Examination of Sign Language Education According to the Opinions of Members from a Basic Sign Language Certification Program
People as social beings need to communicate with those around them. They conduct a series of activities through different ways with the purpose of achieving communication in their daily lives. These activities show that the main factor that explains peoples' process of individualization is the need for communication. Communication is a goal that one determines to generate thoughts created in the mind similarly in other people's minds. Thoughts regarding a current need can be shared with an adjacent person without using oral speech (Erting, 2001; Erting, Kuntze, Thumann Prezioso, Erting, Bailes, 2002; Gongora Farkas, 2009; Konrot, 2013) The main goal of communication attempts to create a projection of one's own thoughts in the mind of the targeted person by using the appropriate tool (speech, signs, writing) and a method through which the tool can be transferred (Goodwyn Acredolo, 1993; Gongora Farkas, 2009; Konrot, 2007) The term "language" is used in communication for the sharing of thoughts (Konrot, 2013) According to Bloom and Lahey (1978) language is "a systemic practice used for communication, symbolizing thoughts about the universe and consisting of agreed upon symbols (codes)" During communication, thoughts are coded, transformed into shapes that the recipient can understand. Code is the representation of one thing with another. In addition to being audible, these codes can be visual or tactual (Bloom Lahey, 1978; Konrot, 2007) Sign language as used by the hearing impaired is a whole and inclusive language with visual symbols created by the hands, fingers, head, face, mimics, and gestures in which all body movements are used (Armstrong Wilcox, 2003) In sign language, every movement that is conducted is based on agreement and consistent with the description of language made by (Bloom Lahey, 1978; Konrot, 2007).Communication is a goal; language is a tool; and speech, signs, and writing are actions (Konrot, 2007) One important factor that affects the processes of interaction and communication is an individual's developmental characteristics and existing handicaps. Hearing is a main element of communication. Damage or injury to an ear, the organ of hearing, negatively affects communication skills and the ability to gain information from the environment through hearing. There are different degrees and types of hearing impairments, notwithstanding that it also affects every individual at different levels. Communication from the hearing impaired is affected by different variables, such as when the impairment was identified, the degree of impairment (Fitzpatrick, Crawford, Ni, Durieux Smith, 2011; Pictav Akmece, 2014) when a hearing aid or cochlear implant started to be used (Akin, Tezer, SSahin, Akar, 2009; Pictav Akmece, 2014) one's level of education (Geers, Tobey, Moog, Brenner 2008; Pictav Akmece, 2014) the language used by the family, and the family's socio economic status (Boons et al. 2012, 2013) It is necessary to diagnose a hearing impairment early on, implement a hearing aid as soon as possible, and start education in order to enable hearing impaired individuals to gain effective listening and speaking skills (Akin, Tezer, SSahin, Akar, 2009; Boons et. al, 2013; Geers, Tobey, Moog, Brenner 2008; Pictav Akmece, 2014) The basis of education comprises a maximum level of listening. However, unlike their peers who can hear and show normal development, hearing impaired children have different characteristics. Therefore, not every child who uses a hearing aid and receives verbal education can communicate verbally. It is necessary to determine the communication method and education system that the child will benefit the most from by taking the child's development into account and to teach formal sign language to children with low chances of acquiring spoken language skills in order to enable their self expression (Belgin Yucel, 2011)