My instructor, Kimmi, is very organized. Her lesson plans for language acquisition are shared with me on a GoogleDoc. Each meeting she adds in the vocab and practice sentences that we will go over along with a YouTube video that demonstrates a grammatical concept we discuss. Kimmi is hearing, but a “heritage speaker” for ASL. This greatly helps her ability to explain deaf concepts to a hearing person while still feeling authentic.
It also made it way easier for me to explain the injury I incurred over Halloween weekend that halted my instruction the first week of November. I broke my finger playing in a rugby tournament and overextended the brachial plexus nerve resulting in a sports injury called “stingers.” It was not only uncomfortable, but I was terrified that I would need surgery too. The soonest I was able to schedule a follow up appointment with orthopedics was the second week of November which meant I was unable to practice ASL (or do dishes, or pick things up really). I was straightforward with Kimmi about my injury and the pain, but made it clear that I still desired to practice. Nonetheless, she insisted that I wait until I heard back from the professionals so as not to further damage myself.
She also told me about how many people in the deaf community have orthopedic issues, nerve damage, and arthritis from using their hands as their primary form of communication. In particular, there has been a push to limit movements that extend the wrist side to side as it can accelerate nerve damage such as with the twisting motion when signing “HOW.”
This was news to me, but it makes perfect sense. People get carpal tunnel from their jobs and using their phones, throw in an entire language based on hand motions and cramping is sure to follow. That being said, this accident reminded me of the importance of hand and wrist health especially as a college student when I spend most of my day staring at a screen and clicking away at a keyboard.
Comments
Hi, So Myung! This is a great question for Reba next semester! I did not ask my online instructor at the time. Concerning the injury, I took a week off from class because I was unsure if I would need surgery to fix a broken tendon or remove the bone. But once I got the all clear from the doctor I went back to signing as best I could with my finger splint. Of course, I couldn't make two fists to sign the word shoe for example. However, I could bend all but one finger and go through the motions to gain that muscle memory.
Oooo ouch!
Hoping for a speedy recovery for you~
Yeah I also have not thought of this and am also curious about how deaf individuals who are unable to use their hands- whether it’s temporary or permanent- communicate. Could they use the method of glossing through a keyboard? Also, how did you go about this challenge? Was it more of a visualizing method of learning since it was difficult to physically sign?
Wow, reading this, it completely makes sense that wrist and finger joint health has to be a consideration as a part of ASL. However, I never would have thought about it. I am interested how these new signs to preserve wrist health are spread. But, it definitely makes me think about elderly deaf individuals who may not be able to sign well. I am wondering how that is dealt with.