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Protactile is a language used by deafblindness people using tactile channels. Unlike other sign languages, which are heavily reliant on visual information, protactile is oriented towards touch and is practiced on the body. Protactile communication originated out of communications by DeafBlind people in Seattle in 2007 and incorporates signs from American Sign Language. Protactile is an emerging system of communication in the United States, with users relying on shared principles such as contact space, tactile imagery, and reciprocity.
In describing the origin of protactile, granda and Nuccio write:
In protactile, communication takes place by touch and movement focused primarily on the hands, wrist, elbow, arm, upper back, and when in a seated position, knees and the top of the thigh. In formal instruction of protactile while sitting and facing a conversation partner, the "listening hand" has the thumb, index finger, and pinky extended, and is rested on the thigh of the other participant. For example, several rapid taps on the thigh with all four fingers would indicate "yes," where a rapid back and forth brushing movement with the fingers would indicate "no."
Tactile maps are used in protactile, communicating spatial information about the environment to the DeafBlind person. A map can be drawn on a recipient's hand, arm, or back to describe surroundings or give directions.
Instead of the "air space" used in visual sign languages, that is, the space around a signer's body, protactile is rooted in "contact space." While ASL and other sign languages rely on handshape as one of the core components distinguishing a sign from other signs, in protactile the handshape is less important than the sensation received (for example, a series of tapped signs using different handshapes would all just be received as taps, with the handshapes being indistinguishable).
Serving the same function as body language or verbal acknowledgments (such as "mm-hmm" or "yeah"), tactile backchanneling allows for smoother communication in protactile conversations. Tapping the partner's arm or leg during pauses or as confirmation of understanding serves as a continuous loop of backchannel feedback. Agreement, disagreement, laughter, and other responses are signaled using manual cues. These cues are not standardized, but are developed according to the needs of the individual and specific situation.
A grant from the National Science Foundation led to the creation of a hybrid learning environment for young deafblind children. The DeafBlind Kids! website provides parents and caretakers with information about protactile concepts such as tactile exploration, backchanneling, and co-presence.
Protactile communication fosters inclusion and autonomy by providing DeafBlind people with more information about their environment. More robust communication leads to fewer misunderstandings and more sense of involvement and connection.
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