Quiet Journey: Understanding the Rights of Deaf Children

"Make no mistake about it - Deaf people have a distinct culture."

All children in our society are vulnerable; Deaf children are particularly so. Quiet Journey: Understanding the Rights of Deaf Children by Joanne S. Cripps, is a first-person account of growing up Deaf. This important new book identifies the challenges confronting Deaf children and their families, drawing on the author's own experiences and those of Deaf people with whom she has taught and worked. Intended initially for families with Deaf children, Quiet Journey is essential reading for everyone concerned with Deaf culture and rights for children.

Answering the need for a non-academic discussion of the challenges and rights of Deaf children, Quiet Journey explores issues specific to the Deaf community such as identity, home environment, access to information and the right to privacy. The book describes how parents can provide a nurturing home environment that allows their Deaf child to grow in a healthy way and discusses options that will provide important connections to Deaf culture. Included in the book are expressive poems written by Deaf children, a discussion of the rights of the Deaf child based the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child, and a comprehensive list of resources available to Deaf children and their families.

Joanne S. Cripps has been gathering information for this book all her life. Currently a Director for the Canadian Deaf Heritage Project, she is a lifelong activist working to improve conditions for Deaf children in Canada. Cripps has published many articles on the subject and has spoken on the rights of Deaf children at conferences around the world.

Quiet Journey: Understanding the Rights of Deaf Children was published May, 2000 by The Ginger Press, a regional publisher exploring the broader aspects of community in Canada.