Health & Medical Ear & Nose,Throat

Learning About Deafness

Updated January 14, 2015.

Are you looking to learn more about deafness, teach others about it, or just to interact with deaf people?

Learning Formally

Teachers may want to take advantage of the materials offered by Information to Go. Many of their publications are available online.
It is also possible to take courses in deaf culture or deaf heritage through some colleges. Many deaf-related degree programs such as interpreting require their students to take courses in deaf culture and deaf heritage.

Learning Through Fun

An easy way to learn about deafness and have fun at the same time, is to attend a deaf awareness event at an amusement park. It appears to be a growing trend in the entertainment industry. For example, every year, Paramount Kings Dominion in Virginia holds a deaf awareness day. People learn about deafness from various exhibitors while enjoying themselves at the park. Likewise, Six Flags amusement parks also hold deaf awareness days.
Some baseball teams hold deaf awareness nights. For example, in Georgia the Atlanta Braves hold a deaf awareness night in May, and in Virginia, the Potomac Cannons have held deaf awareness events.

Schools, programs, and organizations for the deaf in your area may hold annual deaf awareness events or festivals. For example, the Bruce Street School in New Jersey holds an annual deaf awareness festival.

Watch Video Materials

ASLAccess.org provides lending libraries of videos on deafness and sign language to libraries around the nation. The website includes a listing of locations that have these video libraries.

Read a Good Book

Read a good book about deafness and deaf culture!

Jack Gannon's Deaf Heritage is absolute must reading for learning about deafness in depth. True newbies to deafness can read For Hearing People Only, an illustrated introduction to deafness.

Interact with Others

Last but not least, you can interact with others in the deaf and hard of hearing community through live chat rooms and message boards on the internet. Join a live chat or post a message for everyone to read. Plus, if you want to discuss certain topics in more depth with others, join a discussion list.

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