PRO-TACTILE:
Understanding Touch Techniques to Facilitate Communication with Deaf-Blind People, Part 1
Presented by Jamie Pope, MSW & Steven D. Collins, PhD, CDI
Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Jelica Nuccio and aj granda, pioneers in the Pro-Tactile Movement for training us. Content in this presentation is reflective of their teachings.
Learner Objectives • Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophy, method, and attitude of ProTactile. • Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between Pro-Tactile and Haptics. • Identify the basic techniques for backchanneling and drawing tactile maps. • Demonstrate an understanding of why PT is important to the Deaf-Blind Community.
WHAT IS PRO-TACTILE?
Overview • Created and developed by two Deaf-Blind people from Seattle - aj granda and Jelica Nuccio. • It is a philosophy, method, and attitude. • Pro means “support”. It does not infer “anti-” like anti-ASL, anti-English, anti-vision, or antiSSP. • Pro-Tactile is different from Haptics.
Overview Why the Pro-Tactile Movement began •Deaf-Blind People were missing critical visual info •Deaf-Blind People were not feeling "connected" during communication interactions with people •Deaf-Blind People needed the ability to converse in informal groups of 3 or more DB without relying on interpreters
Overview • Pro-Tactile means pro-touch, pro-responsibility, & pro-experience. • Pro-Tactile isn’t about signing, it’s about getting visual information effectively. • All people can use PT – Culturally D/deaf DB – Hard-of-hearing DB – Any DB person
Pro-Tactile vs. Haptics Pro-Tactile
Haptics
• Developed by DB for DB
• Developed by hearing people for DB • Developed in Europe • Is only a system of touch cues that one has to memorize. No room for self-expression.
• Developed in USA • Has common touch cues for standard expressions, but allows DB person to express himself naturally in different and creative ways.
Pro-Tactile vs. Haptics Pro-Tactile
Haptics
• A newly embraced approach gaining a lot of momentum across the USA • Is much more than a method, includes philosophy & attitude and encourages DB to be proactive and take responsibility. • Culture - grassroots friendly
• Has been researched for many years. • Is a “method” to convey visual information
• Medical “professional” view
THE PRO-TACTILE PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy • Deaf-Blind people have the right to define themselves and their own culture, and to not be dominated by a non-deaf-blind way of thinking or values of the dominant culture. • This means to value touch and the DB Way, just as Deaf people value vision, ASL, and the Deaf community. "Pro-Tactile: DB People at the Center", presented by Jelica Nuccio and aj granda.
Philosophy • Pro-Tactile supports all Deaf-Blind people regardless of the type of vision loss, how much residual vision remaining, the communication preferences, and intellectual level. Pro-Tactile supports the Deaf-Blind COMMUNITY. • Although Pro-Tactile is about touch, it does not discourage any additional access the DB person can use.
Responsibility • “Pro-Tactile” is about the DB experience, but it is also about the responsibility of the DB person to: – Take the initiative, be proactive – Make decisions for himself – Seek out information rather than passively through second-hand means – Do things for himself that they have the capacity to do rather than let others do for him because it’s “faster” or “easier”.
Promoting Autonomy • A DB person who incorporates the Pro-Tactile Way does things by himself (with or without support). • Example: Approaching an elevator with an SSP – The SSP stays in “touch” with the DB person at all times, guides the DB person to the elevator and indicates where the button is so the DB person can push the button himself
• This helps DB people lead self-determined and fuller lives.
EMPOWERMENT
Deaf-Blind people can DO anything, except hear and see, using touch and their intelligence, when they are given access.
-Jelica Nuccio & aj granda
METHOD
Ergonomics and Boundaries • Be at a comfortable distance, don’t strain or reach over, sit/stand straight • Safe places to touch are: hands, wrist, elbow, arm, upper back & knees (sitting). • Don’t grab or pull the hands/arms – tap on hand to signal you want their hand.
MAINTAINING CONTACT
“I’m Here” • Constantly be in touch – this enables the DB person to know you are there. • Not being physically connected gives the impression that you are not connected with them or not listening. • Remain in touch even when in motion, such as walking.
For Deaf-Blind People, a touch of the hand is the same as seeing with the eyes for a sighted person.
Backchanneling • Gives “listening” feedback
– nodding of the head, “oh”, “I understand”, “I’m following the conversation”
• Maintains a connection
– This allows the DBP know they’re not talking to the wall or to himself
• Tapping as constant stream of backchannel loop
– Tap finger or hand on the person’s hand, elbow, or knee when sitting/standing while DB person is talking. – Tap lightly during natural pauses or when you would naturally nod your head, sign “oh”, and show on your face you understand. – Maintain your facial expression as a DBP may still be using his vision to support tactile reception. DBP are multi-modal!
Expression Cues • Follow your instincts in what makes the most sense and what is most comfortable. • Use the DB person’s own cues if they have their own established system.
EXPRESSING EMOTIONS
Expression Cues • Common touch techniques examples for 1-1 interaction – Laugh – Smile – Yawn – Bored – Sad
Tactile Maps • Tactile maps – a portion of the body that is used as a physical canvas to represent the visual environment from the angle of the Deaf-Blind person • This technique can be utilized as a point of orientation or throughout a communication interaction to support the expressed message or information about the environment
Tactile Maps • Use the hand/arm/knee of the listener • Draw directions, and description of settings (room, town, etc). • Describe what’s happening instead of using the speaker’s own hand/arm/knee.
SIMPLE ORIENTATION
Presenter
X
X
Deaf-Blind Person
ADVANCED ORIENTATION WITH DETAILS
WRAPPING UP
Resources • Vlogs about Pro-Tactile on www.protactile.org • Check out local deaf-blind events • Check out if your area has a Pro-Tactile Happy Hour – PTHH is not only for DB – it is open to everyone who communicate by touch the Pro-Tactile Way.
• Get connected to organizations that support the ProTactile philosophy and the values of Deaf-Blind people – RID Deaf-Blind Member Section – Deaf-Blind International – WASLI (World Association of Sign Language Interpreters)
Join Us for Part 2! Sunday, February 23, 2014 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET $27.99 To Register: http://www.instantpresenter.com/PIID=EC58DE89884E Special Discount for Part 1 participants! $5.00 off Discount Code: Part1 Part 2 Learner Objectives: •Pro-Tactile “Attitude” •How to give audience feedback to DB Speakers •Advanced Tactile Maps •Successful Strategies to include Pro-Tactile while interpreting for DB
REFERENCES Collins, S. 1993. Deaf-Blind interpreting: The structure of ASL and the interpreting Process. In Gallaudet University Communication Forum 1993, ed. E. Wilton, 20-36. Washington, D.C.: Gallaudet School of Communication. Collins, S. & K. Petronio. 1998. What is Tactile ASL? In Pinky Extension and Eye Gaze: Language Use in Deaf Communities, ed. C. Lucas. Washington, D.C.: Gallaudet University Press. Hutchinson, D. (2012). A Sense of History. Historic Scotland, Spring 2012, 38-40. Lahtinen, R. (1999) Holistic and Interactive Communication Methods. In Peckford, B. & Hawcroft, L. (Edit.) Proceedings of an International Symposium in Interpreting for Deafblind People. Prontaprint, Durham, UK, 6465. Lahtinen, R. (2003). Development of the Holistic Social-Haptic Confirmation System. A case study of the yes & no - feedback signals and how they become more commonly and frequently used in a family with an acquired deafblind person. Licenciate Thesis, Department of Teacher Education, University of Helsinki. Lahtinen, R. (2007a). Social-Haptisk Kommunikation. http://www.nud.dk/ publikationer/49. Lahtinen, R. (2007b). Sociala Snabbesked. http://www.nud.dk/ publikationer/48. Lahtinen, R. (2008). Haptices and Haptemes. A case study of developmental process in touch-based communication of acquired deafblind people. Doctoral Thesis, University of Helsinki, Finland.
The Power of Touch