Cultural Analysis of "Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing" by John Miller

I think the strongest article I posted was "Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing" by John Miller. I think this is the strongest because of the solid background that the author has with the field he wrote about. While this may not have been my first choice for this research project, I think starting on a solid foot is better than trying to catch up later.

Previewing the article:

Things have changed drastically for hard of hearing and individuals who are deaf. While it used to be that those with hard of hearing or deafness were thought to be developmentally slow or mentally retarded, individuals that fit this category were hidden away from public eye or else left in their own community of individuals like them, the more adoptions and resources there are today have made it obvious that it is not the case and that they shouldn't be treated this way. Some hearing couples adopt hard of hearing (HoH) children or children who are deaf and do not know the resources available to them. Some others have children born with ear defects, underdevelopment, or other cases that result in HoH or deafness. These parents now have resources that are growing in funding and credibility and are in need of finding the best way to care for their children.
This article is intended for those parents seeking resources and answers to how to raise their children the best. This article is straight forward and informative, and touches on the key aspects any parent would be concerned about. The author specifically states that this article is intended for those seeking advice on resources available to them and also states that these resources vary by area and the extent of the child's hearing. The author explores many options for education, starting with Pre-K and going up through all age groups. He also discusses pros and cons of each type of education he lists, keeping in mind that these children are HoH or deaf. He also provides other credited resources to these familial relations in the hopes that they will explore them. This whole article is designed to help a certain group of individuals establish their culture - of education, that is.

Skimming for cultural references:

This whole article is a cultural reference. This article lists out pros and cons for the HoH and Deaf Communities in education. Using language such as "tailored to your child's needs,", "[each child has] different levels of hearing loss,", and "with a teacher for the deaf," are all great vocabulary for someone or individuals in this culture.

Skim for cultural values:

I think the biggest cultural value in this article is that each child is different and not every one of them fits the same mold. Each child has different levels of hearing loss, have special needs or desires, has different levels of working with other children, and have different ideas of what they need for an education. This is a huge cultural value because being deaf in a hearing world is very hard. Deciding whether or not to have your HoH child in a school tailored specifically to just one culture or both is a tricky situation and needs to be handled with a great deal of care.

Reread and narrow the focus:

I think the most important parts of this article will be the pros and cons of each type of education. I think the definitions of each type of education style will also come in handy.

I also think that this article is a great resource because it's purpose is not to pick sides in this debate but rather to educate the entire population of this group and give all the information he can. By not taking sides in this discussion he opens up the door for parents to make the best decision for themselves and for their child.