Cultural Immersion and Agency Assessment Report

The Center for Family Services

Cultural Immersion and Agency Assessment Report
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Wilmington University
Anitra D. Hampton

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The events that happened in the history of sign language are very surprising to me and
unfortunately, what deaf people experience today is directly associated to how they were treated
in the past. Deaf people were severely oppressed and denied their basic fundamental rights.
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, had a theory that people can only learn through hearing spoken
language. Deaf people were therefore seen as being unable to learn or be educated at all and in
some cases they were not permitted to buy property or marry. Some were even forced to have
guardians and the law labeled them as non-persons" (JDSDE).
Aristotle's claim was disputed in Europe during the Renaissance where scholars were
attempting to educate deaf people for the first time and prove his beliefs wrong. A common
story told throughout the history of sign language is that of Charles-Michel de L'Epee, a wealthy
French Catholic priest who later became a lawyer and decided to provide his services for the
poor. One day while visiting a poverty stricken area of Paris, he came across two deaf sisters
who communicated with him using sign language. From this point on he dedicated himself to the
education of the deaf and in 1760 founded a school. However, the history of American Sign
Language didn't begin until 1817 when deaf education was introduced in the U.S.
In 1814, Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a minister from Hartford, Connecticut had a
neighbor named Mason Fitch Cogswell whose nine-year old daughter Alice was deaf. Today the
CDC assesses that 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a
detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. Dr. Gallaudet realized Alice was very smart
despite the fact that she couldn't speak or hear, and he wanted to teach Alice how to
communicate. Although Dr. Gallaudet was successful in teaching Alice how to read and write
but thought there was a better way to effectively educate her. He had heard about the work
Charles-Michel de L'Epee was doing in Europe educating deaf people and solicited community

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support to raise enough money to travel there. Dr. Gallaudet knew he could learn the best
educational methods to communicate and teach the deaf because of the history of deaf education
there.
While in Europe, Dr. Gallaudet met Abbe Sicard who was Charles-Michel l'Epee's
successor at the National Institute for Deaf-Mutes. Here, Dr. Gallaudet studied the teaching
methods of the instructor and also took private lessons from him. When Dr. Gallaudet was ready
to travel back to the U.S., he asked a student of the school, Laurent Clerc to come back with him.
Mr. Clerc was instrumental in helping Dr. Gallaudet start the first deaf school in America and in
1817 the first public free deaf school was established in Hartford, Connecticut.
The school grew quickly and deaf students from all over the United States attended. The
children brought with them sign language they used at home to communicate and in conjunction
with signs from French Sign Language that Gallaudet learned, American Sign Language was
formed. By 1863, twenty-two deaf schools in the U.S. had been established, founded mostly by
the former students themselves. The education methods used by Gallaudet and Clerc to this day
continue to be used in these schools and in 1864, the first college for the deaf, Columbia
Institute's college division (the National Deaf-Mute College) opened (JDSDE). In 1893 the
college was renamed Gallaudet College to honor Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and in 1986 the
school was renamed Gallaudet University. Gallaudet University is known for being the first and
only deaf university in the world located in Washington, D.C.
There are many famous deaf people who have made a name for the deaf throughout the
history of sign language and proves that deaf people can make history. Known as the Gallaudet
Revolution, the university made national headlines in 1988 when students vehemently protested
their school's appointment of a hearing president. They staged rallies, barricaded the campus,

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marched on the Capitol and successfully fought to hire a deaf president. This major
accomplishment was a highly publicized victory in the battle for awareness. Deaf people have
also commemorated their acceptance into mainstream society with the crowning of Heather
Leigh Whitestone in 1995 who was the first deaf Miss America and the honoring of deaf actress
Marlee Matlin who is the only deaf performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a
Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God in 1987.
Self-recognition, and recognition by others, is an important feature of ethnicity and
Americans in the deaf world absolutely feel a strong identification with that world and show
great loyalty to it. The deaf world offers many deaf people what they cannot find at home which
is easy communication and a positive identity. The deaf world also has the highest rate of
endogamous marriages of any ethnic group estimated at 90% (NIDCD), with a median
household income of $53,046 of whom 86% are high school graduates or have college degrees
(JDSDE).
I rented a documentary called Sound and Fury, which chronicled the life of the
Artinian family of Long Island, NY. The focus of this film was six-year old Heather who
wanted a cochlear implant so she could communicate with her hearing friends. A cochlear
implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear
(cochlea) by sending sound signals to the brain (CDC). Her parents were totally against it;
however, other family members who could hear thought it was a great idea. There was such
division in the family over this issue that Heathers parents decided to move to a deaf community
in Maryland to raise their kids in a signing deaf world. Although this film was produced in the
year 2000, most of my research still found the deaf culture a stand-alone society much like any
other ethnic group. They are close-knit and very supportive of each other. Older family

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members who are deaf have completely immersed themselves in the deaf world and see nothing
wrong with being deaf. They also believe parents of deaf children should raise their kids in the
deaf culture and accept their hearing loss. To them, cochlear implants would mean a loss of
identify to the deaf world and would separate family members much like the hearing world and
the deaf world are separate.
I was saddened by Heathers parents decision not to get the cochlear implant for their
daughter, which to me was based on the fear of losing their hearing child to the hearing world. I
dont see that device any differently from any other prosthesis which is meant to improve a
persons quality of life. As it turns out, Heathers parents eventually felt the same way. In
Sound and Fury 6 Years Later, Heather did get the implant at nine years old and so did her two
younger brothers and her mother. Heather is the only deaf child in her conventional school
where she takes courses with everyone else, plays sports and is in the top of her class. She is
also able to smoothly transition from the hearing world to the deaf world when signing with her
parents. Her parents also changed their minds about living in the deaf community in Maryland
and moved back to Long Island reuniting with the rest of their family.
The director of my internship was able to secure an interview for me with Katie who is a
client at the agency. When we met she looked like a normal young woman with no disability.
She seemed a little nervous and I assumed it was because of her addiction; that she felt ashamed.
I was able to communicate to her that my only interest was in her ability to live in a hearing
society; that I respected her privacy and I wished her the best in regaining her sobriety. The
interview started out fine until my questions got lost in the translation. Although we had an
interpreter, she seemed to grow more and more uncomfortable and eventually I was unable to
adequately communicate with her. I apologized for any misunderstanding and asked if she

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would take the questions I had and write down her responses at her leisure. She agreed and
below is what she had to say. She was born a healthy baby in 1990 and the oldest of three. Her
parents are working class people who raised her and her two brothers in Burlington, NJ which is
where the family is originally from. She went to the NJ School for the deaf and did well there,
graduated from high school and went to college where she earned a degree in medical billing and
coding. She worked for a doctors office doing just that until a slip and fall on ice this past
winter. She said, my family customs are the same as any average American. I was raised
Catholic and we celebrate Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. Every year I had a birthday
party until I was 13 years old. My chores consisted of keeping my room clean, doing the
dishes and taking turns walking the dog. Sometimes I took out the trash if my brothers paid me
because that was their chore.
I didnt lose my hearing completely until I was three years old. My parents noticed I
didnt pay attention to them when they spoke to me and I was fitted with a hearing aid at 18
months old. Today I can hear sounds but cant really make them out especially if a group of
people are talking all at once. My childhood was happy and when it became apparent that I
would not be able to hear, my parents insisted that everyone in our home learn to sign so
communicating at home was never a problem. I went to school every day and made friends
easily with my deaf classmates. When I defied my parents they took my privileges away as
discipline. My parents never took pity on me because of my hearing loss and doled out the
same consequences for me that my brothers got when I disobeyed them. They were and still are
very loving and encouraging to me which has allowed me to do a lot of things hearing kids do
like drive a car and go to college. My dad is the head of our family and discusses major stuff
with my mom before decisions are made. Her concept of health is typical; she practices good

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hygiene every day and sees a dentist twice a year. I only see my doctor when Im sick and I
take whatever the doctor prescribes to make me well. When I go to the doctor I usually take an
interpreter with me, like my mom or someone from social services who can sign. When Im
not able to take an interpreter, which is rare, I communicate with my doctors by writing it down.
Her concept of time is straightforward. When she has somewhere to be she allots her
time to arrive punctually. Her personal space is a little tricky though. My family and friends
know to touch my arm when they want my attention if my back is turned. Im startled when
people just pop up in front of me because of course I cant hear you coming. When Im
introduced to people, I wave or shake hands. I realize the majority of people I meet cant sign
and Ive gotten good at reading lips if they dont talk too fast. Hearing the sounds of the words
when people speak helps me understand when someone starts or stops a word which makes lip
reading a lot easier with my hearing aid. I love communicating via the computer and I also text
on my cell phone. She doesnt or cant dance because she cant hear music so she doesnt go to
parties or watch much TV for the same reason. I love to laugh and I get a kick out of my family
when they act up. What little I can hear without my hearing aid sounds like Charlie Browns
teacher which makes me laugh. Id love to be able to sit and have a normal conversation.
Its impossible for a hearing person to really comprehend or understand my struggles without
walking in my shoes. Having this disability makes me sympathetic to other peoples
challenges because no one can understand your situation quite like you can because theyre not
walking in your shoes.
After reading that last statement, I knew exactly where she was coming from. Im sure
during our initial meeting that she read my confusion and frustration when I couldnt understand
her. I watched Sound and Fury after I met Katie and wished Id done the opposite because I

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would have been more prepared for her conduct. Deaf communication to the hearing is loud and
can sometimes look angry and when they are emotional or passionate, signing can also look
combative. Clearly, Im in need of more adequate specialized training in order to be more
sensitive to clients cultural needs, respecting and utilizing the primary language of the client
population.
The Center for Family Services office in Voorhees has a program called the Recovery
Network for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing Loss. The services provide access for
individuals seeking substance abuse treatment and support for the deaf community (CFS). The
communication access services include American Sign Language interpreters, assistive listening
devices and Communication Access Realtime Translation. The offices are clean, secure and on a
bus route for easy access, however most people drive to the building for its services. Its located
in a very bustling community consisting of a TownCenter across the street which houses a mall,
townhouses, a bank and a gym. There are schools, movie theaters, gas stations, nail salons,
bakeries and groceries stores that thrive in this vicinity. Voorhees is known as a well-to-do
community and there are a lot of doctors and lawyers who have offices in the neighborhood. The
people who come to CFS for services live in Voorhees Twp. but also come in from areas such as
Burlington, Cherry Hill, Camden, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. Below is a map of the
area where CFS is located but doesnt begin to reflect the vast range of which they serve.

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Ive seen a few deaf clients come into CFS and thought they were welcomed. Special
attention is paid to them and there are signs posted in the waiting area giving hearing and nonhearing clients directions including a bell or buzzer to ring when the front desk is empty. Deaf
clients show the receptionist a card verifying their appointment and the receptionist summons the
counselor via email that their client has arrived. CFS, as is all substance abuse out-patient
treatment programs in the state of New Jersey are governed by the New Jersey Administrative
Code (NJAC) Title 10:161B-3.6(ii) which states that . . . the administrator shall develop,
implement and ensure the review, at least annually, of a policy and procedure manual(s) about
the organization and operation of the facility and comply with client care policies and
procedures, and not violate client rights, nor be used as a tool to punish or coerce clients.
Funding is scarce for the deaf and hard of hearing because they make up a low incidence
population of substance abusers. However, funds come from the State and Federal level and also
from local businesses and citizens. These funds are allocated to CFS and have helped develop
and maintain a program specifically designed for the deaf. In the Voorhees office are two

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counselors who are certified in chemical dependency and are fluent in American Sign Language
(ASL). This facility also has telecommunication devices that are crucial in communicating with
deaf substance abusers. The hearing staff at CFS is very compassionate to their deaf and hard of
hearing clients. Ive watched the deaf counselors communicate with Dr. Mur with ease. She
told me she hasnt mastered ASL but knows enough to get by.
The Recovery Network for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing Loss program at CFS has
been around for 20 years and even with a limited budget they have been able to secure the
necessary equipment in order to treat this population effectively. The counselors themselves are
deaf and participate in staff meetings with the board of directors in assessing the quality of the
programs making sure they are current and culturally sensitive. I believe the quality of the
services offered are good, however deaf people still dont have the resources available to them
that hearing individuals do. Even if the individual is successful in completing the treatment
program, long-term benefits are not realized because they dont have the support necessary to
stay sober. Meetings such as Twelve Steps are not accessible because they are typically not
grounded in their specific culture.
In order for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to have a reasonable chance of being
successful in a recovery program, some things must occur in all treatment facilities such as
accessible Twelve Step programs; more outpatient, inpatient and aftercare services. Training
opportunities consisting of specialized treatment should be offered to all professionals working
in the field of chemical dependency if the treatment process is going to be successful. CFS
Recovery Network Program remains the only substance treatment program in the state of New
Jersey and offers mobile counseling services to the hearing impaired community at treatment
facilities throughout the state.

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My overall understanding of my chosen group and their experiences is much like my

understanding of being a minority woman in todays society. Unless youre a Black woman, you
cannot fully understand my plight. As a human services professional serving many different
cultures, traditions and disabilities, I must be fully versed in the cultural competencies provided
by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) to do my job to the best of my ability.
For instance Standards 3 and 4 which relates to Cross-Cultural Knowledge and Skills is very
important for relationship building. Becoming familiar with a particular cultures pattern of
behavior, customs and beliefs (NASW) is essential in enhancing human well-being and meeting
the needs of everyone. My way of doing things is not the only way or the right way for all
people. I must be sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination,
oppression, poverty and other forms of social injustice (NASW) if my work is to make a
difference for those in need.
The Center For Family Services (CFS) where I was able to perform my internship has
been serving the communities of southern New Jersey for over 90 years with a continuum of care
dedicated to advocacy, referrals and services in the dialect suitable to the clients including
interpreters. They offer more than 50 different programs that focus on supporting and
empowering individuals and their families. My experience there has been invaluable and Im
looking forward to enhancing what Ive learned in making peoples lives better through the
vision of what human services is all about.

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Identifying infants with hearing loss
United States, 1999-2007. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 59(8): 220-223.
Center for Family Services (CFS), Retrieved March 30, 2015 from
http://www.centerffs.org/substance-abuse-services
New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) and Statute, Retrieved April 14, 2015 from
http://www.state.nj.us/education/code/
Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education (JDSDE), Oxford Journals Medicine & Health &
Social Sciences Volume 10, Issue 3 Pp. 291-310.
National Associate of Social Workers (NASW) Standard for Cultural Competence in
Social Work Practice, 2001.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD),
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Retrieved April 9, 2015 from
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/pages/quick.aspx
Sound and Fury, 2000, R. Weisberg, Prod. and J. Aronson Dir., Aronson Film Associates

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