Course Enrollments
On the right side of the page are the cities in Queensland that Auslan is being offered by the organisation.
Please choose a location and this will lead you into the booking area.
We hope you enjoy and learn from our course
The Australian Deaf Community
The Deaf community in Australia is a diverse cultural and linguistic minority group that encompasses a vast network of social, political, religious, artistic and sporting groups that use Australian Sign Language (Auslan) as their primary mode of communication.
Hearing impaired
In general terms, hearing impairment usually refers to a population of people who are in some way audiologically impaired. This includes those who have experienced an early onset of hearing impairment, and those who for a variety of reasons, have lost their sense of hearing. Those who identify as hearing impaired people, or hard of hearing, use what residual hearing they have, usually in the form of some amplification technology such as hearing aids. They communicate orally using lip reading for receptive communication and speech for expressive communication, and almost always identify with the dominanthearing culture.
Deaf
People who identify themselves as Deaf refers to a group of people, who are linked by a sense of community and share a culture, both of which are strongly unified by the use of sign language. The use of Auslan is the most distinct differentiation in identifying those who are Deaf and those who are hearing impaired.
Identification with the Deaf community is a personal choice and it does not depend on the degree of deafness, rather on identifying with the cultural model of deafness. Accepting one's Deafness as part of a person's identity rather than as a medical condition that requires a cure, is the core element in identification into the Deaf community. Culturally Deaf people see themselves as normal people, not as abnormal hearing people. Deaf people, like their hearing peers, have the same aspirations, needs, desires of a quality lifestyle that will reap benefits to them and their families.
Members of this group who use Auslan do not view themselves as impaired people in any sense, rather as a linguistic minority group in much the same way as people from a non English speaking background do. Auslan is the language of the Australian Deaf community. Auslan is a community language and one that is recognised by Australia's National Language Policy. It is a visual and spatial language that has its own grammar, syntax and idioms quite different from that of English.
Deaf Culture
Although the Deaf community is heterogeneous in ethnicity, race, religion and other cultural characteristic, the community shares attitudes and beliefs that bond as common experiences and is united in identity by sharing a language. The culture of the Deaf community is strong and advocates of the cultural view promotes that Deaf people are not a disabled group, but a linguistic minority group. This has united and politicised the Deaf community as they strive to achieve their maximum potential. Being proud of one's Deafness now takes full force in a variety of ways such as the Deaf festivals that are fostered each year across Australia throughout the national week of the Deaf.
As with many other language groups there are some distinct cultural behaviours that unite that culture. Here are some of the cultural differences of the Deaf community:
Eye Contact
Since a Deaf person cannot hear what is being said they rely on body language and facial expression for cues. If eye contact is broken the Deaf person will stop communicating. In Deaf culture to look away when a person is speaking to you is considered to be rude.
Touching/Gaining Attention
A Deaf person may use touch to gain another person's attention. It is appropriate to touch another person's upper arm to gain their attention if they are not looking in your direction or move into their visual field so they can have eye contact with you. Turning lights off and on in a crowded room will signify to Deaf participants the meeting/seminar/conference is ready to begin. If the floor is wooden you may see a Deaf person stamping on the floor so vibrations will alert the other person/s to the fact that he/she wishes to communicate with them.
Body Language/Facial Expression
As mentioned before Body Language/Facial Expression is an integral part of Auslan. In response to a question asked by a police officer, a deaf person may re-enact a situation using larger signs than usual and more exaggerated facial expressions to convey the intensity/gravity of the situation being explained. Non-verbal expressions used by Auslan users can be misinterpreted and/or misunderstood by members of the wider community resulting in a communication break down.
Nodding
It must not be assumed the nodding of a Deaf person in response to a signed message necessarily signifies agreement with what is being signed. The nod may indicate
- an understanding of the message rather than agreement
- an understanding of the signs used rather than the information presented
- to acknowledge the person is paying attention to what is being signed.
About Auslan
Australian Sign Language
- Deaf people throughout the world use different sign languages, just as hearing people speak different languages, depending on their country of origin
- Australian Sign Language (Auslan) is the language of the Australian Deaf community. Auslan evolved from British Sign Language.
- Auslan is a community language that recognised by Australia's National Language Policy.
- Auslan is a visual and spatial language that has its own grammar and is composed of precise hand shapes, facial expressions and body movements that can convey both concrete and abstract information. It is not the same as English.
- Finger spelling of words is used, (using the two-handed finger spelling alphabet), where no sign for an English word exists, such as for names of people or places.
Learning about Auslan
The Queensland Deaf Society conducts Deafness Awareness Training and Education throughout schools in Queensland. QDS aims to provide an increased understanding of deafness and the deaf community, and an introduction to Auslan.
As part of this program, we are developing a Deafness Awareness Kit for schools, which will be especially helpful to provide information to rural and remote schools that we sometimes cannot visit in person.
DAT Trainers for Community Education and Deafness Awareness are Deaf and hearing presenters who have a wealth of knowledge and understanding of Deaf issues, and are able to provide class participants with a valuable learning experience.
Learn Auslan
QDS sign language courses
The Queensland Deaf Society (QDS) provides community courses for those
interested in learning Auslan (Australian Sign Language). An 8-week sign
language course will introduce students to basic communication skills and the
Auslan vocabulary.
Each weekly 2.5-hour class will increase students'
knowledge of Auslan by focusing on themes and building activities around
these themes. Classes are relaxed and informal, and will provide students with
opportunities to practice their developing sign language and receptive skills. |
