| My husband, Alex, and I are hearing parents of a deaf | | | | Every single year, I attended ASL classes, it did not |
| child. We were very young parents when we found | | | | matter what the weather was like or how busy my |
| out Larry was deaf. Larry is now a successful Deaf | | | | schedule was at work. I was a software engineer |
| adult. Based on our experience we feel it is very | | | | who traveled about 1 week every 2 months for work. I |
| important for hearing parents to learn American Sign | | | | am so thankful that I persisted and learned ASL. It |
| Language (ASL). Here are our thoughts. | | | | really did pay off. Larry was at ease in sharing his |
| Having a deaf child was totally a new experience to | | | | thoughts and ideas with us at home. For example, |
| us and we were learning and adapting as we went | | | | Larry and Charisma inherited Alex's wonderful sense |
| along. Alex and I had no books on learning sign | | | | of humor and there were always so much joking and |
| language and no sign language classes were available | | | | humor around. We were enjoying communication like a |
| for hearing parents of deaf children in Trinidad. We | | | | regular family. |
| were extremely lucky to attend a Summer Learning | | | | I remember once, Larry had just gone up to Middle |
| Vacation at Gallaudet University in Washington DC, | | | | School. I was still buying his school clothes and had |
| when Larry was 3 years old. While attending this 2 | | | | bought some new clothes for him. Also his bedroom |
| weeks program we started to gain an insight on signs | | | | still had kids cartoon character curtains. The first day |
| and learning to sign. I remember seeing a hearing | | | | of school, when I arrived home from work, Larry came |
| toddler running around signing mom as she looked for | | | | to the kitchen to talk to me. He said "I am growing up |
| her mother. Alex and I realized that it was important to | | | | and I need to start choosing my own clothes. And we |
| learn to sign so we could communicate with Larry. | | | | need to get new curtains for my room." I started to |
| We were extremely fortunate to have an experience | | | | laugh; Larry asked "what was so funny?" I said you, |
| at the Summer Learning Vacation that made us | | | | and how you are growing up. Right after dinner Larry |
| commit fully to learning sign language to communicate | | | | and I went to the mall which was 30 minutes away |
| with Larry. This experience was sad but it also was | | | | and he chose some new clothes and new curtains |
| very enlightening to new parents of deaf children. | | | | and bedspread etc. This experience might sound trivial |
| There were presentations by Deaf adults to new | | | | to you, but the fact that I knew ASL allowed Larry and |
| parents of deaf children and at these presentations, | | | | me to have a fun, normal mother and son moment. |
| Deaf adults were crying, yes, crying when they told | | | | I am really happy that I took ASL classes until Larry |
| the story of their parents and family members never | | | | left home to attend university. The signs you need for |
| learning to sign. This really touched our hearts and | | | | a pre teen are very different than the signs you need |
| really sealed our commitment to learn sign language. | | | | for a teen. Knowing ASL really paid of when Larry |
| When Larry was 4 years old we moved from Trinidad | | | | was a teenager because ASL is faster than sign |
| to Washington DC, so that Larry could attend school | | | | English we were able to have better more fluent |
| at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School at | | | | conversations. |
| Gallaudet University. Every Saturday morning we had | | | | So please learn ASL to communicate with your deaf |
| our routine, Alex and I would be spending all morning | | | | child. I know it is extra work and effort. But it is |
| learning sign language at Kendall School. Charisma, | | | | something you must do, so you can have effective |
| Larry's younger sister, attended daycare with the deaf | | | | communication with your child. It does not matter if you |
| children and their hearing siblings at Kendall too. | | | | child is hearing or deaf, you as a parent must |
| Charisma learned to sign very quickly. | | | | communicate with them from the time they are born. |
| While taking sign language classes we were asked if | | | | You want to be able to enjoy life everyday moments |
| we wanted to learn signed English or ASL. Not | | | | such as choosing clothes or big moments like what is |
| knowing the full differences and being hearing parents | | | | their favorite teacher or sporting activity or getting their |
| who were "attached to English" we said signed English. | | | | drivers license. Communication with your children when |
| I wished we had chosen ASL; it would really have | | | | started early will prevent many challenges when they |
| accelerated our communication with Larry. | | | | are teenagers. |
| When Larry was 10 years old, we moved to | | | | Also it is never too late to start to learn ASL. Currently |
| Massachusetts. At Larry's new school, The Learning | | | | Alex is taking an ASL refresher class at DEAF, Inc. |
| Center for the Deaf, the classes offered were ASL. | | | | |