Kit Niehans

Twenty–five years ago, I began ‘Adventure in Sign Language 101’, taking various classes in PSE (Pidgin Signed English, which used to be known as Siglish).  Working as a private tutor to a deaf preschooler led me into working for the school system as an interpreter (as well as in speech and language services) for five years.  After raising my own children at home (and home schooling them), I returned to work for the school district as an interpreter once again, adapting to the SEE (Signing Exact English) system. Interpreting is not my first job; it is one of them.  J

I like to spend time with Jesus, with my husband, play musical instruments and sing with friends, enjoy the outdoors (camping, walking with my dog, and painting landscapes), train animals, teach humans, and drink tea with family and friends in front of the fire on a snowy day.

    RESOURCES FOR PARENTS, INTERPRETERS, AND TEACHERS

American Sign Language

·        What is it? http://www.aslinfo.com/aboutasl.cfm

·        How Long Does It Take to Learn Sign Language?  http://www.nad.org/infocenter/infotogo/asl/learn.html

·        Facts sheet http://www.nad.org/infocenter/infotogo/asl/factsheetASL.html

Parents

·        American Sign Language online dictionary http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

·        For parents who have recently discovered their child is deaf     http://www.beginningssvcs.com/

·        Comprehensive site that covers many aspects very well http://www.bradingrao.com/welcome.htm

·        American Society for Deaf Children  http://www.deafchildren.org/home/home.html

Deaf Culture   Yes, there IS a Deaf culture.

A culture is defined as a people with their own language, values, rules of behavior, and traditions..

·        Help to understand Deaf culture http://www.aslinfo.com/deafculture.cfmhttp://www.deaflinx.com/

·        More help to understand Deaf culture                                    http://frontpage.erie.net/dwm/article2.html#Basic%20Introduction%20to%20Some%20Aspects%20of%20Deaf%20Culture

·        A list of books and resources about ASL, Deafness, and Deaf culture. http://www.aslinfo.com/aboutasl.cfm

Deaf Education

·        Laurent Clerc Deaf Education Center information with many links concerning Deaf education             http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/

·        Deaf school finder for the United States and Canada, arranged by state             http://pages.deaffriendfinder.com/schools

·        Deaf Education: A parent’s guide http://home.inreach.com/torsi/frame.html

·        Deaf Students Education Services http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq9806.html

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More Resources

·        Online games to play using fingerspelling http://www.iwaynet.net/%7eggwiz/boggle/bogglefs.htm

·        Deaf Resource Center http://www.deafbiz.com/