Sign Language Interpreter Question

[patchchild]

I'm looking forward to taking my son to Disney for his first trip. He'll be about 2.5. He's Deaf and we're all madly learning ASL as rapidly as possible. I know that Disney has interpreters scheduled at a number of their shows and I'm assuming that getting a guest assistance card will get us seated within a good line of sight. My worry is that my husband and I won't be fluent by that time, and I'm hoping that I won't end up feeling not language capable enough. We do everything we can to expose our son to fluent ASL, since we know that we'll most likely never approach that level ourselves (darned hearing parents that we are!). Mostly I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that it's fine for us to get the GAC for such a young child.

 

[Talking Hands]

I'm looking forward to taking my son to Disney for his first trip. He'll be about 2.5. He's Deaf and we're all madly learning ASL as rapidly as possible. I know that Disney has interpreters scheduled at a number of their shows and I'm assuming that getting a guest assistance card will get us seated within a good line of sight. My worry is that my husband and I won't be fluent by that time, and I'm hoping that I won't end up feeling not language capable enough. We do everything we can to expose our son to fluent ASL, since we know that we'll most likely never approach that level ourselves (darned hearing parents that we are!). Mostly I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that it's fine for us to get the GAC for such a young child.

You will not even need the GAC to be seated in the area for the sign language interpreting. Just tell the CM your child is deaf and you want to be in that area when you enter the show. Don't worry about feeling inadequete at ASL. We all do at the beginning and you will learn. You are doing the right thing learning and teaching your child sign language. You will find that not only deaf,but interpreters and hard of hearing will also join you in that section as well as hearing family members who may or may not sign.
I would still request a GAC for use at shows without interpreting. Since deaf are visual people being close to the action is preferred.

 

[patchchild]

Thanks for the encouragement. We're off the walls excited about the trip. My son thrives on busy situations so I know he's going to share our love of Disney.

 

[SueM in MN]

In case you didn't see it, there is information about Guest Assistance Cards in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (near the top of this board or you can follow the link in my signature).

My DD is not deaf, but she can't speak due to cerebral palsy. We started learning sign language when she was about 3. Even though none of us is fluent, whatever you can do will help. We exposed DD to sign language interpreters as often as possible so that she could see it. Kids who are able to hear pick up language by hearing speech as much as possible, even though they don't understand everything. It would work the same way for sign language - the more exposure, the better, even if you don't understand everything at first.

 

[carrie1626]

just a word of encourage here

I love that you are already thinking about interpreters for the shows even though your son is so young. Children learn at such an incredible fast rate, and this experience will only build on that.
When my daughter was 3 and just started in the classroom, she would come home and shape my husband's and my hands expecting us to know what she said!!
And time flies, too. My Hard of Hearing daughter is now starting college at the National Techical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT.edu) in NY. I'm hoping she'll apply for the College program next summer!

 

[Talking Hands]

just a word of encourage here

I love that you are already thinking about interpreters for the shows even though your son is so young. Children learn at such an incredible fast rate, and this experience will only build on that.
When my daughter was 3 and just started in the classroom, she would come home and shape my husband's and my hands expecting us to know what she said!!
And time flies, too. My Hard of Hearing daughter is now starting college at the National Techical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT.edu) in NY. I'm hoping she'll apply for the College program next summer!

Carrie tell your daughter congratulations on NTID. Hope she applies for the college program and gets in. We need more deaf and hard of hearing examples of deaf can.

 

[patchchild]

Congrats to your daughter! That's fantastic.

We're counting ourselves very lucky around here. We have a great school for the Deaf only about 40 minutes away that is a Bi/Bi program, rather than the oral centered programs that seem to abound. We've been working with them since our son was about 6 months old, taking classes, having home visits, and participating in their parent/infant program. My head and eyes still hurt by the end of a long day of sign, but I love it, and I love knowing that my son won't ever feel left out of communication in our house.

 

[carrie1626]

encourage your children with anything and everything they do.
I was surprised when my DD in her HS junior year told me she wanted to join the swim team. The surprising part was that my daughter was rather shy, quiet, and kept mostly to her 2 deaf friends.
She made the team, her interpreter would stand next to her with her hand out in front of my DD as she was leaning in position. When the BUZZ ( just like the Olympics) went off, the hand moved away. It worked out beautifully.
My daughter was not a fantastic swimmer, she didn't win any big races or awards. But she came away from that experience with a confidence that enriched her life tenfold.
I can't imagine my HOH DD any other way

 

[hematite153]

You will not even need the GAC to be seated in the area for the sign language interpreting. ... You will find that not only deaf,but interpreters and hard of hearing will also join you in that section as well as hearing family members who may or may not sign.

Oooo...I didn't know I was allowed to ask to sit in that area. I'd hate to block someone who needed it, but, I'd enjoy the opportunity to practice without being on the other side of the theatre. (If I tell the CM that I'm happy to move if someone needs the view more than I do, will they actually pay attention to that offer and move me if needed?)

Also, where do I get the list of which shows are interpreted? So far, I've just hit a bunch by accident, but, I could plan for it and make my DW get exposure--she tends to complain that she doesn't know what I'm saying when I sign, but, she certainly responds to more now than she did 5 yrs ago.

 

[Talking Hands]

You can get the schedule for the week at any of the parks. Just go to Guest Services and ask for the interpreter schedule. Be aware that the interpreters may ask you to move if there are a large group of deaf people but that rarely happens.

 

[hematite153]

You can get the schedule for the week at any of the parks. Just go to Guest Services and ask for the interpreter schedule. Be aware that the interpreters may ask you to move if there are a large group of deaf people but that rarely happens.

Thanks. I'd be happy to move if needed. In fact, I'd worry if they didn't ask me to when other people need to see.