December 06 News

Another TOILS story - Death of her father

As the TOILS research project continues we continue to collect data and stories that help us understand the data.
The overwhelming conclusion thus far is that deaf students who cannot use phones benefit enormously from the use of text messaging. Here is another story.

A 12 year old deaf girl's father died mid July. He was her primary care giver. Mother is the bread winner. She is profoundly deaf and mother is concerned for her safety and told her not to go out until school resumed in 7 weeks. The girl was confined at home. Nobody can sign (Use American Sign Language - ASL). Her only contact with the outside world is her text messaging device. She contacted her teacher who visited her to explain what happened in the hospital and funeral.

She had many questions about what was happening to her father while he was dying in the hospital - about machines and doctors, specialists and nurses. She had questions about the Hindu funeral. Why was there a newspaper in the coffin? Why were his spectacles on the coffin?

She was confined at home with her grief and her questions unable to use the telephone. Her only contact with the world was her Blackberry.

For teenagers to grow and develop social skills they need to talk to others. The teenage tasks are identity (Who am I) and intimacy (How do I share who I am with you). Text messaging is very important to deaf students.