WOW! iPhone App for Deaf Kids in Newfoundland Schools!

(For the English version go to www.deafcanadian.com.)

The Minister of Education in Newfoundland-Labrador claimed last summer that he would provide iPhone technology to all Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, their teachers and parents in public schools to facilitate access to communication with peers and "community at large" (meaningHearing people). He also claimed there would be ASL support in schools for Deaf and Hard of Hearing folks who need it. Does the iASL app for iPhone deliver on King's promise? Does the iPhone technology itself deliver? Find out!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• NSD
• closure of Deaf school
• Deaf culture
• ASL
• Deaf politics
• Newfoundland Labrador
• Darin King
• NL Ministry of Education
• media
• Deaf education
• audism
• human rights issues
• Gary Malkowski
• language rights
• educational rights
• AVT
• Auditory-Verbal Therapy
• iPhone technology
• iASL app
• iPhone

[bhynes57]

I really dont think you understand what this app was actually made for. It wasnt made to replace a qualified teacher. It was made to take the place of an interpreter. It clearly states on the website that it is a supplemental tool to help with the education and learning of sign language. As stated in the website and bio for the signer in the video. This is made for ASL and the signer is 2nd generation deaf and went to Gallaudet and is also a teacher in the USA.

[shelpotma1]

@bhynes57 I AGREE. THAT is precisely the POINT. The government that closed the Newfoundland School for the Deaf doesn't understand that.

[bhynes57]

The app has nothing to do with Newfoundland Schools. the app is just another tool for people to learn sign language. It has over 5000 video signs. If it doesnt have a particular sign it will finger spell it. It also has many categories with a lot of phrases. I think this is good for people who want to learn how to sign.

[shelpotma1]

@bhynes57 No doubt.

[truevoiceofsanity]

@shelpotma1 Those people communicated with the majority. For the most part, the deaf don.t. In 40 years of living in Canada, I've never heard of a deaf protest, a deaf letter writing compaign, or seen deaf people interviewed on say TVO or the CBC. The number of deaf people is huge. If you want to be "heard", you will be heard. We can't ignore such a large percentage of the population forever, even if we want to.

[truevoiceofsanity]

@shelpotma1 I'm sorry to hear schools for the deaf closing. Sounds brain dead.

[Bunjer]

@shelpotma1 Would be suprised, removing the medical label on Deafness. Convention Rights for people with Disabilities (CRPD) cover hearing disabled people, but allow Deaf babies/children, and adults rights being Deaf. Protects mostly Deaf from the disability label, but problem is, hearing people are going to protect you. Better Deaf people protect our own especially by Minority Rule as Representatives on on all Deaf laws. Hearing people shouldn't represent us, and tend EPIC fail baby sitting us!

[shelpotma1]

@Bunjer Yes, it will happen again and again, but we cannot give up. How long did it take the Black Americans to get to where they are now? DECADES, centuries, even.

Gay people managed to remove the medical label that identified them as deviant from APA DSM book. We gotta remove the medical label that says we are disabled as well. I think that is the best way for us to make real progress.

[Bunjer]

@Bunjer and yes I have been watching your vlogs ;) I feel you.. I see what you said.. We are helpless, no matter how we rally, assemble, fight, and beg them hearing people to do what we know is best. Yet they will be ignoring all of our protesting. We have very little power, brownnosing etc.. Maybe they will listen, but to be honest with you, it will happen again and again.. I want Minority Rule, in the USA. Am tired of the Majority Party deciding for us. Why not go for Deaf Minority Rule there?

[Bunjer]

@shelpotma1 iphones before closure? ahh I see! issue brought up beforehand, and its a joke anyway. We are facing audism/oppression all across the globe, and yet the hearing think we are 2nd class. They will never listen to us, and fail assimilating us for generations no matter how EPIC the failure unfortunately. The CRPD is something we need to look into, on Rights for Deaf people. It is not yet ratified in the USA yet through Senate. Ratified in Canada? You need Minority Rule too especially!

[shelpotma1]

@Bunjer The iPhone is but ONE of the reasons for the closure of NSD. Technology (including Cochlear implants) I will be vlogging/blogging more on the issue of NSD closure. if you go to my website, and look at NSD: A Quiet Death? Not so! and the letter from Deaf Former Parliamentarian to King, you will get a better idea of the issue which IS the closure of NSD WITHOUT consulting wit the Deaf community or Deaf experts. People are speaking out on this.

[Bunjer]

Nice way to get you all distracted from the closing of the school, and talk about the iphones.. Is it a spin to get you all off track and argue over g3 or g4 and go off the point? Complain about the closure, and demand that there is a school for the Deaf with Least Restrictive Environment, and be run Deaf Centered! The iphones won't accomondate but the point is, Deaf Children deserve an LRE school run especially the Deaf Centered way, simple as that! LRE law is being ignored somewhat in the U.S.