Deaf Characters in Children’s Literature

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Deaf Characters in Children’s Literature Literary characters provide children with a parallel image of their own culture and provide a look into other lives and cultures. Two Main Focuses in Deaf literature for Children: Deafness as a disability Deafness as a culture Careful! Common Deaf Stereotypes in Children’s Literature: Ridiculing deaf people and faulting the individuals, not society in general Presenting only the oral method of communication (as opposed to sign language) Framing the story around the deaf person's amazing ability to totally lipread Presenting the characters in only middle class or otherwise affluent families where the families have the money and time to dote on them Not representing the cultural or racial diversity of the deaf community Presenting "handicapist attitudes" because the books were primarily written by hearing people, not deaf authors. Recommended Reading: Gallaudet University Press – Disseminates knowledge about deaf and hard of hearing people, their languages, communities, history, and education through print and electronic media About the Focuses: There have not been many books that talk about Deaf Culture, but focus more on a child gaining hearing through cochlear implants or hearing aids. It is important for literature to show Deaf culture and that Deafness not just a disability. It is also important for children to have role models in literature that show Deafness as part of a vibrant culture with its own language and practices.

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Literary characters provide children with a parallel image of their own culture and provide a look into other lives and cultures. T wo Main Focuses in Deaf literature for Children : Deafness as a disability Deafness as a culture. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Deaf Characters in Children’s Literature

Page 1: Deaf Characters in Children’s Literature

Deaf Characters in Children’s Literature Literary characters provide children with a parallel image of their own culture and provide a look into

other lives and cultures.

Two Main Focuses in Deaf literature for Children:• Deafness as a disability• Deafness as a culture

Careful! Common Deaf Stereotypes in Children’s Literature: • Ridiculing deaf people and faulting the individuals, not society

in general• Presenting only the oral method of communication (as

opposed to sign language)• Framing the story around the deaf person's amazing ability to

totally lipread• Presenting the characters in only middle class or otherwise

affluent families where the families have the money and time to dote on them

• Not representing the cultural or racial diversity of the deaf community

• Presenting "handicapist attitudes" because the books were primarily written by hearing people, not deaf authors.

Recommended Reading:

Gallaudet University Press – Disseminates knowledge about deaf and hard of hearing people, their languages, communities, history, and education through print and electronic media

About the Focuses:• There have not been many books that talk about Deaf Culture, but

focus more on a child gaining hearing through cochlear implants or hearing aids.

• It is important for literature to show Deaf culture and that Deafness not just a disability.

• It is also important for children to have role models in literature that show Deafness as part of a vibrant culture with its own language and practices.