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REACHING DEAF COMMUNITIES Working with Young Deaf People. Cláudia A. Bisol, Ph.D. Universidade de Caxias do Sul - UCS Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS BRAZIL University of Miami Miller School of Medicine – UM USA.
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REACHING DEAF COMMUNITIESWorking with Young Deaf People Cláudia A. Bisol, Ph.D. Universidade de Caxias do Sul - UCS Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS BRAZIL University of Miami Miller School of Medicine – UM USA
AIDS prevention research has demonstrated that culturally sensitive prevention programs have been able to bring about changes in sexual behavior and condom use with adolescents and other at-risk populations. (Levinson, Sadigursky & Erchak, 2004)
Culturally sensitive... means... Deaf adolescents face all the developmental tasks that characterize adolescence: • body image • sex roles and sexual relations • economic and emotional independence • occupational, family and social roles (Chapin, 2000)
From childhood into adulthood... Each person experiences different degrees of difficulty: getting to know oneself often involves experimenting with one’s limits, going beyond family traditions and getting involved with different social groups.
Also, deaf adolescents have to deal with: • the tension between hearing parents and Deaf Community • their belonging to a subculture within a broader one (deaf/hearing) • communication, education, health access and work opportunities issues
Being Young Being Deaf
Brazilian? Mexican? American? European? African?............. Being Young Being Deaf
Brazilian? Mexican? American? European? African?............. Religious? Man? Woman? Transgender? Being Young Literate? Iliterate? Homo? Hetero? Poor? Rich? Being Deaf
In Brazil... Greater gender inequity is found comparing to the U.S., therefore interventions with Brazilian youths will be ineffective unless gender role dynamics are taken into account. In general, Brazilian youths are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, however data indicates that this education is not having the desired effects on adolescent sexual behavior. (Levinson, Sadigursky & Erchak, 2004; Bisol, Sperb, Brewer, Kato, Shor-Posner, in press).
The “AJA Program”: Train deaf instructors to inform and clarify deaf adolescents about HIV/AIDS, to: • Increase deaf adolescents’ level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS, STIs and, the human immune system. • Promote safe sex and responsible health decisions. • Fight AIDS discrimination in school and work facilities.
Bisol, C.A., Sperb, T. Brewer, T., Kato, S. & Shor-Posner, G. (in press). HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Health-related Attitudes and Behaviors among Deaf and Hearing Adolescents in the South of Brazil. American Annals of the Deaf. • Castro, M. G., Abramovay, M., & Silva, L. B. (2004). Juventudes e sexualidade. Brasília: UNESCO Brasil. • Chapin, J. R. (2000). Adolescent sex and mass media: A developmental approach. Adolescence, 35(140), 799-811. • Levinson, R.A., Sadigursky, C. & Erchac, G. (2004). The impact of cultural context on Brazilian adolescents' sexual practices. Adolescence, 39 (154), p. 203-225.
THANK YOU !!!! MUCHAS GRACIAS !!!! MUITO OBRIGADA !!!!