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I just saw a video that has been circulating and it broke my heart. A foster mom recorded a deaf, language-deprived six-year-old girl struggling to communicate one thing. She wanted her foster mom to open a package. No video link cuz it was done without the girl’s consent. 1/10
Anyway, the main point: language deprivation = child abuse. Mistreatment and no way of expressing or understanding their surroundings often result in physical and mental injury upon the child. These experiences are too familiar in a non-signing environment. 2/10
Both of my toddlers are deaf and able to communicate their thoughts in American Sign Language (ASL). We also teach them written English. They converse with each other and everyone involved without any barrier. We encourage them to think critically. 3/10
True story: whenever they argue, they will often ask one of us to help. We encourage them to sort things out on their own. As a result, they will look at each other and sign DISCUSS and began compromising on their own. It is a beautiful, organic process to observe. 4/10
Yesterday, one of them asked me when Mommy ( @slstecker) would build a rocket so she could fly to the moon and bring it to them. They both always have been clear with ideas, imaginations, wants and needs. 5/10
While negotiating in ASL, my kids would specifically list each chore before arriving the desired reward. So, if I ask them to read a certain number of books, one of them often comes back with a lesser value hoping they’d finish early. 6/10
Thanks to ASL, we all talk openly before coming to an agreement. There is no “final say” or any coercion from our end. It breaks my heart to know that not all deaf children share the same experience. 7/10
Sign language is the most natural language. Identities are meant to be valued and celebrated daily. Unfortunately, many doctors advise parents to speak with their voices instead of learning how to sign. 8/10
Parents eventually learn sign language many years later. By then, their deaf child’s language development becomes limited & often struggles with mental health. How can anyone not recognize this as abuse? 9/10
Every deaf child deserves to be understood & have the ability to participate in the society. To deprive them of sign language, a natural and accessible language, is a human rights violation. 10/10
