rockdrummer

I am trying to learn more about the deaf community. As part of my learning I would like to hear from the folks within the community of their opinion on this subject. I appreciate your time and help.

Is it proper etiquette to call deaf people.....

1. Handicap
2. Hearing Impaired
3. Hard of Hearing
4. Deaf
5. None of the above (please comment)

Thank you.

Deafness

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ismi

For the record, some disabled people find the term handicapped offensive. I don't necessarily find it offensive, but I do prefer "disabled". Just my two cents.

Heath

Just Deaf or Hard of Hearing is fine as this is much more accepted than another terms like hearing impaired or deaf-mute etc but keep in mind when on official business they usually say hearing impaired as this is what they think of when they first meet you, so don't get too worked up or angry please Deafies.

just say for example... let me show you an example I will use my name ....in a coversation.....

I say

" Hi Good Morning, ma'am I am here for the job interview. My name is Mr. Austin. "

She says

" Good Morning, Let me get Mr. Fruehauf please have a seat. One moment please? "

" Hi, Mr. Fruehauf, There is a hearing impaired person who writes on his own paper and pen he asked for you , ummm his name is Mr. Austin ? "

Mr. Fruehauf says,

" Excellent, bring him in. " as he swivels around in his leather chair.

The secretary comes back and motions with her hand and says

" Yes, you may come in. "

I walk in and promptly thank the secretary and shake hands confidently with Mr. Fruehauf then wait until he sits down then he says, " Have a seat. " as he motions with his hand.

I say " Hi Good Morning Mr. Fruehauf, my name is Mr. Heath Austin and I am Deaf, I communicate by American Sign Language, ( ASL ) and I am here for the job interview, Can we wait until the sign language interpreter shows up please? I am sure the sign language interpreter is on the way here as the interpreter is booked pretty solid and should arrive shortly. " then I look at my watch and I write down that I showed up here on time, ready to work.

then the ASL interpreter shows up and is ready to start interpreting then when done and Mr. Fruehauf says " You have the job. " I say Thank you Mr. Freuhauf then I promptly say Thank you to the ASL interpreter.

( This is an example of a real world conversation, ideally ASL interpreters should show up before the Deaf person shows up but sometimes that does not always work in the real world then you need to have positive stragetries. )

rockdrummer

Yes, I found that out the hard way. I will not make that mistake again. Sighs

pek1

However, due to the fact that deafness IS considered a disability as per The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we shouldn't shy away from it. I use a hearing dog that is with me nearly all the time and, if you met me in person, you would hear (if you're a hearie) that I have nearly perfect diction and use speech nearly 100 percent. I've had to adjust to "hearie" society, so, I say "tit for tat," they can adjust to having a service dog in their business.

For many years, deaf people have been called, "deaf and dumb." So, this is offensive, too. After all, what does being deaf have anything to do with being dumb? We know that blondes are dumb, but not all deaf people are blonde, are they? So why call us, even the hoh (hard-of-hearing) "deaf and dumb?" Deaf, yes, but INTELLIGENT.

Teresh

Call me "handicapped" and if I have a something soft (like a squeeky hammer) I'll probably bop you. Call me "hearing impaired" and I'll cringe. I don't mind "hard of hearing", though, since it's how I refer to myself.

Cheri

Hard of hearing or deaf. I don't like being called "Handicap" because I have legs and arms to use. I just cannot hear, doesn't make me handicap, I don't even have a handicap parking permit.

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rockdrummer

Oh Boy...Now we are going to get blondes in here defending themselves...Sighs.. Pek1..Please don't generalize blondes. They are not all dumb. And by the way, in the context of deaf and dumb. Dumb simply refers to the lack of ability to speak but I can understand how it would be offensive. A long time ago, people assumed that if someone was deaf, they must not be able to speak. This is where that term came from and I believe it was later changed to Deaf Mute which in some cases is more P.C. (or maybe not) Nowadays we know much better than that so I hope the term "Deaf and Dumb" is not used anymore. As you can see, I didn't even offer that as an option. And I have nothinig against the deaf, I have meet some very fine deaf people. But I wouln't generalize the deaf either. I would not say that all deaf are intelligent. In fact, I have seen quite the opposite with some people. Remeber there is good, bad and ugly in every walk of life.

highlands

I would prefer the hard of hearing term..
it means that we have difficulty in hearing either completely or partially( which includes me)...

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rockdrummer

Cheri, please remember that handicap does not only refer to mobility imparments. Those folks that have handicap parking permits have mobility imparments. Below is the definition of handicap.

Main Entry: 1hand·i·cap
Pronunciation: 'han-di-"kap, -dE-
Function: noun
A disadvantage that makes achievement unusually difficult b sometimes offensive : a physical disability

Per the definition, many different types of impairments can be considered handicaps. Not just mobility impairments. The definition does also say "sometimes offensive" which to some it is. It also appears that to some, it isnt offensive. My take on the term is that it can apply to any type of impairment that puts a person at a dis-advantage.
I thank you Cheri for your response and insight.

ismi

A 'better' definition would be "an impairment that interferes with day to day activities" - this includes physical, sensory, cognitive and psychological disabilities.

I think deafness is a psuedo-disability, but I have a different understanding of what disability means than most people.

Bowak

I prefer deaf. its what i use all the time to let everyone know that I'm deaf.

rockdrummer

Agreed ismi. I just can't think of an impairment that would not interfere with day to day activities... Perhaps you can give an example.

Thank you

GalaxyAngel

"Deaf" proprite good clean word..

Likely Everyone feel comfortable word "Deaf" than Handicap.. sound alike can't walk or else... reliable handy stuff..
Hearing impaired... sound like Ear broken.. Does ear is empty on it? I have two ears there.... but no sound.. make sense suitable for word "DEAF"

Hard of Hearing... Who they can speak and little hear as well as proprite word Hard of Hearing.. make sense.. No offense..

*smile*

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Parent's proud our children.

ismi

Sure. Deafness, one could argue, is "not a disability" in this sense - that could be argued both ways depending on the individual and their lifestyle.

A more modern way of thinking of it is what's called the "social model". This says, "to what extent does society limit my involvement based on my impairment?" and calls that disability. So if I can access a given building in my wheelchair, I'm less disabled than if I couldn't; but I'm still just as impaired.

Here's a less hair-splitting example. If you're near (or far) sighted, your eyesight is impaired. But, assuming you have glasses, your day to day activities are not likely to be impacted. Therefore, it's not a disability.

rockdrummer

ismi. I noticed that I forgot to include deaf as an option in the poll but I will include the comment that are for that. It is interesting to see the pattern that is emerging.

pek1

<<Spewing pop all over the keyboard and draining out through my nose>> Thanks for the laugh, rockdrummer! Hey blondes, get a lawyer and sue me!

rockdrummer

Nice Sienna. I am glad you got a laugh out of that. Hopefully you didn't hurt yourself. Carbonation through the nose can be painful...Take care

rockdrummer

Haven't gotten any feedback in a couple days so perhaps it's time to close the poll. I had hoped for more responses but I think a pattern is emerging. Even though I screwed up the poll choices here are the results thus far;

Disabled - 1
Handicapped - 0
Hearing Impaired - 3
Deaf - 5
Hard of hearing - 4

It looks like deaf and hard of hearing are proper terms to use. Handicapped - Never. Disabled? I didn't even think of that one and the whole ADA perspective. Thank you to those that participated and anybody that wants to chime in..go for it. This will remain open until I figure out how to close or lock it.

Liebling:-)))

I prefer Deaf.

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ismi

I think you may have counted me as a vote for "disabled" - I actually didn't vote, just pointing out that "handicapped" is less correct than "disabled" when referring to disabled people. I would vote that HOH and Deaf are both polite. "Disabled", IMHO, is a category that deafness falls under, but I wouldn't say, "Do you know ___? The disabled guy?", I would say, "Do you know ___? The deaf (or HOH) guy?", depending on which (deaf or HOH) was more accurate. It's just more specific.

sequoias

I prefer being called hard of hearing or deaf. It's an insult when someone calls me an handicap. I can walk and use my arms just fine! I don't being called disabled because I'm unable to communicate just like a hearing person can.

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Cheri

Excuse me Pek1, Not all blondes are consider "dumb" I'm blonde and I'm no where close as being dumb. So, watch it dude.

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Mookie

I don't see Deaf on poll...

If I did vote, none of above. Does that mean "retardeaf"?

No thanks...

sr171soars

I'll take hearing-impaired first and then deaf secondly.

Hard of hearing no longer applies to me anymore (I'm assuming the word implies one still has some hearing left).

Not too partial to handicap but I grew up during the time that word was used alot. So, it isn't as offensive to me as to others.

WendyMay

I believe it is proper to call the Deaf, Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, Hard of Hearing. The medical community tries to make it seem that Deaf people are handicapped in some way, when they are not, so the medical community makes labels like "Hearing Impaired." I believe it is the right of the Deaf to call themselves what they want, and not the hearing world making labels for them. I understand the medical communities' desire to be "proper" and not offend people, but they often do offend people anyway. Their intentions are well-meaning, but it ends up offensive. It is the same for other labels, such as for the mentally ill (not comparing Deaf to mentally ill; just making a point about labelling). They are calling them (and me, if you want me to be honest) "Consumers" and "Individuals." For goodness' sake, of course everyone is an individual! Whats with the label? And the one I hate most is "Consumer." American consumerism is repulsive, to say the least, and calling us consumers is weird. I mean, do they call people with cancer "Consumers?" No, they call them patients. Also, what separates those who they call "Consumers" with everyone else? Do I walk down the street and think of people as consumers? No! I believe in calling it like it is, and I know that as many Deaf people that I have spoken to prefer to be called Deaf. Why water it down? Tell it like it is. Why treat it like it's some illness or disability and walk on eggshells trying not to break them, when the fact is, this kind of thinking and behavior is what causes others to think of the Deaf and HOH as they do: People who are disabled and need to be taken care of. Jeez, don't want to hurt their feelings. The reality is, let things be what they are, the Deaf are Deaf, the HOH are HOH. And let those who fall into those categories choose what they want to be called.
Wendy
P.S. Sorry, this is a sore subject for me. If I have offended anyone, I do apologize.

Angel

Pardon me? Are you saying that blondes are dumb? what makes you so special?

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