SASL Newsletter - Spring 2019 Issue Issue 13 - Spring 2019 | Page 7

Unfortunately, there is a trend in research and scholarship that seems to be weak and lacks
clear directions on what deaf children need in terms of language. I encourage you to view my Signer's
Perspective in this issue. I discuss one scholarly paper (that was published in a journal in 2019) that
bears a striking resemblance to what is historically known as the Combined Method.
And there are more to come. The May 7, 2019 webcast release from Gallaudet University is
entitled ASL and Spoken English Bilingual Education Approach for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of
Hearing (see https://mailchi.mp/34f4e40c01c9/asl-spoken-english-bilingual-approach-research-based-webcasts-and-publications?e=49bd66f684 ). This begs
the question: Why is spoken English included in the education of deaf children? It is the general
understanding that bilingual education for deaf children includes ASL and English as a second
language through the written form. In fact, in recent years, there has been much good and promising
research and scholarship regarding the ASL/written English framework. According to ASL First, the
significance of a signed language cannot be ignored, nor can a signed language be simply equated to
a spoken language. Sensitivity to hearing loss and lack of access to spoken English serve as critical
arguments for why deaf children are designated to be signers.
In any case, the article in this newsletter by a mother of a deaf child recollecting her difficult
journey in discovering what works linguistically for her child is sobering. The mother identified ASL as
her child's language during trial and error. SASL intends on seeing that the ASL First concept for
research and scholarship will help cut to the chase and provide directions for parents and educators
with deaf children on language issues. I am pleased that the inclusion of a video on ASL acquisition
(as produced by California State University at Northridge) for the FYI section of this newsletter will
help affirm SASL's commitment to deaf people's language, ASL for the benefit of society.
References
Lane, H. (1984). When the mind hears: A history of the deaf. New York, NY: Random House, Inc.
Supalla, T., & Clark, P. (2015). Sign language archaeology: Understanding the historical roots of American Sign Language. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.
Van Cleve, J. V., & Crouch, B. A. (1989). A place of their own: Creating the deaf community in America. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.
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The Power of ASL
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Spring 2019 – Issue 13