In this book, Deaf in America, by Carol Padden and Tom Humphries, the two authors wrote stories, jokes, performances, and experiences of Deaf people. They also wrote Deaf culture and Deaf people’s lives from various angles. This book is great navigator of Deaf world for hearing people and even Deaf people as me. There are several factors attracting reader. To begin with, I could learn about backgrounds of deaf people and hearing people. Authors wrote about a Deaf boy who was born into a deaf family. Until he discovered that a girl playmate in neighborhood was “hearing”, he didn’t notice about “Others”. Authors explained, “She was HEARING and because of this did not know how to SIGN; instead she and her mother TALK” (Chapter 1). This story strongly impressed me. I was born into a Deaf family too, but I grew up with hearing grandparents. In my childhood, I did intensive oral training with my grandparents. So, I can sign JSL and talk Japanese smoothly. Therefore I never felt emotion like this occasion, “Others” to hearing people. The next factor is difference of “Deaf” and “deaf”. For example, the capitalized “Deaf” people are not only “deaf” but also user of Sign Language. I haven’t known the meaning of “Deaf” and “deaf” exactly before, thanks to this book, now I can understand. When I analyzed myself, I identified as “Deaf” because I truly cherish Sign Language. In addition, Sign Language is explained as a primary mode of communication for Deaf people including me. It has full access to communication for us. Unfortunately, some hearing people misunderstand that Sign Language is a kind of gestural communication. Authors wrote about it, “ASL are often thought to be direct representations of spoken words” (Chapter 3). In my country, Japan, there are some misconceptions about JSL too. Sign Language has both iconic and abstract concept.…
Louise and Thomas Spradley are a fairly average American couple. They are young, married, and have one child, Bruce, and they of course love him deeply. One summer, Bruce becomes ill with German measles, or rubella. Just a few days before this diagnosis, Louise discovered that she was pregnant. The doctor tells her that contracting rubella while pregnant could lead to various congenital defects in the newborn. The indefinite quality of this warning serves as the material for Louise and Thomas’s nightmares for the next nine months.…
As I read in surdam memoriam: Karl Jaekel, it showed me how society during the 1800’s throughout the 1900’s had a very negative view on Deaf people and sign language. Hard of hearing and or deaf-mute people used to be considered as a lower class. For a family to assume that a deaf child became “Deaf and dumb” by accident was not uncommon. American parents of that day were much more comfortable admitting to congenital than to adventitious deafness in their offspring. Uncle Charlie was enrolled in the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb where he was enrolled in the shoemaking department, one of the three industrial programs open to boys, and the other two were tailoring and printing. They only kept records of the pupils attendance and work instead of academic enrollment and progress. The training programs saved the state of Pennsylvania a great deal of money by putting the pupils to work for the state. Etiology statistics in 1800’s stated that the deaf should be carefully advised in the defect to be transmitted from generation to generation and that the future of their offspring and their own should be prudently considered before entering upon a condition so fraught with possibilities of misfortune and happiness. (Annual Report, 1887-88). The connection between articulation and eugenics is not as transparent today but when Charlie was in school it was widely believed that Deaf people would cease to marry each other if the sign language that they could only communicate with would somehow be wiped out and they were forced to speak. The views are different now in 2011 because the science and generation has grown which has made families more aware as to why certain people are born or become deaf and it is certainly more…
Through Deaf Eyes is a film outlining deaf history and deaf culture. The movie touches on many key milestones in deaf American’s lives including: community interactions, education, recreation and work. While we have been learning much on deaf history, I was fascinated to hear the many obstacles deaf people had to overcome to reach where they are today. I am one to always route for the underdog and to me the deaf community’s history is a wonderful example of a minority persevering to achieve set goals and dreams. This movie helped me realize that while obstacles for modern deaf people are numerous, in the past they were almost…
As one would expect, struggles to preserve sign language, drive automobiles, obtain employment in private and government sectors, access information, recognize American Sign Language, be treated equally, and preserve the right to determine their own destiny strengthened the cohesiveness of the Deaf community over the years. At the same time, the growing diversity within the Deaf community no longer provided consensus or universal views on issues related to educational placements and technological advancements such as cochlear implantation. It is too early to discuss these issues from a historical standpoint,…
Audiologists are very involved in improving the everyday lives of the deaf and hard of hearing. It is not uncommon for Audiologists to work with employers/businesses to educate and promote accommodations for the hearing impaired. The ADA protects individuals diagnosed with hearing loss from being discriminated against or mistreated. It is important for an Audiologist to be knowledgeable of the ADA so that they can provide their clients with accurate, up to date information pertaining to their specific situation. There are various devices, accommodations, and resources available to individuals within the deaf and hard of hearing population. Audiologists are typically very knowledgeable about these things, and can properly educate their clients…
Educational systems rarely stress the importance of training the ability of enlightening individual complications like nutrition, though less has been done to challenge the minorities and the disabled. Thanks to the works of Humphries and Padden, they stressed out to emphasize the cultural uniqueness of the deaf subculture in the American system. Humphries and Padden drew on their individual experiences as being deaf to illuminate the culture and life of deaf Americans, myths, and their everyday life (Armstrong, 2005). The essay centers on the authors' articulation in the book "the deaf in American voices" to explore the authors' biases. It focuses on how people can be deaf and not deaf as well as the essence of the deaf community in making…
As stated before, not knowing anything about the Deaf culture I was committed to learning as much as I could through this short film to expand my knowledge in the Deaf culture. I learned through the film that people who are Deaf have absolutely no problem with not being able to hear and having to talk using Sign Language. The Deaf communities do not consider being Deaf as flawed or even disabled, but believe they were born Deaf for a reason. The Deaf communities consider Sign Language as their own culture or even heritage - just like any other heritage that may practice their own language with others of the same…
1. What do you think the speech pathologist would like to know about this client?…
This research paper sought out to understand the roots of history and how our past has shaped our today referring to the hard of hearing community. Exploring the historical period of the 19th century where stakes were high regarding the hard of hearing community, all the way into present time where these individuals are still facing struggles and adaptations are just as evident but presented in a different light.…
My experiences in ASL have taught me a lot about deaf culture, such as doing the labs. I learned from watching signs of respect how to act when going to a deaf event such as what’s appropriate and inappropriate. I learned the polite way to engage in a deaf conversation. I also learned that deaf people have much of a social life as hearing people. There are always deaf events happening. Such as in the Deaf Again Mark went to events ask well. I didn’t do lab two but I’m sure I will learn even more about deaf culture.…
My sister is deaf, I myself am a part of the deaf community; I have attended sign language classes and also deaf events.…
For my first graded assignment in this class, I decided to interview a speech pathologist, named Ms. Caraway, that I’ve known for many years. Ms. Caraway initially became interested in deaf education at a young age in grade school, sometime after being introduced to sign language. She was fascinated by it, and eventually it led her to a class project in junior high that involved shadowing a professional. She shadowed a speech-language pathologist and observed many sides of the profession. She decided on that day, “This is what I am meant to do.”…
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST • Diagnose the nature and extent of impairment and record and analyze speech, language, and swallowing irregularities by using written and oral tests, as well as special instruments. • Develop individualized plans of care for patients. • Select augmentative or alternative communication methods for their patients that could include automated devices and sign language. They also teach them to use these methods.…
4,022,334 deaf citizens currently resign in the United States. There is a good deal of issues going on in the culture that many are unaware of. I recently read a book titled, Deaf In America Voices From A Culture, which covers the details of deaf culture. It goes from the life of deaf children and how they learn to different types of sign language. This sparked my interest in the things we don’t know or don’t realize about deaf issues and struggles. There is a wide variety of representation of the deaf in Hollywood, social media, and the deaf students in America. I’m sure you already know about these issues but this is to reinforce how important these are and how these issues affect us. Deaf citizens are a crucial member of our society and…