What is considered a disability

My sister was at school the other night and met a woman who's son was deaf in one ear since birth. They considered him to be disabled. They are putting a device in his good hear to help I guess. Now he is having trouble talking, I think he is still a baby.

I was born deaf in my right ear. I am now 40. They never did anything to help me, I just basically learned to live with it. My good ear has compensated and now I can hear things other people can't sometimes. I was never considered disabled. I just thought that was interesting.

This is also interesting. I'm with a group that is in an Internet Marketing program. 90% of the members are deaf.

Bonnie

I think it cos when someone got something wrong like cant walk, cant hear etc they say disability.

My parents brought me up as a child with hearing difficulties not with a disabilty.

Really there are all types of disabilities. Not just being deaf no. Not being able to walk no. There are so many types. But doesn't mean that prevents people from doing certain things &/or anything. Ya just never know everyone may have some type of disability & not even realize it. Even if its just a partial disability or not.

to me, a disability is something that impairs normal function of life. Deafness, is not an impairment in my eyes. A completely deaf person, with no other problems, is completely able to live life. Might have a few minor inconviniences, due to lack of sound, but would be able to function in life normally.

Or maybe u can take it this way...

disability for each of these conditions can mean:

deaf- not being able to hear

wheelchair-bound-not being able to walk

blind-not being able to see



The problem with this word is that the general population takes it literally like by labeling a deaf person as disabled rather as having a disability. By saying a "person is disabled" makes the person sound like they cant do anything while on the other hand, by saying a "person has a disability" sounds like the person is able to do a lot but has one area lacking in something.


Hope this makes sense.

There is another thread that is almost the same. Check it out and it may answer some of your questions. http://www.alldeaf.com/our-world-our-culture/38216-we-not-disabled.html

Whenever I am not clear on the meaning of something I usually look it up in the dictionary. When you look at the definitions of disabled and handicapped, it's up to you to decide if you fall into any of the catagories.

There are always exceptions to the rules and overacheivers that overcome their conditions so as not to be at a disadvantage. So I would not assume that people whom are deaf are disabled or handicapped. I would also not assume they are not.

It really depends on the individual. It also depends on how you define success for yourself. As an example, if you consider yourself successful even though you are not able to obtain employment, finish school, get a degree, if you are on public aid and these are a result of not being able to communicate effectivly as a result of deafness, then you are not at a disadvantage. On the other hand if you feel that these are signs of not being successful, then you are at a disadvantage.

As an objective persion I think that success can be measured in terms of achievment in ones life. Standards of living are a good measure of success in many things including the ability to manage your finances. Personally, I would consider a person living at or near poverty levels to be at a disadvantage. The question for me is, what puts someone at such a disadvantage to cause that? Is it because they are deaf? Is it because they never finished school? Is it because of prejudice towards them or any other reason? That is my opinion for what it's worth.

How come deaf people recieve SSI/SSID ?? they re not disabled but they can work physically/mentally.

I dont understand why deaf pp need SSI/SSID if they claimed that they re not disabled? Help me understand this.

They have a lack of function thereof. While they can still work physically and mentally, they require certian things that someone would have not otherwise- someone with hearing. Nobody likes the thought of themselves being belittled therefore they don't consider themselves disabled. Alot of these people don't even apply for SSI/SSD. At least I think, I could be wrong.