BC Deaf Community
According to Schein, there are two central forces at play in creating the Deaf Community. The first "centrifugal force" pushes Deaf and hard of hearing people AWAY from the hearing majority (through alienation and discrimination) The second centrifugal force pulls Deaf and hard of hearing people TOWARD each other because of their shared experiences and affiliation (referred to in Deaf Learners, Moores, 2006, p 116) Padden and Humphries (1988), also quoted in Moores book, adds that the Deaf community may include people who are themselves not deaf but who actively support the goals of the Deaf community and work with (rather than for) Deaf people.
Below is a list of Deaf organizations in the province of BC:
Deaf Organizations
- Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf
- BC Cultural Society of the Deaf
- BC Deaf Curling Club
- The Norwest Deaf Outdoors Club (4X4's Club)
Deaf Sports
Service
- IDHHC - Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre
- MIS - Medical Interpreting Service
- WAVLI - West Coast Association Visual Language Interpreter
- WBP - Well Being Program
- WIDHH - Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Deaf youth
ASL Courses
If you are interested in other provinces, national and international organizations, please see links: