CONTENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- Terminology -- Sign Language -- Demographics -- Acknowledgements -- I. POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION AND MARGINALIZATION -- Socialization -- Political Socialization -- Theoretical Frameworks of Political Socialization -- Marginalization -- Theories of Political Marginalization -- Neglect of the Disabled -- Agencies for Examination -- II. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE DEAF -- History of the Deaf -- After Milan -- The Languages of the Deaf Classroom -- Mainstreaming -- Deaf Culture -- III. SOCIALIZING AGENCIES -- The Family -- Diagnosis and Parental Reaction -- Language Choice as Political Choice -- "Normalization" versus "Managing Difference" -- Power Relationships and the Pattern of Marginalization -- A Particular Oralist Identity Problem -- A Particular Manualist Identity Problem -- The Schools and Peer Group -- Choices -- The School as a Reinforcer of Orientations -- Environmental Concerns -- Role Models -- Language Challenge -- Impact upon Political Learning -- Internalization of Diffuse Support -- Social Maturation and Peer Groups -- Peer Group Attitudes -- Quality and Ends of Education -- IV. A COMPARATIVE GROUP STUDY -- The Cochlear Implants Rally -- Family Relations and Language/Identity Factors -- Political Opinion, Participation, and Activity -- Cochlear Implants: Attitudes and Activities -- A Corollary Observation -- Appendix: The Questionnaire and Responses -- V. REFLECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS -- Oralism -- Manualism -- Language as a Tool of D/deaf Political Socialization -- Political Socialization and Marginalization: A Response to Taylor -- Reflections upon the Comparative Group Study -- Conclusion -- BIBLIOGRAPHY.