Effective: 2023-01-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

This course is designed to provide an overview of the history and culture of Deaf people in America including shared experiences and language variation. In fulfillment of four-year general education requirements, it provides students with knowledge of a traditionally underrepresented population of US society.

Course Objectives

• Critical Thinking
• Describe the major cultural forces behind the foundation and continuation of the Deaf Community in America
• Provide real-life examples from American Deaf culture, focusing on how this viewpoint contrasts with that of the general American population
• Parallel the experience of Deaf Americans, including Black Deaf, Deaf Blind, and indigenous Deaf, with that of other cultural and linguistic minorities, including various immigrant groups through the lens of intersectionality
• Analyze examples of literature and art within the U.S. Deaf Community
• Compare the differences between naturally occurring languages such as American Sign Language (ASL) and English versus codes such as manually coded forms of English (MCEs) and Cued Speech
• Communication
• Describe the major events of the last two centuries that have impacted members of the American Deaf Community, including a description of the general linguistic and social movements.
• Provide a historical timeline of the major events and individuals who have shaped contemporary Deaf culture in the context of US History.
• Discuss Deaf Gain: the Deaf community?s contributions to human diversity

Major Topics to be Included

• Formation of Deaf Community
• Societal influence
• Communications: Natural Language vs. Contrived Code
• Deaf Literature and Art
• Deaf Gain