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Community Institutions

Community institutions have played a critical role in the formation of the Deaf community and Deaf culture. These institutions include Deaf schools, clubs, theater, athletic, and political organizations. They serve as places for Deaf people to meet other Deaf people and share information, exchange ideas, offer support, and socialize – an invaluable resource for many Deaf people who are often the only Deaf person in their families and, in some cases, their communities. For many Deaf people, they offer the first real opportunity to meet other people like themselves and feel part of a larger community. Moreover, they offer opportunities for people to learn Deaf culture and develop their Deaf identity.

Institutions Change Over Time

These institutions and their centrality within the Deaf community have evolved overtime. For example, Deaf clubs have experienced a decline in popularity since advances in technology (such as TTYs, videophones, email, and instant messaging) have allowed Deaf people to communicate with one another directly from their homes. New institutions, such as blogs, are emerging to take advantage of current technologies and facilitate information sharing and dialogue among Deaf people.

The existence of other institutions, such as Deaf schools, has been threatened for reasons other than advances in technology. For example, trends to mainstream students with disabilities, including Deaf students, in educational settings have led to a decline in enrollment at Deaf schools. Changes in school funding have also threatened the financial viability of Deaf schools.