I am totally bemused by these claims of communication 'preference', surely the only effective communication deaf people use, is the one determined via their greatest need combined with their ability ? Deaf people do NOT choose their communications, it tends to choose them.
Put it this way, if you are e.g. totally fluent in Chinese and French, and live in France, then do you expect and demand to have Chinese access because you know that as well ? Blogs on deaf.read already highlight this issue of 'preference' (A red herring in reality), where a TV channel withdrew sign language access, because captions were provided, despite 'preference' for sign by those equally of ability to read, the writing is on the wall already.
Mainstream and society is not feeling obliged to provide the deaf with multi-alternatives to access. Captions have since been widely accepted as 'preferential' to very expensive sign access, where medias have no people to do the signing, and no money to pay them, even IF that was the main access form. I rather fear, sign language is a 'preference' a lot of people are not now prioritizing any more, and captions have replaced it. IN reality need will replace preferences every time, as preference is a LUXURY !
The other thing about preferences is the cheapest option tends to rule....
