... to be evidence of prejudice against deaf people by professionals. This is clearly noted in the case of a 19 year old deaf girl who was refused entry into Oxford collage even though she obtained all As at A level, (Smithers and Ward, 2002). Although historically psychological intervention could be criticised for its detrimental effects upon people with hearing disability, recent psychological research as shifted from focusing on the deficiency of deafness towards a more positive stance. Now the emphasis is much more on researching the different approaches deaf children utilise in their development and how best these can be utilised rather than manipulate deaf people to conform to the rest of society, (Gregory, 1995). This advocates what Sharon Ridgway, a deaf mother of a deaf child believes 'Deafness is a cultural identity not a handicap', (Mills, 2002). The new professional approach follows a similar manner to work involved with ...

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