A Journey Into The Deaf World Chapter 1 Summary

Prior to reading these chapters I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I have never really been exposed to the Deaf- World. I have watched shows such as Switched at Birth, but I know that it doesn’t completely portray the real Deaf- Community. I was extremely interested in seeing their side of the story and gaining insight on the life they live. I decided to read chapters one, and two. The first chapter is an introduction into the Deaf World, in a story format it shows major differences between the world of the Deaf and the hearing. While the second chapter talks about the struggles of a deaf child, and mainly the two different approaches between deaf and hearing parents. Overall, the beginning two chapters of A Journey into the Deaf- World

It is easy to read and the story made me feel as I was there, experiencing everything with narrator . The beginning introduction really helped me to realize and appreciate how big the Deaf World is. How it is more than a place or land, but rather “a culture based on relationships among people for whom a number of places and associations may provide common ground”(5). The Deaf World is huge and all encompassing. There isn’t one place that the Deaf migrate but rather there all over the World. Together they share common interests and live a particular way of life. Through reading this chapter I also learned that not all people in the Deaf- World are completely Deaf. Some hear well enough to hear a telephone or speak well enough to be understood, but they choose to live in the

Deaf children with Deaf parents usually develop a strong sense of self and know who they are. While many Deaf children with hearing parents grow up and have resentment for their parents and professionals. They usually they feel as if they weren’t exposed into the deaf world enough. Both parents face considerable challenges in raising their children. They face their children being “educated below their capacity, employed below their capability and viewed negatively in the hearing world because they are deaf” (28). As well as the challenge of many professionals encouraging put in hearing aids, making their child “hearing impaired”. Hearing parents are usually unsure of what to do, and end up following the path the professionals recommend. The book really helps emphasize the importance of not doing that. Instead, exposing a the child into the Deaf community would be the best option. They’ll be welcomed with wide arms, and it will help them feel most true to themselves. It doesn’t require any special measures to change them. The Journey into the Deaf- World offers a comprehensive absorbing study into the Deaf- World. The first two chapters brought insight into the Deaf culture, as well as benefits and struggles the Deaf face. The first chapter was an introduction into the Deaf World, showing the Deaf’s experiences