There are even regional differences in sign language.  The sign for 
"dentist" is universal except in the state of Ohio where it 
coloquially means "a-hole".  That from a family friend who is a 
licensed A S L interpreter.  So be careful when looking for dental 
care in Ohio!!
PatAt 03:05 PM 5/6/2015, you wrote:
>Harvey, I think the latter.  Unless the community of the deaf has changed
>dramatically.  When I was an hr specialist with the Postal Service, one of
>the programs I was in charge of was communications between a fairly large
>contingency of deaf letter sorting machine operators and postal management
>with regard to operational and hr related subjects.  Our interpreter always
>used sign language.  She told me that lip reading is prone to much
>misunderstanding, especially with words which are similar in shape but have
>completely different meanings.  An example;  The Seinfeld episode where lip
>reading causes nothing but misunderstandings all round.  There is a big
>difference between six, and sex. The shape of the lips and tongue are the
>same.  Get it wrong by lip reading and...
>
>Chuck wa8vmo
>--------------------------------------------------
>From: "Harvey Heagy" <harvey.heagy@COX
>NET>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2015 2:43 PM
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: absolutely nothing to do with ham radio but Dayton made me
>think about it.
>
> > That's something I've always wondered; if the opponents of sign language
> > are
> > primarily of the hearing impaired community, or outside that community who
> > work in it claiming to know what's best for them.
> > Harvey
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > On Behalf Of Chuck Lester
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2015 11:13 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: absolutely nothing to do with ham radio but Dayton made me
> > think about it.
> >
> > Harvey,
> >
> > Just like those who can hear and see to tell both those who can''t hear or
> > see the best way.  I mean after all, they have all five senses, who could
> > argue with that.  Of course, this completely discounts the human brain and
> > the other guy/gal's need to cope with the real environment. To take away a
> > usable tool, just because, you don't think I need it, is absolutely silly.
> > It sounds so political. Besides, I don't want to teach sign language.
> > And,
> > I don't want to teach Braille.  That mentality runs congress.
> >
> > Chuck wa8vmo