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  • Beyond Speaking

Instructor Ellie Carlson uses tactile sign language to explain the intersection configuration to a student that is Deaf-blind.

Deaf-blind Communications

Many people are familiar with the famous scene from "The Miracle Worker" when Anne Sullivan pumps water into a young Helen Keller’s hand while signing the word "water" into the other. It is a life-changing moment for Helen; she is learning tactile sign language.

Tactile sign language requires the people in the conversation to physically touch each other in order to communicate. The person "speaking" signs into the hand of the "listener," while the "listener" cups their hands around the "speakers" hands to feel the words being formed. Because this is such an intimate form of communication, instructors only train one or two people per class.

Some of the Deaf-blind students that come to Leader Dog do not use tactile sign language. They may have enough sight to see sign language close-up or may have enough hearing, with the help of hearing aides or cochlear implants, to hear someone from extremely close range.

Name Signing

In the Deaf community, the sign representing a person's name is given to the person by someone that is Deaf. Often the sign combines the first letter of the person's name with an attribute distinct to the individual – their vocation, a favorite hobby, or a personality trait. This is also true when a person who is Deaf-blind "names" their Leader Dog.

Tammy signing the name "Marnie"

Tammy "Ally" Ader signs the name of her Leader Dog "Marnie" by combining the finger positioning for the letter "M" with the sign for "proud." Ally thought this was good sign for Marnie because of the pride she displays when she is wearing her harness

Anna signing the name "Sadie Mae"

Anna Sparks' Leader Dog is "Sadie Mae." She signs the name by combining the finger positioning for the letter "S" then letter "M" with the sign for "smile." She chose this sign because Sadie Mae always seems to be happy and smiling.

Helen Keller and the Lions

On June 30, 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions International Convention. Her compelling speech set the Lions on course to work tirelessly to aid people who are blind and visually impaired.

Helen ended her address with the following appeal. Would you have been able to resist her request?

"Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness, no little deaf blind child untaught, no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you, Lions—you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind—will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in my crusade against darkness?"

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