All too many parents have gone through the same frustrating experience: going to 'the "experts" for advice, and being told not to sign with their deaf baby, but to use an oral/auditory approach exclusively from the start—advice that they later regretted heeding.

An unknown number of sign interpreters working in schools where deaf children are enrolled can describe the dirty politics being played there—being controlled by teachers, the promotion of hearing aids and cochlear implants, and banning ASL.

When education of the deaf or language rights are discussed, who are the “real” experts on the topic? There are a growing number of Deaf scholars with fine credentials—and what they have to say corroborates what grassroots-Deaf people have been saying.

We know that sign language benefits deaf babies and enhances development of their cognitive and linguistic skills. This “folk wisdom” is supported by scientific research. Recent and ongoing research can be noted and discussed here.