How Pro-Tactile Changed My Life

I first learned about Pro-Tactile during a few workshops I took at the 2013 Deaf-Blind Camp of Maryland. It seemed interesting. I put "research Pro-Tactile" on my to-do list... and then pretty much forgot about it. What I didn't realize was that I was ignoring something that had the power to make a huge, positive impact on my life.

What is Pro-Tactile? Those who understand and use PT call it, the "DeafBlind Way." Here's some history to help you figure out what that means.

It has been well noted that standard forms of sign language, and even tactile sign language, do not fully meet the needs of people who are DeafBlind. With little or no usable vision/hearing, DeafBlind individuals miss important parts of communication.

Examples include environmental information, non-verbal or non-manual cues, noises, facial expressions and emotions. Pro-Tactile Communication is a philosophy to broaden the spectrum and make communication accessible to all.

PT began in Seattle in 2000. AJ Granda and Jelica Nuccio, who are both DeafBlind, are credited with creating this wonderful socio-cultural movement. In the year 2013, Pro-Tactile is spreading to more and more communities around the nation.

Pro-Tactile means "touch communication." It is not the same as tactile sign language. People who use close-range ASL also benefit from PT. It can be used with two DeafBlind individuals, one person who is DeafBlind and one person who is Deaf or with a DeafBlind individual and someone who is hearing-sighted. When an individual who is DeafBlind is giving a presentation, an interpreter might stand behind him/her and use Pro-TactileCommunication to give feedback about the audience.

Pro-Tactile signals can be shown on the DeafBlind individual's hand, fore-arm, shoulder, back or leg. It's best to ask the other person for his/her individual preference.

What does all that mean? Basically, touch is used to fill in gaps that people who are DeafBlind can't see or her. You have no idea how important vision and auditory cues are to communication until you no longer have access to them. Even with the perfect interpreter, individuals who are DeafBlind will miss out on a great deal of communication. Pro-Tactile fills in those gaps and provides information to make communication completely accessible. Here are a few examples of how you use PT when communication with someone who is DeafBlind.

- Tap the person's wrist to show that you are focused and

understand. This replaces eye contact and nodding.

- The intensity and speed of the tapping will show the person's level of interest.

- Lack of tapping indicates the other person is not following you.

- Draw a smile face to show you are smiling.

- Draw a sad face to show you are frowning.

- Let the person touch your neck to "feel" laughter.

- Or use your hand against the person's body to show a "belly chuckle." This allows you to control intensity and length of laughter. (Similar to the two-handed sign for "laughter.)

- Many DeafBlind people do not like the "ha ha ha" sign for laughing. Without the ability to see the person's facial expression, the hand sign has a "fake" feel to it.

- Draw a question mark to indicate that you are asking a question.

- Trace a large letter “X” on the DeafBlind individual's back in an emergency situation.

- When moving from the person's right to their left, trail your hand along their right shoulder and across their back. In this way, they can follow your movement.

- When you are doing an activity, let the DeafBlind person keep his/her hands on yours. That way the person will know what you are doing the whole time.

What does this all have to do with me? On Saturday, October 26th, the Northeast Ohio DeafBlind Association taught a workshop about interpreting for individuals who are DeafBlind. I wanted to discuss Pro-Tactile communication. The workshop was only three hours long, and I knew we wouldn't have time. So, instead, I created a handout about PT.

Our SSP Coordinator, who was my main interpreter at the workshop, put together all handouts in a neat packet for the students. She read about PT while working on the packet and asked if I wanted to give it a try. I did... And that is how my life was changed.

During my presentation, Kara stood behind me and used PT to give me feedback on how the audience was reacting. I told my students what she was doing and warned them that I would know if they stuck their tongue out at me. That led to a lot of laughing. Kara "showed" me that laughter -- not just that people were laughing, but the intensity and length of the laughter. For the first time, I felt like I was part of that laughter.

Throughout my lecture, she let me know that people were smiling. They did a lot of that. Every once in a while, she'd indicate frowning. I would stop immediately and give the students the chance to ask questions. I knew they were asking question, instead of making statements, because Kara would draw a question mark on my back. When the students understood, she would sign "yes" against my arm. She also did this when students nodded to show agreement. PT, allowed me to "see" those nods.

I've taught many workshops over the years. I never had a clue about how the audience was responding until after the workshop was over, and I could question my interpreter. That's not a pleasant way to participate in public speaking.

This time, I didn't need to ask. I already knew. Thanks to Pro-Tactile, I was a part of it all from start to finish. To the growing number of people who follow the DeafBlind Way, you can count me in!