Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Reading
Date of Award
12-2019
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Delanna Reed
Committee Members
Marc Fagelson, Edward Dwyer
Abstract
This study focuses on the life experiences of a rural, Deaf Appalachian woman, Jane Ann Shelton, a second generation Deaf child born to Deaf parents from the communities of Devil’s Fork (Flag Pond, Tennessee) and Shelton Laurel (Madison County, North Carolina). Over two hours of videotaped interviews were interpreted and transcribed, followed by various other communications to describe the life of a rural, Deaf Appalachian woman without a formal high school degree. As an advocate and a political lobbyist in Tennessee during the 1980s and 90s, she was unparalleled by her peers (deaf or hearing) in her efforts to “enhance the lives of ALL Deaf Tennesseans.” From these interactions and my firsthand knowledge, I crafted stories of her life experiences for the purpose of performing them for both Deaf and hearing audiences. Further studies should be done on rural Deaf Appalachia as precious little oral history has been collected.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Tipton, Elizabeth Shelton, "Growing Up Deaf in Appalachia: An Oral History of My Mother" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3662. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3662
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
American Sign Language Commons, Appalachian Studies Commons, Disability Studies Commons, Oral History Commons, Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures Commons, Women's Studies Commons