Diversity Among Deaf communities

Many people have the misconception that sign language is universal. However, this is not the case as various Deaf communities have their own native sign languages. Even within the same country, the signs can vary from state to state depending on how the language evolved and the sub-cultures within that community.

The first video explains how social factors such as age, gender and socioeconomic class, as well as geographical factors such as mountains or rivers that segregates communities and prevents them from interacting with one another, can influence variations in their language.

The second video is an account of a Deaf Korean adoptee's experience of identity issues and raising awareness of the need for accessible resources for other Deaf Korean adoptees, and for them to form a community that supports one another in their experience of being adopted.

The third video raises the issue of white deaf people ignoring issues of power and oppression relating to race and culture. This leads to Deaf people in other cultural groups experiencing double discrimination from hearing people due to their deafness and from the Deaf community because of their skin color.