Grummer

that's cuz they were indoctrinated to think deaf is not disabled...but in reality Deaf are disabled by society so no two ways about deaf people are disabled...

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Deafness

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KarissaMann05

I consider the deafness as disability, but I prefer to see it as a social subculture because they have Deaf History, ASL Poetry, and etc.

caz12

in this country they say or do anything to weasle out of giving genuine people benifit money and many deaf people get nothing to help...society is for peole who fit criteria that bit of disability money helps them fit in so have to say disabled even if dont feel it.

eagle102938

I've accepted that I'm HoH, and that I simply can't do everything that someone with perfectly capable hearing can do. It's a little upsetting, but I've decided to focus on all of the things that I *can* do instead.

Somewhere farther back in the post, someone used the examples of not being able to serve on the front lines, or be a commercial pilot, as ways society disables us. I agree that society can be a b***h sometimes, and there's plenty of examples of discrimination or ignorance keeping someone from getting a job for no good reason. However, I disagree with those examples given.
I would have loved to join the military and serve. That was something I looked forward to for most of my life, and I was seriously let down when I found out I couldn't. But I can understand their reasoning. Out on the front lines, with guns blazing, people shouting, and massive confusion around, you need to have multiple channels of communication open, especially hearing. I would be a danger to myself and others if I didn't hear someone coming up behind me, hear a grenade land next to me, hear someone shouting for help, hear an order given, etc.

As for the airline pilot, because of the reliance on radio communication, that's another one that's simply going to be out of reach for me. They can't take the chance that a dhh pilot misses something crucial on the radio, or can't hear some alarm, etc. Until a new method of easily transmitting information rapidly is invented and implemented, hearing-impaired pilots will have to stick to private aircraft, because we could end up inadvertently becoming a liability to the safety of our passengers.

So yeah, there's definitely some alleys that aren't accessible to us because of a certain aspect. Just like my brother can't do some things because his vision is too horrible. Amputees, blind, deaf, mentally disabled/challenged, whatever type of "disability" you have, there's always something that you're simply unable to do, or unable to do well.
But you know what? There's plenty you *can* do just fine. I'm a better guitarist, mathematician, reader, student, wrestler, cook, and humorist than many hearing people that I know.

So by definition, legally I'm hearing impaired, and as such, disabled. But from my own standpoint, I'm not disabled in any way that really matters. I have my struggles, but so does everybody else. Others may not have to deal with a hearing impairment, but still have their own personal problems. We all live, love, laugh, and sometimes cry, alongside one another.

jpcwa

I am disabled legally speaking; I am legally deaf, so to speak. In other words, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities act. Outside of that I am not disabled because of my deafness. I am only different; I have a different language and communication method than hearing people.

jpcwa

All of my deaf friends can read, write, speak, talk, think, walk, etc. so I do not see, outside of the law, how they are disabled. Also, Hearing is not crucial to life. Deaf people can and do live full and complete lives without hearing.

radioman

exactly -- but - what about jobs. there are many jobs out there but the only ones available now are mostly phone related ones. For example - I have computer skills, but most interviewers only see that providing support means you have to take a phone call and its through a trunk line. you dont know if you are getting a hearing tech or deaf tech and as of today - there is no known way to have a lightening fast way to get a VRS terp on line if the deaf tech is the one available on the line and about to take the call. The only way a deaf can work is to make calls out only but it would require someone to take the call in the first place. not exactly fair to the company - this is an extra manpower.

You can apply this to almost any job, even the ones without a phone situation. before you open your mouth and counteract deaf can still do it - just make sure there is absolutely no way its not a deaf thing in a hearing world.

jpcwa

There is no Job that a deaf person cannot do. Except the military. Strange thing about military though, is deaf have been in military in the USA. There were some deaf people that sneaked into the military during WWII. The recruiters did not even know they were deaf. They could read lips and talk so well that no one even knew they were deaf. And of course, there is deaf Smith -- everyone knows about him.

As for phone, that problem was solved many, many years ago. Deaf now have TTY, Captel, Vp, etc. We are far from limited when it comes to phones. Deaf actually have more choices than hearing. Also, ADA requires them to provide you with TDD, VP, Captel, etc. whatever works best.

lane777

Kudos for this. I'm curious, how many Deaf people that you know of would be offended by your reasoning?

The whole concept of Deaf pride has always made me cringe. I don't take pride in my disability. But I will take pride in who I am as a person. As far as I can tell, Deaf pride is just a façade of confidence