Which of the following methods incorporates finger spelling and signing together?

The Rochester Method effectively combines finger spelling and sign language to enhance communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. In this approach, finger spelling is used extensively to convey words not represented by signs, which can be particularly useful for individuals who may have not yet acquired the vocabulary in sign. This method allows for a clear and direct way to express concepts while still utilizing the visual modality critical to the understanding of deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Using finger spelling alongside sign language taps into the strength of both modalities, providing clarity in communication and helping students make connections between the two. This synergy can aid in literacy development since finger spelling provides a bridge between the visual language of sign and the written word. By integrating both methods, students can receive a more comprehensive form of language instruction.

In contrast, other methods like the ASL approach focus more on using American Sign Language as a standalone language without an emphasis on finger spelling, while the total communication approach employs various communication techniques without a specific focus on combining them in the same structured way as the Rochester Method. Visual phonics, on the other hand, is a method aimed at teaching phonetics visually and is separate from the use of sign language.