Deaf Characters in Children’s Literature

1. Literary characters provide children with a parallel image of their own culture and provide a look into other lives and cultures. • Two Main Focuses in Deaf literature for Children: • Deafness as a disability • Deafness as a culture • Careful! Common Deaf Stereotypes in Children’s Literature: • Ridiculing deaf people and faulting the individuals, not society in general • Presenting only the oral method of communication (as opposed to sign language) • Framing the story around the deaf person's amazing ability to totally lipread • Presenting the characters in only middle class or otherwise affluent families where the families have the money and time to dote on them • Not representing the cultural or racial diversity of the deaf community • Presenting "handicapist attitudes" because the books were primarily written by hearing people, not deaf authors. Deaf Characters in Children’s Literature • About the Focuses: • There have not been many books that talk about Deaf Culture, but focus more on a child gaining hearing through cochlear implants or hearing aids. • It is important for literature to show Deaf culture and that Deafness not just a disability. • It is also important for children to have role models in literature that show Deafness as part of a vibrant culture with its own language and practices. Gallaudet University Press – Disseminates knowledge about deaf and hard of hearing people, their languages, communities, history, and education through print and electronic media Recommended Reading: