Introduction to Deaf Culture (PDF)

Thomas K. Holcomb's highly successful textbook on Deaf culture has been fully revised and updated in this second edition. The changes reflect those in the field and include three new chapters focusing on the impact of technology on the Deaf experience, the roles of allies in supporting the Deaf community, and the diversity that exists in the Deaf community. Also new to this edition is an ASL summary of each chapter, making the book accessible in two languages that are important in the Deaf community, ASL and English.

The book provides a broad yet in-depth exploration of how Deaf people are best understood from a cultural perspective. It explores the tension between the Deaf and disabled communities, the cultural norms of the Deaf community, Deaf art and literature, the solutions being offered by the medical and Deaf communities for effective living as Deaf individuals, and an analysis of the universality of the Deaf experience. As a member of a multigenerational Deaf family with a lifetime of experience living bi-culturally among Deaf and hearing people, author Thomas K. Holcomb enhances the academic discussions with engaging stories and the poetry and art of Deaf individuals.

In addition to being used in college-level courses, this book can also help parents and educators of Deaf children understand the world of Deaf culture. It offers a beautiful introduction to the ways Deaf people effectively manage their lives in a world full of people who hear.