Email Survey

From: Natalie Levy - Apr 4, 2005

Hi!

I am a student at Cornell University who is researching the history and current state of deafness. I am particularly interested in the recent New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/21/national/21deaf.html?ex=1112590800&en=5ac8b4307c9968d2&ei=5070) that concerns the founding of Laurent, an American Sign Language-based community. Marvin Miller, the founder of Laurent, maintains that "society isn't doing that great a job of, quote-unquote, integrating [deaf people]". In order to fully evaluate this societal perception of deafness, I am surveying students, both hearing and deaf, across the country.

Thank you for your time! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, suggestions, or comments about this project.

Natalie Levy

INSTRUCTIONS:
Click on "Forward" and add my email address nll22@cornell.ed
Email back this survey before April 29th.

Specify your answer by bolding/underlining your answer choice. Or, you may also eliminate the "incorrect" answer.

1. Are you hard-of-hearing or deaf?

YES NO

2. Do you have any relatives or close contacts who are hard-of-hearing or deaf?

YES NO

If so, how many?

_________

3. Did you attend high school with any hard-of-hearing or deaf students?

YES NO

If so, was accommodation (ex: interpreter, typed notes) provided by the school?

YES NO

If so, what kind of accommodation?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

4. Would you feel comfortable befriending a hard-of-hearing or deaf person?

YES NO

If not, please briefly explain why.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

5. Do you have any hard-of-hearing or deaf friends?

YES NO

6. Does society make enough of an effort to accommodate social activities for hard-of-hearing or deaf people?

YES NO

If not, do you have any suggestions to improve societal efforts? (ex: movies and television with subtitles)

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

7. Does society make enough of an effort to encourage a variety of occupations for hard-of-hearing or deaf people?

YES NO

If not, do you have any suggestions to improve societal efforts?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

8. What school do you attend?

____________________

Does your school make enough of an effort to educate hearing students about deafness and other disabilities?

YES NO

If not, do you have any suggestions to improve the university's efforts?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

9. Marvin Miller, a deaf man, recently announced plans to found a community that will only accommodate sign language-friendly establishments. Residency will be available for both deaf people and those hearing people who wish to solely communicate in American Sign Language. Miller reasons: "sciety isn' doing that great a job of, quote-unquote, integrating [deaf people].

Do you think that Laurent is a necessary means for deaf people to thrive in their own society? Or is such a community further isolating deaf people's societal isolation? Feel free to elaborate!

NECESSITY ISOLATION