Chapter 2. The sign language community
The present chapter addresses the cultural and social features shared by the Deaf community at national and international level. Specifically, the following sections describe: the characteristics of the Italian Deaf Community (SOCIO-HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2.1); the sign language users (SOCIO-HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2.2); issues related to Deaf culture, such as the name sign’s system, the artistic forms of LIS (poetry, theatre, etc.), the cultural and social centres representative of the Italian Deaf community, the national and international Deaf festivals and events (SOCIO-HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2.3); and, finally, a general overview on Deaf education in Italy (SOCIO-HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2.4).
