Jordan Eickman

Jordan Eickman is an Associate Professor of Deaf Studies at California State University, Northridge. Born deaf, he earned a PhD in Deaf Studies from the Centre for Deaf Studies, University of Bristol, England and a BA in Cultural Geography from Arizona State University. Deaf cultural geography and Deaf sport history are among his primary research interests.

Tracing Deafhood, the Sequel:
Focus on the United States

This paper continues the Tracing Deafhood project to identify how the formation and worldwide spread of Deaf cultural identity has occurred by utilizing a Geographic Information System to map and visually determine the chronological sequences of and patterns in the establishment and spread of Deaf schools, Deaf clubs, Deaf sport clubs, and national Deaf associations worldwide.
Each Deaf community ‘pillar’ has a role in maintaining the Deaf community’s existence and serve educational, social, and political purposes. Lane et al (1996:131-137; 137-138) describes how American Deaf schools, Deaf clubs and Deaf sport have impacted the acculturation process of deaf people into the American Deaf community and the National Association of the Deaf’s socially significant role.
Ladd (2003:xviii) defines the concept of Deafhood, which he describes “as the process by which Deaf individuals come to actualise their Deaf identity”. This term seeks to define the essence and existence of Deaf identity (Ladd 2003:xviii, 3, 4). Thus, if the four ‘pillars’ affect Deafhood, then the compilation and analysis of the origins and spread of these ‘pillars’ is vital to understand the origins and spread of Deaf identity.
Collected data on the four ‘pillars’ permits analysis of geographic patterns to determine how Deaf identity has spread globally, as those four ‘pillars’ serve as venues for Deaf identity development. All four ‘pillars’ and their characteristics can be plotted on a single map and their geographic origins, spread, and interplay can be studied.
Locations having high and low degrees of Deaf community activity, evidenced by the formation and existence or absence of the four ‘pillars’, will be indicators of where Deaf identity has been/is strongest or weakest, representing possible manifestations of an ‘ideal’ Deaf community or forces of audism.
The presented data will focus on selected American Deaf ‘pillars’ and may include new types of ‘pillars’.