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American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture Studies: Deaf Culture and Disability Studies

Deaf Culture--Intro and Etiquette

Do's and Don'ts of Interacting with the Deaf Community, by YouTube user Chrissy
Deaf People Answer Commonly Googled Questions About Being Deaf
Sound and Fury

This landmark documentary from 2000 portrays the true-life stories of two families who each have a deaf child as they decide whether or not to "cure" their child's deafness with medical technology. Why might some families choose not to do this? What might be gained or lost by doing so? And how do their choices play out? This nonfiction film was groundbreaking in introducing hearing Americans to the idea of Deaf culture, and how perspectives on Deafness differ within D/deaf communities. This full-length movie is 1 hour and 32 minutes long and is available to TCTC students through our AVON subscription.

What is Black American Sign Language? by The Language & Life Project at NC State University

Just like spoken American English has AAVE (African-American Vernacular English), American Sign Language has Black American Sign Language! This beautiful style of signing is summarized in this short video where Black American users of sign language express what it means to them.

Let D/deaf people speak for themselves!

It's important to always, always put the thoughts, needs, values, and opinions of D/deaf people first in any conversation about Deaf culture or deafness. Deaf Internet users are making impassioned and skillful use of video-based social media, like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, to connect with each other and educate others on their lives and worlds. Check the "#deaf" hashtag and you'll find brilliant thinkers, spellbinding creatives, passionate persuaders, and comedians who'll crack you up!

History of deafness and sign languages in the present-day United States

Adaptive aids and technologies

Hearing aids vs. Cochlear Implants by YouTube user Anna Fletcher

Deaf YouTube user Anna Fletcher tells the viewer her own point of view on cochlear implants compared to hearing aids. Anna provides just one possible perspective, so search out other Deaf users of these technologies for their experiences!

Why would deaf people not wear hearing aids? by Ahmed Khalifa

Anyone who's deaf or hard-of-hearing would want to use adaptive technologies to hear better, right? Not always! Deaf blogger Ahmed Khalifa explains why some Deaf prefer to go "EARS-BARE", that is, without adaptive aids.

Please note: Ahmed is British and uses British Sign Language, which is a whole different sign language from ASL. Watch him talk about different sign languages and the fact that there is no "universal sign language" here.

Connecting to Disability Studies