Deaf Child: Normal? Various Perspectives Beth Benedict, Ph.D. Gallaudet University Barbara Raimondo, J.D. American Society for Deaf Children Marilyn Sass-Lehrer, Ph.D. Gallaudet University

Questions Deaf and hard of hearing people are as capable as hearing people. Agree Disagree Deafness should be eliminated. Agree Disagree Use of sign language with deaf and hard of hearing children should be encouraged. Agree Disagree A deaf culture exists in the United States. Agree Disagree Deafness is a disability. Agree Disagree Who should make decisions for deaf people?

Who are we?

After identification Parents Medical professionals/testing AudiologistPhysicianGeneticistOtolaryngologist Speech-language pathologist Medical technicians

Evaluations, advice, and services can be valuable. BUT BUT How do hearing parents learn about the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people?

Deaf and hard of hearing organizations National Black Deaf Advocates USA Deaf Sports Federation Telecommunications for the Deaf Inc. Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government AGBell Oral Hearing Impaired Section Association of Late Deafened Adults National Cued Speech Association National Association of the Deaf American Association of the Deaf-Blind Self Help for Hard of Hearing Persons Deaf and Hard of Hearing Entrepreneurs Council Intertribal Deaf Council American Society for Deaf Children Religious associations State and local organizations and events

Programs Schools Statewide schools Regional programs Charter schools Camps and programs NASA Space Camp Young Scholars Program (Gallaudet) Aspen Camp School for the Deaf National Leadership and Literacy Camp Institutes of Higher Education Gallaudet University Nat’l Tech Institute for the Deaf/Rochester Institute of Technology California State University

International networks Deaf Way I and II World Federation of the Deaf Deaflympics

Societal awareness Deaf theater and entertainment Signing with hearing babies Media portrayals Sensitivity regarding access such as real time captioning, interpreting American Sign Language as a foreign language Country becoming more diverse

Legislation Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Telecommunications Act of 1996 Television Decoder Act

Technology Video relay service Web cams Pagers Instant messaging Internet Captioned media

Myth Deaf people oppose hearing technologies such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. The NAD: recognizes the rights of parents to make informed choices for their children respects their choice to use cochlear implants and all other assistive devices strongly supports the development of the whole child and of language and literacy. (Cochlear Implants, NAD Position Statement, 2000) (Cochlear Implants, NAD Position Statement, 2000)

Myth All deaf parents want a deaf baby. Cultural identification with Deaf community no preference 62% prefer deaf 27% prefer hearing 4% (SJ Stern, KS Arnos, L Murrelle, K Oelrich Welch, WE Nance, and A Pandya (Attitudes of deaf and hard of hearing subjects towards genetic testing and prenatal diagnosis of hearing loss. J Med Genet 2002;39: )

“Deaf designer baby” - 52,000 Internet hits “First embryo screened for deafness” Gender selection for “family balancing” (

Why include the deaf community? Human rights issue Know about lives of deaf people Assurance and support Positive view of the future Better decisions

Hearing and deaf working together Dismantle societal barriers Promote positive view of deaf and hard of hearing people Paid consultants in EHDI programs Qualified individuals working in “non-deaf” jobs

Resources Inside Deaf Culture, Carol Padden & Tom Humphries, Harvard University Press, Movers and Shakers: People Who Changed the World, Dawnsign Press, Carolyn Carroll & Sue Mather, The Silent Garden, Paul Ogden, Gallaudet University Press, Two Views of Deafness:

Questions Deaf people are as capable as hearing people. Agree Disagree Deafness should be eliminated. Agree Disagree Use of sign language with deaf and hard of hearing children should be encouraged. Agree Disagree A deaf culture exists in the United States. Agree Disagree Deafness is a disability. Agree Disagree Who should make decisions for deaf people ?