Review and Study Guide

Review:

The members of this community not only share a common language, they are also linked by similar beliefs and attitudes about themselves and about the world. Some deaf people do not view themselves as disabled. They describe themselves as part of a different heritage and culture--Deaf Culture. This strong sense of Deaf identity is nurtured by the community and passed on through generations.
ASL is the main bond that members of this community have. If you do not use ASL, you are not part of the Deaf community. Hearing people who use ASL can take part in the cultural and social life of this community. For example, hearing children with deaf parents (CODAs) acquire ASL naturally during childhood. They are a part of this community and some people even think they are a part of Deaf culture.

True proficiency in ASL is not just about having an extensive vocabulary. It's about signing in the context of Deaf Culture. Find Deaf events in your area and converse with people who use ASL in their day-to-day lives--Deaf people. Then, and usually only then, will you truly learn to be a proficient signer.

Becoming a Member of the Deaf Community

Becoming a member of this community means more than just learning American Sign Language. You need to be willing to enter the Deaf experience. The diagram below is my illustration of the diagram developed by Charlotte Baker and Dennis Cokely in 1980 to explain how a person qualifies for becoming a member of the community of the Deaf:


The center of the diagram represents Deaf Culture. To be accepted and fully participate in Deaf Culture, you MUST possess all four characteristics that define the culture: social, audiological, linguistic, and political. The Deaf community is illustrated by the other shaded portions of the diagram. You must have at least TWO of the characteristics to participate in the community of the Deaf. Let's take a look at each one:

Social
You need to join in the social life of the community of the Deaf for this characteristic. This means having attended a Deaf residential school, or having Deaf family members, spouses, or friends. A hearing person who uses American Sign Language, regularly attends Deaf community events, and advocates Deaf issues (a sign language interpreter, for example) will come as close to the center of Deaf culture as a person can who does not have a hearing loss. To learn more about the important social lives of Deaf people, read my Deaf Culture article.

Audiological
You MUST have a hearing loss to get credit for this characteristic. It doesn't matter if you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, to a Deaf person, hearing loss means deafness. Deaf is a term used in the community of the Deaf to mean a life experience instead of a hearing loss. To learn more about the different terms for deaf, read this section of my Deaf Culture article to learn about the special distinction between Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing-impaired.

Linguistic
You must use and advocate American Sign Language. You not only need to memorize vocabulary, but also learn how to ask questions, make sentences, carry on a conversation, and provide information. You need to learn and respect the signing customs and etiquette of Deaf culture and use them to properly sign in ASL.

Political
You need to be a passionate advocate of Deaf issues and ASL. Political members of this community are usually Deaf people who hold positions in Deaf organizations like the National Association of the Deaf.

Attitude
All of the characteristics of the Deaf community are linked by attitude. You need to love the Deaf experience. If you have the proper respect, the willingness to learn about Deaf issues and deafness, and are enthusiastically involved, you will be accepted by the Deaf community whether you are deaf or hearing.

Study Guide For Deaf Culture

Listed below are some of the main areas that we discussed the last 6 weeks. Be sure to review all of your notes and also key points from your power points. Keep in mind that this is a study guide but you are responsible for everything that was presented in class as well as on the powerpoints that I sent you. This is just an overview of information covered in class.

The exam will be multiple choice, T/F, short essay and essay. You will be given 40 minutes to complete your exam. We will discuss cochlear implants after the exam is completed.

Who are Deaf People?

*Pathological View vs. Deaf View
-What are these views? How are they different?

*Deaf and deaf
-What are the differences between the two of these?
-Can you be deaf and also be Deaf
-What is the correct terminology of hearing losses?

*The importance of Cultural identity of Deaf people
-Is everyone that is Deaf culturally Deaf?

What is Culture?

*What is Culture?
-How do we define culture?

* What is the American Culture?
-What are stereotypes?
-How do we identify?
-What do Americans value?
-Time orientation?


*What is Deaf Culture?

Deaf Culture has its own values, history, organizations, art and behaviors that mark those individuals who embrace the group. So be to deaf alone is not enough. Deaf Culture finds its center primary in American Sign Language and then shared values.





-Knowing that ninety percent of all Deaf people are born into hearing families, where do Deaf people get their culture from? What is very important to them?

*How do deaf people enter Deaf Culture? What may be conflicting to them as they do this? What will they need to change? (think about sharing information, lipreading etc.)

*What do Deaf people value?

*How are Deaf Culture and the Community different?


*What is American Sign Language? How do Deaf people communicate in ASL ?

-Who created ASL?
--Why was there such a battle in regards to ASL?
-Who is Stoeke and why is he important?
-When was ASL recognized as a true language?
-What did Alexander Bell believe about Deaf people?
-The Deaf President Now in 1988 is very important, why?
-What some other signing systems that have been created by hearing people? - (Cued Speech,.)

(to be discussed after the exam,)

*What are Deaf Social Norms? -Collectivism & Individualism
-High Content & Low Content
-Time Orientation

-What was the Golden Age of Deaf Culture? What was the Dark age?