NZSL Week
May 2017
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Amber's Story
My Favourite Sign NZSL Week 2014
Have you got a favourite sign? My Favourite Sign is a new fun way that everyone, Deaf and hearing can
get involved with NZSL Week.
It’s really easy! Pick a word or a sign that means something to you, video yourself signing it, upload your
video to YouTube and email James Pole the link. We will check to make sure your video is family friendly
before it is released to the public.
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UC Expert Wants More Children to Learn Sign Language
Dr Dean Sutherland
Some
students learn sign language but with many deaf New Zealanders and
children
with hearing difficulties, more children should learn the
language, UC researcher
Dr Dean Sutherland says.
New Zealand sign
language is one of three officially recognised languages in the country.
There are many common misunderstandings about what constitutes sign
language,
who can learn it and what the benefits of learning it are.
Public
awareness of sign language has increased with the presence of sign
language
Interpreters during press conferences and public events and the
2010 election of
Mojo Mathers, the first deaf MP to Parliament.
The
2006 census showed 24,000 people were using sign language. Most deaf
children
will receive implants to help them hear better early in life
but international research
suggests that relying purely on oral language
without sign language does not alleviate
all communication, language
and literacy difficulties experienced by deaf children.
Deaf
children often struggle to develop age appropriate oral language and
literacy skills.
However deaf children with deaf parents typically
perform well in comparison to deaf
children of hearing parents.
As
most deaf students in New Zealand are now integrated into regular
schools they
will experience many challenges to develop their sign
language skills as most of
their peers will communicate using speech,’’
Dr Sutherland says.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/17090164/uc-expert-wants-more-school-children-to-learn-sign-language/