Deaf Culture

Some deaf people use American Sign Language for communication. With the use of American Sign Language has also come the development of a culture with that language as its common base. Parents of newly identified children with a hearing loss should familiarize themselves with the goals and viewpoints of the Deaf culture community so that they can consider those goals and viewpoints as they make decisions for their child.

Deaf culture refers to the socio-linguistic group of deaf people that share some of the following characteristics:

• ASL used for communication
• proud of being "Deaf" and of the history and culture of the Deaf
• label themselves as capital "D" Deaf and use the lower-case "deaf" to refer to medical deafness
• view deafness as a social rather than a medical condition
• usually attend or attended state residential school for the deaf where ASL was used
• are usually opposed to cochlear implants
• may belong to "Deaf clubs" for socialization

Some parents may fear that if their child learns ASL or goes to Missouri School for the Deaf that they might "lose" their child to Deaf culture. Such fears are justified.

There are no reliable figures of the number of deaf adults in Missouri or nationwide who use ASL, or who consider themselves as members of the Deaf culture.

In Missouri, the largest concentrations of "Deaf culture" individuals are in the Fulton, Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City areas.

Various voluntary groups offer opportunities for Deaf culture individuals, too, such as:

• Missouri Association of the Deaf

  President is Donald Benfield

  To join MoAD, email William Bingham, MoADTreasurer at: MOADTreasurer

  To get MoAD brochure, email MoAD Second Vice President at Judy Benfield

• Greater St. Louis Chapter of Missouri Association of the Deaf

  Contact person for this organization is Paul Blicharz, Chapter President. His e-mail address is: email his TTY nbr is: 314-961-2718.

• SEMO Deaf Association

  c.o M/M Aaron Lange
  702 Rosamund St.
  Jackson, Mo. 63755
  
  

A Child Sacrificed to the Deaf Culture - Thomas Bertling

American Sign Language: Shattering the Myth - Thomas Bertling

An Intellectual Look at American Sign Language - Thomas Bertling

No Dignity for Joshua: More Vital Insight into Deaf Children, Deaf Education, and Deaf Culture - Thomas Bertling

A Journey into the Deaf-World - Harlan Lane

The Mask of Benevolence: Disabling the Deaf Community - Harlan Lane

When the Mind Hears: A History of the Deaf - Harlan Lane

Seeing Voices - Oliver Sacks

Deaf Again - Mark Drolsbaugh

Deaf Esprit: Inspiration, Humor, and Wisdom from the Deaf Community - Paris & Drolsbaugh

American Deaf Culture: An Anthology by Sherman Wilcox.

Deaf Culture Our Way by Holcomb et al.

Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture by Carol Padden &Tom Humphries.

For Hearing People Only: Answers to Some of the Most Commonly Asked Questions About the Deaf Community, Its Culture, and

Gallaudet Encyclopedia of Deaf People and Deafness by Cleve John Van.

On the Edge of Deaf Culture: Hearing Children/Deaf Parents by Thomas H. Bull.

The Deaf Way: Perspectives from the International Conference on Deaf Culture by Carol J. Erting et al.

The Other Side of Silence: Sign Language and the Deaf Community in America by Arden Neisser.

The Politics of Deafness by Owen Wrigley.

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