European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 10, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Children of the deaf share their experiences by Glenn Collins new York times say to my brother now Why could t we Ever Lalk about these things " said 23-year old Annjoy Marcus. It s been such an important part of our  a a hard to explain but it was something you just did t Ever discuss said her 26-year old brother Alan it s so liberating now lobe Able id Deal Wilh this what they were discussing in words and in the Graceful pantomime of sign language was the experience of growing up As the hearing children of Deal parents. They shared that experience with other null children of the deaf at a conference that marked the latest Public expression of a movement hat is focusing new attention on deafness in the family no statistics exist on the number of americans with family members who Are hearing impaired but their numbers Are believed to be Large. Census studies cited at the conference estimate that 2 million people in the United Stales Are profoundly deaf and that More than 18 million americana have some hearing impairment. Other studies suggest thai 90 percent of children born to Deal adults can hear normally. The meeting at Mary mount Manhattan College in new York offered insights about Boll the benefits and he burdens of growing up in the families of Trie deaf. The gathering was the most recent evidence of a rend toward increasing communication Between the Deal their parents and children and the educators end practitioners who work with them. The 100 participants included the hearing impaired their family members and experts in the Field. Marked occasionally by tears and often by laughter Hie Daylong meeting offered simultaneous translation Tor both the deaf and the hearing. A s Only during the last two years or so that children of deaf adults came out in any numbers said Nancy Frishberg a linguist at ism who has conducted research on sign language. Frishberg cited the influence of dramatic portrayals of deaf people and their families such As the movie version i children at a lesser god and me hallmark Hall of Fame television production of love is never silent. However Frishberg and others at the meeting said the primary impetus for the new focus on families of the deaf was the work of an education and advocacy organization the children of sea adults Coda sponsor of the conference. The group based in Santa Barbara calif., has attracted 500 members since its founding in 983. And now has live chapters around the country. Many hearing children of Deal parents said at the meeting that sharing insights about the culture of the deaf had enabled them to appreciate an experience they had undervalued. Ii is a culture that same try a reject As  said Mike Jacobs president of an executive search today s crossword Alan and Annjoy Mac i tiling sign fan Gutof. Firm in Manhattan. But now Many Are realizing thai it s an experience that gives us so much in common Well. It just lakes your breath  As a Young child Jacobs began signing to his deaf parents during radio broadcasts. When he was 5, he said family legend has it that one night while 1 was interpreting what was on the air 1 turned so the radio and said wait a minute1" is added. We children of deaf parents share Many stories of assuming Early  Jacobs stressed if Tat his had its positive aspects and Marcus agreed that it could tester maturity and Independence but i also Leel that i had no  Marcus said. We need much More research Inlo the roles we Lake said Lou Ann Walker the author of a loss Tor words her Memoir of living in a family with deaf parents. Some at the conference said the Book published last fall was the catalyst Tor re examining their own childhoods. On of the roles Walker referred to was that of mediator Between parents and so Cindy a role she likened to that of children of immigrants who do not speak English. Sometimes we were annoyed by All the questions she Sari can your parents talk can they drive a car can they work of course they could but people fell that somehow if your parents could t hear they were totally  society s insensitivity toward the Deal was often infuriating. Marcus said. The other kids would ask about my grandmother a a. Is she the lady that s Deal and dumb " he said. And i d gel angry and explain that the word dumb Means stupid and that my grandmother was  he added dealing with my parents deafness was t the problem. The problem was dealing with the world s perception of their  the conference was also sponsored by Gal Laudal University in Washington a 180-year-old school for the deaf and wary mount Manhattan College which olfers the Only certified undergraduate program Tor educators of the deaf in new York slate. The address of children of deaf adults is . Box 30715, Santa Barbara. Calif. 93130. A 19-year-old Mary mount Sophomore Al the conference Marcella Mitchell said she had Learned signing from a Cousin. A lot of people look Al the hearing impaired As Deal people instead of people who just happen to be Deal said Mitchell. I wish people could just look Al them As human  at the Conler Ertice. Some adult children of the deaf movingly described evidence of their parents love. My parents slept every night with their hands reaching through the railings of the crib so they would know when i was crying or moving said Mary Ann Klein of the Mew York society for the deaf.  shelter a Kohls i Bimer Ilhom 4 numeral Typ 13  13 in turn state in Petal u Nood do 40 ship of 1482 41 bopper i Kin t portent 4 bib Decd 14 actor Goj  director undoer46 Aurora s domains Obi s relax  84 Tinne ukr child feature t attention getter 7eedudharrison 8 in the manner of nil 2cwtld Hyu Antti Morcott is out of 9 Lily Herb a son 10 division he Queen of word fyn Ric 11 Puj players useador18 arc w 31 Dun Orrt forever Sam 3icwr Voy Tefr 33 like Abner Hue 39 Holoff Raphy nred41 Fred x Alstor 42 clock pert 4stype Ype Tor Short 45 it was i Good 48 comes in first48 Singer co left pub order 1-10 Hubert Page 18 the stars and stripes saturday january 10, 1e87