Lily7

I just think the culture of people in wheelchairs is SO fascinating. I love all the different chairs they use and the way the people are and the challenges they've overcome. I love how they have their own lingo and mannerisms and I want to learn it!

I want to be friends with people in wheelchairs! I think I'll go find a wheelchair forum and sign up and post all about my love of wheelchairs and the people that use them and how awesome they are.



I am being completely sarcastic to make a point about something that really irritates me, in case anyone was wondering.

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dereksbicycles

Turbo engines fascinate me!~! I see them in small cars. Big cars. Rusty cars. Neat cars.'

I even see some turbo cars stalled on the road. Go figure!!!

purplewowies

This actually explores a point I've just been realizing (in a non-Deaf-related way) recently.

I hate the way a lot of neurotypicals/non-autistics talk about people on the autism spectrum.

"Like OMG! My brother/sister/friend/nephew is so awesome and so brave and so cute (even though s/he's 26) and I love that we went to a restaurant yesterday! It's SO AWESOME AND AMAZING that s/he was out in public doing a normal thing! Oh and BTW make sure to LIGHT IT UP BLUE! and donate lots of money to organizations that cast autism in an extremely negative light!!!!!!111!!one!!1!"



I would never speak that way about myself or the more "classically" autistic kid that I babysit.

Makes me wonder just how other people see me. Especially since there was this RA on another floor that has the same major as me. She was totally nice to me until my mom told her that I was on the spectrum. Now she never talks to me and only shoots awkward glances toward me.

teamint

Hi Purple;
So thinking on this, I wondered if I ever did something similar talking about my "boys" (who are not actually mine, and who are men now - but, golly, I watched them grow up and it is hard for ME to transition <wink>). I'm pretty sure i have. Why? Well, one of the gents, we will call him B. since I don't have his permission to give his name, is on the 'severe' end of ASD. He is nonverbal, frequently violent (to self and other), and growing up did not have an I-thou distinction. Times with B. are some of the highlights of my life, but they are very unpredictable. I have bite scars, old broken bones, and a car door that no longer has a handle to open from the inside. On the other hand, when B. smiles the whole world lights up with sunshine. He's like a brother and I love him very much. My point though, is this: when he was younger, it was very rare to have an afternoon hanging out with B and not have to diffuse multiple violent episodes. Bruising and broken objects were just par-for-the-course. A "normal" outing to the park or movies or restaurant that did NOT involve multiple mild crises was, in fact, AWESOME AND AMAZING. It takes heroic effort for some ASDers to have "normal" days (both on the part of themselves and their loved ones). And yeah, I think B is incredibly brave some of those days. I am not sure if I had to walk through a "fun" outing being assaulted by my senses, experiencing random periods of pain and panic, that I'd still be adventurous enough to run and put my shoes on whenever it was time to play with my almost-sister. What I do know without a doubt is that having the privilege of watching my near-brother B's unbreakable resolve despite his sensory, medical, and social challenges was humbling and inspiring when I was feeling 'overwhelmed' by the rigors of med school. Is that because of his autism? Nah, its because B is just a super awesome guy!

drphil

Hey that is a great idea-Turbocharged wheelchairs! VVOOMMMMM!

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teamint

Dr phil; check out the documentary called Murderball -- <grin> turbocharged chairs for sure! :-)

Glenn

My best friend was in a wheelchair for a while. Lots of challenges out there.

Anij

A number of my SMA kids play (power) wheelchair soccer - sooooo much fun!!

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drphil

Presumably "turbo charged" is "different" than "regular motorized" wheelchairs?

No direct experience in wheelchairs-at the present time.

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dereksbicycles

I'm surprised that turbocharged wheelchairs haven't been invented yet. People would be running to buy one of those when they hit the market.

drphil

Subtle hint to Dereksbicycles: Start :working on-turbo charged wheelchairs. Huge markets opening up!
My consulting fees: one smile!

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Get Real:Implanted Sunnybrook/Toronto -Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07

LoveBlue

Where are my steel toed boots?

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CSign

What does SMA stand for?

Anij

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

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CSign

Oceanbreeze

I'm a wheelchair user. Turbo charged chairs wouldn't be practical for safety reasons. This is why a power chair can only go so fast. I, for one, would NOT want to be in a chair that I cannot control the speed of.

Just sayin'...

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Anij

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

My kids refers to their powershairs (highly specialised with full recline to flat, ultralight touch switches, computer activation, "attendant controls" etc as "turbo" or "souped up".

You're, of course correct, super fast PChairs would be dangerous - mostly on uneven surfaces or on turns. That being said, I know a few people who's chairs go faster than you could power walk.

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CSign

Hi Ocean! Nice to see you

CSign

To the OP: I get what you're saying, but as an old poster used to say that's a "fallacious comparison". People in wheelchairs are not a culture. People who are Deaf and use ASL are.

green427

Motochair Propane Powered Wheelchair - YouTube

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Warning: Anything I post may not make any sense. All advice is for entertainment value only. Sarcasm might be present. Interpret at your own risk.

Oceanbreeze

Oh, that's true. I was just referring to a personal preference; as well as the practicality of a super fast chair. However, I agree with you that the speed of most power chairs are, at least, as fast as someone may power walk or even faster. My outside guess would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 5mph?

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"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."

Oceanbreeze

This is true. I don't think I've ever heard of using a wheelchair or being paralyzed as a culture. Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I think that in order for a group to be considered a culture, linguistics must come into play?

I guess this where one asks "Exactly what makes a culture, a culture?" Certainly being in a wheelchair doesn't a culture make....

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"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."

Oceanbreeze

Hi CSign! Back at ya!

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"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."

Oceanbreeze

Three words....

NO, THANK YOU!

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"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."

Lily7

Well duh, that was my whole point. I used an example that was obviously NOT a culture to make it more obvious how ridiculous it is when people get all interested in us and what IS a culture for us in such a matter that shows they only see us as a trend. While it's better than seeing us negatively, it's still annoying when everything we are is turned into a novelty, at least that is what it feels like. Especially when the novelty wears off as soon as they find out that there are actual rules to our culture and how long it takes to learn the language and how hard it is.

I am sure I am not the only one that has noticed the surge in teenagers, mostly girls, who "want to make Deaf friends"... probably thanks to that TV show, Switched at Birth. It's just annoying to me, to seek out Deaf people to be friends with for the "cool factor" - because it never lasts long. We are not a novelty, we are human beings who just happen to be deaf. I would never want anyone to seek my friendship just because I was deaf and had a cool language/culture.

I wanted to point out that if this same attitude were put out there about wheelchairs, for example, it might be seen as the ridiculousness that it really is. Thus the sarcasm. Why is it ok to say "I want to find Deaf people to be friends with" but not "I want to find someone in a wheelchair to be friends with"? I don't know about the rest of you but I would find it odd and uncomfortable if someone sought me out for friendship because I was in a wheelchair, or because I had an oxygen tank, etc. Same as if they did so because I was white, or because I had blonde hair, or because I'm fat, LOL I would question their motives. If all they are interested in is the novelty of whatever it is they are seeking out, then it's not a real strong basis for a friendship and thus not a real friendship.

Novelty only lasts so long. That is why it bothers me when people seek out Deaf people to be friends with because "it's cool".

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AlleyCat

Unfortunately, there's a number of posters here who do just that.

GrendelQ

I think this may be because you are new to the site and may not be aware of a longstanding continuing cycle of interest that occurs whenever deaf celebrities, deaf events, or ASL gets some visibility in the mainstream.

Far from being annoyed, I'm so glad these surges occur -- more interest, more participation, more resources. It's not just teenage hearing girls who are becoming aware, it's teenage deaf and HOH girls, boys, adults, hearing parents, the medical profession, educators, the general public ... and so on. And seems to me that increased awareness of deaf culture, issues, facts is a good thing, especially when the vehicle, such as SAB, is itself informed by Deaf people.

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Anij

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

I agree GrendelQ!

For the most part I think it's great that those interested (casually or seriously) are able to find AD and hopefully learn at least a bit about the vast "range" of life experiences of those who are Hoh, deaf, Deaf, LD, as well as those with bilateral or unilteral HL/deafness.

It seems about every 8months there's an influx of new hearing visitors - mainly those who've started ASL classes or thinking about taking a class.

I'll admit, sometimes I get frustrated with those who pop in to ask their homework questions, then disappear (instead of staying to really learn about the hoh & deaf worlds).

Part of the issue really seems to be that there are ASL teachers (especially hearing ones with no contacts with their own ASL community).

For some reason, instead of creating enviroments where their students can meet and interact with local hoh/Deaf ASLers, they actually send them online to ask questions (in writing, not using ASL at all) creating a situations where the students are under the impression it's our "job" to give them answers to all their homework assignments (becuase their teacher implied it).

It's a difficult balance sometimes. While I love that there are so many hearing people interesting in being here - admittedly sometimes it almost feels like those of us who actually ARE hoh/deaf are a minority here - which is weird.

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green427

Hence my reason for starting that poll on "ASL students, what's your reason for learning ASL?"

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Warning: Anything I post may not make any sense. All advice is for entertainment value only. Sarcasm might be present. Interpret at your own risk.

kellycat

I wonder if it's the teachers saying students should go online, or students copping out of doing actual work of finding a person, using their new (and not skillful) ASL and having a conversation. As a language teacher, I know that some of my colleagues WOULD cop out and be lazy and do that. But most language teachers I know do see the value in actual, authentic contact with the people who use the language I'm teaching.