My 93-year-old Grandma’s Sorrow (open-captioned)
For the first time ever, I am going to present my video interview using spoken English with my hearing grandmother aged 93. It comes with captions, of course. You may be shocked that I would do a vlog using spoken English but this is how I communicate with my grandmother. I grew up with my hearing grandparents using spoken English and with my Deaf family using ASL at separate times in the same roof. I didn't sign and speak simultaneously while growing up.
Quicktime
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My grandma shares her regret for not learning signs and how she was misled the idea that if one is to use signs, it would mean that spoken English would not be successful. The myths of AG Bell’s beliefs have shared to the likes of my grandma that using signs will impede speech development while today’s research shows the opposite! But the ironic part is that it still carries on. Feel free to share with your hearing parents or with parents who have Deaf children.
Additional information not presented in the video clip:
It was mentioned that A.G. Bell’s influence had reached to Pennsylvania School for the Deaf that advised my mother’s parents not to sign.
Here is the evidence:
“…back in 1870, the Board of Directors, impressed by the reposts of the success of speech teaching that reached them, sent a committee consisting of F. Mortimer Lewis, James J. Barclay and Principal Joshua Foster to inspect the Clarke Institution at Northampton, Mass., and the articulation departments of the Hartford and New York Institutions. This committee was so favorably impressed that upon its return it recommended that arrangements be made at once for instruction in articulation to all semi-mute and semi-deaf children. Miss Rebecca Cooper was sent to New York for in instruction under Professor Bernard Engelsmann, and upon her return was placed in charge of the articulation class. In 1976 Mr. Edward Crane, a pupil of Alexander Graham Bell, was placed at the head of the Articulation Department.”
My grandma rang the bell about AG Bell having to do with PSD but it was vague to her. Of course, it was eons of years ago!
(Note: This is not a transcript or a summary of the whole video clip.) Update: See Jeffrey's blog talking about doing your video documentary which includes interviewing with your family members.
