Protactile
Heads Up
If you are not me, you should not be here! Assume that everything here is wrong and that I don’t know what I’m writing about, cuz I don’t.
What is Protactile?
Protactile, sometimes referred to as protactile ASL (PTASL), is a sign language that developed from communication between DeafBlind people in the beginning of the 21st century. It’s derived from ASL and is heavily touch- and body-focused. I don’t really know much else.
DeafBlind Culture & History
- Against Access. By John Lee Clark.
- An incredible essay on accessibility, abled arrogance, alt text, and interpreters fearful of bias. I can’t believe this was published in McSweeney’s.
- Deaf-Blind Reality. Edited by Scott M. Stoffel. Published 2012.
- Collected stories about DeafBlind lives.
- John Lee Clark’s Weblog.
- Really good essays on the DeafBlind world and oppression by hearing and sighted individuals.
- No longer being updated.
PTASL Info
- DeafBlind Kids.
- Lessons on how to use Protactile, with a focus on communicating with DeafBlind children.
- Protactile Language Interpreting. By Western Oregon University.
- Offers virtual training for Protactile interpreters.
- Not rigorous or intended as a substitute for interacting with the DeafBlind community.
- Protactile Linguistics: Discussing Recent Research Findings. By Jelica Nuccio and John Lee Clark. Published 2020.
- Two DeafBlind discuss Protactile linguistics.
- Some highlights: Protactile is historically connected with ASL but is slowly diverging from it. It uses contact space instead of signing space. It uses four hands instead of ASL’s two.
- Protactile Research Network.
- Academic and educational research on Protactile and communication within DeafBlind circles.
- Tactile Communications.
- A training center by and for DeafBlind people based in Monmouth, Oregon.
- Has a list of resources on Protactile.
Media
- American Masters: DeafBlind People are Creating a New Language. By PBS.
- This version includes closed captioning. There is an alternative version with audio descriptions and ASL interpretation. And another version with extended audio descriptions and open captions.
- About Protactile and the DeafBlind experience.