At this time, diverse views on deafness are present in society. Such views, in general, are characterized by theoretical disputes between communicative possibilities - either oral or gestural - based on the importance of having appropriated oneself of a language code for the development of language, which is essential in the constitution of subjectivity of human beings. Thus, this study aimed to identify the conceptions of deaf people had about their condition. To collect the data we used semi-structured interviews, applied to ten participants who were deaf adult users of the Brazilian Sign Language - Libras. The interviews were taped, transcribed and subjected to content analysis. The results indicate that the conceptions of deafness constitute a multifaceted view on this condition, influenced by social relations throughout each person’s life trajectories. The researchers perceived that learning Libras enabled deaf persons to constitute their own assertiveness as someone who is different, with different needs.
Special Education; Social interaction; Deafness; Language
