ATTACHMENT BELOW
2
Immersion Project—Identifying a Culture
Michelle Lynn
Walden University
HUMN 5162
Instructor.Langston
September 14,2025
Immersion Project—Identifying a Culture
Culture and Activity
For my Immersion Project, I will focus on the Deaf culture, a community defined not by disability but by a distinct language (American Sign Language) and shared social norms. Deaf people’s experiences in a hearing environment have formed their rich traditions, beliefs, and viewpoints (CSD, 2023 As part of my immersion, I plan to attend a Deaf community social gathering hosted by a local cultural center. This event provides opportunities to observe communication, interactions, and cultural manifestations while respecting group norms. Attending this event will enable me to experience the liveliness of Deaf culture.
Differences Between My Culture and Deaf Culture
The Deaf culture differs significantly from the culture I identify with, both in visible and less obvious ways. On a visible level, Deaf culture employs American Sign Language for communication, whereas my society uses spoken language. This gap represents a difference in language and communicative norms, including eye contact, physical touch, and visual clues. Deaf social events are engaging and inclusive, stressing shared experiences and group identity, unlike my upbringing, where words dominate.
On less obvious levels, Deaf culture embraces a distinct worldview shaped by resilience, advocacy for recognition, and resistance to being defined as “disabled (NIH, 2021).” This differs from my own experience, where ability is often taken for granted, and communication barriers are not part of my daily reality. My society stresses ease and efficiency in communication, whereas Deaf culture encourages clarity, patience, and complete involvement. These contrasts show strengths and viewpoints that improve my awareness of human variety.
Current Perceptions of Deaf Culture
What I now know of Deaf culture comes from minimal exposure and third-party information. I didn’t learn much about the Deaf community beyond believing hearing loss to be a disability that needed accommodating when I was growing up. Many of my thoughts had been filtered through mainstream media depictions, and most were not about the assets of Deaf people, but their struggles. Documentaries, scholarly research, and professional interpreting exchanges have given me more nuanced views in recent years.
These sources also taught me that Deaf culture is not about what you lack, but about what you have of a strong language and rich historical tradition. I am particularly interested in this culture because of my career path in human services, where I may serve clients who are Deaf or hard of hearing. It is professionally and personally important to become culturally competent in this area. Immersing myself in this community, I aspire to go beyond the stereotypes, develop a greater sensitivity for cultural distinctions, and appreciate the level of inner strength it has brought about.
References
CSD. (2023, April 13).
Exploring the rich heritage of deaf people. Communication Service for the Deaf.
NIH. (2021, October).
American Sign Language. NIDCD.
