Deaf children need sign language | Drisana Levitzke-Gray | TEDxSouthBank

Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is the language of deaf Australians, and every child should have the right to learn and communicate through it, argues Drisana Levitzke-Gray. Driansa is the recipient of the 2015 Young Australian of the Year Award in recognition of her passion and dedication in advocating for the human rights of deaf people, raising awareness about Auslan, and the rights of deaf children in Australia to access Auslan from birth.
Drisana Levitzke-Gray is the recipient of the 2015 Young Australian of the Year Award in recognition of her passion and dedication in advocating for the human rights of deaf people, raising awareness about Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and the rights of deaf children in Australia to access Auslan from birth.
A motivational speaker and consultant, she works for Woolworths as a Workplace Advocate as well as a columnist for PrimoLIFE Magazine and a voluntary committee member for a number of organisations. Drisana is the embodiment of the concept of ‘deaf gain’ - not ‘hearing loss’ - by inspiring the deaf community and encouraging the wider community to accept diversity.
Drisana was the first deaf Auslan user to fulfil her civic duty as a juror, and consistently promotes a positive image of deafness, which states loudly and proudly: “It’s OK to be deaf”.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@emjanevlogs4752]

Not even just deaf people. People with severe learning disabilities or disabilities in general. I volunteer with kids with special needs as a teachers aide at a special needs school. None of the kids are deaf, yet we use sign language on a daily basis with them. They all either have autism or Down syndrome. There are several that do not speak at all, and their form of communicating with us is to sign. It’s also a lot easier for us to sign to them what we want :) Things such as hungry, toilet, finished, thirsty, stand up, sit down, walking, and them expressing how they’re feeling eg excited, sad, happy This was a beautiful talk though, loved all of it!

[@LifeBetweenTheDash]

So wish hearing parents could hear this message. So important.

[@slowfire2]

Show them this and other videos. There's closed captions in English, so they will understand.

[@Ruthavecflute]

@@slowfire2 There's also a nice, clear English voice over

[@blackwood5851]

She's very very right. Deaf children who are given a cochlear implant, sent to speech therapy, told they need to speak, they need to be normal, it's usually a struggle for them. They grow up feeling left out, feeling different, afraid to speak because other kids will laugh or not understand them. With Sign Language they can express themselves a lot better and meeting other deaf kids they will not feel left out. It's simply much better for their own well being.

[@rain-wj6vv]

So interesting, some signs were the same as American Sign Language, and some were so foreign looking. I love watching other counties sign languages!!

[@moonflick]

Before I realized it was Auslan I was like, what is she doing? Ha.

[@TJtheHuman]

Yeah, I'm at a conversational level in ASL. It looks like a few basic signs are the same, but also a few later signs maybe. I wonder if ASL inherited these from BSL or if they originated in ASL or FSL and are loan signs in Auslan.

[@taytaysharrard]

I am studying to be an audiologist and I love watching these talks from the deaf community because in the future I never want my patients to feel broken or at least that I think they are broken and I want to encourage them and/or their parents to learn and use sign language. sign language is amazing for hearing people too! even if the deaf person uses hearing aids or CI.

[@hidad5601]

They should teach every student Auslan in Australia. They made us learn Italian and I have never needed or wanted to use it but have been in situations where sign would have come in handy

[@harmony1307]

I've heard these statistics before but it's great to see them public and getting more views. -BSL interpreter

[@ASLMasterTutor]

Thank you, Drisana Levitzke-Gray, for being an amazing Deaf role model to encourage the hearing society to enable sign language be used for our future Deaf children!

[@sophiar4848]

This video made a very good point eloquently and it was also interesting how much is of AUSLAN signs are the same as BSL

[@boydgroome8003]

Drisana you are an amazing Deaf role model for the deaf community - you continue to inspire and challenge! - Well Done!

[@AuslanStorybooks]

Fantastic Drisana! What a great talk! I'm behind you all the way!

[@peterjd.w794]

Right, My wife is deaf since born her mother and father don't know how to communicate with her grow up confused her life awful, now little better by me deaf I fix her better so hard.

[@JamesSmith-os5dx]

The captions are great! e.g. Deaf versus deaf.

[@JRSmario]

Beautiful presentation! Powerful and truthful straight from the heart! Keep up with your important work spreading awareness about the importance of giving all Deaf children signed language(s).

[@Drizzy28]

Thank you for your quote, I use this a lot and it makes them understand our journey and our perspectives a lot better. :)

[@SimonSaysSigns]

Yes this message! Keep spreading awareness! AND I understood 98% without volume.. but I also have friends in Sydney :) I need to keep up on my AUSLAN!!

[@kirstycollins4237]

I went deaf at 45 due to illness. I can tell you right now a Cochlear is just not enough to communicate. I read lips and I still miss things. I still can't use the phone well. I'm now finally learning Auslan as it is very isolating especially now I can't understand people wearing masks. The thought of children growing up surviving only using Cochlear implants and lip-reading with no Auslan horrifies me.

[@eddieszczepanik1162]

Beautiful presentation.....yes, I agree with you same as my way too.......well done

[@MrsBatt15]

At first I didn't realize this was Australian Sign Language, (I hated muted the volume), and was like uhhh, I'm only understanding a few signs here and there, and they don't match what's on her mouth. lol

[@CentroAuditivoCuenca]

Bravo, Drisana!!

[@user-qt2oh6ii8t]

잘 보고 갑니다. Good ~

[@flyingsigner]

Drisana……just wonderful! Who was the interpreter?

[@MultiMarvelGeek]

XD. I got sooooo frustrated not understanding this TED Talk until I realized that this is not American Sign Language. Forgive me, Australian folks, for my ignorance.

[@katmanduxo-qs8zy]

I wanna learn auslan

[@chelsey8737]

Quotes are inverted comas?? Huh thats cool

[@user-pn3pc9sv8u]

Challenge accepted

[@michaelkatz9918]

Adults. Don't ignore adults. Adults who need to use sign language have a right to learn sign language.

[@user-re6fx2oc1x]

I, can understand her. I know, American Sign Language.

[@TJtheHuman]

@KEITH McCARRELL I think they are saying they can understand her Australian Sign Language because they know American Sign Language. Even I understand a little bit of what she is talking about with the ASL I know. The signs for deaf, family, communicate, meet, and many others are the same.

[@junbh2]

@KEITH McCARRELL Yes. But apparently there are some similar signs and people who know one can understand bits and pieces of the other. They are different languages but are a little bit related.

[@nataliemongora5663]

Gg

[@ellisch.8133]

This is soo sad 😞

[@sophiek3292]

No, thanks, I would go with cochlear implants, I would rather give my child the gift of sound.

[@meganmatovich]

You're missing the point. Her point isn't about not giving the child cochlear implants - her point is to include the gift of sign language and deaf culture =)

[@veronicabengough9805]

They can have both! Getting an implant should not stop you from learning to sign. In fact research proves that learning to sign helps children develop better language skills than with implants alone.

[@dzr4421]

The "gift" of sound does not give them a gift of language. You could give them a gift that is thoughtful to them, or you could give a gift you want them to have. Children's needs come first. The video explains it beautifully.

[@TJtheHuman]

I'm hearing and I'm privileged to understand American Sign Language. I'm angry that my parents chose circumcision for me. Nonemergency body modifications shouldn't be made for people until you have their informed consent.

[@Ruthavecflute]

@@TJtheHuman That's a really interesting way to think about it. Thanks for the new view point.