Deafness in a Hearing World, continued: B. Ennis; L. Burke; J. Ennis, interpreter JUL 01 1981

The 1981 Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrated the skills and traditions of a cultural minority who, despite their large numbers, frequently pass unnoticed: deaf and hearing-impaired Americans. In recognition of the International Year of Disabled Persons, deaf participants performed �signlore,� told stories emerging from Deaf culture (often with a capital D), and discussed life and experiences growing up deaf. They taught workshops on American Sign Language, displayed homemade devices to substitute for alarm clocks and doorbells, and demonstrated standardized technology such as a TTY, a machine that allows deaf people to make phone calls. Deaf visitors were invited to share jokes, riddles, stories, or puns on videotape with Smithsonian researchers. These recordings were only recently preserved and previously were inaccessible due to their advanced age and format obsolescence. Transcription of their content will provide access � for the first time � to those with hearing impairment and will provide historical context of accessibility in the United States. For more information about the programs in these recordings, please look at the audio log sheets describing the content and speakers at each presentation.