HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF DURING PREACHING

[Jerry]

I will take the advice of those here and speak with my pastor. If he thinks it is a distraction, that will be the deciding factor. If he does not, I will also specifically speak to the families around me and ask whether it would bother them or distract them if I was using my Bible program. Perhaps if they knew what I was using, there would not be that element of distraction that comes with wondering what someone was using or what they were doing on it. I like the ease of a Bible program at my fingertips - it is handy. But as much as I love it, I would not insist upon it to the detriment of others. Yes, I could use it at home or after/inbetween services, if needed - but I would like to get input from those at church that may have seen me use it already.

[JerryNumbers]

There is a electronic device that is specifically for the deaf and HOH who don't know sign language. It involves a lot of pecking from an interpreter. It is call "CART" and it is usually use in courts (I had to have it when I was in court). I am sure some churches use it. I wish most churches would have it as I missed out alot of things in church, but it is too expensive :

http://www.ncraonline.org/NR/rdonlyres/891C9BAD-1A28-4298-AB6B-D6569196ACAD/0/CARTModelGuidelines.pdf

There is also a devise for those who have a cochlear implant, if the church has a sound system, it will broadcast the sound remotely to the person with the implant, it works quite well and disturbs no one. My Aunt Jot uses one at the Baptist church she attends, without it she can not understand the pastor.

And of course, expense is a concern, many churches would not have the money to spend on stuff that benefits only one person, sad to say some just would not spend money on something that would benefit only one person.

But that said, sounds like the devise you speak of, the person doing it could more than likely get in a place where they would not disturb someone.

But this topic was not really on stuff like that, but people who use hand held devises in church such as portable Bibles, that will disturb people and might give some the idea your not paying attention and or playing with cell phone and or playing games.

We should police our self on such things and be absolutely sure what we do does not disturb anyone, many people are to nice to come and tell you your disturbing them, some will and the person will get mad even though they tried to use godly wisdom when they speak to that person.

[1Timothy115]

I don't have any impairment so, I just jot down the reference, name, or word that will bring it to mind later. Those of you who do have an impairment of what ever form do what you have to to get the message God gave the pastor or preacher.

[Psalms18_28]

cochlear implant helps some, but I still struggle understanding people. hearing is more complex than that. I tried using the phone, and I still can't make out some of the words (it still some mumbling). And I still need to speech read to understand (lipreading AND sounds... I can't understand one of each alone)

Some people who are late-deaf can benefit the most out of cochlear implant. But I wore hearing aids all my life and it is not easy than you think. I mean it is like telling someone "oh you have artificial limbs so you should be able to do anything"... nope, they still struggle even though the artificial limb help them get around. There will be a time they need help just like I do.

Personally, I think it is hearing's jOB to interpret what another hearing person is saying to a deaf, rather it is sign language or CART, just like it is a English speaking person's jOB to interpret English to a Spanish-speaking person (if the interpreter know Spanish). I spent all my life learning to speak and tortured myself over it just to fit in the hearing world. I would not be disabled from other deaf people if I knew how to communicate in ASL and other devices. I am only disabled in the hearing world

I do agree that we should not use electronic devices if we can live without it , especially at least for one hour (or how long the sermon is).Or use it very little as possible.

[JerryNumbers]

I don't believe I inferred it was easy, if I did I sure did not mean to, for I know how much my Aunt Jot has been through since she had the cochlear implant many years ago, of course we who do not have that prOBlem cannot imagine what it would be like nor how frustrating it would be.

But I will say now she can hear some, much more that she could before, and as I stated the church she attends got the remote devise for her so now she can set in her pew and hear what the pastor states. But I might add, it took her a lot of getting use to, she said it was like learning to hear all over. During her learning years it was frustrating to try and talked with her, but as she got use to it, it became easier, still not perfect, but she will quickly admit its much better than being stone deft, and she is proud that she has it.

We all have our Goliaths to face, thankfully with the grace our Father offers us, whatever Goliath we might face or deal with from day to day, we can have the strength to stand up to it and survive, just as Paul did with the thorn.

Many times some things seem to be so unfair to my human mind, that is seeing what some go through in this life, I try not to question it, but my flesh is weak and my emotions get the best of me. I know whatever it be, it can be used for the glory of God with those who are God's children.

[Psalms18_28]

I don't believe I inferred it was easy, if I did I sure did not mean to, for I know how much my Aunt Jot has been through since she had the cochlear implant many years ago, of course we who do not have that prOBlem cannot imagine what it would be like nor how frustrating it would be.>>>>>

Sorry about that, I think I vented alittle bit and went offtopic. It's a battle I and many deaf people had with the school system. they truly believe verbal communication is the way to go and have a hard time accepting that allowing deaf people to learn sign language isn't so bad. If you want to know what I am talking about: http://www.dbcusa.org/index.php/About-DBC/

[JerryNumbers]

Don't you think, what works best for one, sign language, might not work best for the next one.

Plus if they do learn verbal communication, they will better understand what is going on at more places, for they may be in many places throughout their life where there is no one there to interpret what is being said into sign language. I have no knowledge on this to make such a decision, just my 1st thought on the subject.

Which we can consider too, now days they can start out at a young age helping a child to learn verbal communication which will prOBably make it easier on them than when you try to change in midlife.

[Psalms18_28]

I never heard a deaf complained they wished they never learned sign language. But I have heard them complained they wished they learn ASL in their early years (think all those math, history, etc class being used as verbal training for the deaf instead of actually teaching them these subjects with sign language). beside learning to speak that you can't hear is harder than learning sign language that you can see.

I found verbal communication very useless and It made mostly a guessing game of what people are saying. It haven't promise me any success. I still ask people to repeat and they still say never mind or end up writing to me. Most people can get used to certain people but when they met new people, it take long time to understand what they are saying. I lack communication and bonding with my family. And people don't really want to hang out with you so once you leave school, no one bother to contact you unless you are on the internet. And people still laugh at the way you speak. here you are, learned to speak just for them and they laugh or think it is sooo "cute". Sadly, this is what I experienced. top of it all, it is very overwhelming because I am constantly focusing on every single word instead of just going with the flow of the conversation.

beside, I didn't say I was against verbal communication, In fact I encourage deaf people learn to communicate with hearing. I am against verbal communication ONLY -- where audiologists, teachers, and other professional tell parents "no sign languages" or they will never learn to speak. But this is a myth.

[Psalms18_28]

btw, I agree with you about midlife. This is why I am against professionals telling parents not to sign. It is harder for me to learn it now.

but most late deaf people want to learn ASL too.

[blossom]

That is very interesting Ps18. So you would prefer the hearing to try harder to understand your speech or would you prefer them to have you write or ??? Just from a hearers point of view if you don't have contact with deaf people then you are unsure as to what to do. My friend I see a deaf group meeting at Macdonalds some times and we always smile and say hello. My friend in particular is very outgoing and talks to everyone but is not sure what to say or rather whether to chat or not. My son learns a little sign in class because of another students learning difficulty. He is not deaf but has prOBlem with speech I think. As for what the proffessional recommend that is a prOBlem in most areas. Very few agree on diagnosis never mind strategy to overcome whatever is diagnosed.

Blossom

[Jerry]

I spoke with my pastor and he had no prOBlem with me using the Bible program on my Ipod. Though when I mentioned that I could also speak ahead of time to those sitting around me, and explain what I was doing/using it for so there would be less distractions (or simply ask them if they would be distracted by my use of it - BEFORE I actually use it in any given service), he thought that was a good idea.

[Psalms18_28]

As for what the proffessional recommend that is a prOBlem in most areas. Very few agree on diagnosis never mind strategy to overcome whatever is diagnosed.

Blossom

I'm sorry, but in this case, I find it very unacceptable for any professionals to falsely claim that a child will not speak if he/she learn to sign. He is very wrong and not educated. Just about all deaf (born deaf) who knew how to speak.. started out sign languages. Even Helen Keller. I had to talk with someone who is totally deaf about getting a TTY and she knew how to communicate with me through lipreading and speaking.. But her main communication is sign language. She told me that she had always signed and she signs with her co-workers and husband. Even I started out with some signing... but my signing was more like "pointing" I would point what I want. It should have been more than just pointing.

Deafness is not some kind of diagnose that allow room for different opinions. It affect the person's social life, as well as emotional being if people keep taking the dangerous path of isolating them with only one communication skills.For over hundred years, deaf people have been smack and mistreated just so they could satisfy hearing people with speaking skills. and when they were just about to give up and let deaf people use sign languages to help them out, a new technology comes out and they would say "maybe this will work and then they won't need sign languages"... but all it does is put them back to square one. Right now, the newest technology is cochlear implant and I have it... and it still does not make deaf people as hearing as hearing people. Children with cochlear implant still need speech therapy (compare to hearing children) and still struggle. Therefore, they still need sign languages to give them a boost.
Now about McDonald. If you can't understand them then write to them and they will write back. They don't mind. And they know people can't understand them which is why some prefer signing anyway. They may have some resentment toward hearing people (especially about the verbal therapy issue because they want deaf people to appear "normal and hearing" ) but try to bypass that and have some understanding. And please, no stereotyping! just because one deaf does it doesn't mean all of them agree with it. they all have their own type of personality and experiences.

the only reason I support verbal communication is because for two reasons, not everyone know sign language and you will need it in case of emergency, and the second is because it helps with their writing skills. Sign language is more backward, kinda like Japanese language.

[JerryNumbers]

An honest question on this statement.

" I find it very unacceptable for any professionals to falsely claim that a child will not speak if he/she learn to sign."

Isn't it quite normal for most of us humans, when we learn to do something one way we hate and resist change?

[Psalms18_28]

true, I am working on sign language right now. It isn't going to come easy though.

And I already lost time My mother is not alive and we never communicated with sign languages. We had a huge language barriers.

[John81]

I spoke with my pastor and he had no prOBlem with me using the Bible program on my Ipod. Though when I mentioned that I could also speak ahead of time to those sitting around me, and explain what I was doing/using it for so there would be less distractions (or simply ask them if they would be distracted by my use of it - BEFORE I actually use it in any given service), he thought that was a good idea.