Proper Etiquette

Is it proper etiquette to call a deaf person. Select all that apply

  • Handicap

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Hearing Imparied

    Votes: 5 21.7%

  • Hard of Hearing

    Votes: 6 26.1%

  • None of the above (please comment)

    Votes: 12 52.2%
  • Total voters
    23
R

rockdrummer

Guest
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)

:ty: Thank you.
 
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.
 
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. :ily: :ty:

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. )
 
ismi said:
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.
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Yes, I found that out the hard way. I will not make that mistake again. Sighs
 
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. :thumbd: 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. :thumb:
 
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.
 
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. ;)
 
pek1 said:
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. :thumb:
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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.
 
I would prefer the hard of hearing term..
it means that we have difficulty in hearing either completely or partially( which includes me)...
 
Cheri said:
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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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. :ty:
 
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.
 
I prefer deaf. its what i use all the time to let everyone know that I'm deaf.
 
ismi said:
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.
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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 :ty:
 
"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*
 
rockdrummer said:
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.
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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.
 
ismi said:
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.
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:ty: 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.
 
rockdrummer said:
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.
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<<Spewing pop all over the keyboard and draining out through my nose>> :laugh2: Thanks for the laugh, rockdrummer! :D Hey blondes, get a lawyer and sue me! :laugh2:
 
pek1 said:
<<Spewing pop all over the keyboard and draining out through my nose>> :laugh2: Thanks for the laugh, rockdrummer! :D Hey blondes, get a lawyer and sue me! :laugh2:
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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
 
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.
 
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