Review of Professional Resource

Davis, Lennard J. “Deafness and the Riddle of Identity.” The Chronicle of Higher Education 53.19 (Jan 12, 2007): NA. Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. East Lansing Public Library. 3 Dec. 2007 http://0-find.galegroup.com.opac.elpl.org:80/itx/start.do?prodld=EAIM.

Deafness and the Riddle of Identity discusses the importance of using American Sign Language while being deaf. This article is about a situation where Jane K. Fernandes, president of the event at Gallaudet University, was describing and informing society about deafness and the deaf community. Jane Fernandes was criticized for being the president because faculty members as well as deaf students classified her as “not deaf enough.”

One of my favorite quotes within the article is:

“But the ‘not deaf enough’ issues is alive and well among deaf scholars, students, and activists.”

“Many hearing people would deem any prejudice against someone because of his or her accent shocking and unethical. To understand the issue, you have to know that ASL has become the armature on which to figure of deaf identity has been built. Until relatively recently, deafness was seen as simply a physical impairment: the absence of hearing. In the past, much discrimination against deaf people was based on the assumption that they were in fact people without language – that is, dumb. And ‘dumb’ carried the sense of being not only mute but also stupid, as in a ‘dumb’ animal.”

This scholarly article captures an issue that the deaf community deals with on a daily basis. In thinking about this issue, does this strike you as a question about diverse literature? Would understanding about the deaf community help in understanding some diverse literature? Is the deaf community discriminating against deaf individuals by classifying individuals as “not deaf enough?” Is encouraging communication between the hearing and deaf citizens creating a gap between individuals of the deaf community and if so should the hearing individuals just not talk to the deaf individuals?

Children's Literature about the deaf - Text Set Reflection

My search for books about deaf indviduals was not difficult for me to find. I was shocked at how much children's literature offered information about the deaf community. I was able to find the three books Amelia Lends a Hand, Deaf Child Crossing, and I have a sister - my sister is deaf, which all cover different aspects of a deaf individual's life.

When I read at the library Amelia Lends a Hand and Deaf Child Crossing were both about a deaf individual and a hearing child's friendship I was a little disappointed that the story line was so similar. Although, now having read both of the texts I feel they both offer beneficial information in both and is presented differently. In Amelia Lends a Hand the attempt to develop communication between Amelia and her neighbor is the main focus of the story. The story is presented in a note taking format with real colorful pictures supporting the text nicely. Demonstrations are included within the text to teach the reader specifically some of the American Sign Language the deaf community uses. This is helpful to all readers to be able to visually see and understand what each sign looks like. In Deaf Child Crossing though, the concept for true friendships and maintaining them is covered while incorporating information about being deaf. The text is written in a novel format targeted toward an older audience. Marlee Matlin does a good job developing each and every character so you really feel like you relate to what they're going through in their lives. Marlee Matlin was deaf herself so readers feel a sense of comfort and credibility in her writing because she experienced it growing up.

The third book I chose concentrated on living with a person of the deaf community. I have a sister - my sister is deaf really teaches the reader some the strengths and weaknesses of a deaf individual. Although, the author not only points of strengths and weaknesses of the little sister being deaf but also the narrators strengths and weaknesses. Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson writes toward a young reader age level. There are a few sentences on each page with big detailed pictures along side. Through her writing a sense of equality is described in characteristics of both characters in the book.

Deafnesses is something society experiences everyday. If communication is developed among different communities then we as citizens can grow into a more knowledgeable and respecting individuals. There is a lot we both can learn from each other. I believe it's important to present information about deafness so that stereotypes and discrimination is eventually gone. The use of children's literature addressing these topics can be very beneficial.

Deaf Child Crossing

Matlin, Marlee. Deaf Child Crossing. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Divison, 2002.

This book is about two young girls who couldn’t be any more opposite. Cindy just moved into the neighborhood and becomes friends with Megan. When she moves in Megan introduces herself to Cindy and shortly after Cindy realizes that Megan is actually deaf. These two people are complete opposites in respect to personality, emotions, and characteristics. Despite their differences they cherish each other’s friendship and consider themselves best of friends. They go to camp and go through a hard time in their friendship when they seem to drift a part when there is another deaf girl paired to punk with them.

This book focuses on the struggle to maintain relationships with friends while growing up. In order to spicen things up throughout the book Marlee Matlin incorporates a deaf person into the equation. Deaf Child Crossing is written in a way that makes the reader feel that they are sitting right there in front of the scene witnessing what is exactly going on and being able sympathize with the characters. This book is easily relatable to younger readers who are figuring our friendships, themselves, and learning about ways of coping with being deaf.

I have a sister – my sister is deaf

Peterson, Jeanne Whitehouse. I have as sister – my sister is deaf. Illus. Ray Deborah. New York: Harper Collins, 1977.

This book is written in a light hearted perspective of a girl who has a deaf little sister. The main character discusses her life experiences with a deaf sister and some of the things her sister goes through on a daily basis. The main character really describes her deaf sister in a positive portrayal. She emphasizes that being deaf isn’t a bad thing and doesn’t physically hurt a person; it’s just a different way of living. One thing she emphasizes is that even though her sister is unable to speak she does a better job then anyone revealing her thoughts and emotions through actions and expressions.

This book really tackles the fact that being deaf should not be looked at as a disadvantage in life or being less fortunate. Being deaf is just different and there are many things the deaf individuals excel at even though they are unable to hear. For example; in this book the deaf little sister is able to notice quick small movements within the grass because of her sharp vision. The book really explains to the reader what a deaf individual experiences on a daily basis to better develop their knowledge on the issue. I think it’s important for readers to understand the lifestyle of deaf individuals so they won’t look at their hearing loss but the characteristics that they have and develop. Overall, I felt the book really gave the reader a sense of what life was like for a deaf individual and also what it is like to be surrounded my a deaf person and the means of communication that needs to be present.

Amelia Lends a Hand

Moss, Marissa. Amelia Lends a Hand. Middleton, Wisconsin: Pleasant Company Publications, 2002.

This book is about a young girl, Amelia’s, attempt to befriend her neighbor. She struggles to start hanging out with him because he ignores her request to come over and play with him. She soon finds out that he was in fact not ignoring her but couldn’t hear her because he is deaf. Throughout the entire book the reader goes through the process of how Amelia tries to better their communication by her wanting to learn sign language as well as teaching him through what things meant comparison of sound and taste. This book was written in a very interesting way that many young readers can relate to. Marissa Moss writes the book in the format of note taking and uses colorful and detailed illustrations to support the text.

This book was very informative for both the deaf community as well as the hearing community. This is very important to be knowledgeable in because there are deaf individuals that people encounter in society everyday. If we don’t know how to communicate with those types of people then we wouldn’t be able to know when someone needs directions or to say something important etc. Being able to communicate with these different people will make them and society and better and safer place. The colorful illustrations are enough to keep a reader engaged in the story. Although the story is written veered toward a younger age level I feel the story was written in a way that was straight to the point and easy for young readers to relate to.

Thoughts about Final Project

For my final project I think I am going to focus on physical disabilities or learning disabilities. My reasoning for researching these types of literature is because I feel it is important for people to be aware of the difficulties of these disabled people. Also, my major is in special education - learning disabilities so I obviously have a passion for helping people with disabilities. There is nothing more satisfying then helping a child learn and making them feel loved for who they are and not always focusing on their physical or intellectual difference. After reading the requirements for the final project I was thinking it would be interesting to search different authors to read about their different views and perspectives on disabilities.

Confessions of a Closet Catholic

The text “Confessions of a Closet Catholic” refers to a young girl striving to find herself and struggling to figure out what exactly she believes in religiously. In order for Jussy to find what exactly she believes in she researches and experiments with different religious than Judaism. She reads about Hinduism and Buddhism as well has practices Catholicism. Her eagerness to be Catholic goes as far as her pouring out her sins to “Father Ted,” her stuffed teddy bear. Jussy does this while wearing her mother’s white napkin on her head to resemble a nun, and taking grape juice and matzo for communion.

My question toward the text was “Do you think the author used “chocolate” as a metaphor to represent Jussy’s search for her religious or self-identify viewpoint throughout the text?” Throughout the novel Sarah Darer Littman made reference to chocolate. I wondered while I was reading if this had any significance toward her religious beliefs or search for self-identity. A passage that I concentrated on was on the first page, page 3, when Jussy is saying she would rather give up being Jewish then chocolate like Mac is doing. Do you think her inability to give up chocolate refers to her borderline feelings about her faith or denote her being uneducated on Judaism and doesn’t really know what she believes? Another example is on page 122-123, when Jussy is explaining how she hasn’t eaten chocolate since Bubbe died and is willing to give it up for the rest of her life. Does this symbolize her growth as a person? Was Bubbe the person that helped her find her self-identity because she listened to her and loved her? Has Bubbe’s death made Jussy realize her true spiritual beliefs? And lastly, look on page 184 when she thinks about resorting back to eating brownies. Does her urge to want brownies symbolize that people always question their beliefs and there isn’t always one clear cut answer? Or does it stand for her not fully have found her self-identity completely and that she is accepting that?