Deaf community in Frederick County, Maryland

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A large deaf community exists in Frederick County, Maryland partly due to the Maryland School for the Deaf, the county's proximity to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and a large number of government jobs.[1][2] One estimate suggests that as many as 50,000 people in Frederick County and the surrounding area may be deaf or hard of hearing, and that 3,000 people in the city of Frederick may be deaf or hard of hearing.[3][4] A 2013 census estimated that 8,000 people in Frederick County experience hearing difficulty.[5] An estimated 1.2 million people in Maryland are deaf or hard of hearing and there are more than 75 deaf-owned businesses in Maryland.[1][6]

History[edit]

The Maryland School for the Deaf opened in downtown Frederick in 1867 and is probably a large factor in the reason that Frederick has a large deaf community.[7] In 2020, one resident stated that there is a good chance of someone knowing American Sign Language everywhere she goes.[3]

Movie theaters in the area provide open caption screenings and access to caption-glasses to cater to the deaf community.[8] Open-captioned screenings on blockbuster opening weekends are typically busy.[8]

In 2013, the first deaf mayoral candidate ran in the city of Frederick.[9][10]

On May 22, 2012, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill establishing a Task Force to Study the Establishment of a Deaf Culture Digital Library.[11] On May 15, 2014, a bill was signed into law, creating the Deaf Culture Digital Library.[12] In 202, the first virtual summer Read and Learn program for the Deaf Culture Digital Library was hosted by Frederick County Public Libraries.[12] On September 24, 2020, the Maryland State Library officially launched the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library.[12]

As of September 2021, there were approximately twenty-six deaf organizations in Frederick County, including the American Deaf Cornhole Club, a South Asian Deaf organization, the Eastern Motorcycle Club for the Deaf, the Free State Chapter of Gallaudet University Alumni Association, and an organization for deaf and hard-of-hearing seniors.[13][14]

Education[edit]

Maryland School for the Deaf was established in 1867 as the Maryland Institution for the Deaf and Dumb.[15] The school operates a campus in Frederick which serves approximately four hundred students.[15][16][17] From birth until the age of 21, the school provides free, public education for deaf and hard-of-hearing Maryland residents.[18] The Maryland School for the Deaf was featured in the film Audible, which was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 94th Academy Awards.[19][20]

Businesses[edit]

In Maryland, there are more than 75 deaf-owned businesses.[6] There are more than ten deaf-owned businesses in the city of Frederick and the Maryland Governor's Office reported that, of Maryland deaf and hard of hearing business owners, Frederick County has the largest percentage at 35 percent.[5][7]

Maryland Deaf Community Center[edit]

Twenty-two deaf organizations in Frederick County joined to create the Maryland Deaf Community Center (MDCC), a nonprofit which opened on October 16, 2021, and was located in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in the city of Frederick.[3][13][21] Over five hundred people attended the opening of the center.[22] The MDCC is the first deaf community center in the state of Maryland.[13][21] In February 2022, the MDCC had to move out of the building due to a lack of funding.[14]

Religion[edit]

Frederick Church of the Brethren Deaf Fellowship Service began in 1971 and had approximately 100 members in 2018.[7][1] The Table Church is another deaf congregation in Frederick.[1] Deaf Calvary Church in Walkersville, Maryland, caters exclusively to deaf people.[1]

Accessibility issues[edit]

There is a need for increased housing in Frederick in order to allow graduating students of the Maryland School for the Deaf to remain in the area.[23]

Notable members[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Lavin, Nancy (February 9, 2018). "Seeing is believing: How Frederick's deaf community finds faith, fellowship". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  2. ^ Lewis, Nordea (January 13, 2022). "Frederick resident aims to develop a nonprofit to help the deaf community". Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Riley, Erika (February 8, 2020). "Organizations start plans for a Maryland Deaf Community Center in Frederick". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Maryland Organizations Plan Deaf Community Center". The Hearing Review. February 10, 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Gaines, Danielle E. (February 15, 2017). "Deaf couple bring pizazz, personalization with embroidery business". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Morris, Amanda (January 13, 2019). "Deaf And Unemployed: Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands". NPR. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Borha, Imade (May 21, 2017). "How Frederick's deaf culture finds home here — and sometimes doesn't". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b Wiesenberg, Rebecca Duke (August 11, 2019). "A Maryland deaf community gets closer to movie accessibility". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. ^ Bondeson, Jen (July 16, 2013). "Frederick learns as first deaf mayoral candidate begins campaign". Frederick News-Post.
  10. ^ "Meet the candidate: Carol Hirsch". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  11. ^ "An Act Concerning Task Force to Study the Establishment of a Deaf Culture Digital Library" (PDF). Maryland.gov. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "History of DCDL". Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  13. ^ a b c Roberts, Angela (September 27, 2021). "'This is their home': Maryland Deaf Community Center's new space is first of its kind in state". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  14. ^ a b Roberts, Angela (February 7, 2022). "Frederick-based Maryland Deaf Community Center searching for a new home". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Grant Aids Restoration Of Hessian Barracks In Md". CBS Baltimore. February 11, 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  16. ^ "MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF". Maryland State Government. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  17. ^ Morse, Caroline (May 12, 2020). "Maryland School for the Deaf thrives in pandemic: ASL actually is an advantage to health safety". Local DMV. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  18. ^ Perera, Katryna (October 9, 2020). "Senators say more oversight needed at Maryland School for the Deaf". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  19. ^ Asbury, Nicole (March 25, 2022). "'Audible,' film about Maryland school football team, receives Oscar nod". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  20. ^ Kernan, Patrick (February 9, 2022). "Documentary short featuring Maryland School for the Deaf receives Oscar nod". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  21. ^ a b Woytowitz, Erik (October 16, 2021). "Maryland's First Community Center for the Deaf opens in Frederick". Local DMV. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Md. Deaf Community Center hosts open house, ribbon cutting in Frederick". Frederick News-Post. November 27, 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  23. ^ Reynolds, Brendan (May 23, 2019). "Deaf community raises concerns of housing in Frederick". Local DMV. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Gallaudet alum to compete on "America's Next Top Model" - Gallaudet University". gallaudet.edu. Archived from the original on December 18, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  25. ^ a b Nicolaou, Elena (October 9, 2020). "The Creator of "Deaf U" Wants to Show Diversity Within the Deaf Community". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
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