Models of deafness

All Eyes: A Memoir of Deafness Themes Belonging and Acceptance Bainy B. Cyrus (2010) uncovers that the search for who we are is driven by a need to find our place in the world and that a sense of belonging arises from identity and inner experience. The book in its entirety is a catalogue of this theme, with its conclusion describing how the author through her work as a Disability Coach, helps others towards their journey of belonging and acceptance (Cyrus, 2010, pp. 111-126). Communal…

What’s that Pig Outdoors by Henry Kisor is both a dream and a nightmare. It is a book written by a deaf man, and self proclaimed to be for the deaf. Kisor’s autobiography takes the reader through his life, starting with the meningitis that caused him to be deaf at age 3, to his adult life as a journalist. In between, Kisor experiences some discrimination, such as not being allowed to be a lifeguard, but goes largely unopposed throughout his life. Kisor’s parents are very accepting, and fight…

For the study of idoloculture and the group, I had decided to use the group that I am apart of, Executive Board for Deaf Redbirds Association. The Executive Board contains nine members: Megan who is a white female who is twenty years old and apart of middle class status. Kate is a white female who is twenty-one years old and comes from middle class status. Sammie, she is a white female who is twenty-one and comes from upper middle class status. Abby, who is a white twenty years old female who…

Mutterings Over the Crib of a Deaf Child Published in 1957, James Wright’s poem “Mutterings Over the Crib of a Deaf Child” describes the array of emotions that the parents of a deaf child have as they ponder what kind of life and possible future that the child will have. In this essay I intend to discuss the fear, worry, hope, optimism and concern that the parents are feeling about their baby’s future. The title is slightly ironic in the sense that it doesn’t matter how loud or soft that the…

Oppression Against Deaf Consumers When talking about oppression, it is important to understand what such a strong word actually stands for. Various definitions may be used to say what oppression means, yet all definitions add up to sound the same. After doing some research, I was able to come up with different definitions and words that could try and create a meaning for the word oppression. Oppression is cruel, harmful, and unjust. Oppression can affect individuals, or groups as a whole.…

American Sign Language is a visual language that is used by the Deaf community in the United States and English speaking parts of Canada. Though a broad and complex language, ASL enables signers to convey abstract ideas by utilizing facial expressions, hand movements, and body positioning to convey meaning. The space in front of the signer’s body is very important because that space helps convey distance, contrast between people, places, things, or ideas, and it helps express concepts of time…

I’m All Ears for Cochlears; Making Our Way to A Hearing World Imagine this, a world where people can't hear anything. Where people don't know what talking, music, or even the rustling of leaves sounds like. A deaf person lives in that world. Their world is silent. Most people get hearing loss once they grow older or are involved in some type of trauma, but what most people do not know is, “15% of children between the ages of 6-19 have a measurable hearing loss in at least one ear”…

Critical Thought Question #1 Why is the theory of culture important to Deaf people? What is the goal of the field of Deaf Studies? This essay will be delving into two thoughts on the subject of Deaf Studies and Deaf Culture. One thought we will be exploring is why theory if culture is important to Deaf people. What does the Deaf community have to gain from this study of theory? How does it tie into Deaf Studies? The second thought we will be exploring is the goal of Deaf Studies. What does it…

hearing persons defective, the hearing impaired disagreed. The Deaf community viewed children born without the ability to hear to be the gift from God. They viewed their deafness, not a deterrent, nor required to lead a full, happy life. Many, like Peter, believed that the inability to hear allowed them to be peaceful. They felt deafness protected them from the loudness and the constant chatter of the world. They did not define themselves Deaf, they did not mourn their inability to hear, they…

Most people want to have the life of getting married and having children while settling down into a nice house. If you do have children, most parents want theirs to be very successful. I bet you didn’t know that 2-3 people out of every 1,000 people in the US are born with a detectable hearing loss in one or both ears. This may not seem like a lot but that number adds up. In fact, 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents. Deaf children born into a hearing family tend to be taught speech…