Meet Susie, an 8-year-old child who was born deaf. Her parents were worried about how they would communicate with her and how she could make friends and interact with the world around her. However, they soon learned about American Sign Language (ASL) and how it could help their daughter.
- Susie’s parents began learning ASL themselves, and they started to teach Susie signs for basic words such as “eat,” “drink,” and “play.” They used sign language in their everyday conversations with her, helping her learn the language naturally and comfortably.
- When Susie started school, her parents worked with her teachers to ensure that she had access to an ASL interpreter who could help her follow along with the lessons and communicate with her classmates.
- Susie quickly picked up more signs and started using them to communicate with her classmates. They were fascinated by her ability to “talk” with her hands and quickly started learning some signs themselves.
- Susie’s class went on a field trip to the zoo one day. As they were walking through the exhibits, Susie noticed a group of deaf visitors who were using ASL to communicate with each other. Excited to see others like herself, Susie rushed over and started signing with them, making new friends.
- From that day on, Susie became more confident communicating with others using ASL. She continued to learn new signs and made more friends within the deaf community. Thanks to ASL, she could fully participate in her life and connect with the world around her.
By using ASL, Susie overcame the communication barrier she faced due to her deafness. Her parents’ efforts to learn ASL and provide her with access to an interpreter helped her feel included and supported in her home and school environments. ASL enabled Susie to express herself, make friends, and fully participate in the world around her.
In conclusion, American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language that is used by the deaf community to communicate and connect with others. By using ASL, children with special needs who are deaf or hard of hearing can express themselves, develop language skills, and participate fully in their environment. Goally, a tablet-based product, can help children with conditions such as deafness or hearing loss build language skills through fun apps, including AAC and gamified learning.
