Thursday Thirteen

Things I've learned working with the Deaf over the years.

1. Most deaf are uncomfortable in a completely darkened room and sleep with some sort of night light.

2. The way you get a groups attention is by flashing the lights on and off. So in my classroom when I used to teach the deaf, I had a light switch along side the whiteboard at the front of the classroom.

3. A great way to get someone's attention who is a ways away from you is to use a pen-laserlight. Otherwise we used the "relay" system. "Hey, Jon, get Jane to get George, please." You can communicate this through vibrations too, via a stomping floor, or banging on a table. Worse case senario - throw a paperclip or something at 'em.

4. The equivalent of a mad child putting their fingers in their ears to ignore you is for a deaf child to close their eyes.

5. To be able to drive and carry on a deaf conversation at the same time, without getting pulled over by the police, is an art form, indeed.

6. And rear view mirrors are for signing with the people in the back seat.

7. In a concert hall, my deaf friends have enjoyed a symphony, because they were able to feel the music resonate in their chest.

8. When lightning flashed - everyone suddenly got up from their seats at the table and ran to to put their hands on the windows to feel the thunder.

9. Talking with your mouth full is the best way to communicate at a meal otherwise the meal would take too long.

10. In a group, you pray with your eyes opened, and your head up - watching whoever is signing the prayer.

11. One deaf can "whisper" to another by turning their backs to everyone else.

12. A pun is completely lost on my deaf friends.

13. One of the first sounds my deaf friend Virginia will hear is the voice of Jesus.