Scheetz, Nanci A. Deaf Education in the 21st Century: Topics and Trends. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2012.

Print.
In her text, Scheetz gives the whole scope of Deaf Education and how it applies to the 21st
century. The book begins with an overview on what the text will cover and then proceeds by section;
including myths and misconceptions about the d/Deaf, a brief history of Deaf education and where it
stands today, the scientific aspect of hearing and hearing loss, family dynamics, language acquisition,
modern technology, the various educational settings, literacy and cognition, the social and cultural
aspects, various aspects of adulthood, being deaf with other disabilities, and how to train personnel of
all fields in working with the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Scheetz takes the side of what works best for the deaf, and explains how other methods of
educating the deaf have not worked, needing to be revised. She uses a mix of approaches, most of
which are research based, but she also uses case studies depending on the chapter content. She uses
direct quotations where necessary and lists other sources in text as well as in the List of Organizations
and References in the back of the book.
The author uses a clear approach to deaf education, starting with the past and how the methods
used then impact the world of deaf education today, as is discussed in the third chapter. The table of
contents at the beginning of the book is well organized, each chapter discussing one part of Deaf
Education, each with appropriate sub-headings. For example, in Chapter Four, The Science of Hearing
and Hearing Loss: The Acoustics of Speech and the Transmission of Sound, the sub section labeled
Etiology of Auditory Dysfunction lists the types of hearing lossConductive and Sensorineuralwhere
underneath the latter are the sub categories of Congenital Losses, Acquired Losses, etc. In the back of
the text, Scheetz lists the references used for writing the text, which is properly formatted to MLA
standards and is placed in alphabetical order, which makes it easier to check. These references as well as
the list of organizations prior, is effective as it provides a resource for further information.
I chose this book as a source because I knew it would give me the whole scope of deaf
Education, which would complete that part of my thesis. Since I had read the authors work Orientation
to Deafness prior to this one and enjoyed it, I looked forward to the new insights this text had to share.
The text has not been a contrast to me research, but a fulfillment of what I already know about the topic
as well as a source of new information. Upon reading sections of various chapters, I have learned more
in-depth about my own hearing loss, which until recently were just terms on a document, audiograms
that I didnt understand, and something my parents always took care of. It has also brought up
questions about my hearing loss where there had always been gaps (at least to my knowledge). It has
also provided me with questions to ask my parents, usually concerning the fact of whether or not they
were properly informed of all the options they could have given me.
This source has turned out to be another foundational brick like Kim Nielsens A Disability
History of the United States. I have learned a lot in my limited reading of the text about the basics of my
own hearing loss, as well as educational suggestions I had not thought of previously. While Ive only
looked briefly at the list of organizations and references at the back of the book, I could tell they would
be very helpful, especially the list of organizations, and it provided me sources to think of contacting in
the future as a way of advocating for myself and others who are deaf or hard of hearing. I will most
definitely be using this source for my thesis as it provides the knowledge I will need to educate my
audience on hearing loss, however briefly, but mostly because I have gained insight on myself from it,
which helps ground my part where I share my own story of being hard of hearing in mainstreamed
schools, both public and private. I plan to read more of it in order to become more grounded in the field
I wish to pursue as a future teacher.