Far from the Tree

Chapter 2: Deaf
Robert Antoniewicz
SPED 854
 Deaf Culture
“When capitalized, Deaf refers to a culture…”

Many people in the deaf community oppose the use of

implants, as they feel it takes away their identity in a
sense.

Those who are deaf, that know how to use sign language,
find it more meaningful to communicate in that manner.

In this chapter, Lennard Davis, a teacher of disabilities

studies, explained that those who use sign language, feel
as though it is almost like an art form. And that it is a
beautiful language, that is full of meaning for those who
can understand it.
 With advances in
science, “prenatal
screening can pick up
certain kinds of genetic
deafness, allowing some
prospective parents to to
opt against having deaf
children.”
 Rory Osbrink

Lost his hearing at 3 years old due to

meningitis.

Learned how to sign in junior high

school but also read lips very well.

Wasn’t until high school that he became

familiar with Deaf identity.
Rory Osbrink
Turned down a baseball scholarship
to the University of Arizona and
eventually a workout with the Los
Angeles Dodgers, because he was
told that nobody would want to
help “the deaf guy”.

After he married a deaf woman,

Rory turned off his hearing
implants and hasn’t used them since.

Now teaches deaf children in both

5th and 6th grades, and has even
rewritten the curriculum for deaf
education in the state of California.
 Implants: Good or
Bad?
Implants can be used to help the deaf hear. While
they will not be able to hear all sounds, they will
be able to hear some noises with the implants.

As previously mentioned, a number of people in

the deaf community feel as though these
implants rob them of their identity.

There are some adverse reactions that can occur

as a result of the implants. An example being,
disfiguring facial paralysis.
Implants: Good or
Bad?
A great deal of deafened
adults become annoyed
with the implants, as they
often find them to be
ineffective.

Some Deaf activists even

go as far as saying that
the implants are part of
a genocidal attempt to
destroy and eliminate
the Deaf-Community.
 American Sign
Language
ASL is the fifth most taught language in colleges.

Many hearing people are now applying to deaf

colleges to learn sign language.

Those in the Deaf community feel as though ASL

“has separated from the culture, and that many of
the students learning it know not about Deafhood.

2 million Americans know American Sign

Language.
 References

Solomon, A. (2012). Far from the Tree. New

York: Scribner (Chapter 2).

All pictures were found on Google Images.