Article that didnt get posted..
took a trip down memory lane and came across this again.. DG magazines never bit on my article so here it is..
Fists of fury, see those hands flying? Chances are it's a Deaf disc golfer and friends invading the nearest tournament to you. Deaf Disc Golf has been booming in the last 10 years. The visibility is definitely a niche worth tapping. Were you ever curious on how would you be able to interact with them? This article is intended to educate you for the next time you encounter a Deaf Disc Golfer. Since I got interested in this game and traveled over 45 states, I know over 400 deaf disc golfers nationwide now. Chances are I know who you played with and can offer a teaser material to make him/her laugh and go "how you know?"
Sure, pen+paper works. Some may be able to lipread. Dont readily assume every Deaf disc golfer lipreads. Lipreading is akin to a foreign language. It takes practice and experience. Some people will never learn how to lipread. Also facial hair, sudden movements and indirectly covering up the lips be it looking away or having something in the direction of your mouth impede lipreading.
Oftentimes I get Tournament Directors who share their concern with me in trying to accomodate Deaf disc golfers. First and foremost, it is up to the Deaf Disc Golfers to be proactive in reaching out to ask for more information. Tournament Directors have been proactive when I contact them for further instructions. It helps in general to post all verbal instructions on a piece of paper, usually the player's handbook or on a posterboard behind tournament central / registration. List of odd local rules, CTP's, and the sort are definitely encouraged for everyone in general. The more visual signs there are, the less questions we ask!
Gestures is universal and if you figure out basic signs for what you do everyday and where your handshapes are when conveying a message, you'll be surprised to see how eerie it is similar to sign language (picture a mime and look at their body expression, movements + hands to see how they gesture) The website
www.Aslpro.com is a great starting point. I have used it for my fingerspelling bee contests in the past. Take your time to focus on the basics such as ABC's and who/what/where/how/why. Another one is learning how to count. For ex: Oftentimes the sign for "3" is mistaken for "6" in sign language. Unsure what I'm talking about? Look up the sign for "3" and the sign for "6." Most of the deaf crowd is passive enough to let it slide.
Dont have the time to research signs, fret not. The mention of thumbs up and a smile works.
Directional signs are helpful as well.. "Pointing" in a direction can convey the meaning of many different things such as you, me, there, here.
Try to picture yourself using only the index finger to say "I am going there"
1) Index finger + point at yourself
2) Index finger + point where you going
The hardest thing in my experience is having the people try to simplify the english or break it down to the point where simple words can be transferred into signs instead of trying to convey complex stories, break it down into subject + action+gesture.
Sample:
"Me here, you there. I see disc ka-pow you. Ouch"
1) Index finger + point at yourself
2) Index finger + point at ground beneath you
3) Index finger + point at other person of interest.
4) Repeat #1
5) Index finger + point at eyes and redirect to provide vision. (This became famous with "meet the fockers" + robert deniro w/ the #2 handshape)
6) Make a disc handshape or imagine you as a mime, reflect a disc thrown. Point in the air or imitate its flight with your hand
7) Use index finger point it up like you are signing "1" and have the other hand/disc imitation smack into the other hand that's portraying an index finger
8) Use your body language to scrunch up and demonstrate ouch. My favorite body language for that kind of "ouch" example is Mike Epps in "Friday" now Mike Epps' body language is something else!
Unfortunately, the signs usually becomes dirty signs or insults because they are the easiest "1 word sentences" out there and not many people are motivated to learn new tricks of the trade. On the brighter side.. Most of my requests to learn the signs are "disc golf, grip, rip, and snap."
Disc golf. I use a "C" shape with my thumb and index finger. Make it parallel to the ground so your thumb is near your chest while the index finger is away from your chest. Then I imitate throwing/snapping with that C shape thumb/index finger.
Grip. I take a disc golf out of my bag and index finger point with my other hand to showcase "grip"
Rip. I use motions to "mime" throwing and often point to various parts of the body that I use for rip then mime the action.
Snap. I fingerpoint to my wrist while imitating the snap. I often fingerpoint while in mock exaggerated slow motion to put emphasis on snap.
You could snap your fingers if need. Not all will catch on but hey, who knows til you try!
If you are still at a loss - once again, practice some "mime" techniques. They have universal gestures down pat. I guarantee you that learning gestures will hook you up globally.
