more Born-deaf, sign-language-using people have for the past two centuries been placed within a succession of externally constructed models, notably the traditional 'medical' or pathological model. This ‘‘vulnerability as strength’ ’ is manifested through the concept of deafhood, which is presented as the first move towards a formal narrative of decolonizing and liberatory p.īorn-deaf, sign-language-using people have for the past two centuries been placed within a succes. Utilizing recent confirmation of the existence of bona-fide feaf cultures, it highlights the extent to which these communities have resisted such models, maintaining their own beliefs concerning their validity and quality of their existence, and what they offer to non-deaf societies. This paper proposes that the concept of colonialism is the one that most appropriately describes the ‘‘existential’ ’ reality of deaf communities, and offers instead a deaf-constructed model. This perceives them primarily as biologically deficient beings in need of cures or charity in order to be successfully assimilated into society.

more Born-deaf, sign-language-using people have for the past two centuries been placed within a succession of externally constructed models, notably the traditional ‘‘medical’ ’ or pathological model. The paper ends with the need for hearing people to re-examine the cu.īorn-deaf, sign-language-using people have for the past two centuries been placed within a succes. The second is concerned with external liaison enabling access and building genuine social inclusion of Deaf people, a marker of a truly civil society. The first is concerned with internal reconstruction, the re-building of Deaf communities by Deaf people, and the need for educational provision in sign language to be made available to Deaf children. The paper discusses two main Deaf agendas for change. The paper argues for Deaf 'ownership ' of their own agenda and for non-Deaf peoples ' participation as allies towards the accomplishment of this agenda. It then describes the recent developments towards partial recognition within the European scene and their present limitations. more The paper begins by outlining the linguistic basis for conceiving Deaf communities primarily as language minorities rather than disability groups, and delineates their history and the linguistic oppression they have experienced. The paper begins by outlining the linguistic basis for conceiving Deaf communities primarily as l.

Paddy ladd deafhood