To be UNDERSTOOD....

By Kyle De Longh

There are so many different ways that people communicate.  Some people use a mix of ways.  It's not all using words. My girlfriend Jennifer has Cerebral Palsy and she will use hand motions and sounds to communicate with me and with others. She also lets me know how happy she is with her great smile.

In my job, I work with people who have special needs and I have learned that there are so many to different forms of communication besides just using your words. We all use body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures (including sign language) every day.  You might see someone stomping their feet, with an angry face or maybe even with their arms swinging and know right away that they are mad without them telling you so. Moods, needs and wants can all be expressed without words.

Next time you are communicating with someone don't just use your ears, use your eyes as well. We may not all communicate the same way, but we all want to be understood.

Our Guest Blogger Kyle De Longh is a student and employee at the College of Marin In northern California.  Besides being a sports enthusiast, he is also a volunteer for various disability organizations.

SIGNS OF LOVE

SIGNS OF LOVE

by Laura O'Grady

The spirit of Valentine’s Day is upon us, and it puts the concept of “love” in the forefront of our minds. It is a time to consider the different types of love we have and share with others; love for a parent, child, spouse, pet, sibling, cousin, friend, etc. These different types of love are all uniquely different and equally as powerful.

Just as there are many different kids of love, there are even more ways to show love. Children have their Valentine’s parties at school, and teens and adults go on their date nights. Parents give their children chocolates and children give their parents cards. Spouses give each other flowers and take time out of heir busy lives to say “I Love You!” It’s a small holiday that reminds everyone of all the love that there is in the world.
Many of us want to hear the traditional, “I Love You," but for some, speaking those words is a challenge. Fortunately, there are infinite ways to say and show love, we just have to look for them. We can use sign language (pictured above) to show love, or the pop culture gesture of cupping your two hands together in a heart shape. For some, showing love is moving close to another or leaning their head on someone’s shoulder, touching someone’s arm, or making extended eye contact. Children might show love by sharing a preferred toy, or giving away artwork. A simple smile, a kiss on the cheek, a touch on the arm that is not part of the usual routine, are all expressions of love. These are all ways to show that we care, and ways to know that we are loved. This month, take some time to notice the non-verbal actions you give and receive from others. You will likely be impressed with the love that is given and received every day!


Our guest blogger is Laura O’Grady, a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist in California.

Communication Bridges Our Differences

By Sanjana Seshadri:

The differences in communication between people can be challenging but I believe that they are very possible to overcome. For example, there are many many forms of daily communication that exist. What is truly amazing are how those with speech difficulties so effectively express themselves using all those other forms. I have realized that we do not solely communicate with words and sentences, we show emotion on our faces and express ourselves with our body language and with our hands. This is the way we break down the barriers that exist between different people. With a sense of awareness and empathy, we can learn to communicate in the same way as those with limited language can. With patience and an open mind, we can help those who struggle with speech and guide them to express themselves.

It’s truly remarkable how much we can learn from those who may lack language skills. Quite often they perceive their surroundings with incredible astuteness. An example is a young lady that I tutor named Grace. She is quite clever despite having limited language. After four years of working with her, it still thrills me every week to see her constantly improving her speaking abilities. I have learned to communicate with her on many levels, using motions with my hands, my voice intonation and the written word. I help her read books, correcting her when she may mispronounce words and reinforcing positive speech patterns. It has been a rewarding challenge to learn new ways of communicating that differ from mine. I think it has expanded my thinking while also making me realize that the differences between us are not so great after all.

Sanjana Seshadri is a GraceSigns volunteer, high school senior, part-time academic tutor and is college-bound to Cornell University in the fall. She shares her insights here in this guest blog.

Showing Signs of Christmas

Showing Signs of Christmas

Guest Blog by student and volunteer Catherine Meyer

The holidays are a special, joyous time of year. However, the hustle and bustle of the holidays and end of year planning can distract from the true meaning of Christmas. As a college student, I understand how hard it can be to get side-tracked by the stress of life, work, and school. I find myself concerned with only tasks that I need to do, this year especially. On a recent trip to JC Penney to help my dad buy some gifts for the family, there was a kind-hearted lady ringing a bell for the Salvation Army, the red metal tin sat still and stagnant next to her.  It was at that moment that something jolted me and I realized I had failed to acknowledge the true meaning of this holiday season. After depositing money in her pail, a new attitude was awakened in me,  I now found the time to donate toys for the local Toys for Tots drive.  A man sitting on the street shivering was given a blanket. I smiled at people, held doors open. With each act, my heart grew a little warmer and my soul felt lighter and brighter than it has in a long time. I realized how important kindness, care, and compassion were to all human beings. We are in fact, all the same, regardless of our skin color, beliefs, income, or abilities. Wouldn’t it be great to show signs of Christmas to those around us… all year long?!

About the Blogger: Besides volunteering for GraceSigns, Catherine Meyer is a transfer student at Sonoma State University pursuing her BS in Computer Science. She has been enthusiastic about sign language since she was 13 years old.  She currently enjoys signing songs with a group called SoundWaves.

What is Total Communication?

Why Did A Deaf Person Have to Die?

A North Carolina family is in mourning and questions are being asked.
The question is: WHY did that 29-year-old man have to die?  The answer: He didn't.
A man who was deaf and speech-impaired was trying to communicate by sign language.  He was not understood, in fact, he was so badly misunderstood that he was killed.  He was pursued by the police in his vehicle as he was driving home.  He was pulled over in the neighborhood of his Charlotte, North Carolina home. When he exited his car in an attempt to communicate with the trooper, he was fatally shot. This is a tragedy that could have been averted.  A crowdfunding site called YouCaring.com is raising money for the young man's cremation and service and left over funds are going toward a foundation "to educate and provide law enforcement proper training on how to confront deaf people."
The bottom line is that it is a good idea for the police to know some sign language.   Not everyone can hear and speak.  And they shouldn't be shot because of it.

Language: A Human Right

Language is defining.  Being some where and everyone is speaking and you are unable to join in, puts you at a disadvantage. If you were in a foreign county and conversations were flying by your head, you would possibly feel isolated.  How about if you were in an environment and everyone was conversing and you understood what was being said but simply could not express your thoughts, your wants, and your basic needs.  Imagine how frustrating that would be.  For so many individuals with speech challenges, that is exactly what they face everyday.  For the friends and families of these folks, it is just as difficult.

GraceSigns is committed to opening up a very viable communication option for kids and adults. How? By making sign language fun and easy to learn.  And also by showcasing sign language as not a stigma, but as an awesome communication tool.  

Access to language is a human right.

When you learn sign language, you are learning a new language for not only yourself but for those around you.  Even cats have learned sign language. Really! Watch this amazing video:

https://www.facebook.com/GraceSigns-422389397845517/?ref=ts