In the 1980s deaf people were grossly neglected by our society, and little attempt was made, either by the public or the policy makers, to understand their needs. Because few deaf people can communicate by speech, and because they are barred from all the information networks which rely on sound, they led separate and largely invisible lives.

Originally published in 1986, this book was unique in providing a vivid and sometimes disturbing portrait of what it is like to be deaf in our society. Based on long interviews – mainly in sign language – with deaf adults, the book explores every aspect of their daily lives. Deaf people live in a variety of settings – their own homes, hostels, homes for elderly people, psychiatric hospitals, etc. But their problems with health, housing, education, social security and employment – all run by people who make little attempt to communicate with them – are depressingly similar.

The book is also a powerful contribution to debates at the time on general social policy issues. Indeed, it raises considerable doubts about some of the major principles underlying present social welfare provision. In the debate over ‘segregation’ or ‘integration’, ‘integration’ was currently in favour. But how far could even those deaf people who live in their own homes be regarded as ‘integrated’? How far can policies designed to let people achieve the appearance of normality be judged as successfully promoting normality?

This book will still be interesting reading for lecturers and researchers on deafness in the fields of social policy and administration, linguistics and education and those interested in social policy issues generally. It should also be read by all professionals working with the deaf – social workers, doctors, nurses, teachers and policy makers.

This book is a re-issue originally published in 1986. The language used is a reflection of its era and no offence is meant by the Publishers to any reader by this re-publication.