a little off topic
Excellent! Thanks for your response. Having not received any response, I thought that maybe you guys were offended by my idea.
On the website, we plan on putting together lists of dos and don'ts of communicating with Deaf people. I've seen a few threads here on AD which discuss these and I will sum the up, remove duplicates and publicise them in list form.
With regards to the blog concept, I think its essential in meeting the primary goal of the Meeting Half Way campaign which is to give hearing people a direct look into the lives of Deaf people so that we can see that it is us (hearing people) who are responsible for most of the challenges faced by Deaf people.
Along the way, once things gain momentum, I'd like to put together a couple of short movies so that Hearing people can have a direct look into recreated realities and then use them to bring the attention of other Hearing people.
steph9700... 2 questions:
1. Would you be willing to participate?
2. Does "The Deaf Diaries" sound bad or offensive and can you suggest anything better?
Many thanks.
Hi there halfway man. I am glad that you are back today. I, too, am hearing and new to this site. I still feel really shy and I put my foot, (or hands) in my mouth a lot. I am working towards my degree in interpreting and advocating for the Deaf. I have learned so much in school about the oppression of the Deaf. They have been through hell and they just keep on truckin. You will find, in only a short time, that you have a great treasure in the Deaf community. There is so much talent tenacity and love in this community, and they are so open and blunt, that you will never want to let go of your ties to the Deaf. At least that has been my experience.
I am actually writing this because I want to commend you on your ideas to educate people about Deaf issues. I am also trying to do that in my own corner of the world. Hearing people are amazed when I share stories with them about Deaf history. They get very outraged at the unfairness of it all. Of course, the more rich and powerful people are, the more callous they seem to be about anybody's issues but their own. They are the type that like to prey on the Deaf community, and I get pretty passionate about that. But overall, I have found that most hearies are eager to learn about Deaf culture and they actually do care about stuff when they are informed.
There are many good books about Deaf history that will amaze you. I think you will enjoy them all, but there is a really good book that you might want to read. It is short, and I am sure that you would fly through it. It is called, "Triumph of the Spirit." It will give you a bit of an insight to the underlying stuggles that still face the Deaf community. If that book doesn't make you want to embrace the Deaf, then I don't know what will. That book is the story of the beginning of victory for the Deaf, it is by no means the end of the story. Deaf rights are being trampled on all the time, STILL. At one time, ASL was thrown out of the Deaf schools and the children were disciplined if they got caught signing. The teachers actually tied the kid's hands to keep them from communicating. Hearing people tried to keep Deafies from marrying Deafies because they thought it would eradicate deafness, they even wanted to sterilize them. It is a sick and tragic story.
Even though things are not that bad now, the Deaf schools are still controlled by hearing administrators who don't represent their wishes or their needs. They still struggle to gain access to communication in the work place and in education and hospitals and courts etc. Sometimes a court case can be post poned over and over again for months because the lack of qualified interpreters. Even certified interpreters can suck because it is just a job to them. But then, there are some great interpreters that love the Deaf community and give everything in them to try to serve them. There are also education courses that are cancelled indefinitely because a lack of interpreting services. I guess what I am trying to say is that everyday life can be a huge stuggle, but Deaf people want no part of pity. They just want to be understood and loved for who they are, and they want equality in the workplace and a fair chance in education. They want a chance to reach their full potential, and I think that is what everyone wants.
My friends, thee stories need to be told because hearies live under a veil of ignorance. hearies assume that all is well in the Deaf world just because they rarely make the news. So, if you are helping to educate the hearies about Deaf culture, then I totally support you and I will keep you in my prayers. Let your forum be their forum, unedited. Let them put the movies together, and you distribute them. If you can get rid of even one brick of ignorance, then we are one step closer to tearing down the wall. I am thankful to have you on our side. Thanks and good luck with your new website. And congratulations, you have entered a new and wonderful world that will help you to grow as person. See ya around,,, look forward to reading your posts.
OH, one other suggestion. Start to learn some sign language. You can visit some free websites that cover some basic sign, and gramar, and Deaf culture. One is ASL University.com Bill Vicars... One is ASL pro... Sign video. ASL University is more comprehensive with lessons on grammar and sentence structure. The other has a bigger dictionary and animated videos. I think you will be amazed, and I know you will come to love your new Deaf friends. Whatever fate brought you here,,,, was a good thing.
Good night for now.... Jeanie ... still chasing the dream of a better tomorrow for EVERYBODY.
I'm just throwing some idea
