CULTURECULTURE

Why is the Deaf Community Why is the Deaf Community considered to have a culture?considered to have a culture?

DefineDefine

As defined by the American Heritage As defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, culture refers to the Dictionary, culture refers to the beliefs, behavior patterns, social beliefs, behavior patterns, social organizations, and products of a organizations, and products of a particular group.particular group.

The tiesThe ties

Despite the various races, ethnicities, Despite the various races, ethnicities, and backgrounds this group of people and backgrounds this group of people have two very important things that tie have two very important things that tie them together: them together:

LANGUAGE and HEARING LOSSLANGUAGE and HEARING LOSS

BeliefsBeliefs

Proud to be who they are (they are not Proud to be who they are (they are not impaired or broken)impaired or broken)

All people should have equal accessAll people should have equal access

-FIGHT FOR things such as: vibration on -FIGHT FOR things such as: vibration on phones, interpreters for Dr. appointments, phones, interpreters for Dr. appointments, at school, during meetings, etc., closed at school, during meetings, etc., closed captioning on tv, movies, on the internetcaptioning on tv, movies, on the internet

Behavior PatternsBehavior Patterns

Visually orientatedVisually orientated

Attention getting techniquesAttention getting techniques

Long goodbyesLong goodbyes

Explain why they are lateExplain why they are late

Exchange of personal informationExchange of personal information

Hugging is commonHugging is common

Focus on good eye contactFocus on good eye contact

Social OrganizationsSocial Organizations

Deaf events to celebrate holidays and to Deaf events to celebrate holidays and to just get togetherjust get together

Deaf clubsDeaf clubs

Deaf sports teamsDeaf sports teams

ProductsProducts

ASL Literature (ABC and Word Poetry)ASL Literature (ABC and Word Poetry)

Deaf ArtDeaf Art

History of oppression and changes for the History of oppression and changes for the betterbetter

Successful Deaf role modelsSuccessful Deaf role models

Technology enhancements Technology enhancements