In Response to Sterling

Sterling,

(apparently it's my turn to struggle with posting comments) 

First, I never think it's ignorant to wonder or to ask questions about what you wish to understand. 

That being said:  yes I do worry about the way that my comments are voiced to the class, but not only how they are spoken/translated, but also how they are conveyed.  What is most frustrating is that communication is an expression of individuality and I often grapple with the implications of having another communicate for me.  Luckily, the more time you work with an interpreter, the more naturally the translations come.  Admittedly, it takes a gift to "wear" someone elses' personality while translating something so conceptual.  I am fairly skilled at lip-reading so if there's a grave mistake, I usually catch it.  If it's minor, it's a pick-your-battles kind of thing. 

Based on my own observations, a person's whole persona affects the way they are perceived (i.e. tone of voice, body language, word choice, vocabulary, coherence, appearance,etc.) and I am narcissistic in that I wish to control (to some extent) how I am perceived.  So absolutely, yes.  Is this in line with what you thought the question suggested about yourself?

As for the blind, deaf, double amputee marathon runner--that's pretty extraordinary!  I tried to find the name, but to no avail.  While I appreciate the quote on a transcendent level in that while one's bodily circumstances aren't always controllable, the mind is.  But--at some point people as a whole have realize that until the reality of the situation (such as the limitations surrounding a disability) is acknowledged, there can be no overcoming it.  It reminds me of the "there is no spoon" scene in The Matrix. 

As for personal communication--I think every one has their own stash of awkward conversations.  "Could you repeat that, I'm deaf" elicits a range of responses from screaming at me to nervous giggles to over-enunciating and speaking far to slow for me to figure out where the syllables combine.  However, the struggle to communicate is usually good-natured unless I get shut out completely.  Most experiences leave me with a great deal to laugh at/with/in. 

As for being geared towards the homogeneous, the attempts to "normalize" everything and everyone are very disturbing to me.  For example, on a global level:  the effort to establish a democratic government in Iraq--the lack of cultural respect (Islamic beliefs call for a religion-infused governing system) and the assumption that democracy is a one-size-fits-all political system (Which we also see fail in South Africa) makes me think that maybe it's time to stop putting our hands in everyone's cookie jar.   

In terms of people:  society wants to "fix" everyone and hide what they can't fix.  Hearing aids are becoming almost microscopically small in hopes that others will never notice that something's different.  ADD/ADHD children are medicated and still marked by teachers as the "bad" ones rather than implementing a system of education that allows for multi-disciplinary/Montessori schooling which engages the students rather than alienating them is another example of "fixing" (meds) then "hiding" (alienating).  I suppose that also references the opposing forces that I mentioned.  In reference to my own experience, opposing forces would include the debate about whether or not hearing aids are a conformist symbol or if entirely embracing my hearing loss is equated with being a novelty item.  Does that make sense?  It almost seems like a rant than a discourse.  I'll take my chances. 

As for classes--Baylor offers sign language classes through the Communication Sciences and Disorders department (I take issue with that title, ASL is considered a foreign language everywhere else).  Besides that, if you're thinking a summer school option, I'm not sure about Baylor but I think MCC offers summer ASL classes.  A structured classroom is a great place to start, but the experience is best supplemented through interaction in the deaf community-which isn't difficult.  It's engaging, fun, and the linguistic system is fascinating. 

I did not learn ASL until I was an adult (17/18) but I went on to study at Gallaudet University for 2.5 years.  My ASL greatly improved because it had to and it was crucial in the social and academic sphere.  I began with SEE (Signing Exact English) which is pretty much the bastard child of ASL.  Now I'm still learning, but it's important to know that ASL is a living language--constantly evolving and improving.  It's a language that definitely requires persistence. 

I *think* I covered all the bases!  Apologies for the long wait, I hadn't realized there were any comments here.  Thank you for all the challenging questions!

Britt