Through Deaf Eyes: Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Major funding for the program is provided by:
  • National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Annenberg Foundation
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  • Contributions from PBS station viewers

Experiences of Deafness

• Deaf people focus on what they can do, not what they can't.
  • Capabilities include signing, making movies, stage performances, writing books.
• Common misconceptions about deaf people:
  • Not all deaf people use sign language.
  • Sign language is not universal.
  • Deaf people do not live in a silent world.
  • Having a deaf child is not a tragedy.
  • Not all deaf people want to be 'cured.'

Deaf Culture and Community

• Deafness is often one generation thick: majority of deaf people have hearing parents.
• Deaf people are a minority yet have deep interactions with hearing people.
• Misunderstandings and stereotypes persist.
• Deaf clubs and communities foster a strong cultural identity.

Historical Perspectives

• Deaf education began with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet establishing the first permanent school for deaf children in the US in 1817.
• Laurent Clerc, a deaf teacher from France, influenced American Sign Language development.
• Alexander Graham Bell, despite his contributions, proposed oralism, opposing sign language use among deaf people.
  • Attempted measures to assimilate deaf people via oral methods.

Evolution of Deaf Education

• Milan Conference of 1880 endorsed oralism, leading to a decline in sign language use.
• Residential schools became cultural hubs but followed oralist methods.
• During the 20th century, sign language underwent a revival due to linguistic studies proving it as a legitimate language.

Technology and Deaf Community

• Early assistive technologies included the ear trumpet and hearing aids.
• Robert Weitbrecht developed the TTY (teletypewriter) leading to the first deaf telephone conversation.
• Innovations continued with closed captioning, relay calls, and video phones.

Deaf Rights Movement

• The Deaf President Now (DPN) movement at Gallaudet University in 1988 was pivotal for deaf rights and representation.
• Lead to the Americans with Disabilities Act, providing comprehensive rights to people with disabilities.

Cultural Representation

• National Theatre of the Deaf and recognition of American Sign Language enhanced deaf representation.
• Films like "Children of a Lesser God" boosted awareness but also faced criticism regarding representation.

Challenges and Choices

• Parents of deaf children face choices about communication methods and educational settings.
• Cochlear implants and other technologies contribute to diverse experiences in the deaf community.
• Mainstreamed education versus deaf schools offers different experiences and challenges.

Conclusion

• Deaf culture continues to evolve with ongoing debates about identity and technology.
• Sign language remains a vital cultural and communicative tool.
• Knowledge and understanding, not just hearing, are emphasized as key to success.

Further Exploration

• Visit pbs.org for more on the history of deaf life in America.