Managing Their Own Affairs : The Australian Deaf Community in the 1920s and 1930s

Managing Their Own Affairs explores how Deaf organizations and institutions were forged in Australia during the early 20th century. During this period, deaf people challenged the authority of the dominant welfare organizations, or Deaf Societies, which were largely controlled by hearing people and run as charitable institutions. Breda Carty comprehensively documents the growth of the Australian Deaf community and Australian Deaf organizations for the first time. She focuses on both the political developments of the early 20th century and on the nature of the relationships between deaf and hearing people. During this time, deaf Australians aspired to manage their own affairs. They enjoyed some success by establishing "breakaways" from the Deaf Societies, and they also established an independent national organization, which was contested and ultimately suppressed by the Deaf Societies. These developments were influenced by wider social movements in Australian society, such as the mobilization of minority groups in their push for autonomy and equal rights. Although most of the breakaway Deaf organizations did not survive beyond the 1930s, they significantly affected the power structures and relationships between deaf and hearing people in Australia. The Australian Deaf community's attempts to organize independently during these years have been largely erased from collective memory, making Carty's examination a particularly important and necessary addition to the historical literature. Managing Their Own Affairs explores how Deaf organizations and institutions were forged in Australia during the early 20th century. During this period, deaf people challenged the authority of the dominant welfare organizations, or Deaf Societies, which were largely controlled by hearing people and run as charitable institutions. Breda Carty comprehensively documents the growth of the Australian Deaf community and Australian Deaf organizations for the first time. She focuses on both the political developments of the early 20th century and on the nature of the relationships between deaf and hearing people. During this time, deaf Australians aspired to manage thier own affairs. They enjoyed some success by establishing "breakaways" from the Deaf Societies, and they also established an independent national organization, which was contested and ultimately suppressed by the Deaf Societies. These developments were influenced by wider social movements in Australian society, such as the mobilization of minority groups in their push for autonomy and equal rights. Although most of the breakaway Deaf organizations did not survive beyond the 1930s, they significantly affected the power structures and relationships between deaf and hearing people in Australia. The Australian Deaf community's attempts to organize independently during these years have been largely erased from collective memory, making Carty's examination a particularly important and necessary addition tot he historical literature. Book jacket Managing Their Own Affairs explores how Deaf organizationsand institutions were forged in Australia during the early 20thcentury. During this period, deaf people challenged the authorityof the dominant welfare organizations, or Deaf Societies, whichwere largely controlled by hearing people and run as charitableinstitutions. Breda Carty comprehensively documents the growth ofthe Australian Deaf community and Australian Deaf organizations forthe first time. She focuses on both the political developments ofthe early 20th century and on the nature of the relationshipsbetween deaf and hearing people. During this time, deaf Australiansaspired to manage their own affairs. They enjoyed some success byestablishing "breakaways" from the Deaf Societies, and they alsoestablished an independent national organization, which wascontested and ultimately suppressed by the Deaf Societies. Thesedevelopments were influenced by wider social movements inAustralian society, such as the mobilization of minority groups intheir push for autonomy and equal rights. Although most of thebreakaway Deaf organizations did not survive beyond the 1930s, theysignificantly affected the power structures and relationshipsbetween deaf and hearing people in Australia. The Australian Deafcommunity's attempts to organize independently during these yearshave been largely erased from collective memory, making Carty'sexamination a particularly important and necessary addition to thehistorical literature Introduction -- Things as we deaf see them -- The prerogative of every citizen -- An open and official break-away -- The more we are together -- Managing their own affairs: the national scene -- All to no purpose -- Epilogue