[OSList] OS with Sign Language as a first language

Wed Sep 25 15:27:15 PDT 2013

Annika, you have enriched our shared learning on this topic, so I am glad that you felt inspired to share your thoughts and experiences.
Here is my question for others who have had the experience - my own has been with deaf and differently-hearing people *who all speak the same regional language* including their sign language.

Let us say that this is a gathering of differently-hearing people from several different countries.
I learned American Sign Language just a bit, many years ago. And when I did, I learned there are country and regional differences, even accents, if you will.

Are those differences enough to bring forth any communication needs *amongst* the differently-hearing people coming from different countries for a dialogue event?

I was humbled by the help and feedback I received when doing Open Space with a mixed-group of individuals - some use voice because they learned that way, some do not, some do not use sound… I have observed that sometimes it is generational - how in your own country it was thought (when you were young) you should be taught, as a deaf or differently hearing person.  

I am just being curious. Lee and Phelim and company I know that you yourselves have had some incredible experiences and learning with mixed-abilities groups.
Thank you everyone for sharing in this rich learning about such a rich and inclusive topic,

Lisa

On Sep 25, 2013, at 8:43 AM, "Annika von Walter" <info at annikavonwalter.de> wrote:

> Hello all together,
>  
> I am rather new on this list, reading it for quite a while with great interest and learning a lot, but not having written anything yet. Let's change!
>  
> I facilitated only a few OSTs until now, but I worked with deaf children for quite a while before and I am in good contact with deaf adults. So actually I never combined both, OST and working with deaf. Nevertheless, there are several thoughts on my mind.
>  
> As Lee suggested, it will be a meeting with participants using sign language as their mother 'tongue'. I suppose, that walking the circle could be complicated: The interpreters will hear you and they can translate, but you would always cross the eye contact between interpreters and participants. So Diane's idea sounds very good: walk the circle once while making a litte break and inviting to get in touch with each other.
>  
> Usually deaf people who are used to sign language - different to those, who got deafened rather late in life - prefer sign language to a written text on a sceen. Sign language is just as fast and just as complex as spoken language (at least German Sign language is, maybe ask the interpreters for this topic!). Therefor I suppose, that it will be not necessary to reduce your opening or to use a screen and written English. Writing and reading is hard to learn if you don't hear, as it is connected with the spoken language - surely a foreign language with not only different words, but also a different grammar and structure. So relying on sign language surly is the best choice.
>  
> Writing down the topics one after the other and announcing them afterwards is surely a good idea! In this period the interpreters will have to translate the other way, from BSL to English.
>  
> If there are only participants knowing sign language, you won't need interpreters in the meetings. Maybe the documentation might be a challenge, as writing is not that common to some deaf people and as writing and communicating with signs at the same time won't work. Just ask the community in the preparing meeting, if they need help and if they have any ideas. Maybe it is worth thinking about a video documentation using signs as well? Anyhow: I suppose there is a deaf community that can answer all the questions and that will have the best ideas - don't hesitate to ask!
>  
> I am really curious how you get on - please share!! And good luck!
>  
> Greetings from Berlin
>  
> Annika von Walter
>  
> A n nik a v on W a l te r
> Organisations- & Teamentwicklung
>  
>  
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> Denken Sie an Ihre Umwelt - ist es wirklich notwendig, diese Mail zu drucken?
>  
> Von: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] Im Auftrag von chris grady
> Gesendet: Dienstag, 24. September 2013 13:58
> An: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> Betreff: Re: [OSList] OS with Sign Language as a first language
>  
> This is inspiring. Thank you
> Chris
> 
> Chris Grady FRSA
> Chris Grady.Org
>  
> Gothic House, High Road, Great Finborough, Suffolk IP14 3AQ
> Tel: +44 1449 771007,  Mob: +44 7713 643971
> chris at chrisgrady.org
>  
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> Associates: Kath Burlinson, Tom Atkins, Rajni Shah, Keum Rolling, Drew Davies and Kate Reed (New York)
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>  
> 
> On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 4:10 PM, Lee Simpson <lee.simpson at mac.com> wrote:
> Hi Diane,
>  
> Thank you for sharing your experience. That is really great to read about, very useful and very encouraging.
>  
> lee
>  
> On 23 Sep 2013, at 16:01, Diane Gibeault <diane.gibeault at rogers.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Lee,
>  
> I facilitated an Open Space meeting for deafened people, people who once heard and spoke but have now lost their hearing completely or in good part and have not necessarily learned sign language or lip reading. The invitation from a volunteer organization went to the community at large.
>  
> Over twenty people met for half a day. The theme was focussed on service and access needs of deafened people. Communication was assisted by interpreters, sound enhancing ear plugs and simultaneous captioning services enabling participants to read spoken words on a large screen.
>  
> We were able to preserve the formation of the full circle of chairs by having some of the hearing participants (partner accompanying a deafened participant, sponsor of the organization, sign language interpreter and facilitator) sit at one end of the circle, their backs to the screen which other participants needed to see.
>  
> As the facilitator I could not walk in the circle while speaking because it would have interfered with the view of the screen but I did walk around the circle once without speaking. I had told the group I would do so and that at the same time, they were invited to let their eyes go around the circle, acknowledging the richness of the people present. I made eye contact with everyone, we all smiled and nodded to welcome each other and they did the same with other participants. The circle was bound.
>  
> Harisson Owen’s “less is more” never was so true. To explain the process, I had to speak slowly, using few words, choosing key important ones so that the captioning note takers and interpreters would represent the ideas as clearly and as completely as possible. Otherwise, they will cut on what was said or put it in words that may not reflect as well what you wanted to say. Beth Martin a OS trainee who assisted in the Open Space was asked by the sponsor to take the role of reading the screen and signalling to me when I had to slow down. If a message had been really distorted, she would have caught it and let me know.
>  
> Participants wrote their topics and only when all had finished did they take turns to announce them from their seat. This way, everyone could look at the screen or interpreter. Otherwise, they would have missed the topic announcements because they would be looking at their sheet while writing their own topic. Participants with topics then picked up a Post-it with time and place and put up their topics on the wall. After this first round, some came up with more ideas for topics and we proceeded in the same way again.
>  
> Once all the topics were on the wall, further instructions were given and off they went to sign up. If they needed to negotiate combinations or time changes, they could communicate with each other by writing on the paper pad they were given or calling upon an interpreter. Each meeting site had a large screen computer and a note taker and participants sat around to read on the screen what was being said. Interpreters went where they were needed. There was a talking piece at every meeting site to help see who was speaking. A real break was scheduled between the two discussion rounds to give everyone a rest from reading.
>  
> Discussion reports were completed after the event, given it was only a half day meeting. For reporting to the entire group at the end of the event, two flip charts were placed near the circle in the plenary room and initiators had been invited to write two or three lines that captured the key idea or action coming out of their discussion. This encouraged them to organize their thoughts and it condensed the reporting period. Initiators read their two line reports that were captured by the interpreters and the larger screen. Participants exchanged comments, reactions and more stories.
>  
> For the closing, the talking piece worked like it always does and words came from the heart to bring meaningful closure to this event.
>  
> They were energised by this kind of exchange that brought them out of their isolation
> They would have wanted to keep on. They talked about having another meeting. This kind of experience was a first of its kind for these participants and for this community of people with hearing challenges.
>  
> The speed at which  participants took charge of the process, the level of participation, the energy and the enthusiasm about the results and about this way of meeting were the same as for all the other open space groups I have facilitated. Open Space does work with any group as long as there is passion for the reason that brings people together.
>  
> Enjoy,
>  
> Diane
>  
> From: Lee Simpson <lee.simpson at mac.com>
> To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org 
> Sent: Monday, September 23, 2013 10:32:35 AM
> Subject: [OSList] OS with Sign Language as a first language
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> We are planning an OS with BSL (British Sign Language) as a first language. Anybody done something like this and have any tips about things like sight lines during opening, announcing of sessions and closing circle?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Lee
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