ASL provides many people with the ability to communicate, and not just those who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf. ASL and other sign languages can be used by many other people, such as those who have Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and Deaf-Blindness. However, since ASL is a visual language, it poses a challenge for those who are Deaf-Blind. Thankfully, it can be adapted in many ways to best suit the person’s needs.
Introduction to Deaf-Blindness
Deaf-Blindness looks very different for each individual. A common misconception about people who are Blind is that they are not able to see anything. In fact, a minority of people who are Blind have no vision. Others who are Blind may have no peripheral vision, no center vision, have large blind spots, or may only be able to see light and shadows. Here are some examples of what people who are Blind may see.
Adaptations of ASL
When signing with someone who is Deaf-Blind, it is important to consider what they see. The two most common types of ASL for people who are Deaf-Blind are adaptive ASL and pro-tactile ASL. Adaptive ASL considers other types of vision such as loss of peripheral vision, where the person should sit directly in front of them. Someone who is near-sighted may prefer for the intervenor, or whomever is communicating with them, to be very close to them and have their hands directly in front of their face. An example of someone using adaptive ASL can be seen in the picture below. They are making sure to maintain a reasonable distance apart as well keeping within a frame that suits the individual’s needs.
Pro-tactile ASL is generally used for people who have no vision, those who see only shadows, or for signing at nighttime when it is dark. The person who is receiving the information will feel and cover the hand of the person who is signing, as seen in the picture below.
Pro-tactile ASL, while still having all the fundamentals of ASL, has minor differences to better communicate with the individual. For example, “back channeling” is commonly used to express reactions, which is when one person has their hand on the person who is signing and taps them to convey reactions. To laugh, scratching is used and to nod, tapping. The video below demonstrates how pro-tactile ASL is used and how ASL can be modified to create better clarity for those who are Deaf-Blind.
Since every individual has unique needs, it is always a good idea to ask them directly about their preferred method of communication.
When communicating with someone who is Deaf-Blind, there are various things that need to be considered, such as the proper way to approach the person, attire, and the length of your fingernails. Approach the person in a calm and gentle manner and always begin with introducing who you are. Clothing should be a solid colour that contrasts with skin tone to make the hand stand out and be easy to differentiate. Fingernails should be short and a neutral colour to avoid distraction.
Another important consideration is that, typically, body language and facial expression help deliver the message one is trying to convey. However, some of these features may be out of the range of vision for the individual. In this case, to convey tone or other body language cues, simply just tell them by signing “I’m teasing”, tapping them rapidly to signify nodding, or signing “no” when otherwise shaking your head would be done.
Intervenors
Intervenors are people who are the eyes and ears for those who are Deaf-Blind by communicating their surroundings to them, affirming actions, and assisting with life skills. Their purpose is to do with, not for, people who are Deaf-Blind and allow them to be independent. Intervenors typically will use either pro-tactile ASL or adaptive ASL to communicate with the individual; however, since everyone is different, communication strategies can depend on the individual who is Deaf-Blind.
This is just one example of how ASL is such a diverse and inclusive language. I hope everyone learned something new. Let us know in the comments what you learned!
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