Our 6 year old is deaf and now attending the tn school for the deaf in Knoxville! we really need to learn?

Question

sign language so that we are able to communicate with him because He will pick it up very fast in fact he has been there only a week and already knows more than we do in fact he is already starting to talk back and forth with his classmates. so we really need to learn sign language but we are both unemployed and cannot afford to pay for classes IS THERE ANYONE who can help me out please I am broke and unemployed so therefore no way to get any money does anyone know where to get free lessons on the net what web site to go to? we are both unemployed and it is extremely important to be able to communicate with our son!!!

Answer 1

Ask the school whether they offer free adult ed classes for the parents.  Often schools do provide some help in this regard.  For example, many schools catering to Spanish speaking communities often offer English classes to the parents for free, because it will help their children learn.  ^..^

Answer 2

ask your public library for videos/DVDs their ought ot be a special needs resource

well, where do you live? Maybe there are free signl anguage classes at a church or club or something. Much as there are free sites, it really helps to interact with people signing as it is an interactive language.

http://www.thesignvideos.com/gclid=CPW4l...

http://www.lifeprint.com/

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/

http://www.aslpro.com/

http://deafness.about.com/od/americandea...

http://www.tndeaflibrary.nashville.gov/t...

These site should help you start. I can't tell you how important it is for you to learn ASL and continue until you are as fluent as he is. I have been a TOD/HH for 28 years and the kids who succeed are the ones with parents signing at home. Congratulation for your willingness to learn his language. Now, about reality!

I would also suggest that you change your mind frame about finances because you have a responsibility to show your son how to overcome obsticles as he will have to overcome tons of obsticles as a Deaf adult in a world of prejudice. You are going to tp need to be parents who encourage him to go to job interviews over and over again to inntepret for him and to look for employment-Hard to do if you yourselves aren't  doing that, even now.

You are telling us you are broke/out of work as if that was a reason  for not being able to pay for sign language lessons- this attitude isn't a pro-active one needed to raise a deaf or hard of hearing child. He's going to need a role model and more encouragement than a hearing child. So see what you can do to get back on your feet.

Answer 3

Another plae to look is online- see if there are any Deaf Clubs for adults in your area.  Go to the Deaf Club or email them and tell them your situation- the Deaf people I know would all be delighted if they met a set of parents who wanted to learn to sign for their child. :)

Answer 4

I just took an asl class and this website helped me with fingerspelling which would be better than nothing since then you could at least communicate in some fashion. www.asl.ms