' literacy in
>>>> > BSL/NISL but having SW will do.
>>>> >
>>>> > beside, technology isnt good at keeping stuff - SW can be printed 
>>>> on
>>>> > any paper and that they ll be still there 500 years away :-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hello Shane and Everyone!
>>>>
>>>> Those are good points, Shane...
>>>>
>>>> So did you invite the Deaf leader to the SignWriting Workshop on Oct
>>>> 27th at DCAL? ;-))
>>>>
>>>> Double-dare him to come to the workshop to see if he has the courage
>>>> to look at it...
>>>>
>>>> When people give me the video argument, I say:
>>>>
>>>> "People did not stop writing English when audio recording equipment
>>>> was invented!"
>>>>
>>>> Written English transcripts are very helpful combined with audio
>>>> CDs ;-))
>>>>
>>>> No different with written Sign Language and videos...they help each
>>>> other....
>>>>
>>>> I know you know this, Shane...I am just spouting off right now - ha!
>>>>
>>>> Val ;-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>