Deaf community in Maine? (Portland: home, pre-school, live)

[nullgeo]

My wife and I would love to hear from any Deaf, HoH, ASL signers, and interpreters in Maine. Any contributors to this forum from the Deaf community?

We'd value reading about Maine Deaf life and community and activities.

thanks

[dmyankee]

We have Baxter School for the Deaf.

[Maineah]

We have a very nice deaf couple who live on the next street from us. He's a talented motorcycle restorer and has a old Harley among other bikes he repairs. The shop in his garage is immaculate! His wife works outside the home but I do not know where. I always feel like trying to communicate with them but we usually just wave to each other. I don't sign and feel awkward writing notes to them though on occasion I have. I gave them an old TV I was going to sell for him to put in his shop. She was very appreciative but I had a hard time figuring out what she wanted me to do with the TV. Finally I just followed her home and she directed me to put it in the garage. Very nice people.

[nullgeo]

Thank you each for your replies. I am aware of the Baxter School If any hearing persons read this thread and know of Deaf neighbors, such as Maineah has mentioned, or relatives, I would appreciate you considering writing a note to the Deaf, directing them to the City-Data thread forum and this thread. Or, if there is another appropriate way to exchange e-mail addresses with them, I would like to know how. My wife and I want very much to make some Deaf contact as part of our consideration process for moving to Maine.

thanks again

[Northern Maine Land Man]

There is one deaf family in our town. The couple are both around 60 years old and their adult kids can hear. They all sign. I'll pass this on to them. I do know they read lips quite well.

[elston]

My grand daughter started learning sign and going to a pre-school play group that used sign (in Portland). She got to where she spontaneously signed (total communication) along with verbal communication. She was also creating her own signs to amplify her spoken communications.

The last time I was with her, I didn't notice her "signing" but I did notice that her verbal communication skills and self confidence were quite advanced.

[nullgeo]

Yep, it's proven true about the little ones picking up visual communications faster than verbal. I lost a substantial range of my hearing in military service, but was born and raised hearing and verbal. I learned sign language late in life when I met my Deaf wife, who was born without hearing. She has a Master's degree (in Drama) and used to work as a communications specialist for South Dakota School for the Deaf and as an ASL instructor. She has made her way using interpreters and written English only. But it is interesting that she was not diagnosed as deaf until she was nearly three years old — yet she was able to pick up sign language with great fluency quickly. Most children, deaf or hearing, who are delayed in developing communications suffer for life. Early signing, for hearing kids as well as deaf, has proven advantages, with verbal following second.

[ribbets]

have you tried Maine Center on Deafness it's in Portland.

[nullgeo]

Yes, I have made contact with the MCD Director and received a nice reply ... I am hoping to also make a few direct contacts with Deaf in various communities. The MCD is a good start. I was just curious if I'd get lucky and "bump" into any Deaf on the Forum here.

thanks

[elston]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

Yes, I have made contact with the MCD Director and received a nice reply ... I am hoping to also make a few direct contacts with Deaf in various communities. The MCD is a good start. I was just curious if I'd get lucky and "bump" into any Deaf on the Forum here.

thanks

I notice that you use the word "deaf"; I had been taught that the prefered term is "hearing impaired" or even "profound hearing impairment". Are you a rebel in your community or are those sensitivities less sensitive now than they were several years ago? I am not arguing for political correctness, I am asking if there has been a shift.