Constructing Deafness

One of two readers for the Open University course "Issues in Deafness", this examines the perspective of deaf people themselves in defining deaf people within the context of society as a whole, rather than as an isolated, disabled minority.

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This book presents a range of different perspectives on deafness. It examines how deafness and deaf people are viewed within education, linguistics, social policy, psychology and audiology, as well as the more general presentations of film and fiction. It also examines the perspective of deaf people themselves. The book places current issues within their historical perspectives and suggests how recent developments, including those within the Deaf community, are challenging established ideologies and redefining the terms of the debates. Further, it considers ways in which society, through both professional and popular discourses, defines and constructs a minority disability group.