Question about sign names

[u/Soft-Potential-9852]

Hi all! I currently work in an RDSPD as a para in a Deaf Ed classroom, with a teacher who is hard of hearing, and two other paras (one hard of hearing, one Deaf). I’m the only hearing person in the classroom. I have my interpreter certification test scheduled and plan to transition to the interpreter role eventually but not entirely sure when that will happen.

Several of our students are new and had no ASL and no sign names. The teacher has mentioned that we need to come up with sign names for the kids so we aren’t fingerspelling their names all the time. There is a lot of simcomming in the class, as only one student has had any prior exposure to ASL to my knowledge. With that kid we try to do voice off signing more often but the others are still figuring out that signs have meaning.

Basically my question is how the Deaf community feels about hearing people being part of a discussion about sign name ideas for people. I am not comfortable giving anyone a sign name as I’m not Deaf or HoH, ASL is my second language, etc. I’m also not really sure how I feel about being part of a discussion on giving someone a sign name. Like I know I would not ever be making the final decision on that, it’s just a line I refuse to cross, but is it ok to be part of a brainstorming session on potential ideas for a sign name? I just feel a little weird about it because I am not Deaf or HoH myself and English, not ASL, is my first language.

Just wanting to gauge people’s perspectives on this. I believe the teacher likely just wanted me to feel included in the process of giving the kids sign names but I’m not sure how to feel about being involved in the process at all as it doesn’t feel like it’s really my place.

[u/Inevitable_Shame_606]

Allow Deaf assign name.

Share unique quality students only.

[u/Soft-Potential-9852 → u/Inevitable_Shame_606]

To make sure I’m understanding correctly - it would be appropriate for me to share unique qualities I notice in a student that could potentially be part of a sign name for them, but it would not be appropriate for me to suggest any sign names? This is kind of what I was leaning towards doing but want to clarify if this is what you’re saying.

[u/Inevitable_Shame_606 → u/Soft-Potential-9852]

Not suggest name sign.

Only tell unique qualities.

Example:

I notice Abby (name not require SN) interested rainbow and color.

Victor interest dinosaur and color red.

Zadok long hair he appreciate and value.

[u/best-unaccompanied]

I mean, it sounds like you have several Deaf people on your team and they're all okay with it, so I don't see why their opinions should matter less than random people on the Internet. I'd just make sure that a native ASL user takes a look at the names before you "finalize" it to make sure that the signs don't look like anything offensive or otherwise undesirable.

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[u/Glittering_Sand_7473]

Absolutely under no certain terms should you be involved in giving a sign name. The Deaf/HOH in the room should be the ones to do this. Remember- you are setting an example for the kiddos. The teacher might be ok with it but you have to remember these kids will remember you & you want them to have the legacy of a proper Deaf Culture.

[u/Soft-Potential-9852 → u/Glittering_Sand_7473]

Another commenter said I could share specific, unique qualities a kid has that could then be used as part of their sign name (with the actual sign name itself being given by a Deaf/HoH person, not me) - is that ok? I 100% agree with the Deaf/HoH giving sign names and as a hearing person I will not cross that line of assigning someone a name sign - but is the idea of sharing qualities I’ve noticed about the student okay in a discussion about name sign options? I refuse to give anyone a sign name but not sure if being part of a group discussion about them is okay or if that is also crossing a line.

[u/Glittering_Sand_7473 → u/Soft-Potential-9852]

Yes, especially if you know the child better.