Deaf Culture
. Researchers first began to recognize the “deaf culture” in 1965 when Bill Stokoe, Carl Cronenberg, and Dorothy Casterlia published the Dictionary of American Sign Language.
. This recognized American Sign Language as a complete and sophisticated language. It also identified several cultural characteristics of the deaf.
. The Deaf identify themselves as members of a linguistic minority, not disabled. To the deaf the primary difference between them and the hearing is the language they use.
. The deaf associate the implants with older practices used for education of the deaf that were unacceptable to them.
. These practices were “oralistic”. Mostly forcing the deaf child to try and speak without using sign language. Some of these practices included actually binding the child’s hands to prevent them from using sign language.
. A small percentage of deaf in U.S. have implants. There are about two million deaf or severely hard of hearing persons in U.S. and only about 42,600 adults and 28,400 children have cochlear implants. ( as of December 2010)
The Deaf Oppose the Cochlear Implants.
. This recognized American Sign Language as a complete and sophisticated language. It also identified several cultural characteristics of the deaf.
. The Deaf identify themselves as members of a linguistic minority, not disabled. To the deaf the primary difference between them and the hearing is the language they use.
. The deaf associate the implants with older practices used for education of the deaf that were unacceptable to them.
. These practices were “oralistic”. Mostly forcing the deaf child to try and speak without using sign language. Some of these practices included actually binding the child’s hands to prevent them from using sign language.
. A small percentage of deaf in U.S. have implants. There are about two million deaf or severely hard of hearing persons in U.S. and only about 42,600 adults and 28,400 children have cochlear implants. ( as of December 2010)
The Deaf Oppose the Cochlear Implants.