Deaf Poets Society: for Writers with Disabilities"

Question

by Corinne Segal

Deaf Poets Society, a new digital literary magazine, has a message for writers with disabilities: We see you. We want you to be here. And this is your space.

Writer Sarah Katz, the magazine’s founder, grew up in North Potomac, Maryland, and attended a school with a program for students who were deaf or hard of hearing. “I had grown up around other deaf and hard of hearing people and took for granted that I had easy access to other people like me,” she said.

That wasn’t the case at the University of Maryland, College Park, where Katz said she was the “only deaf student I knew.” As a young writer, she began seeking out the disability community and went on to earn an MFA in poetry from American University.

1 of 3
Question
Use the passage below from “Deaf Poets Society” to answer the question.

Which best describes the central idea of this passage?

(1 point)
Responses

There are ways to use text and audio to make literature more accessible for people with disabilities.
There are ways to use text and audio to make literature more accessible for people with disabilities.

The literary world is working to have better options for people with disabilities.
The literary world is working to have better options for people with disabilities.

Sarah Katz was born deaf and was the only deaf person in her school.
Sarah Katz was born deaf and was the only deaf person in her school.

Dead Poets Society was a popular film released in 1989.

Answer 1

The best description of the central idea of the passage is:

The literary world is working to have better options for people with disabilities.

This option reflects the overall theme of the establishment of Deaf Poets Society as a space for writers with disabilities, indicating an effort to improve representation and accessibility within the literary community.

Answer 2

Use the passage below from “Deaf Poets Society” to answer the question.

How does the author use details to support the central idea of this passage?

(1 point)
Responses

by making an allusion to the film Dead Poets Society
by making an allusion to the film Dead Poets Society

by explaining how magazines can be accessible to those with disabilities
by explaining how magazines can be accessible to those with disabilities

by identifying the hometown of the writer Sarah Katz
by identifying the hometown of the writer Sarah Katz

by stating the new magazine will be published every two weeks.
by stating the new magazine will be published every two weeks.

Answer 3

The author uses details to support the central idea of this passage by explaining how magazines can be accessible to those with disabilities.

This option aligns with the theme of the passage, which emphasizes the creation of a literary space specifically for writers with disabilities, indicating a focus on accessibility and representation in the literary world.

Answer 4

Use the passage to answer the question.

Which statement from the text alludes to the central idea that writers with disabilities desire inclusion in the literary world but face obstacles in representation?

(1 point)
Responses

“But the magazine is only one step toward expressing the diversity and point of view of the disability community.”
“But the magazine is only one step toward expressing the diversity and point of view of the disability community.”

“‘It really made me think about the ways in which we, as disabled people, are kept apart from each other,’ she said.”
“‘It really made me think about the ways in which we, as disabled people, are kept apart from each other,’ she said.”

“Deaf Poets Society, a new digital literary magazine, has a message for writers with disabilities: We see you. We want you to be here. And this is your space.”
“Deaf Poets Society, a new digital literary magazine, has a message for writers with disabilities: We see you. We want you to be here. And this is your space.”

“Some of its accomplishments are little noticed by able-bodied people: entrance ramps, wide hallways, even close captioning are all results of efforts to make daily life more accessible.”

Answer 5

The statement from the text that alludes to the central idea that writers with disabilities desire inclusion in the literary world but face obstacles in representation is:

“‘It really made me think about the ways in which we, as disabled people, are kept apart from each other,’ she said.”

This statement highlights the challenges and isolation writers with disabilities experience, underscoring the need for inclusion and representation in the literary community.

Answer 6

Use the passage to answer the question.

What problem is Deaf Poets Society aimed at addressing for people with disabilities?

(1 point)
Responses

the isolation many people with disabilities experience
the isolation many people with disabilities experience

the lack of public education about disabilities
the lack of public education about disabilities

their difficulty many people with disabilities have advancing in their careers
their difficulty many people with disabilities have advancing in their careers

the challenges people with disabilities have with everyday tasks

Answer 7

The problem that Deaf Poets Society is aimed at addressing for people with disabilities is:

the isolation many people with disabilities experience.

The passage discusses how Sarah Katz felt isolated as the only deaf student at her university and emphasizes the magazine as a place for writers with disabilities to find community and representation.

Answer 8

Use the passage to answer the question.

What are two ways the editors of Deaf Poets Society make the journal accessible to people with disabilities? Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

by offering articles in both text and audio form
by offering articles in both text and audio form

by encouraging writers not to “package themselves” for others
by encouraging writers not to “package themselves” for others

by including descriptions of the images that are shown
by including descriptions of the images that are shown

by releasing new issues on a bimonthly basis
by releasing new issues on a bimonthly basis

by hosting literary events that readers can attend

Answer 9

The two ways the editors of Deaf Poets Society make the journal accessible to people with disabilities are:

1. by offering articles in both text and audio form
2. by including descriptions of the images that are shown

These options directly relate to making literary content more accessible for individuals with different disabilities.