think! Pointing and gesturing for young children and texting for older ones can be a subtle yet effective way of communicating. “Younger children are remarkably good at this with a little encouragement.” But it is the responsibility of adults or parents to teach those younger, that being deaf is not a disability that we are trying to fix, instead, it is up to us to fix the way we view those around us. “We can help children to understand we are not trying to “rescue” or “fix” another person to make them more like us.” Instead, it is about realizing that no matter what, we are all worth the same. Never Too Late To Start When adding a second language to your child’s skill set, the brain is more than capable of creating new connections with an already strong base to start from. But, Simply Being a Friend For children all the way to adulthood, it may be difficult to understand those who live differently from them. “Especially since I am not deaf, I prioritize bringing in deaf speakers and coordinating events for students to immerse themselves in the language and culture,” Hsia explained. Project Support Specialist at the CSC, Tracey Kashiwa, who is deaf herself and has low vision, shared her experience as a speaker in Hsia’s ASL class. “Her students got to meet two successful adults. One is blind with hearing loss, and the other is deaf with vision loss. They saw that we were ‘normal’. We enjoyed meeting them, too,” she explained. Hsia added that at different stages, just befriending those who are deaf - no matter your ASL skill level - is easier than you 84 HAWAII PARENT September/October 2024 Babies are not learning ASL as a full, rich language, but they can use key ASL signs to let you know their immediate needs, wants, and observations. "Sign language can unlock a new world of communication and understanding, bridging gaps and enriching lives for both deaf and hearing children alike."
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