Deafness as a Cultural Experience

This course explores Deafness through a cultural lens defined by members of the Deaf community. Students will explore the American Deaf community as a cultural minority, united using American Sign Language (ASL), and not as a group defined by their physiological condition of hearing loss. This course will further explore Deafness as a culture and how it intersects with other sub-groups including race, gender, and sexuality. Students will explore the American Deaf community as a linguistic minority whose traditions, beliefs, ethics, and heritage differ from the worldview that has been ascribed to the community. This course will prepare students who are entering a variety of fields such as, but not limited to, healthcare, social justice and human services, education, law enforcement and corrections, and hospitality among others. This course will increase student sensitivity, awareness, and understanding of Deaf culture.