Deaf People as a Cultural and Linguistic Minority

Abstract

Medical model of disability searches for rehabilitating those who have hearing impairment. It"™s considered that they are ill people that require normalization or assimilation to the rest of society. The Social model of disability is based on equal dignity of all people and that the causes of disability are social. Disability is conceived in a positive way and deaf people can contribute a lot to the society. Under this context, this paper analyses if the claims of deaf people could be considered as coming from a cultural and linguistic minority.