ASL - American Sign Language

Delight Lydiate

FYI, I love to write but considering the lack of space and time we all have at the moment, I’ll try to keep my lengthy, life-span biography short and to the point. J

My name is Delight Lydiate, I was named by my brothers and father after a hard-fought battle with my mother who wanted to name me Sarah. I was born hearing and it wasn’t until I was about 2 years old that my parents realized that my name wasn’t the only thing unique about me. I had stopped talking and no longer responded to indirect verbal comments. I was diagnosed with progressive sensorineural hearing loss, which means at some point in my life I may or may not become completely deaf. Oh well, c’est la vie.

            My earliest memory of acquiring sign language is when I was about 3 years old and attending a Head Start program. I had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge which led me to test the theory of “will my tongue stick to the railing when it’s freezing cold?” At the conclusion of my test, I had scrambled to the building, signing wildly for help as my tongue was now bleeding profusely as to render my speech capabilities mute. I still carry the scar to this day, a proud reminder of the price one pays for knowledge.

            Ok, I’m rambling. Anyhoo, soon after this episode my family had moved to Twin Falls, Idaho where I attended day school at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind (ISDB) in Gooding for 3 years. Speech therapy was as much a part of my life as using sign language was. A couple interesting stories of growing up deaf: I acquired a taste for citrus drinks when I was in the cold drink aisle with my mother, about age 4. I had pointed to the cartons of “Sunny Delight” and signed/spoke to my mother “Look! My name, d-e-l-i-g-h-t.” I’ve loved it ever since. Another time, I decided to take a bath without taking my hearing aids out. My mother proved adept at using a blow dryer to prolong their lives each time until I learned how expensive my hearing aids were. I used this new knowledge to avoid getting soaked by my siblings during water fights as we all knew how Mom would react if they got my aids wet. J

ISDB promoted the use of total communication (TC) and I soon became adept at speaking and signing. At age 6, I was mainstreamed to a local public school because the deaf school could not provide adequate education to match my growing intellect. Relying on FM systems to understand my teachers, I stayed in the system until I was 12 when I decided to return to the deaf school in hopes of boosting my social skills and finding a place to belong. I lived in the dorms during the week as my family had moved to another town farther away. It was the most difficult adjustment of my life as I was very close with my family, despite their lack of using sign. I picked up ASL via daily interactions with my peers and dorm mates. After a year, I returned to mainstreaming which would afford me a better path to higher education. I chose Utah State University, and found a world of comfort far from home. There was a burgeoning Deaf community there, peers my own age, and I flourished in ASL once again.

            I jumped into the USU ASL Club by helping out with each activity as a freshman. The next year I became President of the Club which planned ASL-intensive activities for hearing students and the community every month. The next year, I worked as the Publicist and Treasurer. I also worked in the Sign Lab, a tech-lab equipped with TV’s/VCRs for use by ASL students, as a tutor. After my 3^rd year, I decided to dedicate myself to serving the Deaf by serving a mission to New York City which also would allow me to fully immerse myself into the Deaf community. This is how I met my husband, John. We were in the same training group and to help ease the transition to learning ASL, I used my minimal knowledge of British Sign Language “abc’s” (similar to NZSL) to translate signs for him. He didn’t need me after the first couple weeks but I guess I had him “hooked” by then. *wink wink*

            After that great learning experience in New York, I moved to California just to experience the other side of the continent. J Kidding, I was attracted to CSU-Sacramento’s athletic training program and transferred. After trying my hand at taping smelly feet and icing down injuries, I decided it wasn’t for me and switched into Social Work. I graduate in spring of 2007 with a Bachelors. Last summer, I married my sweetheart after a long courtship via email/chat. It’s a whole new world living with a fully Deaf person but I love it! I can sing and have the TV on as loud as I want, as long as I don’t block the captioning.

            Hmm, this is getting long. To complete my tirade, I’d better tell you my qualifications. I have no paper credentials just because I never sought to obtain any. Not only have I been fully involved with Deaf communities for the past 8 years, I have served in various leadership positions. I planned and hosted several “Silent Weekends” (ASL immersion camps) for university students. A fact I don’t often share because it intrudes upon my tom-boyish reputation, is I was crowned Miss Deaf Utah in 2000 and also competed in the Miss Deaf America Pageant in Norfolk, VA the same year. I’ve played for various Deaf basketball teams for the North-West Athletic Association of the Deaf tournaments and in National tournaments in Washington, DC and Las Vegas. I also worked as a volunteer interpreter for the St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, New York and was offered a staff job when I completed my mission in 2002. Someday, I plan to pursue becoming a Certified Deaf Interpreter when resources are more at my disposal. I will also work on becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a MSW emphasis on counseling. I hope to provide service to the Deaf/Hard of hearing community. I have a reputation among my interpreter friends as being “an interpreter’s worst nightmare” just because I am demanding and push interpreters to be their best. I offer constructive criticism and positive feedback fitted to each individual because it seems that I have an innate sense of understanding how ASL and spoken English is to be interpreted and expressed. I’m delightful too! J

            My fingers are tired! I love to chat/write so feel free to contact me via email if you have any questions. Have a great day and in the words of Porky Pig…..
T-t-t-t-t-that’s all, folks!!!