| This is a qualitative study that explores the beginning years of one decade (1969-1979) of a published newsletter, the Deaf Spectrum . This study analyzes how Deaf leaders, through their writings over the first three years of this pivotal newsletter, framed their rhetorical and discourse approaches in order to: (1) advocate and give voice to the needs of the Deaf learner, and (2) politically mobilize the Deaf community toward a more responsible learner centered approach to Deaf education. Using an integrated theoretical framework of fantasy theme analysis and critical discourse analysis, the analysis showed that four pivotal dynamics---ideology, identity, relationships, and activities---functioned synergistically in the construction and maintenance protest dynamics for the incipient, but emerging Deaf movement of the late 1960's and early 1970's, the period that marked the launching, publication and national distribution of the Deaf Spectrum . |
