SIGNAL
4
[introduction] The idea of deafness as anything other than a disability is an idea foreign and bizarre to many but for some, it’s a cultural identity. Many would say it can’t be a culture, that being deaf would cause you to miss out on too much. You’ll find that deaf people manage to get by without spoken language or the ability to hear. Deafness is not a disability; it’s a different human experience. Deaf people have their own form of communication through sign language. It’s a rich and expressive form of communication, and though it cannot be heard, it still allows for communication and interaction with others. This publication highlights the histroy and struggle of the deaf community and it’s formatio of it’s own unique culture.
5
6
Hearing the Voice of the Deaf Community Writer: Lydia L. Callis from Huffington Post Design: Layton Windust
7
Often, people ask me “what is going on?� with deaf culture. More than ever, we are seeing deaf individuals on TV, in the news, and other mainstream sources. For thousands of years, deaf people were silent members of society, sometimes denied basic rights simply because they could not hear. But with new communication technologies emerging each day, the world is finally getting a true glimpse into the complex and elaborate deaf cultures which quietly evolved over centuries.
8
9
As we all know, just because deaf people may not be able to hear or speak doesn’t mean they have nothing to say! Throughout history, deaf people have existed, and they have wanted to engage with the world around them. Since hearing society was generally insensitive (remember, deaf people who couldn’t speak were commonly called “dumb”), deaf people were desperate for others who they could relate to. Until the mid-1500s, the deaf population remained uneducated, disconnected, and largely ignored. Over time, official sign languages began emerging and people slowly started to understand communication as a human right.
10
If you ever played the “telephone� game as a child, you know how difficult it can be to relay a message through multiple sources. The telephone was a revolutionary invention for Americans, making it possible to stay connected with friends and family from a distance. But it was still decades before the deaf population was able to experience the joys of our networked world. If they wished to make a phone call, deaf individuals had to ask a hearing person to place the call and act as their interpreter. It was not convenient, and certainly not a good way to hold a private conversation.
11
Seeking a sense of community, deaf clubs began to assemble. Outside of the mainstream, away from the hearing world, deaf people began organizing their own social associations. Deaf clubs were among the very first institutions created by deaf people for deaf people. In private spaces, deaf people could express their hopes, discuss political issues, and share stories of oppression. Here, deaf folklore and jokes evolved. Aided by the use of sign language, Deaf culture became rich and nuanced, while deaf people grew empowered. By the 1940s, these social clubs could be found in nearly every major city across the United States.
12
communit language deafness
ty
In the 1960s, the teletype (TTY) was invented. TTY machines allowed messages to be typed then transmitted through the phone lines, where the message was received by another TTY device. If a deaf person wished to call a hearing person who did not have a TTY, then a relay service (TRS) could be used. TRS operators would receive the deaf person’s TTY messages then read them out loud to the hearing entity. While this technology was a step in the right direction, it fell short in a few ways. Firstly, if the deaf individual could not read or write very well in English, this was not an effective method. Additionally, TRS call center employees were often hearing people with little knowledge about deaf culture or ASL. Because TRS operators were not always linguistically or culturally competent, it was very possible for messages to be miscommunicated, misinterpreted, and misunderstood. Although they certainly had their place, especially in deaf families, TTY was not an ideal solution.
14
TTY
It was not until the end of the 20th century that deaf Americans were impacted by the communication revolution. The invention of cell phones with text messaging finally offered deaf Americans the freedom that the telephone provided hearing people. When the Internet became a household utility, instant messaging and chat rooms allowed deaf people to make new connections. These easyto-use methods were convenient not only for deaf people to communicate with one another, but they could now chat directly with hearing people. No more “telephone� game!
16
17
On the Internet, deaf people began to meet each other, explore deaf culture more deeply, and express themselves just like everyone else. As Internet speeds got faster, uploading and streaming videos became simple. Instead of typing out their stories in English, deaf people could now comfortably record video in ASL. By captioning or doing voice-overs, deaf video bloggers could reach both deaf and hearing audiences. For the first time, deaf stories could be told by deaf people directly to mainstream audiences without a third party. Now the whole world can finally see that deaf people are individuals with their own personalities.
18
[express]
The ability to have a long-distance conversation in sign language has been monumental. Using video chat, deaf people can now converse freely using ASL; whether they are around the block or across the ocean. Apps such as Skype and FaceTime empower deaf people to stay in contact and share their experiences. Video Relay Service (VRS) call centers— staffed with certified ASL interpreters who understand deaf culture and ASL linguistics— now provide a way for deaf people to make phone calls. Using VRS, deaf people can quickly communicate with hearing people, allowing them to participate more fully in areas of everyday life where they had normally been excluded. VRS is used in businesses across the country to provide deaf access, and empowers deaf employees to become engaged in the workplace.
20
deafnes as a cul ture
This all takes us to our modern day — with the widespread use of texting, instant messaging, and video chats. The internet has become the biggest deaf club in history! Deaf people are blogging, vlogging, and connecting instantly on any number of social networks. With the help of modern technology, deaf people have access to better education and communication than ever before. My deaf nieces are growing up in a world where they can call Aunt Lydia on FaceTime, and tell me about their day using their native language: ASL. My deaf sister and I can text gossip back and forth, or I can just share a photo of the leaves in Central Park with my mother. I know I am blessed to live in a time where I can be so connected to my deaf family and friends, because it wasn’t always so easy. When people ask me why they are suddenly seeing so much about deaf culture in the media, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride. From deep roots of oppression, deaf Americans quietly cultivated a beautiful culture all their own. The Internet allows hearing society to access a wealth of deaf art, music, poetry, news, and advocacy information. Using the tools of the modern age, the deaf community is able to amplify its voice. Finally, the mainstream world is staring to listen. 22
I U 23
Voices of the People
deaf blogger Dianrez 24
What, from your experience, is the most disagreed upon subject between hearing and Deaf people? With the great diversity even among the culturally Deaf, one would expect a lot of diversity of opinion between them and Hearing people. I’d guess the topic of the cochlear implant would be most controversial...many are totally against it, and many have them or have children with them and swear by them, and there are many in between and have mixed feelings about it. Whether this is THE single most disagreed upon subject, I would hesitate to say.
?
What about the most disagreed upon subject between deaf people?
Again, with the diversity among us, anything goes. On DeafRead we have seen a number of controversies come and go. They can be on ASL and the CI, whether we should bash the oral camp and its heroes or not, whether we should support NAD or DBC or a number of other organizations, whether the Deaf Black Advocates should be a part of NAD or stand on its own, whether cued speech or Signed English is a valid way to teach language, whether Obama or McCain is best for the Deaf. It also seems that however strong the controversy is, there is a tendency for the proponents to eventually come to a meeting of the minds and agree on points of each other’s position.
25
Do you think the Deaf community is moving more toward the internet? Or is in-person socializing still very common? Definitely, for both. The print newspaper was a strong pillar for the Deaf community who were far-flung and separated since school days, but now that the Internet and videophone have taken center stage, the print newspaper is dying out. Since we are a minority, contacts are important to us to stay in touch with ourselves and others like us.
If you were to explain to a hearing person what it was like to be a deaf person, what would be the first thing you tell them? That is also a diverse experience. For one who was born Deaf, it is a normal experience. I’ve never known any different, have become used to maximizing my other senses and inputs, and can’t conceive of any other way to live. I see hearing people apparently soaking up information by osmosis and magically moving their mouths and others just as magically comprehending it; but it is about as real to me as reading about the paranormal.
26
Would you ever consider getting a cochlear implant? Why or why not?
At this time, no. The cochlear implant is still in development and its results are far worse than admitted. It is a high maintenance object and a lot of energy must be focused upon interfacing with it and making it work. Having a foreign object surgically implanted into one’s head requires a degree of accommodation that I personally do not think is worth the limited benefit. At my age, the likelihood of success in understanding speech is nil, and I already have acquired English by reading. If through a different means I could obtain completely normal hearing with no side effects, I would probably go for it in the same spirit as buying a new and improved device for entertainment: such as a hologram TV. The CI is not anything like this--it requires a major commitment in terms of pain, maintenance, effort in rehabilitating the artificial-sounding hearing it gives, and constant expenditure of energy on learning sounds.
27
Why are blogs/vlogs so prevalent in the Deaf community?
Even though blogs and vlogs have exploded in the Deaf community, I still meet many who never read the blogs or watch the vlogs, but who still maintain their lifelong contacts and activities within the Deaf community. It seems to attract those who are most outgoing, creative and verbally expressive, and is still growing. It is a variant of the different ways we keep in touch with one another.
28
How would sign language students benefit from reading the blogs of Deaf authors?
It is a glimpse into the mind and community of Deaf people. The great variety alone will teach that we are not that homogenized after all, and that we deal with the same controversies that Hearing society does in our miniature community. Some insight can be obtained into Deaf Culture where it is expressed through handling of social issues such as racism, sexuality, abuse and discrimination on the basis of hearing (audism). Rationales for keeping ASL, teaching it to others especially babies, and fighting the over-optimistic teachings of oralism and auditory-verbal training can be seen. It sometimes offers a mirror to the Hearing reader how Deaf people view them. Serious sign language students will find it essential to a understanding of the Deaf community and into sign language use. Casually interested sign language students probably would not be interested, but only in the language itself and how it signs are derived in meaning. I’ve touched on a few of these topics in my blog. The most recent are aimed at fellow members of the Deaf community, but earlier ones could be interesting to sign language students. 29
30