Tactile signing is a common means of communcation used by people with both a vision and hearing impairment (see Deafblindness), which is based on a standard system of Deaf manual signs.
Several methods of Deafblind communication may be referred to as Tactile signing, including:
- Hand-over-hand (also known as 'hands-on signing'): in which the receiver’s hands are placed lightly upon the back of the hands of the signer to read the signs through touch and movement. The sign language used in hand-over-hand signing is often a slightly modified version of the local Deaf Sign Language; this is especially the case when used by people with Usher syndrome who may have first lost their hearing, and later their sight. In hand-over-hand signing, certain grammatical elements of deaf sign languages known as 'non-manual markers' (such as facial expression) will not be received, and will therefore be substitued with supplementary information produced manually. The sign language used may also be a manually coded version of the local spoken language (such as Signed English), or a mid-way point between the two known as 'Pidgin Signed English ' or 'contact signing'.
- Tracking: in which the receiver holds the wrists of the signer to keep signs within field of vision and to gain information from interpreter's movements. This is sometimes used when the receiver has a limited field of vision.
- Tactile Fingerspelling (Deafblind Alphabet): In regions where one-handed alphabets are used, the receiver places their hand over the back of the hand of the signer who spells out each word. In other regions, a manual alphabet adapted from the two-handed sign alphabet is used to spell letters onto palm of the receiver's hand. Other simple signs like a tap for 'yes' or a rubbing motion for 'no' may be included.
- Co-active signing: in which the sender moves and manipulates the hands and arms of the Deafblind person to form sign shapes, or fingerspelt words. This is often used with deafblind children to teach them signs, and with people with an intellectual disability.
- On-body signing: in which he body of the person who is deafblind is used to complete the sign formation with another person. Eg; chin, palm, chest. Often used with people who also have an intellectual disability.
- Lorm: A hand-touch alphabet developed in the 19th century by Deafblind inventor and novelist Hieronymous Lorm and still used in Europe.
- Tracing: Tracing letters (or shapes) onto the palm or body of receiver. Capital letters produced in consistent ways are referred to as the 'block alphabet' or the 'spartan alphabet'.
- Braille signing: Using six spots on the palm to represent the six dots of a braille cell. Alternatively, the signer may 'type' onto a table as if using a braille typewriter (see Perkins Brailler) and the receiver will place their hands on top. This method can have multiple receivers on top of each other - however a receiver sitting opposite will be reading the braille cell 'backwards'!
See Also
External links
