About the session
This session will provide information about research showing a strong relationship between fingerspelling skills and word identification. Evidence shows that fingerspelling provides a pathway to decoding words and strengthening print recognition by building phonological awareness. A 5-day per week program designed to develop fingerspelling phonological awareness skills, Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading, results in better fingerspelling and better print recognition.
About Nancy
Nancy Bridenbaugh is currently a consultant for the Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading program, providing consultation, training, and teacher support throughout the country and internationally. The program is a result of research she was involved in with the Center on Literacy and Deafness, focusing on fingerspelling phonologic awareness for young deaf and hard of hearing children. Nancy has served as the Director of the Gallaudet University Regional Center in Hawaii and as the Director of Rocky Mountain Deaf School in Colorado.
