Deaf and Hearing Siblings in Conversation

Deaf and Hearing Siblings in Conversation is the first text to consider both deaf and hearing perspectives on the multi-dimensional dynamics of their adult sibling relationships. Deaf and hearing authors, Berkowitz and Jonas, conducted individual open-ended interviews with twenty-two adult sibling dyads or triads, using ASL and spoken English, to access subject's intimate thoughts and experiences. The book documents how the 150 year history of educational decisions and society's attitudes became imbedded in sibling bonds, transforming their lives and identifies and how the siblings' lives were impacted by choices their parents made about how to communicate with the deaf family member. Authors weaved interview selections, personal narratives and fictionalised stories throughout the text revealing attitudes toward American Sign Language, the various roles deaf and hearing siblings take on as monitors, communication facilitators, sibling-signers and sibling-interpreters which illustrate how lifelong bonds are impacted by these roles. A major feature is its analysis of how isolation impacts deaf and hearing sibling relationships. The text presents numerous examples of how these siblings formulated creative tools, devised unique strategies and engaged in deep conversations to alleviate isolation and to relieve the tensions within their families and the hearing world in which they co-exist.