1. CSD 5400REHABILITATION PROCEDURES FOR THE HARD OF HEARING Hearing Loss and Identity Psychosocial Aspects Deaf Culture

2. Culture “a pattern of beliefs, values, behaviors, arts, customs, institutions, social forms and knowledge that are characteristic of a community” Transmitted through language When children learn (acquire) language from their parents, they are learning their culture, too Deaf children of hearing parents are exposed to two languages and two cultures. Many times, the child’s native language and culture are not the parents’

3. Deaf Culture Woodward (1972) proposed the following distinction: • “deaf”: a medical definition of deafness which focuses on the hearing loss itself. “deafness” is seen as a disability. • “Deaf”: a sociocultural view of deafness which focuses on the social and cultural experiences of being deaf in a society in which the majority of individuals are hearing. “Deafness” is seen as a linguistic and ethnic minority culture.

4. Some Membership Guidelines • “Native” language is ASL (American) • Family history of deafness • No spoken English • Congenital time of onset • Residential school placement • Hearing children of Deaf parents

5. Transmission of the Culture • Only 5-7% of deaf people have two deaf parents • Importance of residential schools for the deaf Deaf houseparents Older Deaf students Deaf staff and Deaf teachers

6. Patterns in the Culture • Highlights: • Political activity “Deaf President Now” (DPN) movement • Storytelling • Poetry • Theater • Writing and publishing

7. Home Cultures Deaf individuals have the same diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds as hearing persons Deaf individuals from minority groups must deal with issues of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination