{"id":28485,"date":"2014-09-04T18:43:32","date_gmt":"2014-09-04T23:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=28485"},"modified":"2014-09-04T19:01:35","modified_gmt":"2014-09-05T00:01:35","slug":"deaf-student-expands-sign-language-lexicon-for-clinical-lab-sciences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2014\/09\/04\/deaf-student-expands-sign-language-lexicon-for-clinical-lab-sciences\/","title":{"rendered":"Deaf Student Expands Sign Language Lexicon for Clinical Lab Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deaf Student Expands Sign Language Lexicon for Clinical Lab Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

August 29, 2014<\/p>\n

By Laura L. Acosta<\/p>\n

UTEP News Service<\/p>\n

Spelling and understanding words like \u201ccytoplasmic\u201d or \u201celectrophoresis\u201d can be hard for clinical laboratory sciences students. But for Betsy Ba\u00f1uelos, who was born deaf, learning vocabulary that is specific to science is more difficult when those words are absent in American Sign Language.<\/p>\n

Instead, Ba\u00f1uelos, a junior in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) program at The University of Texas at El Paso, has had to invent her own sign language lexicon of medical terms. A trailblazer, Ba\u00f1uelos is the first deaf student in UTEP\u2019s CLS program.<\/p>\n

Ba\u00f1uelos planned to become an X-ray technician, but a career in clinical laboratory sciences offered her the opportunity to help others in a health care setting, without having to interact directly with patients.<\/p>\n

This fall semester, Ba\u00f1uelos is working with four sign language interpreters from UTEP\u2019s Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) to generate new signs for words like \u201cparasitology<\/span><\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I was apprehensive because of the technicality of the CLS program, but also there are so many requirements,\u201d said Ba\u00f1uelos, who also works as a research assistant on a lupus study led by Jacen S. Moore, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor. Ba\u00f1uelos presented her research during a poster presentation at the COURI Summer Symposium Aug. 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just medical education or calculus, it\u2019s also communication,\u201d she added. \u201cCommunication is key. And we lack in communication as deaf people.\u201d<\/p>\n

In class, two interpreters and a notetaker<\/span><\/span> help Ba\u00f1uelos communicate with her professors and classmates.<\/p>\n

The interpreters take turns interpreting the lecture, alternating every 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

While one interpreter is signing, the other interpreter writes down unfamiliar or obscure words. Ba\u00f1uelos then develops a sign for those words based on their definitions or descriptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome words are not difficult, some are,\u201d explained Ba\u00f1uelos, who is taking classes in hematology, serology, urine and body fluids, and clinical chemistry this fall semester. \u201cSome parasites and some fungi have pictures that relate to it. But if there\u2019s no visualization or picture to match the word, then we turn to the definition of the word or I break down the root word and make that into the sign.\u201d<\/p>\n

For example, Ba\u00f1uelos came up with the sign language equivalent for the word \u201cparasitology<\/span><\/span>\u201d by combining the sign for study, which stands for \u201cology<\/span><\/span>,\u201d with the sign for bug<\/span><\/span> or parasite. She also added the letter \u201cP\u201d to the sign for<\/span><\/span> blood to indicate plasma.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much going on in my brain all at once,\u201d Ba\u00f1uelos joked. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of thought for one word.\u201d<\/p>\n

The interpreters meet with Ba\u00f1uelos 30 minutes before class to learn the new signs. Faculty members like Lorraine Torres, Ed.D, Clinical Laboratory Sciences program director, provide the team a list of clinical terms so they can prepare in advance.<\/p>\n

Hector E. Flores<\/span><\/span>, manager of American Sign Language services at CASS, is one of Ba\u00f1uelos\u2019 interpreters. This fall, he is interpreting Ba\u00f1uelos\u2019 clinical chemistry class and its corresponding laboratory.<\/p>\n

CASS provides students with disabilities a full spectrum of services, including note taking, sign language interpreting, reader services, auxiliary aides and adaptive technology, for free. Students must register with CASS and present medical documentation before they can receive services. Currently, CASS provides services to 600 students.<\/p>\n

As part of his role, Flores explains to faculty and staff how the process works. He reminds people they are speaking directly to Ba\u00f1uelos through the interpreter and there is no need for them to say, \u201cTell her,\u201d or \u201cAsk her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remind them to just speak directly to the student,\u201d Flores said. \u201c(Interpreters) are present because obviously we\u2019re human beings, but in a way we are not present. We\u2019re just there to relay the information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interpreters usually wear black to blend into the background and they stand behind the person Ba\u00f1uelos is talking to during a conversation.<\/p>\n

In the bench lab where students conduct experiments, Moore installed a mirror on Ba\u00f1uelos bench<\/span> so she can see the interpreter relay instructions or read Moore\u2019s lips when he makes suggestions, without her having to look away from the microscope.<\/p>\n

After knowing Ba\u00f1uelos a few months, Moore said the future clinical lab technician is capable of doing everything a hearing person can do.<\/p>\n

She has learned to develop scientific questions, search and interpret scientific literature, write and follow scientific protocols, and perform experiments such as cytoplasmic protein isolation and quantitation<\/span>, and Western blotting techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason I decided to get involved in research is because as I was growing up, many people don\u2019t give deaf people a chance to show themselves or prove themselves,\u201d Ba\u00f1uelos said. \u201cNot only hearing people, but deaf people themselves. They use deafness as an excuse that they can\u2019t do X, Y and Z and they can\u2019t go too far in life. My parents have taught me not to be like that. They taught me to challenge myself and never give up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moore encouraged Ba\u00f1uelos to participate in the COURI Symposium to boost her self-confidence and further develop her communication skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving attended many scientific meetings both nationally and internationally throughout my career, this was the first time I had ever experienced a hearing-challenged person present their scientific research,\u201d Moore recalled. \u201cI find that to be a significant milestone and a huge achievement for Betsy and the deaf community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ba\u00f1uelos has three children and is grateful for the support she receives from her husband, mother and stepfather, which has made it possible for her to pursue her dream of earning a university degree.<\/p>\n

The CLS program also has provided Ba\u00f1uelos with several opportunities, like writing a book about the new terminology she created that can be passed on to other deaf students.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would try one or two classes, then I thought I would just give it up or that people would not accept me, but I was totally wrong,\u201d Ba\u00f1uelos said. \u201cOnce I stepped into it, so many doors have opened. It\u2019s been a bit overwhelming, but it\u2019s been a great process.\u201d<\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/news.utep.edu\/?p=26346<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Deaf Student Expands Sign Language Lexicon for Clinical Lab Sciences August 29, 2014 By Laura L. Acosta UTEP News Service Spelling and understanding words like \u201ccytoplasmic\u201d or \u201celectrophoresis\u201d can be hard for clinical laboratory sciences students. But for Betsy Ba\u00f1uelos,…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[4621,22298,19722,22292,22290,22289,22295,22296,1912,22297,40,22293,22288,22294,191,17,22291,19122],"class_list":["post-28485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-article","tag-betsy-banuelos","tag-cass","tag-center-for-accommodations-and-support-services","tag-clinical-laboratory-sciences","tag-cls","tag-couri-symposium","tag-cytoplasmic","tag-el-paso","tag-electrophoresis","tag-interpreter","tag-jacen-s-moore-ph-d","tag-laura-l-acosta","tag-parasitology","tag-sign-language","tag-texas","tag-university-of-texas-at-el-paso","tag-utep"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-7pr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20088,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2012\/09\/21\/faculty-opening-uh-asli-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":28485,"position":0},"title":"Faculty Opening – UH ASLI Program","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"September 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Faculty Opening - UH ASLI Program TIME: Fall 2013 ADDRESS: 100 Clinical Research Services Center Houston, Texas WEBSITE: http:\/\/www.uh.edu\/provost\/fac\/faculty-openings\/comd11\/index.php The American Sign Language Interpreting Program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston seeks applicants for a nine-month, non-tenure track, full-time instructor position beginning September,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9691,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/03\/14\/literacy-tutoring-for-students-who-are-dhh-denton\/","url_meta":{"origin":28485,"position":1},"title":"Literacy Tutoring for Students Who Are D\/HH – Denton","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"March 14, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Literacy Tutoring for Students Who Are Deaf\/Hard of Hearing DATE: 3\/12\/2010 - 4\/28\/2010 TIME: After school ADDRESS: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Texas Woman's University Denton, Texas WEBSITE: http:\/\/www.twu.edu\/communication-sciences The Literacy and Language Learning Clinic at Texas Woman's University in Denton offers reading and language tutoring with students who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30703,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/05\/09\/deaf-education-scholar-to-lecture-on-sign-language-in-education\/","url_meta":{"origin":28485,"position":2},"title":"Deaf Education Scholar to Lecture on Sign Language in Education","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"May 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Deaf Education Scholar to Lecture on Sign Language in Education March 25, 2015 Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321 WACO, Texas (March 25, 2015) - Baylor University\u2019s department of communication sciences and disorders in the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences will welcome deaf\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25455,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/11\/25\/asl-research-at-university-of-texas-austin\/","url_meta":{"origin":28485,"position":3},"title":"ASL research at University of Texas, Austin","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"November 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"ASL research at University of Texas, Austin Hello! 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