The Deaf Community

**shel90** · 10-01-2010, 10:28 PM

Should the Deaf community accept hearing people calling deafness defective or that Deaf people need to improve themselves by getting CIs or seeking a cure.? Or that we should assimilate in the hearing world fully>
If so, why?

If not, why not?

For me...NO...because we have the right to be comfortable with our deafness and be respected as contributing citizens to this country. No, we may not live our lives the hearing way but as long as we are contributing to society, why complain about us wanting to stay in the Deaf community and using ASL as our language?

Tousi · 10-01-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

Should the Deaf community accept hearing people calling deafness defective or that Deaf people need to improve themselves by getting CIs or seeking a cure.? Or that we should assimilate in the hearing world fully>
If so, why?

If not, why not?

For me...NO...because we have the right to be comfortable with our deafness and be respected as contributing citizens to this country. No, we may not live our lives the hearing way but as long as we are contributing to society, why complain about us wanting to stay in the Deaf community and using ASL as our language?

Problem is: for deaf toddlers, all options are conveyed/explained to the parents and they make a range of decisions. Other than that, I agree with the spirit of your message.

**LDNanna** · 10-01-2010, 11:05 PM

Historically speaking, hearing have patronized the deaf. Feeling superior in the guise of their so called kindnesses. Paternalized the deaf under guise and pretense of knowing "what is good for them".

Bah. Soon we may begin to believe it.

I was of course born hearing as I am late deaf. It did not take long to discover that in some hearing peoples eyes my IQ dropped faster than my audiogram.
To answer your question - no. Why? I am quite capable of making my own decisions, have the right to my own opinion and have earned and fought for the right to make my own informed life choices.

I work hard, put up with prejudices and have earned my stripes. I am late deaf but none the less proud to be deaf. The last person to make decisions for me was my father. The dear man has passed on and so there went the last person respected enough to allow this liberty.

BecLak · 10-02-2010, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

Problem is: for deaf toddlers, all options are conveyed/explained to the parents and they make a range of decisions. Other than that, I agree with the spirit of your message.

That is the intention, but from my own experience it depends on the ones who give out the options. I was never given the option to be introduced to the deaf community and to learn sign language. The hearing world inclines to give options that fit with their world. They would not consider the deaf community or sign language as a option, especially if the parents are hearing. I disagree with that.

Tousi · 10-02-2010, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BecLak

That is the intention, but from my own experience it depends on the ones who give out the options. I was never given the option to be introduced to the deaf community and to learn sign language. The hearing world inclines to give options that fit with their world. They would not consider the deaf community or sign language as a option, especially if the parents are hearing. I disagree with that.

I hear you; some jurisdictions are worse than others.....sorry that happened to you.

**GrendelQ** · 10-02-2010, 07:25 AM

Are you asking if the decision to wear a HA, get a CI, or to research hair cell regeneration should exclude someone from the Deaf community?

Frisky Feline · 10-02-2010, 07:55 AM

ditto, shel.

All I want is others to focus on themselve or their kids and leave me alone and my opinion with deaf community. Others who are sharing the same opinions with me that we can contintue to be part of the Deaf community are awesome.

I am sure that I will come back to this thread later.

**KarissaMann05** · 10-02-2010, 02:00 PM

Wirelessly posted

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrendelQ

Are you asking if the decision to wear a HA, get a CI, or to research hair cell regeneration should exclude someone from the Deaf community?

Not what shel90 said... she asked anyone some questions. OK, like, I ask you; why are you thinking being hearing is more important than being deaf? Why are your people think we should be normal humans like you?

That is what shel90 tried to say.

faire_jour · 10-02-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarissaMann05

Wirelessly posted

Not what shel90 said... she asked anyone some questions. OK, like, I ask you; why are you thinking being hearing is more important than being deaf? Why are your people think we should be normal humans like you?

That is what shel90 tried to say.

Who are "your" people? 33% of my immediate family is Deaf, what about yours?

I dare one person to find a single post by Grendel or me that says that Hearing is better than Deaf.

**KarissaMann05** · 10-02-2010, 02:07 PM

Wirelessly posted

Quote:

Should the Deaf community accept hearing people calling deafness defective or that Deaf people need to improve themselves by getting CIs or seeking a cure?

All NOs to these questions! Too bad, normal people think so.

Or that we should assimilate in the hearing world fully?

No, any person don't have to. It is up to us.

If so, why? N/A

If not, why not?

Deaf people should feel comfortable for themselves. I hate how the way hearing people treat us like crap cos they think they know better.

Bah.

**KarissaMann05** · 10-02-2010, 02:09 PM

Wirelessly posted

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarissaMann05

Not what shel90 said... she asked anyone some questions. OK, like, I ask you; why are you thinking being hearing is more important than being deaf? Why are your people think we should be normal humans like you?

That is what shel90 tried to say.

Who are "your" people? 33% of my immediate family is Deaf, what about yours?

I dare one person to find a single post by Grendel or me that says that Hearing is better than Deaf.

I'm not refered to you or anyone in here. I gave you an example for what she tried to say...

Frisky Feline · 10-02-2010, 02:11 PM

I d like to see more of CI users to challenge us who are pure deaf but only arguing by hearing parents. I wonder.

faire_jour · 10-02-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarissaMann05

Wirelessly posted

I'm not refered to you or anyone in here. I gave you an example for what she tried to say...

You quoted a hearing person and said "your people". How is that supposed to be interpreted?

faire_jour · 10-02-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frisky Feline

I d like to see more of CI users to challenge us who are pure deaf but only arguing by hearing parents. I wonder.

If they don't seek out the Deaf community, but instead live in the mainstream community, they wouldn't be here.

posts from hell · 10-02-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

Who are "your" people? 33% of my immediate family is Deaf, what about yours?

I dare one person to find a single post by Grendel or me that says that Hearing is better than Deaf.

AllDeaf.com - View Single Post - A Cure

Projecting a cure = eradication = pride of hearing...

faire_jour · 10-02-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posts from hell

AllDeaf.com - View Single Post - A Cure

Projecting a cure = eradication = pride of hearing...

No, I asked what would be a cure and what wouldn't. I have no control of what scientists choose to do, all I can do is choose what I do and don't do. I did not advocate FOR a cure, or say that I hope they discover one.

posts from hell · 10-02-2010, 02:17 PM

Then why bother bringing it up? What's your motive?

**KarissaMann05** · 10-02-2010, 02:19 PM

Wirelessly posted

Oh boy... you don't get it. But I will answer your questions anyway.

Who are "your" people? 33% of my immediate family is Deaf, what about yours?"

Hearing people.

And, my life is really not so important to you. So, I don't see why I should to tell you about my family and myself.

Tousi · 10-02-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posts from hell

Then why bother bringing it up? What's your motive?

Talk about transparency....

Frisky Feline · 10-02-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

If they don't seek out the Deaf community, but instead live in the mainstream community, they wouldn't be here.

maybe.

maybe not, if they care about CI being useful then they could have tell us what they think of CI but they haven't. You tell me about it.

faire_jour · 10-02-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posts from hell

Then why bother bringing it up? What's your motive?

I was watching X-men 3 and saw some serious parallels between it and the Deaf community. It promoted a conversation with my husband about the definition of "cure" and we disagreed, thought I would open it up to other opinions.

faire_jour · 10-02-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarissaMann05

Wirelessly posted

Oh boy... you don't get it. But I will answer your questions anyway.

Who are "your" people? 33% of my immediate family is Deaf, what about yours?"

Hearing people.

And, my life is really not so important to you. So, I don't see why I should to tell you about my family and myself.

Then don't tell me who is "my people" and who isn't.

deafgal001 · 10-02-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

If they don't seek out the Deaf community, but instead live in the mainstream community, they wouldn't be here.

If they are not interested defending themselves and challenging deaf people, then why the parents? I don't understand.

they probably too young right now ( I don't think teenagers are ready and probably too sensitive)

**sallylou** · 10-02-2010, 02:29 PM

No. Not anymore than someone should accept being called stupid, loser, etc. [insert any insulting term here] When someone suggests that I need to be "fixed" or "eradicated," it makes me feel the same way that I feel when someone calls me a loser. I won't accept that.

**KarissaMann05** · 10-02-2010, 02:37 PM

Wirelessly posted

Well, I'm very happy that my mother didn't give me a "cure", or force me to be normal child, or force me to learn how to speak and listen, or not prevented me from exposing the ASL and Deaf Community.

I thankfully glad I grew up turned out doing so great! I love my family so much cos how they treated me better. I now can have my own choices.

rockin'robin · 10-02-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDNanna

Historically speaking, hearing have patronized the deaf. Feeling superior in the guise of their so called kindnesses. Paternalized the deaf under guise and pretense of knowing "what is good for them".

Bah. Soon we may begin to believe it.

I was of course born hearing as I am late deaf. It did not take long to discover that in some hearing peoples eyes my IQ dropped faster than my audiogram.
To answer your question - no. Why? I am quite capable of making my own decisions, have the right to my own opinion and have earned and fought for the right to make my own informed life choices.

I work hard, put up with prejudices and have earned my stripes. I am late deaf but none the less proud to be deaf. The last person to make decisions for me was my father. The dear man has passed on and so there went the last person respected enough to allow this liberty.

Superb Posting!....You said it excellent....

**GrendelQ** · 10-02-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarissaMann05

Wirelessly posted
OK, like, I ask you; why are you thinking being hearing is more important than being deaf?

I don't.

**GrendelQ** · 10-02-2010, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frisky Feline

I d like to see more of CI users to challenge us who are pure deaf but only arguing by hearing parents. I wonder.

My daughter can't write yet. She's 4.

**GrendelQ** · 10-02-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafgal001

If they are not interested defending themselves and challenging deaf people, then why the parents? I don't understand.

they probably too young right now ( I don't think teenagers are ready and probably too sensitive)

Not interested in challenging deaf people? They ARE deaf people, what do you mean by that?

In my case, my daughter is too young to write and join an online community. I'm hearing, yet part of the deaf community in order to understand and learn whatever I can from those who have trodden the path before and to make it possible for her to be exposed to Deaf culture and those with common experiences as a child. If I were not participating, she would not otherwise have an opportunity to interact with those who are deaf.

I know quite a few older children with CIs who do not participate in online forums such as this because -- frankly -- what is there for teenagers here, whether deaf or hearing? Are there a whole bunch of 14 - 20 YO unaided deaf here speaking for themselves? They are all out there looking for fun and friendship, their friends are on Facebook, the people they know in school, in real life. The experiences being related here are rarely relevant to today's high school age kids who've been wearing CIs since they were 1 or 2: they didn't grow up in the old oral schools described here, they likely didn't have a bi-bi program nearby, they grew up in communities of HA/CI children like themselves or in mainstream environments. The oldest early implantees, the pioneers who got their CIs pre-FDA approval trials, are 21, right? And until recently the Deaf community rejected them and their families outright. So they don't see the Deaf as their own "People." There are not yet 30 - 40 YOs out there who have grown up with CIs from toddler years.

Tousi · 10-02-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDNanna

Historically speaking, hearing have patronized the deaf. Feeling superior in the guise of their so called kindnesses. Paternalized the deaf under guise and pretense of knowing "what is good for them".

Bah. Soon we may begin to believe it.

I was of course born hearing as I am late deaf. It did not take long to discover that in some hearing peoples eyes my IQ dropped faster than my audiogram.
To answer your question - no. Why? I am quite capable of making my own decisions, have the right to my own opinion and have earned and fought for the right to make my own informed life choices.

I work hard, put up with prejudices and have earned my stripes. I am late deaf but none the less proud to be deaf. The last person to make decisions for me was my father. The dear man has passed on and so there went the last person respected enough to allow this liberty.

Wow, I missed this the first time around! What a great post!!

10-01-2010, 10:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
shel90 Let It Snow!!!! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: A place where crabs are popular Posts: 40,305 Blog Entries: 3	The Deaf Community Should the Deaf community accept hearing people calling deafness defective or that Deaf people need to improve themselves by getting CIs or seeking a cure.? Or that we should assimilate in the hearing world fully> If so, why? If not, why not? For me...NO...because we have the right to be comfortable with our deafness and be respected as contributing citizens to this country. No, we may not live our lives the hearing way but as long as we are contributing to society, why complain about us wanting to stay in the Deaf community and using ASL as our language? __________________ "Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it." --- Anonymous

10-02-2010, 02:19 PM	#18 (permalink)
KarissaMann05 Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 6,381	Wirelessly posted Oh boy... you don't get it. But I will answer your questions anyway. Who are "your" people? 33% of my immediate family is Deaf, what about yours?" Hearing people. And, my life is really not so important to you. So, I don't see why I should to tell you about my family and myself. __________________ "Pragmatic language is a vital social skill that enables the school-aged child to navigate their way through demanding social situations." -- R. Owens

10-02-2010, 02:29 PM	#24 (permalink)
sallylou Potterhead and Janeite Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 6,653	No. Not anymore than someone should accept being called stupid, loser, etc. [insert any insulting term here] When someone suggests that I need to be "fixed" or "eradicated," it makes me feel the same way that I feel when someone calls me a loser. I won't accept that. __________________

10-02-2010, 02:37 PM	#25 (permalink)
KarissaMann05 Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 6,381	Wirelessly posted Well, I'm very happy that my mother didn't give me a "cure", or force me to be normal child, or force me to learn how to speak and listen, or not prevented me from exposing the ASL and Deaf Community. I thankfully glad I grew up turned out doing so great! I love my family so much cos how they treated me better. I now can have my own choices. __________________ "Pragmatic language is a vital social skill that enables the school-aged child to navigate their way through demanding social situations." -- R. Owens

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

10-01-2010, 11:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
LDNanna Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,688	Historically speaking, hearing have patronized the deaf. Feeling superior in the guise of their so called kindnesses. Paternalized the deaf under guise and pretense of knowing "what is good for them". Bah. Soon we may begin to believe it. I was of course born hearing as I am late deaf. It did not take long to discover that in some hearing peoples eyes my IQ dropped faster than my audiogram. To answer your question - no. Why? I am quite capable of making my own decisions, have the right to my own opinion and have earned and fought for the right to make my own informed life choices. I work hard, put up with prejudices and have earned my stripes. I am late deaf but none the less proud to be deaf. The last person to make decisions for me was my father. The dear man has passed on and so there went the last person respected enough to allow this liberty.

10-02-2010, 07:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
GrendelQ 41°17′00″N 70°04′58″W Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England, USA Posts: 3,419	Are you asking if the decision to wear a HA, get a CI, or to research hair cell regeneration should exclude someone from the Deaf community?

10-02-2010, 07:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Frisky Feline Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 20,242	ditto, shel. All I want is others to focus on themselve or their kids and leave me alone and my opinion with deaf community. Others who are sharing the same opinions with me that we can contintue to be part of the Deaf community are awesome. I am sure that I will come back to this thread later.

10-02-2010, 02:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Frisky Feline Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 20,242	I d like to see more of CI users to challenge us who are pure deaf but only arguing by hearing parents. I wonder.

10-02-2010, 02:17 PM	#17 (permalink)
posts from hell Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,434	Then why bother bringing it up? What's your motive?