Deaf members and the Church

Last Tuesday was our ward temple night. Our temple workers were really encouraging members to attend. I have been trying to go to the temple each month this year. I've mostly done initiatory because that is short enough that I don't have to worry about Alex getting hungry before I get home. This past Tuesday I went to an endowment session for the first time since before he was born. The Deaf group coordinator had invited members from other wards and branches in Utah so we had nearly 100 people there. Usually when we go to an endowment session, there are TVs on either side of the room with an ASL translation and English closed captioned. Tuesday night the ASL translation was projected onto the big "screen" where the endowment film is usually projected. We can still see the film. When there is spoken dialogue, it is "minimized" and moved to the upper left while the ASL signer is in the opposite corner. Kind of like the way TV newscasts are done--the anchor is shown with a screen of whatever they're talking about over their shoulder. I was sitting nearly in the back and it was really nice to have the big projection. I asked the sister Deaf coordinator if that was how endowment sessions would be done for the Deaf from now on and she said that that night was a test.

Well, Steven told me tonight that in Priesthood meeting, the brother Deaf coordinator announced that the Church has formally recognized ASL as a language. For a very long time, the needs of Deaf members were lumped together with other disabilities (blind, autism, mental retardation, etc.) and materials developed for the Deaf were done by the Special Curriculum department. Some time ago (when, I'm not exactly sure), the responsibility for providing ASL-signed materials was transferred to the Church's Translation department. Today, in Priesthood meeting, Bro W. (brother Deaf coordinator) said that from now on, Deaf congregations would be labeled "ASL", not "Deaf". Meaning, our ward which has formally been called the Salt Lake Valley 2nd Ward (Deaf) is now Salt Lake Valley 2nd Ward (ASL). Our Tuesday endowment sessions will have the ASL translation projected onto the big screen. If Deaf members wish to attend an endowment session at different times, they can still request the TV monitors to be made available but rather than having the ASL translation and English captions simultaneously, they will be asked if they want ASL *or* English captions. No longer will they both be available. Also, ASL translations for priesthood ordinances (sacrament prayers, baptism prayers, etc.) will be provided and only those who can sign that approved translation will be allowed to do so. Fortunately, materials are provided so priesthood holders can practice at home.

About a month or so ago, Bro. S (the ASL translation department head) sent a video of key terminology in ASL to me (and some others who have done translation work) for us to review. He said, "The Church has established a list of words in English that each language must use to translate and establish a Key Terminology List in their language. Every time one of the words from the Key Terminology List shows up in a document to translate, a language uses the established translation for that word found in their Key Terminology List. This is the way the Church ensures that the words on this Key Terminology List are translated consistently in every language in every product."

This is really good news because it is one more step that the Church has taken to recognize that the Deaf members have a formal language and to ensure that Church-produced materials are as accurate as possible, as far as ASL translation goes.