Thursday
Monday
News and more news
The year of the DRAGON is certainly not dragging. A Man Without Words - new edition - with Ildefonso's story in the new last chapter: Ildefonso's Chapter is about to be launched.
A Man Without Words, a short documentary, is being made; and a play is in the idea/ musing stage.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf, retold by me for little, little kids will also be making an appearance soon, with a DVD ASL storytelling version, translated into 15 different languages.
Stay tuned and help me announce all the good news of July, August and September, 2012
A Man Without Words, a short documentary, is being made; and a play is in the idea/ musing stage.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf, retold by me for little, little kids will also be making an appearance soon, with a DVD ASL storytelling version, translated into 15 different languages.
Stay tuned and help me announce all the good news of July, August and September, 2012
answer to "what prevents deaf people from reaching their dreams?"
Dear K.,
Deafness does not isolate or "disable" people. Hearing people not allowing these visual beings to be visual disables them. Their beautiful visual language can teach us, hearing people, how to see better. Instead, almost all the attention is on ears and mouths.
Many deaf babies grow up without language or little language because over 90% of doctors in the US and Canada (ENT surgeons who are the ear specialists) say, "don't sign to your deaf baby." They say this because they are excited about fixing the ear. [Cochlear implants, invasive brain surgery, does help with speech and is a kind of hearing, but does not make a deaf baby hearing; he or she is still deaf, but has a tool]
They or the parents who follow them are not evil, but don't see that any time there is objectification (ears instead of a human baby), it is an act of violence.
We all need to include all people as equal in order to encourage OUR full human potential. If you look me up, you'll find my address. Write me if you want my book, A Man Without Words, and I will send you one. The best thing you can do to help Deaf people is learn ASL. You'll be treating yourself to a great feast for the eyes.
Yours for language for all babies,
Susan Schaller, soon to be author of an English/ASL version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, ASLTales.net
Deafness does not isolate or "disable" people. Hearing people not allowing these visual beings to be visual disables them. Their beautiful visual language can teach us, hearing people, how to see better. Instead, almost all the attention is on ears and mouths.
Many deaf babies grow up without language or little language because over 90% of doctors in the US and Canada (ENT surgeons who are the ear specialists) say, "don't sign to your deaf baby." They say this because they are excited about fixing the ear. [Cochlear implants, invasive brain surgery, does help with speech and is a kind of hearing, but does not make a deaf baby hearing; he or she is still deaf, but has a tool]
They or the parents who follow them are not evil, but don't see that any time there is objectification (ears instead of a human baby), it is an act of violence.
We all need to include all people as equal in order to encourage OUR full human potential. If you look me up, you'll find my address. Write me if you want my book, A Man Without Words, and I will send you one. The best thing you can do to help Deaf people is learn ASL. You'll be treating yourself to a great feast for the eyes.
Yours for language for all babies,
Susan Schaller, soon to be author of an English/ASL version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, ASLTales.net
Tuesday
CABE: Education, Language & more Language
Journal entry:
Spent the week in Sacramento with California Association of Bilingual Educators
inspiring - many teachers and administrators working 50+ hours/week for children
Note: Educators, social workers, psychologists, cognitive scientists - ALL agree on a few basic necessities for all human children: Language, relationship to parents, ability to express themselves, respect and encouragement to continue learning - using the curiosity and abilities we are all born with ---- meaning, allowing children to be themselves - the need for self esteem,.....
Very little of this is seen or heard in "Deaf Ed." Deaf children are considered DEAF and all of the attention is on speech and hearing, not language (except through almost inaccessible speech and hearing). Deaf children are not considered human or children first, but DEAF and needing fixing.
Reminder - Tell people about this human rights violation.... how?... where?... to whom??? what exactly would I say???
Spent the week in Sacramento with California Association of Bilingual Educators
inspiring - many teachers and administrators working 50+ hours/week for children
Note: Educators, social workers, psychologists, cognitive scientists - ALL agree on a few basic necessities for all human children: Language, relationship to parents, ability to express themselves, respect and encouragement to continue learning - using the curiosity and abilities we are all born with ---- meaning, allowing children to be themselves - the need for self esteem,.....
Very little of this is seen or heard in "Deaf Ed." Deaf children are considered DEAF and all of the attention is on speech and hearing, not language (except through almost inaccessible speech and hearing). Deaf children are not considered human or children first, but DEAF and needing fixing.
Reminder - Tell people about this human rights violation.... how?... where?... to whom??? what exactly would I say???
Thursday
2011
Happy Old Year. Enjoy every moment of 2011, before rushing into that which is not.
Happy Day.
I need to meet a writing deadline, so see you next year.
signing off,
susan schaller
Happy Day.
I need to meet a writing deadline, so see you next year.
signing off,
susan schaller
Monday
Thanksgiving Everyday
When we fear someone's difference, we cheat ourselves. When we open ourselves to learning from all people, we grow. Each of us are mirrors of each other. Therefore when I learn more from you, I learn more about myself. This is obvious when we travel to another culture. We would never see what we assume, until we leave our culture and language and bump up against a completely different set of assumptions. I never knew I was an American, until I left the United States.
I never knew I was hearing, until I met a Deaf person. I never knew how blind I was until I met the superior visual brains of people born deaf. They use much more of the brain's cortex for processing visual information than we, hearing people, do. My wish, before I die, is that people will talk more about that than about how to make deaf babies speak and hear.
In answer to the questions about my second book which was going to be published, it has morphed into a much better book. I did get a contract, but the censorship was so great that I didn't sign the contract. The good news is the book changed. Instead of The Languageless Tribe, I am writing a new book, Helen Keller's Mirror. It will contain some of the stories I have gathered for over a decade that were in the old book.
ASL Tales also took over my attention. Actually, my second book will be "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" with ASL Tales, in a couple of months.
Write me if you want to help me update and improve my website.
susan of susanschaller.com
I never knew I was hearing, until I met a Deaf person. I never knew how blind I was until I met the superior visual brains of people born deaf. They use much more of the brain's cortex for processing visual information than we, hearing people, do. My wish, before I die, is that people will talk more about that than about how to make deaf babies speak and hear.
In answer to the questions about my second book which was going to be published, it has morphed into a much better book. I did get a contract, but the censorship was so great that I didn't sign the contract. The good news is the book changed. Instead of The Languageless Tribe, I am writing a new book, Helen Keller's Mirror. It will contain some of the stories I have gathered for over a decade that were in the old book.
ASL Tales also took over my attention. Actually, my second book will be "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" with ASL Tales, in a couple of months.
Write me if you want to help me update and improve my website.
susan of susanschaller.com
Friday
Almost October-Imagine
Imagine if we can rise above our differences and distinctions. Imagine if we can learn from those who are different from us, instead of asking, "What's wrong with them?"
I am hoping and working on ASL Tales and other projects which will be bridges and links to others who appear different, but are not. They are mirrors of us. We are all mirrors of each other. The more we accept others as just other bits of humanity, the more we learn about ourselves. You are not you by yourself and I am not me alone.
Specifically, we, hearing people, can learn how to see so much better if we learn from Deaf people who are geniuses at seeing.
Don't take my word for it, check out ASL Tales and see for yourself.
enjoy this day
susan
I am hoping and working on ASL Tales and other projects which will be bridges and links to others who appear different, but are not. They are mirrors of us. We are all mirrors of each other. The more we accept others as just other bits of humanity, the more we learn about ourselves. You are not you by yourself and I am not me alone.
Specifically, we, hearing people, can learn how to see so much better if we learn from Deaf people who are geniuses at seeing.
Don't take my word for it, check out ASL Tales and see for yourself.
enjoy this day
susan
Wednesday
July Lies Waiting for August Action
My blogging seems to have been non existent for June. I enjoyed café, face-face conversations, instead - How Old fashioned!
Whether blogging, talking in words or signs, reading or waxing eloquent on stage, we all love this symbol trading. We, humans, spend most of our time sharing symbols. We can't be human without other humans. Prisoners in solitary confinement, abused children or adults cowering under covers and deaf children not exposed to their natural, visual language - all haunt me. They are reminders of our first step to healing this hurting world, to connecting to our humanity. We must free ourselves, all of us, from our respective prisons.
Language connects us and helps us hold on to others who can guide us to doors or windows to freedom. Instead of blogging, I've been planning a language and literacy campaign to be launched in September. I, by myself, cannot achieve such a thing. However, a team of symbol mongers can. I'm out on the streets and byways (virtually and physically) shaking hands and collecting ideas.
Send questions, comments, suggestions - any helpful symbols - to help us get language and reading and writing skills to all our children.
Whether blogging, talking in words or signs, reading or waxing eloquent on stage, we all love this symbol trading. We, humans, spend most of our time sharing symbols. We can't be human without other humans. Prisoners in solitary confinement, abused children or adults cowering under covers and deaf children not exposed to their natural, visual language - all haunt me. They are reminders of our first step to healing this hurting world, to connecting to our humanity. We must free ourselves, all of us, from our respective prisons.
Language connects us and helps us hold on to others who can guide us to doors or windows to freedom. Instead of blogging, I've been planning a language and literacy campaign to be launched in September. I, by myself, cannot achieve such a thing. However, a team of symbol mongers can. I'm out on the streets and byways (virtually and physically) shaking hands and collecting ideas.
Send questions, comments, suggestions - any helpful symbols - to help us get language and reading and writing skills to all our children.
Tuesday
Bilingual May Flowers
Spring into action and more action. Hopefully, ASL Tales can capture the attention of teachers, schools, libraries, literacy programs, ESL programs, and parents in order to teach language, literacy and multiculturalism to all kinds of kids. It is such fun and brings families together, in many languages, the word must get out there to help launch our children with the magic of storytelling, in visual and aural languages.
If you know anyone in education or parenting or childcare or pediatricians, send them my way. Also, send any ideas or suggestions on how to inform people about ASL Tales. Instead of working directly in public health (the area of my professional degree), I realized how much ASL Tales could prevent substance abuse, depression, teenage pregnancy and other public health problems associated with kids dropping out of their lives, because of frustration and lack of confidence in reading and connecting. Literacy and storytelling, especially in many languages, are great connectors to our human family.
Help me in my "public health" work, bringing language, literacy and laughter to children and families. Write any suggestions, or questions on how you can get involved, and if you want to donate to our literacy campaign, send a tax-deductible donation (check) to the above address.
Yours for language, literacy and more languages with laughter,
susan schaller
If you know anyone in education or parenting or childcare or pediatricians, send them my way. Also, send any ideas or suggestions on how to inform people about ASL Tales. Instead of working directly in public health (the area of my professional degree), I realized how much ASL Tales could prevent substance abuse, depression, teenage pregnancy and other public health problems associated with kids dropping out of their lives, because of frustration and lack of confidence in reading and connecting. Literacy and storytelling, especially in many languages, are great connectors to our human family.
Help me in my "public health" work, bringing language, literacy and laughter to children and families. Write any suggestions, or questions on how you can get involved, and if you want to donate to our literacy campaign, send a tax-deductible donation (check) to the above address.
Yours for language, literacy and more languages with laughter,
susan schaller
Wednesday
Berkeley version of Hansel & Gretel
While rewriting Grims' very grim, violent Hansel and Gretel, I thought why not change the world for everyone. Soon, ASL Tales will publish Hansel and Gretel where the witch is offered a choice to change her cannabalistic ways. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us not to fight the white man, but racism. Perhaps applying that principle to this violent fairy tale will raise a more mindful generation.
ASL Tales wants to change the world for all kids and their families. Watch for our new web site in June (hope, hope), and great stuff coming out - more books and iPads and learning tools.
Please send me any ideas or questions relating to bilingual storytelling to teach reading, language and more language.
And, enjoy April rains or flowers,
susan schaller
ASL Tales wants to change the world for all kids and their families. Watch for our new web site in June (hope, hope), and great stuff coming out - more books and iPads and learning tools.
Please send me any ideas or questions relating to bilingual storytelling to teach reading, language and more language.
And, enjoy April rains or flowers,
susan schaller
ASL Tales in Los Angeles
Greetings from Los Angeles where new programs, new books, DVDS and surprises have been and are being planned and fussed over.
Today, I head back to Berkeley via the train.
As I speed north on Amtrak, ASL Tales will speed along with me and my faithful laptop.
Stay tuned for the next exciting adventure in bilingual storytelling.
If you haven't checked us out - go to ASL Tales.net
....... not after your coffee NOW!
For language and literacy,
susan
Today, I head back to Berkeley via the train.
As I speed north on Amtrak, ASL Tales will speed along with me and my faithful laptop.
Stay tuned for the next exciting adventure in bilingual storytelling.
If you haven't checked us out - go to ASL Tales.net
....... not after your coffee NOW!
For language and literacy,
susan
Tuesday
Life is either a Daring Adventure or Nothing at All
Life is short and each day does matter. Today, I am researching how bilingualism can help children learn to read, think better, see better (English and ASL). Why is signing so attractive to almost all kids? Perhaps it is because it is one step closer to universal communication via body language, facial expressions, mime and movement. Anyone out there in cyberland who knows anything about early education or literacy or teaching ESL, write me and tell me what you think are the main problems facing teachers, schools, students and parents in early education.
Or, write me directlym at susan.schaller a t g m a i l . co...
Youra for language for EVERYONE,
susan
Or, write me directlym at susan.schaller a t g m a i l . co...
Youra for language for EVERYONE,
susan
Thursday
Happy New Year
Dear cyber world, friends, neighbors and comrades,
Enjoy the last days of December by slowing down to appreciate any and all things you can.
Take some time to give something to others instead of spending your time and energy on what you can manipulate in your favor.
Be the best you can be, today. Be good to your family and friends by taking care of yourself.
Peace can be. Begin today.
Prepare for joy in 2011.
Yours for community building,
susan
Enjoy the last days of December by slowing down to appreciate any and all things you can.
Take some time to give something to others instead of spending your time and energy on what you can manipulate in your favor.
Be the best you can be, today. Be good to your family and friends by taking care of yourself.
Peace can be. Begin today.
Prepare for joy in 2011.
Yours for community building,
susan
Sunday
December descends
I'm back and have been immersed again in activity. Currently, I am in Southern California meeting with a film maker who is inspired to tell the film version of Ildefonso's story of entering our world of language.
I have been able to see Ildefonso more than usual. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and a big heart. With years of language, he has attached labels - names and dates - to some memories. I made a mistake in the book, thinking he was an adult when he came to the U.S. and did apple-picking and other work. He was about 8 years old and alone.
This guy never ceases to surprise me.
Yours for preventing any baby from being raised with little or no language,
susan
I have been able to see Ildefonso more than usual. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and a big heart. With years of language, he has attached labels - names and dates - to some memories. I made a mistake in the book, thinking he was an adult when he came to the U.S. and did apple-picking and other work. He was about 8 years old and alone.
This guy never ceases to surprise me.
Yours for preventing any baby from being raised with little or no language,
susan
Monday
Back after a sabbatical
Dear World,
I didn't retreat entirely or go live in a cave, but I did step down from a few projects, stepped back from planning and committing, and stayed a while in that uncomfortable place of not knowing. I am disheartened by so many people's inability to see deaf babies and Deaf people as human first, and different from the majority second. And, especially, parents who do not accept their visual babies as differently abled, but as deficient and needing to be fixed.
With my discouragement, often self doubts appear and questions about who am I to think I can write and speak and spark any change in a war, that has been waging against deaf babies ever since someone tried to educate a deaf child. In the past, I respond with more activity and more involvement and drive myself more. The last two months, I did not.
I decided to stay in the "I don't know" place. I squirmed, I chased away black clouds, I squelched my impulses to run away or jump into another battle, and I sat. It helped that my foot has been hurting and I couldn't walk most of the time, but, mostly, I was training myself to face uncomfortable truths, to look inside of me to improve my tolerance for differences, my receptive and acceptance skills, and my abilities to change. I discovered (surprise, surprise) that it is much harder than attempting to influence others to change.
And, that is why it is so uncomfortable.
It is absolutely necessary to face inward with honesty in order to move forward with honesty, to face inward with compassion to move forward with compassion, to face inward with forgiveness and love, to move forward with forgiveness and love, and to align our inner principles in order to move forward from an integrated foundation.
Onward, forward to the fray, but slower and more consciously,
susan "I don't know" schaller
I didn't retreat entirely or go live in a cave, but I did step down from a few projects, stepped back from planning and committing, and stayed a while in that uncomfortable place of not knowing. I am disheartened by so many people's inability to see deaf babies and Deaf people as human first, and different from the majority second. And, especially, parents who do not accept their visual babies as differently abled, but as deficient and needing to be fixed.
With my discouragement, often self doubts appear and questions about who am I to think I can write and speak and spark any change in a war, that has been waging against deaf babies ever since someone tried to educate a deaf child. In the past, I respond with more activity and more involvement and drive myself more. The last two months, I did not.
I decided to stay in the "I don't know" place. I squirmed, I chased away black clouds, I squelched my impulses to run away or jump into another battle, and I sat. It helped that my foot has been hurting and I couldn't walk most of the time, but, mostly, I was training myself to face uncomfortable truths, to look inside of me to improve my tolerance for differences, my receptive and acceptance skills, and my abilities to change. I discovered (surprise, surprise) that it is much harder than attempting to influence others to change.
And, that is why it is so uncomfortable.
It is absolutely necessary to face inward with honesty in order to move forward with honesty, to face inward with compassion to move forward with compassion, to face inward with forgiveness and love, to move forward with forgiveness and love, and to align our inner principles in order to move forward from an integrated foundation.
Onward, forward to the fray, but slower and more consciously,
susan "I don't know" schaller
Saturday
what fun
How ironic! I, an advocate for visual language for visual people, am on national public radio.
Enjoy life. Accept and enjoy ironies.
why not
Enjoy life. Accept and enjoy ironies.
why not
Thursday
AUG! Those August AUdists!
What is the reaction to Deaf people who say "audists" for doctors, augiologists, teachers and parents who forbid visual language for visual people (I know,it sounds crazy, but that insanity is the message given by over 90% of Ear, Nose, Throat Doctors)?
They are called crazy - militant or fanatical.
For over thirty years, I've been wondering how I can share my experience of meeting a beautiful and rich culture and language, based on vision, that would change the perspective of parents and the medical world.
How can we appreciate what others have instead of what is different or missing?
I welcome any ideas, suggestions or descriptions of any successful projects. Until then, let's ask all our friends and neighbors to buy ASL Tales at ASLTales.net, and help bilingual storytelling take off. If you would like to send in a donation, I will buy one and put it in a doctor's office. Or, you buy one for your local pediatrician. There's an idea, let's organize pediatricians around this. I think they would see the need for language in babies, over the need to fantasize about making the baby "normal."
I look forward to any comnmunication.
They are called crazy - militant or fanatical.
For over thirty years, I've been wondering how I can share my experience of meeting a beautiful and rich culture and language, based on vision, that would change the perspective of parents and the medical world.
How can we appreciate what others have instead of what is different or missing?
I welcome any ideas, suggestions or descriptions of any successful projects. Until then, let's ask all our friends and neighbors to buy ASL Tales at ASLTales.net, and help bilingual storytelling take off. If you would like to send in a donation, I will buy one and put it in a doctor's office. Or, you buy one for your local pediatrician. There's an idea, let's organize pediatricians around this. I think they would see the need for language in babies, over the need to fantasize about making the baby "normal."
I look forward to any comnmunication.
Wednesday
July to July to July to Today
Dear All,
I am back home after traveling for a month,and feeling very appreciative of home, friendly faces and familiarity. Mostly, I loved seeing my kids, again. I am glad I spent so much time listening to their discoveries, bad jokes, silly stories and musings. My work today and for as many days as I have is to encourage parents and families to talk to and listen to their children, in all modes available.
My trip to the Rockies, Canada, New York state, New Hampshire and Texas was to spread the word about a great tool for connecting to our children - ASL TALES. Bilingual quality storytelling, in English and American Sign Language (DVD in the back of the book) is accessible through eyes and ears, including translations in 5 languages.
Please communicate to any young people in your lives - present them with an ASL TALES book - ASLTales.net.
Yesterday, my story of meeting Ildefonso, a languageless man appeared in Daily Good (linked above). Ildefonso changed my life, making me dedicated to the task of preventing any baby from growing up without language (or seriously delayed in learning language). ASL Tales is wonderful and valuable for ALL kids, making it more possible that it will actually reach deaf babies. Please write me and ask how you can help, in addition to visiting ASLTales.net
Or,just write me and say hello.
I am back home after traveling for a month,and feeling very appreciative of home, friendly faces and familiarity. Mostly, I loved seeing my kids, again. I am glad I spent so much time listening to their discoveries, bad jokes, silly stories and musings. My work today and for as many days as I have is to encourage parents and families to talk to and listen to their children, in all modes available.
My trip to the Rockies, Canada, New York state, New Hampshire and Texas was to spread the word about a great tool for connecting to our children - ASL TALES. Bilingual quality storytelling, in English and American Sign Language (DVD in the back of the book) is accessible through eyes and ears, including translations in 5 languages.
Please communicate to any young people in your lives - present them with an ASL TALES book - ASLTales.net.
Yesterday, my story of meeting Ildefonso, a languageless man appeared in Daily Good (linked above). Ildefonso changed my life, making me dedicated to the task of preventing any baby from growing up without language (or seriously delayed in learning language). ASL Tales is wonderful and valuable for ALL kids, making it more possible that it will actually reach deaf babies. Please write me and ask how you can help, in addition to visiting ASLTales.net
Or,just write me and say hello.
Tuesday
June to Denver, Toronto, New York, Texas,...
Welcome to June, more beginnings and endings. As another school year finishes, the summer ushers in change and more change.
I'm off to Colorado Springs and Denver next week, then on to Toronto. Through all the handshaking and talking, one theme will travel: language and literacy, literacy and language. My new task, expanding and building ASL Tales's programs and more tales, will connect me to many people working to bring language, literacy and a good start to little kids, in the home, at schools and in libraries.
Please write me at susan.schaller (at) gmail.com to let me know anyone who would like to collaborate on early education literacy and language projects. Let's all show up for our children.
And, if you haven't looked, check out asltales.net
Yours for language and more language for all kids,
susan
I'm off to Colorado Springs and Denver next week, then on to Toronto. Through all the handshaking and talking, one theme will travel: language and literacy, literacy and language. My new task, expanding and building ASL Tales's programs and more tales, will connect me to many people working to bring language, literacy and a good start to little kids, in the home, at schools and in libraries.
Please write me at susan.schaller (at) gmail.com to let me know anyone who would like to collaborate on early education literacy and language projects. Let's all show up for our children.
And, if you haven't looked, check out asltales.net
Yours for language and more language for all kids,
susan
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