Resources for Instructors

DEAF CULTURE  CLASS

 Sample Curriculum by Thomas Holcomb

Using Introduction to American Deaf Culture (IADC) and A Sign of Respect (ASOR) DVD

WEEK #

1.  WHAT IS THIS COURSE ALL ABOUT?

2.  WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DEFINE CULTURE?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read  IADC Ch. 1: Introduction

*Read IADC Ch. 2:  Culture Defined

*Prepare Paper #1 (ASOR Assignment #1:  Personal Observations and

ASOR Assignment #2:  Past Experiences)

*Bring ASOR Assignment #9 (Good Attitude) to class

3.   WHO ARE THE DEAF AMERICANS?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IADC Ch. 3:  Who are the Deaf People?

*Prepare Paper #2 (ASOR assignment #3:  Deaf Events in your area and ASOR assignment #4:  Your feelings about attending deaf events)

*Bring ASOR Assignment #10 (Arriving Late) to class

4.   HOW DO PEOPLE “LEARN” TO BE DEAF?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IADC Ch. 4:  Moving from d to D

*Prepare Paper #3 describing a handicapping experience you had in the past

*Bring ASOR Assignment #11 (Introductions) to class

5.    HOW WAS DEAF CULTURE FIRST IDENTIFIED AND DEFINED?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IACP Ch. 5:  Early Definitions of Deaf Culture

*Prepare Paper #4 on a personal enculturation experience

*Bring ASOR Assignment #12 (Getting someone’s attention) to class

6.   HOW SHOULD DEAF CULTURE BE DEFINED TODAY?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IADC Ch. 6:  Deaf Culture Redefined

*Do Assignment #6 (Viewing the DVD)

*Bring ASOR Assignment #7 (Comparing Deaf culture to your own culture) to class

7.   WHY IS ASL AN IMPORTANT MARK OF THE AMERICAN DEAF CULTURE?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IADC Ch. 7:  ASL-The language of the American Deaf Community

*Bring ASOR Assignment #13 (When and how to disclose you can sign) to class

8.   CAN THERE BE DEAF LITERATURE WHEN ASL IS NOT A WRITTEN LANGUAGE?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IADC Ch. 8:  Deaf Literature

*Read IADC Ch. 9:  Deaf Art

*Bring ASOR Assignment #14 (How to accept feedback) to class

9.   WHAT ARE THE RULES OF SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IADC Ch. 10: Rules of Social Interaction

*Bring ASOR Assignment #15 (Straight talk) to class

10.  WHAT DOES THE DEAF COMMUNITY HAVE TO OFFER?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read Ch. 11:  The Vibrant Deaf Community

*Prepare Paper #5 (ASOR Assignment #8 – your first deaf event)

*Bring ASOR Assignment #16 (Giving directions) to class

11.  WHY DO DEAF PEOPLE RESIST THE DISABILITY LABEL?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IACP Ch. 12:  The Collision between Culture and Disability

* Bring ASOR Assignment #17 (Meeting deaf people) to class

12.  HOW IS DIVERSITY EMBRACED IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IACP Ch. 13:  Diversity within the Deaf Community

*Bring ASOR Assignment #18 (Starting a conversation) to class

13.    PANEL DISCUSSION WITH DEAF STUDENTS

14.    IS THE DEAF EXPERIENCE UNIVERSAL?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IACP Ch. 14:  The Universality of the Deaf Experience

* Bring ASOR Assignment #19 (Hosting an event) to class and #20 (When and how to offer help)

15.   WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY?

ASSIGNMENTS:

*Read IACP Ch. 15:  The Future of the Deaf Community

*Prepare Paper #6:  Book Report

*Prepare Paper #7:  Deaf Culture Event #2 paper (Assignment #8)

*Bring ASOR Assignment #21 (Negotiating between two languages and cultures)

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY  FOR ASL STUDENTS  

PowerPoint by Anna Mindess

Using Reading Between the Signs Workbook and See What I Mean

 (click link below image to download)

ASLTA1 power point