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RODERICK J. MACDONALD ulture: the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions , and all other products of human work and thought characteristic of a population or community at a given time (Morris, 1981). Recognition of the existence of a deaf culture has been an important factor in the recognition that deaf people are bona fide members of society. While no one would argue that it is a good thing to be deaf, recognition of the deaf culture encourages deaf people to accept their deafness as a fact of life and to feel pride in their accomplishments and in those of other deaf people. But is there a separate culture of deaf-blind people? Could there be a separate community of deaf people with unique behavior patterns, skills, beliefs, and other cultural traits, i.e., a unique culture of deaf-blind people? With this paper I hope to show that the answer is yes. To prepare this paper, I sent a questionnaire to approximately fifty individuals with intimate knowledge of deaf-blind people. Approximately half of these individuals were themselves deaf-blind. Of the approximately fifteen people who replied in time for me to use their responses in this paper, all but one felt there was, in fact, a deaf-blind culture . Some replied with a hesitant "yes," others with a surprised but no less confident affirmative. And several responded with such exuberant, even passionate, excitement that one wonders why this issue has not received much more attention. The only respondent who felt that a culture of deaf-blind people did not exist in its own right-a sighted and hearing person who has provided volunteer services to deaf-blind people for many years-stated that her belief was based on the fact that, as a nondeaf-blind person, she felt completely comfortable and socially accepted by deaf-blind people, and that the atmosphere at gatherings of deaf-blind people was no different from that found at gatherings of other community groups. In this paper, I will trace the emergence of deaf-blind people, through education , employment, and social union, into a modern community and culture. Deaf-blind people today are attaining new levels of individual achievement never thought possible I wish to express my grateful thanks to Dr. McCay Vernon for his encouragement, support, and input for this paper. Dr. Vernon is one of the most outspoken advocates for improved services to deaf-blind people, a leading psychologist in the field of deaf-blindness. and a close personal friend. I would also like to express my thanks to the many people who offered the ideas, support, and criticism that have made this paper possible. In particular I would like to thank Jackie Coker, Geraldine Lawhorn, and Robert Smithdas, deaf-blind people with long histories of outstanding personal achievement. for their input and support. I would also like to acknowledge the valuable assistance provided by those who responded to my questionnaire. Deaf-Blindness: An Emerging Culture? only a few years ago. Of equal importance, deaf-blind people are creating a culture within the greater society that deserves to be recognized and respected as unique and different. History of the Education of Deaf-Blind People No one knows how many persons throughout history were both deaf and blind, for there seems to be virtually no record of a deaf-blind person until the eighteenth century. Perhaps the sole exception is found in the journal of John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who wrote in 1637 of meeting an elderly deaf-blind woman in the town of Ipswich. It seems clear from his description, however, that the woman had good sight and hearing for much of her life, since she was able to receive receptive communication through the printing of block letters on her palm and very likely retained understandable speech. By the end of the eighteenth century, deaf-blind persons were known to the authorities in France, England, Scotland, and Ireland, but it is unknown which deaf-blind person was the first to receive an effective education. Perhaps the first deaf-blind person to be taught a formal language was Victorine Morriseau (1789-1832) in Paris. Her education , however, seems to have been confined exclusively to religion. This was common of the education given many disabled people at that time. The story of James Mitchell, the deaf-blind son of a Scottish minister, born November 11, 1795, is related by the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart in "An Account...

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