Deaf Culture – How has it changed since it was first started?

For the paradigm shift projects, I am focusing on the shift in the Deaf community and the changes in Deaf culture over time.  I will be discussing changes from as early as the formation of sign language in the 1700s, to the advances in modern technology in the 2000s.  In addition to the differences in language and equipment available for deaf individuals over last few hundred years, I will also be acknowledging the differences in deaf education, deafness in politics, and the overall view of the Deaf community.  I want to tell the story from a hearing person’s perspective, but still include misconceptions that hearing people often experience.  I plan to include testimony from Deaf individuals and describe the hardships that the Deaf community go through and how they have changed overtime.   

This shift is extremely important because it can be applied to any area of the world and almost any area of the United States in particular.  Deafness happens everywhere.  It is crucial for people to understand that deafness is not a disability, and that deaf individuals can do everything a hearing person can do, except hear.  Once society began to accept deafness as “normal” everything changed.  More people should be made aware of the opportunities that deaf people have, as well as the opportunities that hearing people also have in being advocates for the Deaf community.