Deaf: ASL and English
(Roughly Translated)
It is very important for all Deaf babies and children in the USA and most of Canada to learn ASL as their first natural language at home and school. At home, parents must be aware that they need to learn ASL in order to communicate with their own children in any possibly natural environment.
In my view, Deaf children should be expected to attend ASL schools to learn two languages, ASL (expressing, acquiring, writing and reading) as their first language and English (writing and reading) as their second language.
If parents want their Deaf children to have an additional option of speech, parents will need to be aware that speech is NOT natural and also burdens Deaf children. Parents must discuss with appropriate and credible professionals and ensure to include their Deaf children in the discussion to make decision. NEVER force their Deaf child to learn speech that they don’t want or cannot understand. If so, it would lead to a very painful and difficult path for them like millions of Deaf people who already went through it.
Many Deaf children who are denied to use and learn their natural language, ASL, will face a huge painful problem ahead of them. The relationship with parents might NOT be rosy and could be in an extremely difficult situation such as frustration, sorrow, unforgiving, hatred and even end of relationship. That has happened to many Deaf people. Nobody on earth deserves that.
Most important of all is to provide all parents knowlegable and relevant resources such as Deaf and ASL studies, Deaf History, ASL, Deafhood, Culture studies and ASL education. When the parents understand “What does Deaf mean?”, they will have normal relationship with their Deaf children like any hearing parents with their hearing children.
Yes we are aware of some parents who don’t have ASL resources in their home area. It is a very tough situation. It is important to set up or join parents group or DBC chapter to advocate and lobby any level of government to include ASL/Deaf program in any system. It will help parents learn ASL and understand ASL/Deaf and it will benefit not only parents but also Deaf children and their future life.
Oralism is, in fact, burden to the society!
