deaf culture

Christine SharkeyTeacher of the Deaf/HH

Deaf Culture

Deaf – Active in the Deaf culture, any degree of hearing loss

deaf – Not active in Deaf culture, profound hearing loss

Hearing – Hearing within normal limits

Hard of Hearing – mild to profound degree of hearing loss

Race/ethnicity – varies

Click here for an ABC News article about identity

Identity

◦ Official language used by people in the Deaf culture

◦ A true language, not a shortcut of spoken English◦ No written form and not universal◦ ASL Interpreters are available to bridge

communication between hearing and d/Deaf people

◦ Currently popular with hearing babies and their hearing parents

Value: American Sign Language

My identity is ______________________.My language is _____________________.True or False: All people who are deaf feel that ASL is very

important.Respond:How would using ASL make life easier?How would using ASL make life difficult?

Stop and Think!

Eavesdropping – By hearing, by deaf Well-lit areas - for easier communication Getting attention – taps, stomps, lights Animated discussions – Body and facial

expressions Space – near for attention and far to communicate People who are Deaf are upfront about

appearance Visiting unannounced – Accepted based on history Interpreters – ADA supports, but expense $$$ is

an issue

Etiquette (Manners)

This is a law that makes sure people with disabilities are not discriminated against, and are provided with equal rights.

The government says that a person has a disability if there is a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment makes it difficult to do daily life activities, such as; see, hear, walk, eat, etc.

Because of this law, colleges, stores, hotels, airports, etc. need to accommodate people with hearing loss.

Note: People who are deaf/hh are not expected to pay for interpreters

in public places such as their work, hospital, doctor, or lawyer appointments.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Video Phones and relay for communication from homeSorenson Video Relay Service*

Mobile Relay Services for communication “on the go”Sprint Relay Services

Lights, vibrations, and extra loud devicesHarris Communications

*Specific companies listed provide examples. Please note that there are numerous service and product providers available and can be found on the internet.

Technology Examples

True or False:1. If you know ASL, it’s okay to eavesdrop on

other signers.2. People who are Deaf stand close together

when chatting.3. People who are deaf or hard of hearing are

disabled.4. People who are Deaf are disabled.5. It is easy for hearing and deaf people to

communicate now, but wasn’t in the past.

Stop and Think!

ASL Poetry reflects on shared Deaf experience Classifier Stories use one or more classifiers to tell a

story Handshape Rhymes use one handshape and

incorporate meter or rhythm ABC Stories use letters of the alphabet to tell a

storyWatch an ABC Story - Look for the alphabet in the signs! Number Stories use numbers or number patterns Watch an ASL Number Story - Look for numbers 1-10! Narratives relate to aspects of shared Deaf

experiences, often humorous or highlight triumphs

Value: Literature

William Hoy – Deaf baseball player introduced hand signals

Football huddle – First used by Gallaudet University’s football team so opponent would not see them discussing the play

Dr. I. King Jordan was the first Deaf president of Gallaudet University after the “Deaf President Now” march in Washington D.C.

Gallaudet University is the only college in the WORLD for people who are deaf/hard of hearing.

Famous Deaf People & Trivia

1. The “soup” story was an example of __?2. Deaf poetry DOES/DOES NOT have rhythm.3. Which school started the football huddle?4. Where do you think would be a good place

or time to use ASL instead of talking?

Stop and Think!

Residential Schools – Children sleep in dorms and may see their parents only on the weekends. This is where many Deaf children learned ASL. Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

Day schools –Schools for the deaf/hh without dorms. Students live at home and must have a hearing loss to attend. Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

Self-contained classrooms/Resource rooms – Classes for students with hearing loss inside a public school.

Mainstream/Inclusion –Students attend their neighborhood public schools with hearing peers, and use educational interpreters when necessary.

Education

90% of people who are deaf have hearing parents Many people who are Deaf enjoy time to use ASL

with others who are fluent, sharing experiences and struggles in the hearing world.

Some cities have a building for the club, others organize in restaurants or public places.

DINGO is a card game often played at the private events.

CODAs are Children Of Deaf Adults and (hearing or deaf) can learn Deaf culture through the Deaf Club.

Deaf Clubs

Controversial topic – Some enjoy, dance and play instruments, others have no interest at all

Signed songs – More accepted when interpreted into ASL by a person who understands the culture

D-PAN music videos Deaf sign to music Official Chase ASL Interpreter signs to music

Music

Reflect… Imagine that you are young, with no language.

Your parents drop you off at a new school and leave you there. The teachers want you to learn to speak, but you can’t hear your voice or theirs. You make friends in the dorms and learn to sign secretly. Has there been a time when you didn’t understand what was happening? How did you feel? Who did you go to? What did you do? How could you stop this from happening again?

Stop and Think!

“A deaf person can do anything a hearing person

can, except hear.”

Dr. I. King Jordan

Keep an Open Mind…

Ladd, P. (2003) Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood Multilingual Matters LTD, Clevedon, England

Moore, M.S. & Levitan, L. (2003) For Hearing People Only Third Edition. Deaf Life Press, Rochester, NY

Zinza, J. (2006) Master ASL! Sign Media Press, Burtonsville, MD

Resources