Critical Thinking Questions
1. The unit lists several things to think about when considering what kind of job you’d like to have in the future. Which of these do you think is most important when selecting a career and why? Do you think your response would change if you were Deaf?

2. Nora is Deaf and works at a busy coffee shop as a barista. Her main duties include standing at the drive-thru window, taking customers’ payments, and handing them their beverages. What are two reasonable accommodations that her employer might implement to make it easier for her to successfully do her job?

3. In this unit, you learned about Black ASL. Do some quick online research to learn about another type of sign language used by a specific group somewhere in the world. What is similar about this type of sign language and Black ASL? What is different?

4.Subcultures like the Black Deaf community have been influenced by larger societal shifts and movements throughout history. Think about your own identity. What subculture(s) do you feel you identify with? (Remember that subcultures can include being from a certain state, belonging to a certain ethnic group, practicing a certain religion, or even being a member of a club). How has being a part of this/these subgroup(s) impacted how you view your place in the world?

5.In this unit, you learned that Rochester, New York, is home to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology, an innovative program that uses new and cutting-edge techniques to educate its students. Imagine that you are a Deaf college student attending the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. What types of educational experiences might you consider to be exciting and “innovative” for Deaf students? Explain.

Answer:

1.) I think the most important thing when selecting a career is deciding on something that you feel passionate about and also making sure that you have the skill requirements to achieve this goal. Overall I don’t think that my response would change if I were deaf, I think that a Deaf person can do almost any job that a hearing person can, there are not many limits when it comes to jobs. Plus, there is so much technology that could make a job easier for a Deaf person.

2.) One accommodation that her employer can implement is that whenever a customer has a question of some sort that another employee is available to take over and answer the question. Another accommodation that her employer could  could simply have a system where they can not only communicate with the customers but also hand them over without any complications.

3.) BASL differs from other varieties of ASL in its phonology, syntax, and vocabulary. BASL tends to have a larger signing space, meaning that some signs are produced further away from the body than in other dialects.

4.) I recognize myself with African Americas and being a part of this group makes me feel right right at home and this subgroup impacts my view on the world because they have impacted the year of 2020 more than any other year.

5.) Deaf students and hard of hearing students are dependent on visual access to the whole classroom.Teachers should give many options to allow students to find a seat that works for them the best. Also, visual representations should include captions and videos and movies; because they have been shown to help all students, but they are critical for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Answer:

1.) I think the most important thing when selecting a career is deciding on something that you feel passionate about and also making sure that you have the skill requirements to achieve this goal. Overall I don’t think that my response would change if I were deaf, I think that a Deaf person can do almost any job that a hearing person can, there are not many limits when it comes to jobs. Plus, there is so much technology that could make a job easier for a Deaf person.

2.) One accommodation that her employer can implement is that whenever a customer has a question of some sort that another employee is available to take over and answer the question. Another accommodation is that her employer could simply have a system where they can not only communicate with the customers but also hand them over without any complications.

3.) BASL differs from other varieties of ASL in its phonology, syntax, and vocabulary. BASL tends to have a larger signing space, meaning that some signs are produced further away from the body than in other dialects.

4.) I recognize myself with African Americas and being a part of this group makes me feel right at home this subgroup impacts my view on the world because they have impacted the year 2020 more than any other year.

5.) Deaf students and hard-of-hearing students are dependent on visual access to the whole classroom. Teachers should give many options to allow students to find a seat that works for them the best. Also, visual representations should include captions and videos, and movies; because they have been shown to help all students, but they are critical for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.