REACHING DEAF COMMUNITIESREACHING DEAF COMMUNITIES

Working with Working with Young Deaf PeopleYoung Deaf People

Cláudia A. Bisol, Ph.D.Cláudia A. Bisol, Ph.D.

Universidade de Caxias do Sul - UCSUniversidade de Caxias do Sul - UCSUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS BRAZILBRAZILUniversity of Miami Miller School of Medicine – UM USAUniversity of Miami Miller School of Medicine – UM USA

AIDS prevention research has AIDS prevention research has demonstrated that demonstrated that culturally culturally sensitivesensitive prevention programs have prevention programs have been able to bring about changes in been able to bring about changes in sexual behavior and condom use with sexual behavior and condom use with adolescents and other at-risk adolescents and other at-risk populations.populations.

(Levinson, Sadigursky & Erchak, 2004)(Levinson, Sadigursky & Erchak, 2004)

Culturally sensitive... Culturally sensitive... means...means...

Deaf adolescents face all the developmental tasks that characterize adolescence:

body imagebody image sex roles and sexual relationssex roles and sexual relations economic and emotional independenceeconomic and emotional independence occupational, family and social rolesoccupational, family and social roles

(Chapin, 2000)(Chapin, 2000)

From childhood into From childhood into adulthood...adulthood...

Each person experiences different Each person experiences different degrees of difficulty: getting to degrees of difficulty: getting to know oneself often involves know oneself often involves experimenting with one’s limits, experimenting with one’s limits, going beyond family traditions going beyond family traditions and getting involved with and getting involved with different social groups. different social groups.

Also, deaf adolescents Also, deaf adolescents have to deal with:have to deal with:

the tension between hearing parents and Deaf Community

their belonging to a subculture within a broader one (deaf/hearing)

communication, education, health access and work opportunities issues

Being Deaf

Being Young

Brazilian? Mexican? American? European? African?.............

Being Deaf

Being Young

Being Deaf

Being Young

Religious?

Poor? Rich?

Literate? Iliterate? Homo?

Hetero?

Brazilian? Mexican? American? European? African?.............

Man? Woman? Transgender?

In Brazil...In Brazil...

Greater gender inequity is found comparing to Greater gender inequity is found comparing to the U.S., therefore interventions with the U.S., therefore interventions with Brazilian youths will be ineffective unless Brazilian youths will be ineffective unless gender role dynamics are taken into account.gender role dynamics are taken into account.

In general, In general, Brazilian youths are knowledgeable Brazilian youths are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, however data indicates that about HIV/AIDS, however data indicates that this education is not having the desired this education is not having the desired effects on adolescent sexual behavior. effects on adolescent sexual behavior.

(Levinson, Sadigursky & Erchak, 2004; Bisol, Sperb, Brewer, Kato, Shor-Posner, (Levinson, Sadigursky & Erchak, 2004; Bisol, Sperb, Brewer, Kato, Shor-Posner, in in presspress).).

Train deaf instructors to inform and Train deaf instructors to inform and clarify deaf adolescents about clarify deaf adolescents about HIV/AIDS, to:HIV/AIDS, to:

Increase deaf adolescents’ level of Increase deaf adolescents’ level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS, STIs and, the knowledge on HIV/AIDS, STIs and, the human immune system.human immune system.

Promote safe sex and responsible health Promote safe sex and responsible health decisions.decisions.

Fight AIDS discrimination in school and Fight AIDS discrimination in school and work facilities.work facilities.

The “AJA Program”:The “AJA Program”:

http://www.aja.org.br/assistavideos.htm

Bisol, C.A., Sperb, T. Brewer, T., Kato, S. & Shor-Bisol, C.A., Sperb, T. Brewer, T., Kato, S. & Shor-Posner, G. (Posner, G. (in pressin press). ). HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Health-HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Health-related Attitudes and Behaviors among Deaf and related Attitudes and Behaviors among Deaf and Hearing Adolescents in the South of Brazil. Hearing Adolescents in the South of Brazil. American American Annals of the DeafAnnals of the Deaf..

Castro, M. G., Abramovay, M., & Silva, L. B. (2004). Castro, M. G., Abramovay, M., & Silva, L. B. (2004). Juventudes e sexualidadeJuventudes e sexualidade. Brasília: UNESCO Brasil.. Brasília: UNESCO Brasil.

Chapin, J. R. (2000). Adolescent sex and mass media: Chapin, J. R. (2000). Adolescent sex and mass media: A developmental approach. A developmental approach. Adolescence, 35Adolescence, 35(140), (140), 799-811.799-811.

Levinson, R.A., Sadigursky, C. & Erchac, G. (2004). Levinson, R.A., Sadigursky, C. & Erchac, G. (2004). The The impact of cultural context on Brazilian adolescents' impact of cultural context on Brazilian adolescents' sexual practices. sexual practices. AdolescenceAdolescence, 39 (154), p. 203-225. , 39 (154), p. 203-225.

THANK YOU !!!!THANK YOU !!!!

MUCHAS GRACIAS !!!!MUCHAS GRACIAS !!!!

MUITO OBRIGADA !!!!MUITO OBRIGADA !!!!