Here for the first time is a comprehensive single source, providing information on every possible aspect of the issues and culture of the deaf and hearing-impaired community. Published under the sponsorship of Gallaudet College, Washington, DC, the world's only liberal arts college for the deaf, and written by 300 experts from around the world in the fields of sociology, audiology, law, education, psychology, history, and rehabilitation, this unique and authoritative three-volume reference work is broad in scope and international in coverage. It features 271 articles on sign languages and other methods of communication hearing, audiology, and auditory disorders organizations, associations, publications of the deaf community, rehabilitation, demographics, religion, biographies of distinguished deaf individuals, educational programs, and the conditions and status of the deaf community in most of the major countries around the world. This unique encyclopedia, including an 8,000-entry index and bibliographies for most articles, meets the needs of both professionals and laypersons for clearly written, comprehensive information about the deaf and hearing impaired. library... and is especially useful for government agencies, rehabilitation centers, and all individuals involved in any way with the deaf community... and, of course, for the deaf and hearing-impaired themselves.