The book “Deaf Again” is unique because the author has been on both sides of the spectrum. He had been hearing for some time and now is Deaf. He shows each viewpoint and doesn’t make it just for hearing or just for the Deaf. This author is also unique in showing his feelings for both hearing and also being Deaf.…
Similarly, the Deaf child, however raised, has a Deaf heritage form birth. Most children who cannot communicate well in spoken language will, when allowed to, learn signed language, become acculturated to Deaf culture, marry Deaf, and identify themselves as members of the Deaf World. A distinguished otologist has contended that Deaf children start out in mainstream hearing society and enter the Deaf World in adolescence. Most children in the Deaf World cannot communicate with their parents who know no sign language, and while their home may be nurturing, it cannot be substantially acculturating. The anormality of having culturally different parents is then both a centrifugal and centripetal force in the Deaf World. At the same time, the anomaly propels Deaf people toward the Deaf World, since identification with the Deaf World offers pride, language, instruction, role models, a culturally compatible spouse, and more than cannot be had…
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.…
An artefact that plays a major part in my popular culture is the “Cochlear Implant”. A Cochlear implant is an electronic device that has been surgically implanted to help a person who is profoundly deaf, or severely hard of hearing to receive sound. These devices are made to replace the sensory hair cells in the cochlear of which have been damaged, the Cochlear Implant enables sufficient amount of hearing, allowing a better understanding of speech. However the quality of the sound is different from natural hearing, as less sound information is being received and processed by the brain. I have a Cochlear Implant (or CI for short) myself, making it a major part of my popular culture experience. The Cochlear implant is recognised as a “cure” for deafness; however there is commotion from the “Deaf” culture that the CI is a threat to their culture and their form of communication, sign language. I disagree and believe that the CI is an optional cure for deafness not a threat to their culture. The CI reflects back onto three main theories; Progress and Globalization, Roots and routes of identity and Deaf culture. These are three theories will be used to discuss why the CI is a part of my popular culture following by a conclusion that the CI is a optional cure for deafness that will not intrude with the “Deaf culture”.…
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…
themselves. The extra challenges these Deaf families face have a simple remedy, which is to…
The history of lives for those who were disabled in America has not been a cheerful one. From eugenics to unsafe mental institutions with terrible living conditions. Now imagine that some people forced to live this way were not actually mentally handicapped but simply misdiagnosed because of a hearing impairment at a young age. This world and life is show in great detail in Anne M. Bolander and Adair N. Renning’s memoir “I was number 87; a deaf woman's ordeal of misdiagnosis, institutionalization, and abuse”. In this book Anne M. Bolander is misdiagnosed as have a learning disability at a young age and spends 5 years of her life in a Mental Impairment institution. Personally I really enjoyed the book even if it was quite hard to get through without crying or screaming at characters who could not hear me at times. I liked it because it was sad…
This book, featuring more than 200 photographs, depicts the lives and experiences of Deaf people under the influence of American norms, values, and perceptions during different historical periods. Segregation existed in America, and different groups, particularly women and people of color, were denied equal rights. Deaf people also did not cross racial and gender lines for much of our history. As stated by the authors, the Deaf community did not exist in a vacuum, and our views were identical to those of the larger society.…
| Connotations are meanings associated with or implied by words, as opposed to their literal or 'dictionary' meanings.…
Initially a Deaf child’s journey begins with family and starts at birth but it’s not till the deafness is detected that important decisions start to be made. Interactions with the child are important as are the ways the child is interacted with. Choices have to be made by the family that will result in how a child is educated and socialized. These most important family influences can greatly help in positive development of the child or the lack of it. Some decisions that have substantial impact are: How will the child be educated? The choice between institutional and hearing schools. Should we opt for cochlear implants? These are just a couple many important decisions and choices that are made by the parents or caregivers.…
How the contemporary world indiscriminately treats deaf people like normal people is not a random incidence. This justly humanitarian treatment is a product of continued battle for Deaf recognition and rights in terms of education, communication, socialization, community, employment, etc. by influential people, some are deaf themselves, whose Deaf advocacy…
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.…
* An idea or feeling that a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning…
Thomas K. Holcomb’s book, Introduction to American Deaf Culture, shines a light on the deaf community and the culture they experience. The intended audience, however, is the hearing. It gives the reader insight on deaf experiences and how the atmosphere is different, even though the environment is the same. All aspects of culture are covered. The book starts off with how the culture is formed through the 5 hallmarks (p. 17). Next, the book focuses on the identity of a deaf person. This is not only limited to, labeling from the rest of the world, but also by how the person sees himself. After, the book discusses the core values the deaf community has. These values are much different when compared to the hearing community. They focus on the person engaging as a full member of society. This is done through communication, interacting, and having a sense of self-worth in the community (104-107). Eventually, literature and art are mentioned. The classifications are difficult to place. There are American works, but with the growing awareness in the recent year they have earned their own Deaf category. This is important to the deaf community because it allows “Deaf people’s lives to be better…
A manifestation determination hearing is the process followed when a student who is receiving special education services violates the school code of conduct and it has to be determined if the specific infraction is linked to the students disability. More specifically, this process is only required when the outcome warrants a change of placement for the student or the removal is less than ten days and doesn’t constitute a permanent placement change.…