A pencil and notebook if learners are interested in taking notes for school purposes, but NOT REQUIRED.

We will go over deaf history and the various aspects of oppression that the deaf community faced in the midst of unsympathetic hearing individuals. These include the severities of speech training, deaf flights conducted by Charles Lindbergh, and religious practices thought to cure deafness. The Deaf President Now movement will be touched on as will the racial differences and disparities that exist in the deaf community. There are many differing views on values and practices in the deaf community, so we will look at deafness from a variety of different angles. I will give examples of commonly misconceptions held my hearers according to those in the deaf community but will be sure to indicate that even within their community, not everyone thinks the same. I'll touch on the differences between American Sign Language and Black American Sign Language (BASL) and the historical context that plays a large role in the differences. Racial differences in terms of Black and White roles as deaf individuals will be touched on as well as a reference to an act of police brutality concerning a Deaf Black man. There are also many other cultures within the deaf community and ASL is not the only accepted mode of communication. Hand Talk (an Indigenous Sign Language) will be briefly mentioned to show the differing views on American Sign Language's origins. I'll include personal examples and instances in which I communicated with members of the deaf community who were both welcoming to learners and forgiving of mistakes and those who were a little less giving. Students are encouraged to make connections to their own previous knowledge, but propriety will be enforced within the classroom. I will encourage students to ask and refer to their parents/guardians concerning any sensitive or potentially emotional questions and kindly refrain from answering them, but instead redirect the conversation. Any persistence in a topic that has the potential to be uncomfortable for other students will be dealt with through a kind, but firm warning and failure to cooperate will result in the removal of the offending student.