Redefining reading: Author has book translated into sign language
July 30, 2013
For 83-year-old resident of The Village at Gleannloch Farms Marcia Bennett, words have always been a huge part of her life. As a writer of five published books, she enjoys telling stories to children. However, she had never thought about the children who would not be able to hear these stories read out loud. That is, not until she recently agreed to have the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin translate her books into American Sign Language (ASL) and signed on a video.
“I feel very honored to have two of my books selected to be translated into ASL,” said Bennett. “My granddaughter is fluent in American Sign Language and works with deaf children. This has always been something I have had an interest in but have never pursued. I am thrilled to have my books be enjoyed on a whole new level.”
Bennett’s interest in writing started in high school when she worked on the school’s newspaper staff. However, it was not until she went back and graduated from college in her fifties that she started writing children’s literature. In 2001, her first book, Mystery at Jacob’s Well, was published. She now has had a total of four children’s books and one adult short novel published.
“Marcia is such a talented woman,” said Kathy Johanns, executive director at The Village at Gleannloch Farms. “The fact that she had her first book published at the age of 71 is an inspiration to us all. We are so proud of her latest endeavors with the Texas School for the Deaf and know that there are so many children who will be blessed to see her books translated into their language.”
Mystery at Jacob’s Well and Somebody Left the Door Open have been chosen to appear in sign language on the Texas School for the Deaf’s website, allowing deaf and hard-of-hearing students to have access to these stories in their own language. Many of these students do not get the opportunity to be “read” or signed to because their parents or teachers do not know how to sign the story. A storyteller from the Texas School for the Deaf will tell the story over a green screen—much like the weather man does—with the pages of the book in the background.
“It is our hope that by posting these videos in an alternative format [ASL], our students—and others who are deaf or hard of hearing—will be able to more fully comprehend the story,” said Sonia Bridges, Video Communication Specialist for Texas School for the Deaf. “We are grateful that Marcia has allowed us to use her books in this way and that she has a passion for ASL. We hope this can help promote literacy to deaf and hard-of-hearing children.”
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