Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 17, 2011
Mental health experiences and deafness: personal and legal perspectives
Janet DeVinney1, Stephen Murphy
1Division on Deafness, at the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Augusta, Maine, USA. Jan.A.DeVinney@state.me.us
Abstract:
The following study describes the experiences of Ms. Jan DeVinney, a woman with deafness, who voluntarily admitted herself to the psychiatric unit of a general hospital seeking help for depression. Presented are her self-reported, detailed experiences that reveal many of the accessibility barriers that face deaf people within mental health settings. Also included are the provisions of a nationally significant consent decree emanating from DeVinney and the United States of America vs. Maine Medical Center. Within the landmark consent decree are contained specific hospital reforms illustrating what is required to achieve inclusive mental health services for deaf and partially hearing people. The study also reveals broader issues surrounding mental health treatment that are relevant to services recipients, whether deaf or hearing.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Perception of Sound Waves
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...
Dimensions of Health and Illness
Barriers to Effective Communication I
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...
Auditory Perception
Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...

