The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49643

Steven Barnett, MD, Dept of Family Medicine, University of Rochester, 885 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620, 585 242 9566, steven_barnett@urmc.rochester.edu

Background: Many people who are Deaf and communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) do not see their deafness as a disability. Instead, they view their community as a linguistic and cultural minority group. Sometimes Deaf people advocate for services that are separate but equitable rather than integrated with the majority community. Differing views on advocacy goals and what comprises “disability” can cause friction between Deaf people and people with other disabilities. This friction can be difficult to address because of communication barriers. Recent assaults on the power of the Americans with Disabilities Act highlight the importance of cooperative legislative and public health advocacy. A facilitated and interpreted discussion may help people to find common ground.

Presentation: The format is a facilitated panel discussion. The panelists will include: a person who is Deaf and communicates primarily in ASL, a person with a hearing loss who does not use ASL, a person with a disability that is not hearing-related, and a person who is Deaf and has another disability. Each panelist will have 10 minutes to introduce themselves and discuss their experiences and views on community and advocacy. The moderator will then ask questions related to disability, public health advocacy and the relationship between Deaf groups and disability groups. Panelists and audience participants will be able to respond and ask follow-up questions. The moderator will guide the discussion to illuminate the history and current relationship between the larger disability community and the Deaf community, and explore the impact on public health advocacy.

Learning Objectives: