The study examined the role of sign language and fingerspelling in the development of the reading and writing skills of deaf children and youth. Twenty-six deaf participants (13 children, 13 adolescents), whose first language was Chilean Sign Language (CHSL), were examined. Their dactylic abilities were evaluated with tasks involving the reading…

For 15 years, schools and universities have been striving to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and make their programs and facilities accessible to people with disabilities. It is not uncommon to see education facilities outfitted with ramps, elevators, special parking spaces, curb cuts, playground equipment, and signage--all…

Little research is available on the assessment and treatment of deaf people who commit sexual offences. Most studies provide statistical information on offenders or medical discussion on the causes of violence among deaf people. Sex offender treatment programmes for deaf people are rare internationally and only two such groups exist in Europe. The…

This paper addresses optimal strategies in teaching essential life and communication skills to children with Down syndrome, autism and other developmental delays. Evidence from the literature concerning the relative efficacy of hand-over-hand (self-modeling) in contrast to passive observational teaching techniques (e.g., video modeling) shows the…

The study investigated the efficacy and viability of American Sign Language (ASL)/English bilingual education for public schools serving deaf and hard of hearing children. Prior research related to ASL/English bilingual education is reviewed. Quantitative data related to the reading comprehension achievement of 25 deaf and hard of hearing students…

Many students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are eligible for a signing accommodation for state and other standardized tests. The signing accommodation, however, presents several challenges for testing programs that attempt to administer tests under standardized conditions. One potential solution for many of these challenges is the use of…

The debate over whether primates can be taught visual language is examined, and evidence of use of nonverbal language in primate studies is compared with the language criteria of a number of linguistic researchers. Background information on language, visual language (including sign language), and the parameters of the studies is offered, including…

This College Library Information Packet (CLIP) Notes provides information on displays and exhibits in small college and university libraries. Displays and exhibits have long been an accepted yet under-documented are of library work. This survey presents a collection of data and supporting documents about current display and exhibit practices in…

The bilingual glossary, in English-to-Spanish, defines words and phrases related to driving and traffic safety. It is intended for individuals driving in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. A second section lists the vocabulary used in common road signs, and the third section lists useful phrases for communicating about car repair needs.…

A study of dialectal variation in Mexican Sign Language (MSL), the primary language for a large segment of Mexico's deaf community, is presented. Signs used by nine different sources representing various locations, ages, and social groups are compared. The first section reviews a number of previous informal assessments of dialectal variation in…

A study investigated the actual classroom use of American Sign Language (ASL) by 1,888 reading, mathematics, and social studies teachers of 4,500 hearing-impaired students. When asked directly, 140 teachers replied that they use ASL in the classroom. However, analysis of responses to a series of questions about specific communication behavior…

Students with the dual handicaps of hearing impairment and mental retardation display special problems in language acquisition. These problems do not appear to have been addressed by curricula that have been designed for either of the single handicap groups. Since specially designed curricula for this population are virtually nonexistent, a…

The paper describes the Makaton Vocabulary as an alternative communication mode for children and adults with communication and language difficulties. The language program comprises the following components: a core vocabulary based on concepts/items needed to express essential needs and experiences; the use of signs and/or symbols always associated…

A discussion of the field of clinical linguistics outlines the scope of the discipline, notes its relationship to other speech- and language-related fields, and describes the components of an undergraduate program for individuals in a linguistically relevant clinical field. It suggests general linguistics curriculum components for clinical…

Language tests were administered by videotape to 27 deaf children taught to sign English. The tests, one in manual English (ME) and the other in American Sign Language (ASL) each included twelve grammatical distinctions: two aspects of adjectival modification (opposition and ordering), two types of pluralization (is/are and indicative in ME, dual…