1) 1680-1800: high concentration of deaf individuals due to intermarriage mixing of dominant and recessive genes for deafness
2) sign language was used frequently by all individuals especially fisherman (seen as just another way to communicate)
3) BIG IMPACT: easily assimilated people with hearing impairments, great opportunities at school and often were the best ad well paid in community
4) deaf culture was very strong but more importantly, there was equality
