Facebook+and+Deafness

**Why Facebook has become so important to the sign language community**
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===This article explains why the deaf community is using Facebook to help reach out to others and each other. The article begins by explaining that those who are deaf would often have to meet at local deaf bars or deaf clubs to have interaction with others. However, with the introduction of video and video chat, the deaf community is changing. Social sites like Facebook and creating a new way for the deaf community. For a long time, many members of the deaf community have felt isolated from the rest of the world. They weren’t able to express their thoughts. The deaf community are now able to create social groups and video messages for one another. Since sign language uses gestures and facial expression, writing on Facebook tends to lose much of its meaning. With video, the deaf community can now express their views on the topics trending all over Facebook without the risk of being misunderstood. This can be used in so many ways educationally. Knowing this, teachers can have students create videos to post instead of written papers. Using video and social media can help deaf students feel heard and understood. Students and teacher can use social media and video to help bridge the communication gap between them.===

The article also states how difficult it could be for those who are hard of hearing to communicate on facebook or on social media for that matter. It all is going to depend on the type of sign language that the person has been taught. Some forms of sign language do not match up with the English language, which makes communication on social networking sites sometimes difficult. For example, a person who has grown up with ASL sign language would have a great experience on facebook or a social networking site because every sign translates word for word with the English language. Other forms of sign language do not translate word for word and it may be difficult for a person not knowing the language to understand what is being said. The fact that facebook can use video communication is a plus for those who are hard of hearing because it allows them to see feeling on facial expressions. The article states that those who are deaf are more “frank” than others. The use of facebook, video and being able to see facial expressions is a great tool for everyone to be able to communicate, whether they can hear or not.

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__**How Facebook Allows Me to Connect With People in Ways My Deafness Prevents **__ 
 * Edited by Susan Susman Stein **

Most of us take our hearing for granted, after all, who thinks they will ever not be able to hear. About 20 years ago, I had my first stapedectomy for Otosclerosis. My hearing had decreased significantly in my left ear. The surgery restored my hearing, but in the back of my mind, I always wondered how long until it would go again or when would my right ear become affected. In 2014, I had a stapedectomy in my right ear, by then I had been wearing hearing aids for about 2-3 years already. My left ear is getting a little worse each year, and the only way I can hear is with a hearing aid. After my surgery in 2014, I was able to go without a hearing aid in my right ear, that is until the fall of 2015. I completely lost all hearing in my right ear with and without a hearing aid. When I finally was able to get in to see my doctor, we discovered that my prosthesis from 2014 had become dislodged, and unless she went back in to replace it, I would never hear in that ear again. I opted for the surgery, which is another complicated story for another time. However, having facebook, twitter, google hangouts, and other forms of social media helped me keep my sanity during this tumultuous time in my life.

In the article, the author refers to deafness as an //"invisible disability", not easily seen and easily forgotten.// Facebook and other social media sites can give people with hearing disabilities the ability to communicate with others. Without communication, it is too easy to become isolated and unconnected with friends and family. The author writes that //it's the// // connections that make life amazing, but in order to connect you need to understand and be understood. // Like the author, with social media, I feel like I'm on the same page as everyone else, because I can communicate with the world around me.

This year, one of my ELL students spoke so softly, I could not hear her, even with my hearing aids. I use Google Hangouts in my classes, and I have to say that using this form of social media was beneficial to both my student and I. She got her voice, and I could hear it. @http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-teani/how-facebook-allows-me-to_b_3280138.html