THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9409300216
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
LEARNING TO APPRECIATE another culture means studying the language, means of communication and even the heroes of the people.
During National Deaf Awareness Week recently, the students and faculty at Corporate Landing Elementary School did just that when they explored the culture of the deaf and hard of hearing.
``It used to just be one day in May,'' said Bobbie Bullock-Smith, teacher for the deaf at Corporate Landing. ``But the deaf community wanted a separate thing to make people more aware.''
Since the school houses the city's hearing impaired program for nearly 60 preschool and elementary-age children, the staff ``decided to go full force with the activities,'' according to Bullock-Smith.
Instead of just planning a cookout with the Bayside Lions Club as they did last year, Bullock-Smith and her 23 colleagues decorated the school's showcase with pictures of deaf leaders, sent deaf and hard of hearing students into classrooms to teach sign language to the hearing and integrated deaf trivia questions and a rap song about the week in the morning announcements. A newspaper clipping about the new Miss America, who is deaf, was taped up in a hallway.
``They really have enjoyed the activities. Everybody has learned a few sign language vocabulary words,'' Bullock-Smith said. ``They really love that rap stuff.''
Bullock-Smith, whose mother is deaf and whose father is hard of hearing, has been teaching the deaf for 15 years.
While the hearing students scratched the surface of the deaf and hard of hearing culture, students in the Hearing Impaired Program immersed themselves in activities all week long.
Besides learning the accomplishments of various deaf leaders such as actor Bernard Bragg and teacher Laurent Clerc, the students baked cookies in the shape of a hand sign for ``I love you'' and painted plastic sun visors with the words, National Deaf Awareness Week.
``We've learned teamwork is so important,'' Bullock-Smith added.
Students also made T-shirts displaying a dolphin, the school mascot, jumping out of two waves, in the shape of the ``I love you'' sign, a design created by teacher assistant Lois Bachman and speech pathologist Jan Scott.
To end the week, Carl Amos, an outreach specialist from the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, visited the school to display and demonstrate all the telecommunication equipment available to assist the hearing impaired.
With about 10 visual aids, Amos answered all the students' questions including, ``How do deaf people talk on the phone?'' and ``How do they know the phone is ringing?''
He showed them how to use a TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf), which is a keyboard and phone machine that enables the deaf to talk on the phone, as well as a visual ring signaler, which through a flashing light, shows a deaf person the phone is ringing.
``I have the TDD,'' said fourth-grader Christy Murphy. ``It's really cool.''
Christy, whose parents are deaf, knew about most of the equipment Amos had on display. ``I think this is helping kids who are hearing,'' she said.
Amos also demonstrated in-line amplifiers and an audible ring signaler, which are special devices for the hard of hearing.
He was pleased with the reaction of the students and faculty. ``This school has a really great program,'' Amos said. ``It encourages deaf kids to be proud of their culture.''
The program also has opened the eyes of the faculty. ``It's given me insight to a culture I didn't know anything about,'' said guidance counselor Debbie Walsh. ``It's very fulfilling to work with the hearing impaired children. They're continually educating the adults.''
The hearing students have also benefited from the program. ``These children here have been great,'' Bullock-Smith added. ``They are so accommodating and so eager to learn.''
After a week packed with information, Bullock-Smith is confident the hearing students and faculty are more aware and the hearing impaired students are even more proud of their culture.
``It was all worth it,'' she said. ``Hopefully, everyone will be able to pass along what they have learned.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HOLLY WESTER
Bobbie Bullock-Smith demonstrates the telecommunication device, a
keyboard machine that enables the deaf to talk on the phone. Carl
Amos, an outreach specialist, signs to the children while also
demonstrating in-line amplifiers and an audible ring signaler.
KEYWORDS: DEAF HEARING IMPAIRED by CNB