AGBell.info » AGBell wants to deprive Deaf people who sign of their dignity
February 6, 2008
AGBell wants to deprive Deaf people who sign of their dignity
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf - better know as “agBAD” - sent a letter to Pepsico recently on January 31, 2008.
This is from their statement:
“We would also like to remind you that with the amount of money Pepsi will spend on just one 60 second spot to air during the Super Bowl, you could help an untold number families obtain hearing aids and other professional services that are costly and in many cases not covered by medical insurance.”
The writing style in AG Bell’s statement is telling. It shows that they consider themselves to be superior to Deaf people who sign, and that they think deaf people who do not sign are also superior to Deaf people who sign. They are attempting to deprive us Deaf signers of the dignity that we deserve.
Also ironic is the fact that AGBell takes in over 12 million dollars a year, as many of us are aware. And what good does this do for the Deaf community? It does no good at all for Deaf people who use sign language.
I wonder how many parents fear that it would be undignified for their deaf children learn sign language, and who feel this way because of AGBell’s worldwide propaganda campaign? The attempt to smear sign language as being an inferior mode of communication, and for this they should be condemned.
John Egbert
As much as the oralist deny it, that kind of propandga is being used to play into the parents' fears about ASL and the Deaf community.