1. Different Methods of Communication ASL MCE Group Signing Bilingual -- Bicultural

2. ASL American Sign Language A manual visual language communicated through the hands and the face. A language which has its own language separate and distinct grammar from English. ASL includes the use of space and directionality of movement and inflections of signs.

3. PSE Pidgin Sign English PSE combines features of both English and the manual visual communications modes. Signs are connect to the English word order It keeps the use of space, directionality and inflection of signs the same as ASL. This can be use with or without voice. PSE is a combination of two different languages.

4. ME Manual English In ME the sign are linked together in English word order, and signs are primarily based on English spelling and pronunciation. The major component is seeing English on the hands. ME is a general term for sign language designed to represent the English in the gestural-visual form. ME may not involve the use of space, sign directionality, and other characteristics common to ASL.

5. Fingerspelling Manual Alphabet 19 handshapes and two movements to represent the 26 letters of the alphabet. It is used with all of the methods of communication. It can also be used alone. The Rochester Method involves the use of fingerspelling and speech together without signs.

6. Rochester Method EVERYHTING is fingerspelled—no signs. A method of communication which supplements oral speech with fingerspelling. It is not used today and a main educational practice.

7. In Group Signing Home Signs School Signs Local Signs

8. Home Signs These are signs developed and used by individual deaf family members. Or deaf child with hearing parents. These may range from near mime gestures to more sophisticated signs use only by family members.

9. School Signs Sings developed and used by children in a school setting often because there is a lack of adult hard of hearing role models. These signs are not understood by hard of hearing adults in the community.

10. Local Signs Also called regional signs. Signs that are somewhat like regional dialects. Like sandwich is called hoagies, submarine or hero……

11. Total Communication A philosophy of education which uses gestures, signs, fingerspelling, speech and auditory training.

12. Education - Bilingual Bicultural Education ASL Plus English

13. Education - Bilingual Bicultural Education For many years now, it was thought that total communication would meet the needs of deaf children who need sign language and voice. Now, as scientific evidence continues to pile up that sign language is the natural language of deaf children, and even that their brains function differently, the pendulum is swinging again in another direction -- towards bilingual-bicultural.

14. What it is???? Does it work??? used to teach deaf children, with English taught as a second language. For as long as anyone can remember, the average deaf high school graduate's reading level remained stubbornly low

15. And? Many deaf children did succeed but overall, it still remained low. No one knew what would work. Then the evidence of research began to come in: Deaf children of deaf parents tended to do better. More recently, study after study has been released showing that sign language is the default language of deaf children, who ARE visual learners.

16. So…. Independent bilingual-bicultural charter schools began to spring up. Now more schools are beginning to recognize it as well. New York City's JHS 47, a public school for the deaf, announced it would drop total communication in favor of bilingual bicultural.

17. What does all this mean? It means that we need a fourth educational option. For years the only options were oral, cued speech, or total communication. Now we must add a fourth option, the bilingual-bicultural option. The other options should not be dropped - there are many deaf children who thrive with the other options. http://deafness.about.com/cs/communication/a/bilingual.htm