ASL 2
Deaf Again by Mark Drolsbaugh
***************************************************************
Due Date:
Part 1 (25 points) Introduction through Chapter 6
***************************************************************
Objectives:
a) To understand the diverse ways of being deaf.
b) To explore Deaf culture.
c) To develop an understanding and respect of why many culturally Deaf people
appreciate and love being deaf.
Preface: Deaf Again explores Mark’s experiences as a hearing child who gradually
became deaf, struggled to fit into the hearing world, and finally found Deaf
culture.
Assignment: Read the assigned chapters and answer the corresponding questions.
Some of the questions ask for factual information provided by the book. Other
questions ask you to provide your own opinion or perspectives.
In-class discussion: During class we will discuss the book, your responses and any
questions you may have. Your participation in the discussion is considered part of
the assignment.
Written responses are worth 20 points and the in-class discussion is worth 5
points.
Deaf Again Part 1 Questions
Introduction through Chapter 6
Chapter 1
a) If you in the hospital (as the nurse or doctor) when Sherry Drolsbaugh came
in ready to give birth, what would you have done?
b) What steps would you take to ensure that fair and accessible care is
provided?
c) What should YOU as the medical care facility be held accountable for?
Chapter 2
a) Chapter 2 mentions the "Diagnostic Crisis" of deafness - describe the
ramifications (consequences) for a hearing family having a deaf child.
b) What were the messages and/or psychological implications that the author
received?
c) Mark lived with his deaf parents, but his hearing grandparents made all the
decisions. His deaf parents were afraid to use sign language with Mark.
Why? Why didn't his parents stand up for Mark and insist that he use sign
language? Why weren’t his parents empowered?
Chapter 3
a) Explain what Mark calls “Deaf Chat Syndrome.”
b) What causes Deaf Chat Syndrome?
Chapter 4
a) Mark had terrible experiences with audiology tests, and worked really hard
in his speech classes. Why was it so important to him to have good speech
and to prove that he could hear well?
b) How did he feel when he “failed” the audiology tests and couldn’t speak well
enough to sound like a hearing person?
Chapter 5
a) Why did he feel like it was his fault when he was unable to keep up in school
and at home? Why didn’t he tell his grandparents how he felt? Why didn’t he
stand up for himself?
Chapter 6
a) Chapter 6 deals with Mark confronting several important issues during this
part of his life. Pick one issue that you find disturbing and/or thoughtprovoking and explain in several sentences how this particular one affected
you.