Deaf In The United States

The deaf are found within all of the people groups represented in the United States.  They communicate through American Sign Language, Signed Exact English, Signed Essential English, English, and possibly their people groups first languages. 

Just as people of all cultures participate in various religions, so do the deaf.  There are also a growing number of agnostics and atheists who are deaf.

Southern Baptist ministry among the deaf started officially when the Home Mission Board of Southern Baptist Convention appointed Myrtle Morris as missionary to the deaf in Cuba (1905). September 4, 1906, J. W. Michaels was appointed to serve as the missionary among the deaf throughout the South.  Dr. J. W. Michaels is looked upon as the pioneer of deaf missions, and  perhaps more endearingly among the deaf as the "Father of SBC Deaf Ministries."

There are many sub-cultures within the deaf community: prelingual deaf, children of deaf parents, hard-of-hearing people, postlingual deaf, oral deaf, and hearing workers who work with the deaf.  There are varying people groups who are represented in the deaf community. For those who are profoundly deaf and identify themselves with the deaf community, their primary identification is deaf, then by their sub-cultural uniqueness.

Challenges facing the deaf population include the education issue with controversy revolving around methodology of teaching the deaf. Another issue deals with the economic aspect of life. Often the deaf are given less pay for the same work that their hearing counterpart receives. Social aspect deals with the stigma placed upon the deaf community -- that they are handicapped or of less intelligence then the hearing world. Being deaf in a hearing family often means isolation from family discussions and full participation in general family life.

The deaf person who is from another people group has more difficulty immigrating to the United States. Many deaf people from around the world do come to the US to attend Gallaudet University, National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY, as well as several other schools across the US.

Challenges of the Deaf Community

A. Population – the total US hearing impaired population is estimated at 24,202,290.  The total US profoundly deaf population is 1,378, 968.  The total US population of prevocationally deaf is 647,271.

Most of the deaf in the US are born in the United States, relatively few are born outside of the continental US.

B. Evangelism – Throughout the history of Southern Baptist Deaf Ministry, the work has been moved forward by the obedience and desire of lay people to reach deaf people with the gospel. Evangelism of the deaf must not assume that all deaf have similar Biblical knowledge as the hearing world. In many cases, the deaf person who became deaf before language development has minimal Biblical input until they are adults, or in their later childhood years. Always deal with a concrete presentation of the gospel, rather than an abstract ethereal presentation.

D. Church Planting – Is broken into five areas:

              1. Interpret worship services for the deaf.
              2. Begin a Bible study (or Sunday School).
              3. Creat a deaf department:
                          a. Multiple classes
                          b. Interpreted ministry
                          c. Develop deaf leaders
                          d. Discover, equip and train new and existing interpreters
              4. Develop a church within a church.
              5. Start a deaf church.

E. Family Life – If the deaf person is born into a hearing family and the hearing family members do not learn sign language, then they are basically isolated with very little interaction. If the hearing family members learn sign language early in the process, then there is more interaction in the family. If the deaf person is born into a family of deaf people, then the interaction between child/parent and siblings resembles that of a hearing family.

1. Education – Deaf educational levels range from those with minimal to no educational skills, to those who have PhDs. The vast majority of the deaf have a high school education. Generally, those who were born deaf can read at about a fourth grade level. However, many have language skill development and reading levels that function at college or even graduate level.
2. Occupation – Job opportunities range from semi-skilled to managing their own business, and everything in between.

Resources

A. Materials
1. Bearden, Carter. A Manual For Working With The Deaf. Alpharetta: North American Mission Board, December, 2000
2. Bible Lessons For The Deaf. Nashville: Lifeway 127 Ninth Avenue, Nashville, TN 37234-0113
3. Daily Devotions for the Deaf; can be ordered from Deaf Missions, 21199 Greenview Road, Council Bluffs, IA 52 503-4190
4. Deaf Videos, for Bible Study; order from Howard Baldwin at Media Evangelism, +1 (804) 276-9083; HBal595802@cs.com; http://www.MultiMediaEvangelism.org

B. References
1. Bearden, Carter. A Manual For Working With The Deaf. Alpharetta: NAMB, December, 2000.
2. Cooper, John, Editor. WORKING WITH DEAF PERSONS IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. Nashville: Convention Press, 1982
3. Holt, Judith, Sue Hotto, Kevin Cole. 8.6% of US population Demographic Aspects of Hearing Impairment: Questions And Answers Third Editions, 1994, p. 2 from Center for Assessment and Demographic Studies Gallaudet University Website June, 2001.
4. Sampley, DeAnn. A Guide To Deaf Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990.
4. Yount, William R. Be Open. Nashville: Convention Press, 1976
5. Wilcox, Sherman, editor. American Deaf Culture: An Anthology. Burtonsville: Linstok Press, Inc., 1989,

C. Other
1. What is Deafness?

To understand the deaf community, it is necessary to have clear definitions of the following terms:

a. Hearing Impaired – A general term to explain the variety of hearing loss. This covers a slight hearing loss, where an individual who needs a hearing aid to help him hear what is happening. Hearing impaired is often used to describe the individual who is profoundly deaf.
b. Hard of Hearing – This term is used to explain that a person can hear sounds if they are made louder. They have hearing which is usable. For this reason, these people are rightly called “hard of hearing."
c. Congenital Deafness – This phrase describes deafness which begins at birth. The deafness may have occurred before or during childbirth. ‘Congenital deafness is caused either by illness in the mother (e.g. rubella during pregnancy), heredity, or injury sustained at birth’.
d. Adventitious Deafness – 'Is deafness which occurs in the individual born with normal hearing, but who later loses his hearing through sickness or injury.’ When a person with normal hearing loses his hearing this is called adventitious deafness. It is also called ‘acquired deafness’ or, as the deaf would sign, ‘became deaf’.
e. Accidents – Childhood accidents, such as a blow to the head, can possibly cause deafness. Explosion and other loud noises are also possible causes of deafness.
f. Prelingual Deafness – This term refers to deafness which comes before the time normal verbal language development occurs. If a person becomes deaf before verbal language develops, this gives the deaf child a difficult beginning in acquiring language through his ears. Many times a deaf child develops no, or almost no, language before he enters school. Trying to make up for the years lost is difficult. Spoken language is difficult for the prelingually deaf person. It is acquired with much difficulty, if acquired at all. If it is possible for the prelingually deaf person to communicate clearly verbally, then it is good to encourage him to communicate verbally as much as possible.
g. Postlingual Deafness – This term refers to deafness occurring after normal verbal language has developed. This child has developed a reservoir of spoken language, English syntax, and grammar. Communication is much easier and clearer for him.  With the postlingually deaf child or adult, it is important to work to retain as much of his speech as possible.
h. Profound Deafness – Profound deafness means a hearing loss in the normal speech range so severe that even with a hearing aid a profoundly deaf person cannot hear speech.

2. Characteristics of Deaf People

a. Communication handicap with hearing people.
b. The deaf have a mutual handicap, a mutual language, mutual interest, mutual problems.
c. A factor that influences the social development of a deaf child who has deaf parents is the lack of communication between the hearing family and their deaf family member.
d. The general public’s lack of understanding of the deaf person’s problems.
e. The deaf do not want a hand out, but only want a fair opportunity and treatment in education, guidance, work.   
f. The deaf person’s world is a 180-degree world, unlike the 360-degree world of the hearing person.

3. Overcoming Preconceived Ideas

a. Accept deaf people as they are.
b. Be a friend of the deaf person.
c. Respect deaf people as people of worth and value.
d. Be honest in your dealings with deaf people.
e. Keep confidential information shared with you by the deaf.
f. Do not use the term “deaf and dumb.”
g. Involve the deaf in the total ministry. They are capable of assuming leadership.
h. Be consistent with what you profess.
i. Don’t assume all deaf are alike.
j. Often the deaf person feels inferior to the hearing person because all their lives the hearing have dominated them.
k. What other preconceived ideas are you familiar with that need to be overcome?