ASl 2 Deaf-Culture

Handedness

Handedness is the tendency to use the hand that feels the most natural for the task. This is your dominant hand.

Hard of Hearing (HoH)

Hard of Hearing (HoH) refers to people who have some hearing loss but can generally use the phone with amplification and can understand spoken speech depending on a number of factors including: distance, volume, facial hair, lighting, familiarity with topic, situational cues, accents, and noise. Thus the environment has a big impact on whether a HoH functions as a hearing person or a Deaf person.

Jr NAD

Jr. NAD stands for Junior National Association of the Deaf. This is the youth division of the National Association of the Deaf

Mainstreaming

The placement of Deaf or hard of hearing students into a public school, (often with an interpreter or other accommodations).

Lipreading or speech reading

The practice of reading speech on the lips. Comprehension rate is typically very low but will vary widely depending on many factors including individual skill, familiarity of the subject matter and the speaker, residual hearing, the environment, shouting, accents, regional dialects, mustaches, beards, gum, cigarettes, cigars, lack of teeth, drunkenness, and any number of other issues. It is myth that all Deaf people can lipread.

NAD

NAD stands for National Association of the Deaf the world's oldest Deaf advocacy organization. See www.nad.org

Deaf Tendencies, also known as "Deaf Bing,"

("bing" is not a typo - it is a mouth movement that often accompanies the sign "TEND-to.") These are social and behavioral norms within the Deaf community.

Correcting a Deaf person's signing

A Hearing person should not correct a Deaf person's signing. This is a taboo practice and will often be regarded as a personal slight or insult. A Deaf person, however, may correct a Hearing person's signing, regardless if the Hearing person is new or has been signing for a long time. (Get over it. It's cultural.)

Relay Service

A relay service allows hearing people to call deaf, and vice versa. A communication assistant (CA) answers your call then relay information back and forth between you and a deaf. There are several types

Carpal Tunnel (CT)

A syndrome involving numbness and/or pain in the wrists. This is a common problem affecting interpreters for the Deaf and many Deaf people.

ASDC

ASDC stands for American Society for Deaf Children. This organization was set up in 1967 and has chapters all over the U.S. Their purpose is to provide support, encouragement, and information to families raising children who are Deaf or hard of hearing. (For more information, see: http://www.deafchildren.org)

American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL is a visually perceived language based on a naturally evolved system of articulated hand gestures and their placement relative to the body, along with non-manual markers such as facial expressions, head movements, shoulder raises, mouth morphemes, and movements of the body.

ASLTA

ASLTA stands for American Sign Language Teachers Association. It is a national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching of ASL and Deaf Studies. (For more information, see: http://aslta.org/)

Bell, Alexander Graham

Alexander Graham Bell is often referred to as AGB in the Deaf community. In general, AGB has been held in low esteem, (to put it mildly), by many in the Deaf community because of his efforts to suppress the use of sign language in favor of oralism.

Deaf Day School

Also known as Sign Day School, Deaf Day Program, Deaf Program, or Deaf Regional Schools. Students attend school during the day and then go home after school. The education is delivered via American Sign Language or other signed systems, such as SEE.

American Sign Language

American Sign Language is the language of choice of Culturally Deaf people in the United States, much of Canada, and a number of other areas in the world.

Audism

Audism refers to the mindset that the ability to hear makes one superior to those who do not hear. Audism is typically manifested in the attitudes and behaviors of those that subscribe to the pathological model that deafness is a negative attribute, a flaw.

Bilingual-Bicultural (Bi-Bi)

Bilingual-Bicultural (Bi-Bi) A philosophy of embracing two languages and cultures.

Gallaudet, Thomas Hopkins:

Born December 10, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He entered Yale University at age 14. He graduated from Yale first in his class three years later, and decided to join the ministry. Reverend Gallaudet met Dr. Mason Cogswell and his Deaf daughter Alice. Dr. Cogswell persuaded Mr. Gallaudet to travel to England to study their methods of teaching Deaf students. There Gallaudet met a Deaf educator, Laurent Clerc, and convinced him to come back to America and help establish the first American school for the Deaf.

Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI) or Deaf Interpreters

Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI) or Deaf Interpreters are Deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are interpreters for the Deaf and work as part of a team of interpreters. CDIs are especially effective when interpreting for a Deaf consumer who has minimal language skills or use signs that are unfamiliar to the Hearing interpreter.

CODA

CODA stands for Child of Deaf Adult. In the Deaf world, a hearing child of Deaf parents is referred to as a Coda. Codas are generally considered to make the best interpreters because of their familiarity with ASL and Deaf Culture.

Caption Glasses

Caption Glasses are special glasses that one wears at a movie theater to access the closed captioning. Closed caption "stands" refer to a captioning device that is placed in the cup holder. It is a small screen that is attached to a flexible pole and the base is inserted into the cup holder.

Classifiers

Classifiers are signs that are used to represent general categories or "classes" of things. They can be used to describe the size and shape of an object (or person). They can be used to represent the object itself, or the way the object moves or relates to other objects (or people). Another definition is: "A set of handshapes that represent classes of things that share similar characteristics."

Closed Captions

Closed Captioning refers to captions, text, or subtitles that are embedded (hidden) in a video signal and can be turned on or off (displayed on demand). In the past these captions used to require a special decoder device to be seen. In the "old days" this decoder was a box that sat on top of your TV. Now the decoder is commonly included in TV circuitry and is not a separate device. These captions are turned on or off using your TV' or video player's configuration menu. Internet-based streaming video players (if they support captioning) tend to have a symbol or button labeled "CC" that can be used to turn captioning on or off.

Cochlear implants

Cochlear implants are small electronic devices that are surgically implanted into a person's cochlea to simulate hearing.

Computer Aided RealTime captioning (CART)

Computer Aided RealTime captioning (CART) is a service commonly used by those who are Deaf and hard of hearing, but are not fluent in ASL. The captioner often is in the same room as the Deaf consumer (although not always). The Deaf consumer will read the captioning on a computer screen.

Cued Speech

Cued Speech is an approach to speech reading that makes use of eight handshapes held in four different positions that are used as "cues" to assist in determining what is being said.

Culture

Deaf Culture consists of the norms, beliefs, values, and mores shared by members of the Deaf Community.

Deaf Gain

Deaf Gain is a mindset where one regards or focuses on being Deaf as an advantage. An example of Deaf gain is being able to sleep even though the neighbor's dogs have been barking all night.

Deaf Plus

Deaf Plus refers to Deaf people who are also disabled or have secondary conditions. For example a Deaf person who also has cerebral palsy.

Deaf President Now (DPN)

Deaf President Now (DPN) was both a campus protest and an international Deaf movement. It took place the week of March 6, 1988 at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. Elizabeth Zinser, a hearing woman, had been newly elected president of Gallaudet University. The students and international Deaf Community demanded and received a Deaf president: I. King Jordan.

D-PAN

Deaf Professional Arts Network is a nonprofit organization that was originally founded to make music and music videos accessible to the Deaf and hard of hearing. D-PAN produces American Sign Language music videos, translating the lyrics of public songs into ASL.

Deaf School or School for the Deaf

Deaf School or School for the Deaf: A Deaf-School is typically considered to be a state-run residential education institution. Students live there during the week and go home on the weekends or holidays. State residential schools for the Deaf are important institutions in the Deaf community. This is different from a "Deaf program" or a "day program" where students do not live on campus. American Sign Language is used, more often than not, in Deaf schools. Attending a Deaf school is a source of pride for many Deaf and is a place where many form life-long bonds with their classmates, teachers, and cottage parents.

Deaf Space

Deaf Space is usually an area that has been claimed or designated by the Deaf as a place where Deaf can intermingle without communication barriers. In the Deaf space, there is no voicing. The area is well lit and the sitting is ideal for Deaf conversation.

Deaf Summer Camps

Deaf Summer Camps provide an opportunity for Deaf and hard of hearing youth to gather together for a week or weekend of interaction with each other and with older Deaf role models. Campers often develop life-long friendships while learning more about their world and community.

Deaf centers

Deaf centers are usually a non-profit community based organization that provides a variety of services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the community. The type of services that they provide may vary from location to location. Most provide assistance with information and referral, document translation, counseling services, employment assistance, independent living skills, advocacy services, and communication education.

Seating arrangements

Deaf couples prefer to sit across from each other in restaurants, rather than side by side. In larger gatherings, Deaf prefer to sit in a circle where everybody can see each other.

Long Good-Byes

Deaf leave-taking (good-byes) tend to be extended (take a long time).

Disability Status

Deaf people do not view ourselves as a disability group. Instead we see ourselves as a linguistic and cultural minority. We are an ethnic group with a shared culture and bonded together by a common language. This doesn't mean that there aren't physically deaf people in the U.S. who consider themselves disabled. There are indeed many such individuals--but they are generally not fluent in ASL, did not attend a state residential school for the Deaf, are not married to a Deaf person, did not attend Gallaudet or a university with a strong Deaf program, and cannot realistically be considered culturally Deaf, therefore they are not members of the cultural "Deaf Community."

View of Deafness—Cultural

Deaf people don't consider themselves to have a disease or problem that must be cured in order to have a good life. For example, an ASL teacher took a sign class to visit a Deaf party. Some of the students sat with the instructor in the Deaf circle. The instructor asked each Deaf person in turn if they would like to become hearing: "Suppose a magic pill could be taken and you would wake up the next morning 'Hearing' - would you do take the pill?" Each Deaf person responded (via signing) NO! The students were shocked. The teacher explained in class the next day that Deaf people do not consider our condition pathological. To the Deaf, our deafness is cultural. We do not see our condition as "deafness" but rather "Deafhood."

Hugs

Deaf people tend to hug more than Hearing (American) people.

Deaf Pride

Deaf pride is the sense of pride exhibited by Deaf people in their cultural identity.

Deaf with a capital D

Deaf with a Capital "D" refers to being culturally Deaf. A Deaf person is someone who embraces the cultural norms and values of the Deaf Community.

deaf-mute

Deaf-mute is an outdated term and is generally considered offensive in the Deaf community. Instead, just use the term Deaf. The word "mute" by itself when referring to someone who in fact cannot speak - is not offensive. What is offensive is the assumption that all Deaf are unable to speak. That is not true. Many do. Also, some Deaf factions have sought to reclaim the word "mute."

Deaflympics

Deaflympics is an international multi-sport event sanctioned by the International Olympic committee. At this event, deaf athletes compete at the highest level.

Directionality, also called verb agreement or indicating verbs

Directionality is characterized by a movement of the sign that indication the subject and object of the verb. For example: she-SHOW-me. "She" is the subject, SHOW is the verb, and "me is the object. This concept is signed with one sign using one movement, instead of three separate signs. Some sources refer to these verbs as "inflecting verbs."

Fingerspelling

Fingerspelling is also sometimes called "The American Manual Alphabet." It consists of 22 handshapes that when held in certain positions and/or are produced with certain movements-- represent the 26 letters of the American alphabet.

Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. is a liberal arts college for Deaf and hard of hearing students and is held in very high regard by culturally Deaf people.

Glossing

Gloss is a written or typed approximation of (or notes regarding) another language. ASL gloss is a written or typed approximation of ASL typically using English words as "labels" for each sign along with various grammatical notes.

Hearing Impaired

Hearing Impaired is an outdated term and is one that is shunned in the Deaf community. We refer to ourselves as "Deaf." When referring to all people with a hearing loss we tend to use the phrase, "Deaf and hard of hearing." Sample of outdated usage: The Regional Center for the Hearing Impaired." A sample of a current, appropriate usage: "The Regional Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing." While at one time the phrase "hearing impaired" was considered to be politically correct, it was an external label applied to Deaf people by Hearing people.

Hearing Privilege

Hearing Privilege refers the privileges and advantages afforded to the Hearing because they can hear and speak -- privileges that are not readily available to the Deaf.

hearing aid

Hearing aids are small devices that fit in, on, or around the ear and are designed to amplify sound. Hearing aids tend to become ineffective in noisy environments.

Walking through Signed Conversations

If two people are standing in the hallway conversing in ASL and another person needs to pass through, the person should not call attention to themself by asking to be excused. Instead, the person should continue walking at a steady pace to minimize the distraction.

Non-dominant hand

If you are right-handed then your left hand is your non-dominant hand. If you are left-handed then your right-hand is your non-dominant hand. Sometimes the non-dominant hand is referred to as the "supporting hand or the base hand." Some textbooks or articles use the letters "nd" to refer to the non-dominant hand.

Culturally Deaf

In general, we do not need to add the word "culturally" to the uppercase word "Deaf." The phrase "culturally Deaf" is redundant because the uppercase spelling of the term "Deaf" already includes the concept of "culture." See Deaf with a Capital "D"

Interpreter for the Deaf or Interpreter

In the Deaf Community we tend to refer to individuals who interpret as "interpreters" or even "terps" (but not "translators"). Also, interpreter is spelled with "er" not "or." In ASL class discussions, the phrase "interpret" means to go from spoken English to ASL or from ASL to spoken English.

Indexing

Indexing is when you point your index finger at a person who is or isn't in the signing area. If the person is in the room, you point directly at the person. This is called present referent. If the person is not in the room, you point to a space in front of you to represent that person. This is called absent referent.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Individualized Education Program (IEP) is an agreement developed by a team of educators, caregivers, parents, and others to establish educational goals for students with special needs. An IEP can stipulate the provision of additional services for students such as speech therapy, an interpreter, or other accommodations. Deaf students enrolled in K-12 are generally entitled to an IEP.

International Sign

International Sign is a highly visual / gestural hybrid of various signed languages that is used as type of "contact" or intermediary language commonly signed when users of different signed languages come into contact with each other at international events such as the Deaflympics or the World Federation of the Deaf congress.

Hand Grabbing

It is common for Deaf people to grab the hands of new signers to correct their signing. However, Hearing people should be careful to avoid restraining the hands of Deaf people. For example, police officers should not handcuff a Deaf person's hands behind their back.

Late Deafened Adults (LDA)

Late Deafened Adults (LDA) refers to individuals who have lost their hearing later in life. If a person grew up outside of the Deaf community and lost their hearing near or during adulthood, they are generally considered LDAs.

Clerc, Laurent

Laurent Clerc was born south of Lyons, France, in 1785. He became deaf due to an accident when he was very young. He enrolled at age 12 at the National Institute for the Deaf in Paris and graduated eight years later and became a tutor for the Institute. He journeyed to America at the request of Thomas H. Gallaudet in 1817 and helped establish the first American school for the Deaf. He retired at age 73.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is a Federal requirement that seeks to respond to the question "What education environment is "least restrictive" (for a child with a disability)?" Unfortunately many Hearing parents and administrators feel that mainstreaming is the LRE whereas most culturally Deaf individuals and organizations believe that a residential school for the Deaf is the LRE. There are many options in-between—for example, a local school with an interpreter, a day program, an inclusive charter school, or some other education environment.

Lexicalized fingerspelling

Lexicalized fingerspelling is fingerspelling that has changed over time to take on the characteristics of a sign. A lexicalized fingerspelled word tends to look like and be expressed as a single sign rather than a collection of fingerspelled letters. Some ASL books or articles indicate lexicalized fingerspelling by putting a # symbol in front of the letters. For example: #ALL. Regular fingerspelling is glossed by placing dashes between the letters. For example, C-A-T.

Lighting

Lighting and the ability to see each other are very important to Deaf people. One of the reasons Deaf people often prefer to hang out in the kitchen is because the lighting is better.

Manually Coded English

Manually Coded English is an umbrella term that includes various signing systems designed to portray English on the hands. These various systems can be lumped under the term MCE, or Manual English, or "Signed English."

Progeny

Many Deaf couples hope for a deaf baby and are disappointed if their child is born hearing.

Deaf Standard Time

Many Deaf tend to show up late and tend to leave late. An exception to this rule is when good seating is at a premium. For example, Deaf college students may show up early to ensure that they get a satisfactory seat. Deaf church goers tend to show up early to make sure they get the front pews (if it is an interpreted session).

Stay Deaf

Many, if not most, Culturally Deaf people if given the chance to become able to hear -- would choose to remain deaf.

Eye contact

Not looking at the person who is signing to you is considered rude. You are expected to look at the person when he/she signs to you.

NCI

NCI stands for National Captioning Institute. The NCI was established in 1979 as a nonprofit corporation with the mission of ensuring that Deaf and hard of hearing people, as well as others who can benefit from the service, have access to television's entertainment and news through the technology of closed captioning.

NERDA

NERDA stands for Not Even Related to a Deaf Adult. This is a comical reference to Hearing people who don't have ties to the Deaf World.

National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)

National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) is located in Rochester New York and is a popular choice for Deaf students.

NTD

National Theater of the Deaf is touring theater group composed of Deaf and hearing actors who entertain audiences worldwide through music, sign language, and the spoken word.

Hearing: (Hearing People or Hearies)

Non-Deaf people. Specifically people who can hear and are unfamiliar with Deaf Culture, (but can include all hearing people).

Non-Manual Markers (NMM)

Non-manual markers are facial expressions or body movements that are used to inflect or modify signs. We use NMM's to change, influence, or emphasize the meaning of a sign or signed phrase. For example, when asking a question that can be answered with a "yes" or "no" you raise your eyebrows a bit and tilt your head forward slightly.

Open Captions

Open captions are subtitles that are embedded in the video (not on a separate track) and cannot be turned off.

Oral/Oralism

Oral / Oralism refers to a philosophy of encouraging (forcing) Deaf to speak and read lips rather than use sign language.

View of Deafness—Pathological

Pathology (in general) is the study of disease. The pathological view of deafness is held by those people (typically in the medical profession) who view being deaf as a physical ailment or pathological condition that needs to be cured in order for the individual to enjoy a higher quality of life. This is opposite the "cultural view of Deafness."

Cultural Model

People who feel that Deafness is about language and culture subscribe to the "cultural" view of Deafness.

Pathological or Medical model

People who feel that being deaf is problem to be solved subscribe to the "pathological view" or the "medical model" of deafness.

Pidgin Signed English (PSE)

Pidgin Signed English (PSE), also known as Contact Signing, typically consists of using basic ASL signs in English word order.

RID

RID stands for Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The RID is the world's largest association of interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The RID conducts and promotes certification of interpreters for the Deaf. See www.RID.org.

Switching Hand dominancy

Random switching of hand dominancy can be visually disconcerting. Stick with the same hand has your dominant hand

Deafhood

The personal journey each Deaf person goes through as they develop their own Deaf identity and/or their personal view of what it means to be Deaf.The personal journey each Deaf person goes through as they develop their own Deaf identity and/or their personal view of what it means to be Deaf.

Oral Schools:

Schools that focus entirely on auditory and oral skills—no signing allowed whatsoever.

Signing Exact English or Signed Exact English (SEE)

Signing Exact English or Signed Exact English (SEE) is a signed system was developed in 1971 to represent English on the hands with the intent to assist deaf children in the acquisition of English.

Sign Parameters

Signs are composed of parts we call parameters. The five most commonly discussed parameters of signs are: handshape, location, movement, palm orientation, and non-manual markers.

Simultaneous Communication or Sim-Com

Simultaneous Communication or Sim-Com is when you sign and voice at the same time. Signing and voicing at the same time is frowned upon by many Deaf academics and Deaf community leaders. However, many Deaf individuals "do" use sim-com quite a bit -- especially when in mixed Deaf/Hearing environments.

social media

Social Media apps have been a great boon for the Deaf community. Deaf from all over have convened together in group chats, created groups where people can get together and chat about various topics. Facebook and Instagram are some early examples of popular social media platforms for the Deaf.

Voicing

Some deaf people never voice. Others voice as well as a typical Hearing person. Others engage in "selective voicing." One place you will sometimes see such Deaf people using voice is with their kids. In the home parents often need to get their kids attention and voicing is an easy way to do it. Also the children get used to the voice and can understand it just fine. Deaf are much less likely to voice to a Hearing stranger. With our kids we feel comfortable, but with strangers we feel very cautious (as any oppressed group would). We don't tend to voice when we are talking with another Deaf person. Why voice to other Deaf? Another reason for not voicing and signing is we can't use voicing and ASL grammar at the same time. (See Simcom). It is generally not appropriate to ask a Deaf person if they can voice.

Uppercase Deaf / Lowercase deaf

Standard American print media sources tend to lowercase the word deaf. However, in the Deaf World many authors typically use the lowercase spelling to refer to physical deafness and use the uppercase spelling to refer to someone who has internalized the language, beliefs, values, traditions, attitudes, manners, and ways of the Deaf community.

State Associations of the Deaf

State Associations of the Deaf are generally nonprofit organizations that receive funding from the general membership dues. They are typically run by a board of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals for the purpose of advocating for the educational and civil rights of the state's Deaf and hard of hearing population. Associations strive to improve the quality and standard of living of Deaf people including promoting better public services, dealing with legislative issues, and fostering a positive image of the Deaf community.

TTY/TDD

TTY / TDD stands for "teletype" or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. These days it means the same thing as a TTY. In the old days, a TTY was a huge clunker that required a wheelbarrow to move around. TTY's shrank in size and people began calling them TDDs or even Text Telephones but the Deaf Community continues to refer to the devices as TTYs. Texting has all but eliminated the use of TTYs.

Tactile Signing

Tactile signing is used by the DeafBlind to converse in ASL. The receiver places a hand (or hands) on the signer's hand (or hands) and follows the movements of the signer. (Note: DeafBlind has various spellings but the spelling doesn't use a hyphen seems to be increasingly favored by DeafBlind individuals. You will see it with or without a hyphen. Always strive to defer to individual preferences.)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that came into effect in 1990, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, and ensures equal access for all, such as transportation, housing, employment, education, telecommunication, medical services and businesses. https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

Video Relay

The Deaf consumer communicates in ASL to the communication assistant (relay operator) through video who then relays the information to the hearing consumer on the phone.

Text relay

The Deaf consumer communicates to the communication assistant (relay operator) via text who then relays the information to the hearing consumer on the phone.

The Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords, condominium management companies, and homeowners' associations from discrimination based on disability. No one may refuse to rent or sell housing, or make housing unavailable, or set different rules or conditions for the sale or rental or use of housing, because of disability

The Individual with Disabilities Act

The Individual with Disabilities Act, also known as Public Law 94-142 was passed in 1975. It is a federal law that requires states and school districts to ensure that children will receive a Free Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 includes a section requiring that the disabled be given access and equal opportunity to use the resources of organizations that receive federal funds or that are under federal contracts

Milan Conference

The Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf, also known as the Milan Conference, was the first international conference comprised of Deaf educators. It took place in September of 1880 in Milan, Italy. One unfortunate outcome of this conference was the passage of a resolution banning the use of sign language as a method of educating the Deaf.

Storytelling

The ability to skillfully tell a story is highly valued in Deaf Culture.

Deaf Community

The community of Deaf people throughout the world who use sign language and share in Deaf culture.

Hearing school

The term "Hearing School" refers to any typical public school. In ASL we sign "HEARING"-culturally SCHOOL to mean "public school." A "Hearing School" is one at which the main mode of communication is "speaking."

Deaf-Blind or DeafBlind

The term can be spelled without a hyphen to indicate that a person is culturally Deaf as well as blind (as opposed to being merely physically deaf as well as blind). For example, a DeafBlind person will tend to use tactile signing. This is evolving terminology and one should always defer to the preferences of the DeafBlind community.

Gallaudet, Edward Miner

The youngest Son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet was the founder and the first president of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and the Dumb (Renamed Gallaudet College in 1893 and renamed again in 1986, Gallaudet University upon receiving university status) in 1857 in Washington, D.C. He served as a president from 1864 to 1910. (Source: Gallaudet.com)

Alert systems

There are a wide number of alert systems, such as fire alarm, alarm clocks, baby monitors, and door bells. Deaf alarm clocks have strobe lights or vibrate and can be tucked under your pillow or under the mattress. Fire alarms are strobe light devices that are attached to the wall. Doorbells are connected to lights in the house. It can be a strobe light or it can be a small flickering light. Baby monitors also use strobe lights, but there are also video monitors that allow parents to keep an eye on their child from a distance.

IPP/ITP/IEP/etc.

There are many acronyms used in the Deaf Community to refer to programs that prepare participants to interpret for the Deaf: Interpreter Preparation Program, Interpreter Training Program, Interpreter Education Program, etc.

Bilingual/Bicultural or BiBi

This is a philosophy of embracing two languages and cultures. In terms of Deaf education, the BiBi approach uses ASL as the student's native language you use a student's native language as well as the target language. You also make instructional choices that respect your student's cultural background as well as the mainstream culture.

Phrase: "Deaf People Can Do Anything Except Hear."

This is a popular phrase in the Deaf world. Note: Actually, the reality is that there are many varying degrees of residual hearing amongst culturally Deaf people—from "profoundly" deaf, to hard of hearing. This is similar to the way Blind people have varying degrees of sight. Some see no light at all, but many can see "quite a bit" or even read—particularly with magnification. It could be argued that some people with "normal" hearing are culturally Deaf by virtue of having Deaf parents and having grown up in the Deaf community.

Total Communication (TC)

Total Communication (TC) is a philosophy of Deaf Education that advocates using signing, voicing, writing, and other methods of communication.

Meeting new people

Upon meeting for the first time, Deaf people tend to exchange detailed biographical information and describe our social circles in considerable depth.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) refers to an interpreting service that is provided to remote locations, or locations where a live interpreter is not readily accessible. An interpreter will show up on a computer screen or tablet viewed by the Deaf consumer. The hearing person, who is in same room as the Deaf consumer, will talk -- and the interpreter interprets remotely.

Vlogs

Video blogs are very popular in the Deaf community. Vlogs are ideal because ASL is a visual language and is a much better platform for many in the Deaf community.

video call

Video calling apps allows Deaf to call up other Deaf or others who use ASL and converse face to face via video. Examples of such apps are, but not limited to, FaceTime, Skype, and Glide

Removing visual barriers

Visual obstructions such as table decorations, vases, and condiments are typically removed or pushed off to the side.

Vocational rehabilitation

Vocational rehabilitation is an important government agency because it helps provide training and employment assistance to many Deaf people (as well as others who have one or more conditions that limit). is an important government agency because it helps provide training and employment assistance to many Deaf people (as well as others who have one or more conditions that limit).

Voice Carry Over

Voice Carry Over is an option provided by relay services that allow the deaf consumer to voice for himself but receive the message in text or ASL, depending on the type of service used.

Attention getting techniques

We tend to try to catch an individual's attention by waving our hand or asking someone standing next to that person to get his attention for us. For larger groups of Deaf people, we'll flip the light switch on and off. If the floor is wooden, we'll stomp our feet on the floor to get people's attention.

Contact signing

When Deaf and hearing individuals come into contact they typically adjust their signing such that it becomes a "middle ground" between Signed English and ASL. Contact signing typically follows English word order while using ASL signs. Previously contact signing was referred to as Pidgin Signed English (PSE).

Code-Switching

When a person who knows more than one language intentionally switches to another language or way of expressing themselves. For example, if two Deaf people are signing in ASL and are joined by a Hearing signer they may switch to a form of signing that is easier for the Hearing person to understand.

Signed languages

While ASL is used around the world in various countries, it is most definitely not universal. Each country has their own signed language or languages. For example, England uses British Sign Language, Mexico uses Mexican Sign Language, France uses French Sign Language and so forth.

Dominant Hand

You fingerspell and sign primarily with your dominant hand. If you write with your left hand, then your dominant hand should be your left. If you write with your right hand, your dominant hand should be your right. If you are ambidextrous, then it is best to pick one hand to be your dominant hand and stick with it. Left-handed people tend to sign a mirror image of right handed signers. One handed signs use the dominant hand.

Deaf and Dumb

You should drop the word dumb and just use the word "Deaf." Dumb is an outdated term and is considered offensive in the Deaf community.

deaf with a small "d"

deaf with a lowercase "d" refers to being physically deaf, (not culturally Deaf). Physical "deafness" refers to a level of hearing below which a person is unlikely to understand speech for everyday communication purposes. For example, a person's hearing is not sufficient use the phone.