DEAF MINISTRY

This section provides items specifically about "Deafness". Those who are Deaf and/or minister with the Deaf will find many Resources. There are also links to sites where materials can be found about "Deafness" in general, or helps for starting Deaf Ministries in churches.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE:

Thompson Kay's 105 page book: "Working Together: Deaf & Hearing"

The US price has been running at $9.95 US plus shipping

Thompson Kay has dedicated his life to working for the deaf. He received a Master's Degree in Deaf Education from Ohio State University. He has interpreted for Billy Graham, the inauguration of Ronald Reagan. He has been involved in developing deaf ministries in North America, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. "This book has been published to teach church members, church leaders, and others how to estabilish a ministry for the deaf with the purpose of witnessing to the deaf."

Chapter Titles: "Working Together: Deaf & Hearing" By Thompson Kay

1."Defining Deafness"

2."How to Develop a Relationship with Deaf People"

3. "Adjustments Deaf People Have to Make"

4. "How the Deaf Communicate"

5. "How Church Members Can Start a Deaf Ministry"

6. "Including the Deaf in Worship"

7. "Witnessing"

8. "Evangelistic Meetings"

SIGN EXAMPLES:

9. "Scripture in Sign"

10."Songs in Sign"

For the latest information pricing, and how you can best get this book, contact us directly at:  [email protected]

HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEAF? This is an excellent video prepared by Deaf Missions on deaf culture and the Christian church. It is done live at Deaf Missions with Bob Alcorn (deaf) and Dr. Jan Kanda (hearing). Find out how to obtain it: We Can Communicate

Dr. Martin L. Sternberg's "The American Sign Language Dictionary"

-Signs with video demonstrations

-Play games to practice new signs, & Develop your finger spelling ability

-Learn the history of sign language.

HOW TO GET IT?  Check Amazon for American Sign Language Learning System (2003)

 

ALSO-  There are also other good products such as the "American Sign Language Dictionary" on DVD at:  www.learnsignlanguagedvd.com

You can go online to: http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi  and use an online Sign Language Dictionary

SIGN LANGUAGE BOOKS AND COURSES

Sign language is the only "visual language" in the world. But, it is not simply a translation from English, for it has its own grammar and idioms, etc. Sign Language is probably the largest key to the Deaf World, for it opens up easy communication. There are many Sign Language books. Some are rather literal to English, like "The Joy of Signing". However, most deaf prefer "ASL" or American Sign Language. One of the most popular Signing books is "Signing Naturally. Many Sign Language courses in Canada use this book. Some divide the course into Two Levels, with three courses on each level. Higher levels will soon be ready. Below are several links to where you can order books and videos and even all the materials to teach Sign Language:

*Deaf Missions Books: www.deafmissions.com

*Harris Communications:  http://www.harriscomm.com/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=sign+language+books

OR- Go to DawnSignPress web site and see various combinations available:    www.dawnsign.com  They also have many other items that may be of interest about signing, etc.

*Deaf Missions "Animated Dictionary of Religious Signs"- see religious signs made online for you. Deaf Missions says that new sign are being added each week. This is very nicely done:   http://www.deafmissions.org/?PageID=18

HEARING PARENTS WITH DEAF CHILDREN:

The main site coordinators of this site, John & Alberta Blake, have one deaf daughter, plus two hearing. Later, they adopted a deaf boy to be a companion to their deaf daughter. Alberta became a teacher of the deaf. It can be very frustrating as a parent of a deaf child because of many complications, and often lack of knowledge.

IF YOU ARE HEARING AND HAVE A DEAF CHILD:

1. Try and fully accept that your child "is deaf"! Do not be afraid to let your child join the "Deaf World". You may wish to become an auxillary member of the Deaf World yourself! Much harm has been done by hearing parents who try to make profoundly deaf children function like little hearing children. Accept the deafness, and enjoy both the Hearing AND the Deaf World!

2. Join a local Parents Support Group of some type. If there is none, join together with other parents and start one.

3. As the children get older, join a local Association of the Deaf. Go to the meetings. Meet deaf adults. Become active with your deaf child. Your child needs deaf role models!

4. Consider going to a church which provides a program for the deaf, or at least an interpreter.

There are Coloring Books (http://www.3angelsdeafministries.org/article.php?id=23)  available (see ADM's set of three), Christian values & Bible Story educational videos available (see http://www.deafmissions.org/), and easy English Bibles (see our comparative list in the spiritual section)

*Three sources for a list of Churches having a ministry with the deaf:

a. ADM has a list of Adventist groups: ADM Directory List

b. Go to one of the best Internet Search Engines: www.google.com and type in the words "deaf ministry" and you will find many others around the world.

5. Learn to Sign. This is perhaps the most important key to love and communication with your deaf child in the years to come!

6. Be informed! Look up the Web Sites on Deafness. We have many listed, & those sites list many more! Through these sites, there are many excellent books available. Read them to help you understand your child, and appreciate and grow to love the "Deaf World"!

SOME SITES TO VISIT ABOUT DEAF CHILDREN:

* THE DEAF CHILDREN'S SOCIETY OF B.C. (CANADA)

The Deaf Children's Society of B.C. is a non-profit organization that offers families with deaf and hard of hearing children up to 19 years of age, information, training, counseling, and support. DEAF CHILDREN'S SOCIETY

IF YOU ARE HEARING, HOW DO YOU RELATE WITH DEAF INDIVIDUALS (what is politically correct?)

See a VERY HELPFUL LIST of some "Do's" and "Don'ts"

WHAT IF YOU ARE "HARD OF HEARING", OR GOING DEAF, HOW CAN YOU FACE LIFE?

A doctor's widow and author, Joyce Rigsby, has written a short personal testimony called:

Confessions by ALDA "A Lately Deafened Adult". Joyce Rigsby's Views

OTHER INFORMATION & RESOURCE WEB SITES ON DEAFNESS:

[These listings can lead you to almost any general information you wish to know about deafness, or deaf culture]

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

DEAF MISSIONS, Council Bluffs, Iowa: Deaf Missions was founded some years ago by Duane King. They are one of the largest, best organized inter-denominational Christian Resource Organizations for the Deaf. They produce Visuals for the Deaf and Videos (and now DVD's) for the Deaf. Best known is their project of doing the Bible in Sign Language. The whole New Testament is now available at a very reasonable cost on DVD which makes it much easier to look up texts.  They now have many sections completed in this on-going Bible project.  To learn about their unique Sign language Bible on Video or DVD, or the many other books and Video/DVD's, Visit "Deaf Missions" Large Site!

SEE ALSO: The Section on Missions: Organizations &/Or Churches working outside North America

Missions/Churches Outside North America

DEAF ORGANIZATIONS IN CANADA

* CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF, located in Ottawa, ON. They are doing an excellent work and have many deaf employees. This is very good basic site on Canadian deaf concerns! CAD

* THE CANADIAN HEARING SOCIETY located in Toronto, etc.

The Canadian Hearing Society provides services that enhance the independence of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people, and encourages prevention of hearing loss. The Canadian Hearing Society Web Site

  * THE DEAF & HARD OF HEARING SERVICES (of Calgary)

They have a good sized office in Calgary, and also sell devices of interest to deaf and hard of hearing.

            http://www.dhhs.ca

* THE WESTERN INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING: the major organization for the Deaf in Vancouver, British Columbia:  www.widhh.com

WORLD DEAF ORGANIZATIONS, ETC.

* DEAF RESOURCES LIBRARY: This is a very long master list of organizations, clubs, magazines, and all kinds of resources in the deaf world. We definitely cannot recommend them all, but here is the listing and there are many useful organizations: "Deaf Resources Library"

* THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF: An important National US Organization for the Deaf: Go to- NAD

* CHILDREN OF DEAF ADULTS: An American/International support organization for children of deaf parents: CODA

EDUCATION

GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY in Washington, DC.

This is the only University in the western world planned mainly for Deaf, though some hearing may attend.  Gallaudet University Web Site.

FOR A MASTER LIST OF WORLD DEAF INTERNET SITES from Rochester Institute of Technology Library. This is an excellent list: WORLD DEAF INTERNET SITES LIST

COMMUNICATION, DEAF DEVICES, CAPTIONING,

DEAF MAGAZINES, ETC.

A Closed Captioning Web Site - just a lot of misc. info about closed captioning:   http://www.captions.org

BARRY STRASSLER'S DEAFDIGEST:

This site is about the DEAFDIGEST online newsletter which comes out each week with many news items on deafness, job opportunities in the field of deafness, etc.The Web site is now expanded, and includes a wealth of materials and links of deaf concerns. You can also look at older issues of the newsletter! Well done! Barry Strassler's Weekly DeafDigest.

HARRIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

A business that sells all kind of devices and software, etc., for deaf and hard-of- hearing. Harris Communications, Inc. 

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