This is a good introductory book for grades 9-12 and early college,
it talks about Ms. Cohen's experiences as the
daughter of the principal for Lexington School for the Deaf and as a member of
the Deaf community.
Carol Padden and Tom Humphries (1988)
Deaf in America: Voices from a culture.
This book, along with Harlan Lane's, stresses the cultural aspects of the Deaf
community in the United States. It's a good way to understand the cultural position
and one of the best texts out there.
Harlan Lane (1976)
When the mind hears: A history of the deaf.
This was one of the first real histories of the founding of the Deaf community
in the United States, tracing its roots back to France. It's written in the first person
which is a bit odd, but definitely a good read. The only problem is that it's quite big
and heavy, might be a bit too much for a grade school child to handle.
Harlan Lane (1992)
The mask of benevolence: Disabling the Deaf community.
This is Harlan Lane's most famous book and was widely acclaimed when it came out
as a manifesto of the Deaf community. It brings up the topic of oralism and the history
of oppression the Deaf community has suffered. Its pitfalls are perhaps that it doesn't
account for the hard of hearing perspective or talk about differences within the Deaf
community, but as a whole, it's an excellent book to read and discuss.
Nora Ellen Groce (1985)
Everyone here spoke sign language: Hereditary deafness on Martha's Vineyard.
This is a fascinating study of an island off the shore of Massachusetts where there was
a strong strain of hereditary deafness that caused a large percentage of islanders to be born
deaf. Unexpectedly, this meant that since everyone knew someone who was deaf, everyone spoke
sign language and there wasn't much social differentiation between the deaf and non-deaf.
A must-read.
Raymond Luczak (1993)
Eyes of desire: A deaf gay & lesbian reader.
If you're gay or lesbian or deaf or just curious, this book is absolutely wonderful.
It's collection of short autobiographical stories by gay and lesbian Deaf individuals and
gives good insight into this minority within a minority.
Paul Michael Preston (1994)
Mother father deaf : Living between sound and silence.
This book is about CODAs -- children of deaf adults. If you're a CODA, it's a must
read. Even if you're not, it's a good way to understand the difficulties faced when
Deaf people meet and mingle with hearing people; and how we can overcome the linguistic
and cultural barriers between the two.
Lou Ann Walker (1994)
Hand, heart, and mind: The story of the education of America's deaf people.
This is perhaps by far the best children's book on the deaf. It's designed for
grade-school kids to get a better understanding of what the deaf community is about.
John Vickrey Van Cleve and Barry A. Crouch (1989)
A place of their own:
Creating the deaf community in America.
This was also one of the leading books on the deaf community and still remains a major
text on the topic.
Henry Kisor (1990)
What's that pig outdoors: A memoir of deafness.
Kisor's book on his experiences as a deaf person from the oral perspective is a good counterbalance
to the cultural Deaf position. Read it with Padden and Humphrey and compare.
