by Bhob Stewart
synopsis
The School for the Deaf at the Alabama Institute is organized around a belief in complete communication: sign language and finger spelling is employed in conjunction with speech, hearing aids, lip-reading, gestures, and the written word. In 164 minutes, this 1986 Frederick Wiseman documentary attempts to show almost all aspects of this comprehensive training -- sign language instruction for both students and parents, psychological counseling, speech therapy, vocational training, disciplinary problems, visits from parents, sports and recreation, training in living and working independently, and money management.
