Intercultural Competence (ICC)
CITIZENSHIP
There is not one exact definition of citizenship, nor what it means to be a citizen. Citizenship is defined differently across different cultures, nations, and individuals, therefore the definition exists as all possible definitions!
To me, Citizenship is about understanding my own perspective. The connections and relationships I have made a CSL make me come alive, and that drives my desire to develop deeper intercultural competence.
Citizenship is the WHY of ICC.
Why did I decide to take ASL 4189? I didn't have to, so WHY did I?
COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY
WORKING TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE to affirm values in resistance to marginalization, abuse, and oppression.
In connection to my service-learning journey, COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY is about ensuring access to and the creation and maintenance of Deaf spaces within the community.
Community Accountability is the HOW of ICC.
HOW can I advocate for the Deaf Community?
TAKING ACTION/IMPLEMENTING CHANGE
We did an exercise in class where we discussed how we might sign "Taking Action/Implementing Change" in American Sign Language. The class came up with signs like SHOW-UP, INVOLVEMENT, and SERVING.
Taking Action/Implementing Change is the WHAT of ICC.
WHAT as a service student are you doing and have you done be an agent of change?
INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE IS MORE THAN CULTURAL APPRECIATION.
RPReplay_Final1679520983.mov@signingwithnicole on Instagram discusses the cultural and non-cultural signs for "Black person".
In the ASL language, the sign used by Black individuals for "Black person" has a distinct cultural significance. Therefore, those in the Black community use a different sign for "Black person" than the sign used by non-Black individuals.
Click the icon bellow!
Visit the videos directly on instagram!
(article from Project EASIER - "What is audism and how to avoid it?")
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUDISM AND HEARING PRIVILEGE?
To put it simply, audism is the explicit and implicit discrimination of Deaf people and the belief that having the ability to hear is a superior attribute. It often exists with the prejudice that deaf people are inherently worse off than hearing people and should be "cured or fixed".
Although hearing privilege stems from audist assumptions, hearing privilege is a systemic advantage that all hearing people carry (although they may not realize it). Hearing privilege can also be reflected upon and used as a tool for allies to serve and advocate for the liberation of the Deaf Community.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ACCESS V.S. DEAF CULTURE?
Let's consider the visual monitoring system that they installed at CSL about halfway through my service-learning hours:
When discussing the technological addition to the Day Program, a CSL staff member explained that the cameras gave him the ability to monitor the environment in and around the CSL building without having to hear. For example, he can see through the cameras when someone knocking at the back door, clients getting into a fight, or someone having a medical emergency where he couldn't see them at his desk.
ASL is a visual language so technologies and techniques have been developed over time to provide communication access, allow for autonomy and independence, and recenter their experience as Deaf individuals.
So what do you think - is this an example of access or Deaf Culture?
