This article documents a strength-based understanding of how individuals who are deaf maximize their social and professional potential. This exploratory study was conducted with 49 adult participants who are deaf (n ¼ 30) and who have typical hearing (n ¼ 19) residing in America, Australia, England, and South Africa. The findings support a systematic and comprehensive framework of proactive psychosocial attributes and tactics. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the groups across four variables of psychosocial competencies. Qualitative data further suggests that participants who are deaf maximize their potential using two types of proactive psychosocial attributes and tactics: 1) skills that individuals with typical hearing use and 2) specialized skills for identifying, circumventing, or mastering deafness-related difficulties. These findings contribute to understandings of how individuals who are deaf can achieve social and professional success.
History
Journal
Volta review
Volume
112
Issue
1
Pagination
37 - 62
Publisher
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.
Location
Washington, D.C.
ISSN
0042-8639
Language
eng
Publication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
Copyright notice
2012, Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.