Deaf Culture in Inclusive Schools

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the culture of students who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing within the broader context of inclusive schools, specifically as demonstrated though their learning experiences, socialization, and identity issues in such an environment. The chapter will include qualitative data in the form of observations and in-depth student interviews to allow the reader insight into the shared cultural model of students who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing. The goal is to provide a holistic picture of cultural phenomena through the points of view of d/Deaf and hard of hearing students themselves. The description of the culture of this group of students may prove useful in shaping effective inclusive environments for students who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing.

Filipino Sign Language Skills and Deaf Culture Awareness in Hospitality Industry Employability

Many Deaf Filipinos remain unemployed despite the increased attention level from the hospitality industry. The study aimed to examine the levels of awareness on Deaf culture and FSL skills within the hospitality industry of Zamboanga City to foster sustainable employment - including quality service; it used a descriptive research design employing qualitative and quantitative approaches. The sample group was purposively selected from 4 hotels and 8 restaurants - duly accredited by the Department of Tourism Region 9 as of December 31, 2018. The study revealed that Zamboanga City hospitality industry stakeholders were aware 1) of Deaf culture; that 2) Deaf individuals can visually communicate through reading, writing, gestures, or FSL; 3) they can visually communicate with Deaf individuals regardless of their FSL knowledge or skills; also, 4) there was no significant difference in the respondents’ levels of awareness on Deaf culture and FSL skills in the area; 5) an intervention program is needed to increase Deaf Zamboangeños' hospitality employability. The study concluded that Zamboangeño hospitality industry stakeholders 1) were aware of Deaf culture and FSL skills despite linguistic differences; 2) can visually communicate with Deaf individuals despite having little to no FSL skills nor Deaf culture knowledge; also, 3) the communication models affect Deaf individuals' hospitality employability and capability; and, 4) Deaf culture awareness and FSL skills through interactive interaction among Deaf and hearing individuals, within hospitality business operations, are crucial in emerging communication patterns.

The Sign Language in Psychotherapy with Prelingually Deaf Person

Specialized psychotherapy for deaf people is still a young field of scientific research. The article describes collaboration and interaction between a therapist and a prelingually deaf person. This special collaborative relationship has several dimensions: language, Deaf culture, interpreting.

Breaking Down Communication Barriers: Assessing the Need for Audiologists to Have Access to Clinically Relevant Sign Language

Background Research suggests Deaf individuals have longstanding negative perceptions of their interactions with health care providers, primarily due to communication barriers. One way to improve relations would be for audiologists to learn clinically relevant sign language. Purpose The aim of the study is to gain a better understanding of audiologists' knowledge of Deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL) and evaluate motivation for instruction in signing abilities. Research Design A 21-question survey was emailed and advertised in a social media group for audiologists. The survey was divided into four sections: (1) demographics, (2) education of ASL and Deaf culture, (3) experience with ASL and Deaf culture, and (4) motivation to learn clinical signs. Data Analysis Descriptive statistics were analyzed for quantitative analysis of survey responses. Results A total of 489 responses were obtained and analyzed. Majority of respondents (82.6%) completed a manual ASL course, though only a third reported exposure to clinically relevant signs (37.4%). The majority of respondents rated their signing abilities at the word level, and knowing somewhere between 5 and 20 signs, expressively (50.5%) and receptively (53.9%). Results illustrate the majority of audiologists (54.5%) feel their clinical signing abilities need to be improved and were either highly (30.9%) or somewhat motivated (42.1%) to do so. Conclusion Study results suggest that although participants are enrolling in and completing ASL courses, clinical signs are not routinely included. This omission leads to reduced signing ability, potentially harming the provider–patient relationship. The majority of survey respondents reported that they are strongly motivated to improve their signing abilities. Results of the present study suggest there is need for a comprehensive clinical signs resource for audiologists to provide quality patient care to their Deaf patients. At present, there is no known, available tool to help accomplish this need.

The impact of vlogging on deaf culture, communication and identity

This thesis presents a framework representing research conducted to examine the impact of website based online video technology for Deaf people, their culture, and their communication. This technology enables American Sign Language (ASL) asynchronous communication, called vlogging, for Deaf people. The thesis provides new insights and implications for Deaf culture and communication as a result of studying the practices, opinions and attitudes of vlogging. Typical asynchronous communication media such as blogs, books, e-mails, or movies have been dependent on use of spoken language or text, not incorporating sign language content. Online video and website technologies make it possible for Deaf people to share signed content through video blogs (vlogs), and to have a permanent record of that content. Signed content is typically 3-D, shared during face-to-face gatherings, and ephemeral in nature. Websites are typically textual and video display is 2-D, placing constraints on the spatial modulation required for ASL communication. There have been few academic studies to date examining signed asynchronous communication use by Deaf people and the implications for Deaf culture and communication. In this research, 130 vlogs by Deaf vloggers on the mainstream website YouTube, and specialized website Deafvideo.TV were examined to discover strategies employed by Deaf users as a result of the technology’s spatial limitations, and to explore similarities and differences between the two websites. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 Deaf people as follow up. The main findings from this research include register of vlogging formality depending on website type, informal on Deafvideo.TV while formal on YouTube. In addition, vlogs had flaming behaviour while unexpected findings of lack of ASL literature and use of technical elements that obscured ASL content in vlogs. Questions regarding the space changes and narrative elements observed have arisen, providing avenues for additional research. This study and more research could lead to a fuller understanding the impact of vlogging and vlogging technology on Deaf culture and identify potential improvements or new services that could offered.

The impact of vlogging on deaf culture, communication and identity

This thesis presents a framework representing research conducted to examine the impact of website based online video technology for Deaf people, their culture, and their communication. This technology enables American Sign Language (ASL) asynchronous communication, called vlogging, for Deaf people. The thesis provides new insights and implications for Deaf culture and communication as a result of studying the practices, opinions and attitudes of vlogging. Typical asynchronous communication media such as blogs, books, e-mails, or movies have been dependent on use of spoken language or text, not incorporating sign language content. Online video and website technologies make it possible for Deaf people to share signed content through video blogs (vlogs), and to have a permanent record of that content. Signed content is typically 3-D, shared during face-to-face gatherings, and ephemeral in nature. Websites are typically textual and video display is 2-D, placing constraints on the spatial modulation required for ASL communication. There have been few academic studies to date examining signed asynchronous communication use by Deaf people and the implications for Deaf culture and communication. In this research, 130 vlogs by Deaf vloggers on the mainstream website YouTube, and specialized website Deafvideo.TV were examined to discover strategies employed by Deaf users as a result of the technology’s spatial limitations, and to explore similarities and differences between the two websites. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 Deaf people as follow up. The main findings from this research include register of vlogging formality depending on website type, informal on Deafvideo.TV while formal on YouTube. In addition, vlogs had flaming behaviour while unexpected findings of lack of ASL literature and use of technical elements that obscured ASL content in vlogs. Questions regarding the space changes and narrative elements observed have arisen, providing avenues for additional research. This study and more research could lead to a fuller understanding the impact of vlogging and vlogging technology on Deaf culture and identify potential improvements or new services that could offered.

Issues in deafness: an analysis of the existing literature pertaining to issues of the cultural-linguistic definition of deaf culture.

"Ask yourself, "What would it be like to be deaf?" When hearing people are asked to consider deafness, they most likely try to imagine themselves in a world of silence. As a first-year undergraduate, I was part of a discussion with several of my friends in which we were asked to decide, given only the options of being deaf or being blind, which we found to be the lesser tragedy. I announced that given only those two fates, I would choose blindness for myself. To never hearing music, the voices of my loved ones, to be deprived of the ability to speak, to carry on a simple discussion as we were having then, was simply unbearable to me. Such a decision was made based on my limited capacity to conceive and imagine such an existence as a world of silence. It is people such as this, who little consider deafness and only then in the intermittent moments when it is absolutely necessary, who are bestowed the power to enact policy and decide practice for the deaf. It is not in fact the deaf themselves who, though infinitely better suited to understand and interpret their own experiences and needs into policy and practice, are permitted to do so. As will be explained throughout this essay, there are specific reasons for the position of deaf people in Western society which manifest themselves politically, economically, and culturally."--Page 1.

Issues in deafness: an analysis of the existing literature pertaining to issues of the cultural-linguistic definition of deaf culture.

"Ask yourself, "What would it be like to be deaf?" When hearing people are asked to consider deafness, they most likely try to imagine themselves in a world of silence. As a first-year undergraduate, I was part of a discussion with several of my friends in which we were asked to decide, given only the options of being deaf or being blind, which we found to be the lesser tragedy. I announced that given only those two fates, I would choose blindness for myself. To never hearing music, the voices of my loved ones, to be deprived of the ability to speak, to carry on a simple discussion as we were having then, was simply unbearable to me. Such a decision was made based on my limited capacity to conceive and imagine such an existence as a world of silence. It is people such as this, who little consider deafness and only then in the intermittent moments when it is absolutely necessary, who are bestowed the power to enact policy and decide practice for the deaf. It is not in fact the deaf themselves who, though infinitely better suited to understand and interpret their own experiences and needs into policy and practice, are permitted to do so. As will be explained throughout this essay, there are specific reasons for the position of deaf people in Western society which manifest themselves politically, economically, and culturally."--Page 1.

Review of Words Made Flesh: Nineteenth Century Deaf Education and the Growth of Deaf Culture by R.A.R. Edwards

No abstract availabe.