Download Deaf Child: Normal? Various Perspectives

Deaf Child: Normal?
Various Perspectives
Beth Benedict, Ph.D.
Gallaudet University
Barbara Raimondo, J.D.
American Society for Deaf Children
Marilyn Sass-Lehrer, Ph.D.
Gallaudet University
Questions
Deaf and hard of hearing people are as capable as
hearing people. Agree Disagree
Deafness should be eliminated. Agree Disagree
Use of sign language with deaf and hard of hearing
children should be encouraged. Agree Disagree
A deaf culture exists in the United States. Agree
Disagree
Deafness is a disability. Agree Disagree
Who should make decisions for deaf people?
Who are we?
After identification
Parents
Medical professionals/testing
Audiologist
Physician
Geneticist
Otolaryngologist
Speech-language pathologist
Medical technicians
Evaluations, advice, and
services can be valuable.
BUT
How do hearing parents
learn about the lives of
deaf and hard of hearing
people?
Deaf and hard of hearing
organizations
National Black Deaf Advocates
USA Deaf Sports Federation
Telecommunications for the Deaf Inc.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government
AGBell Oral Hearing Impaired Section
Association of Late Deafened Adults
National Cued Speech Association
National Association of the Deaf
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Self Help for Hard of Hearing Persons
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Entrepreneurs Council
Intertribal Deaf Council
American Society for Deaf Children
Religious associations
State and local organizations and events
Programs
Schools
Statewide schools
Regional programs
Charter schools
Camps and programs
NASA Space Camp
Young Scholars Program (Gallaudet)
Aspen Camp School for the Deaf
National Leadership and Literacy Camp
Institutes of Higher Education
Gallaudet University
Nat’l Tech Institute for the Deaf/Rochester Institute of Technology
California State University
International networks
Deaf Way I and II
World Federation of the Deaf
Deaflympics
Societal awareness
Deaf theater and entertainment
Signing with hearing babies
Media portrayals
Sensitivity regarding access such as real time
captioning, interpreting
American Sign Language as a foreign language
Country becoming more diverse
Legislation
Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
Telecommunications Act of 1996
Television Decoder Act
Technology
Video relay service
Web cams
Pagers
Instant messaging
Internet
Captioned media
Myth
Deaf people oppose hearing technologies such as
hearing aids and cochlear implants.
The NAD:
recognizes the rights of parents to make
informed choices for their children
respects their choice to use cochlear
implants and all other assistive devices
strongly supports the development of the
whole child and of language and literacy.
(Cochlear Implants, NAD Position Statement, 2000)
Myth
All deaf parents want a deaf baby.
Cultural identification with Deaf community
no preference 62%
prefer deaf 27%
prefer hearing 4%
(SJ Stern, KS Arnos, L Murrelle, K Oelrich Welch, WE Nance, and A
Pandya (Attitudes of deaf and hard of hearing subjects towards
genetic testing and prenatal diagnosis of hearing loss. J Med Genet
2002;39:449-453)
“Deaf designer baby” - 52,000 Internet hits
“First embryo screened for deafness” - 600
Gender selection for “family balancing”
(www.microsort.com)
Why include the deaf
community?
Human rights issue
Know about lives of deaf people
Assurance and support
Positive view of the future
Better decisions
Hearing and deaf working
together
Dismantle societal barriers
Promote positive view of deaf and hard of
hearing people
Paid consultants in EHDI programs
Qualified individuals working in “non-deaf”
jobs
Resources
Inside Deaf Culture, Carol Padden & Tom
Humphries, Harvard University Press, 2005.
Movers and Shakers: People Who Changed the
World, Dawnsign Press, Carolyn Carroll & Sue
Mather, 1997.
The Silent Garden, Paul Ogden, Gallaudet
University Press, 1996.
Two Views of Deafness:
http://www.aslaccess.org/twoviews.htm
Questions
Deaf people are as capable as hearing people.
Agree Disagree
Deafness should be eliminated. Agree Disagree
Use of sign language with deaf and hard of
hearing children should be encouraged. Agree
Disagree
A deaf culture exists in the United States. Agree
Disagree
Deafness is a disability. Agree Disagree
Who should make decisions for deaf people?