Links

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WVDDC

NADDC

American's with Disabilities Act

Centers for Disease Control

Administration for Children and Families

Developmental Disabilities Resource Center

Disability Rights Law

The American Association for People with Disabilities

Deafness/ Hardness of Hearing


DEAFNESS/HARD OF HEARING

Hearing loss can be inherited or caused by illness or injury. Hearing loss involves the decreased ability to hear sounds. Early detection of hearing loss is important in order to assist in language and communication development. People with hearing loss can communicate as effectively as people without hearing loss.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures the right of children between birth and 3 to receive interdisciplinary assessment and early intervention services at little or no cost. After age 3, early intervention and special education programs are provided through the public school system.

The type of sign language preferred by most deaf adults is the American Sign Language (ASL). Many individuals with hearing loss identify with a deaf culture or deaf community and reject the pathological or medical perspective on deafness. The pathological view focuses on deaf people as different in a negative way and see deaf people as a group of persons whose hearing loss interferes with the normal reception of speech, who have learning and psychological problems due to hearing loss and perceived communication difficulties, and who are not normal because they cannot hear. The deaf culture perspective defines deaf culture as a group of persons who share a common means of communication (sign language) that provides the basis for group cohesion and identity, who share a common culture, and whose primary means of relating to the world is visual and who share a language that is visually received and gesturally produced.

Sources; http://deafness.abobut.com/cs/deafclture/a/deafcuture101.htm
http://www.signmedia.com/index.htm

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_1232.asp

Disabilities

Myths & Realities

 

Myth: People with disabilities are inspirational, courageous, and brave for overcoming their disability.

Reality: People with disabilities are simply carrying on normal activities of daily living when they do things such as drive to work, compete in athletic events, or participate in recreational activities. However, they do encounter obstacles in the environment and society that can make life challenging. Access to community services and supports can address many of these barriers.