examples of hearing loss identity confusion
One of the most serious identity issues facing hard of hearing, late deafened, and oral deaf
persons is the tendency of hearing people and Culturally
Deaf people to lump together the "Deaf and hard of hearing". There
are several distinct groups within this "catchall" phrase, as
explained in Who's Who.
Identity Confusion and Denied Access
Because of this error, organizations provide interpreters thinking that their
event is accessible to all persons with hearing loss. The fact is that
interpreters provide access to most Culturally Deaf people (who generally use
sign language). Providing access to hard
of hearing, late deafened, and oral deaf people (who rarely use sign language) is another matter entirely. The Pontiac - GMC Car Shows
story illustrates this issue.
Identity Confusion and Culturally Deaf
Hard of hearing, late deafened, and oral deaf persons are often not understood by members of either the hearing
world or the Culturally Deaf world. Members of each group sometimes think these people
persons really belong to the OTHER group.
The PA Case
Manager story illustrates how agencies that claim to serve the "deaf
and hard of hearing" really mean the Culturally Deaf.
Here's a similar
situation at GLAD, the Greater Los Angeles Council
on Deafness.
Of course, they
sometimes think hard of hearing, late deafened, and oral deaf persons belong to THEIR group, as well. The hearing
impaired
story is an example of a Culturally Deaf person including ALL people with hearing loss in his
group.
Identity Understanding and Culturally Deaf
If you've read some of the other
stories, you've no doubt realized that considering the needs of the hard of hearing, late deafened, and oral deaf is
often an afterthought, if it happens at all. That's why people with
hearing loss are so delighted to be included in the beginning. Here's a happy
tale about an NTID Job Announcement that
specifically includes hard of hearing persons.
March 2008
- This couple want a deaf child. Should we try to stop
them?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 2008
Now the couple are hoping to have a second child,
one they also wish to be deaf - and that desire has brought them into a
sharp confrontation with Parliament. The government's Human Fertilisation
and Embryology (HFE) bill, scheduled to go through the Commons this
spring, will block any attempt by couples like Garfield and Lichy to use
modern medical techniques to ensure their children are deaf. The bill is a
jumbo-sized piece of legislation intended to pull together all aspects of
reproductive science in Britain and pave the way for UK scientists to lead
the field in embryology. But in trying to do so, the civil servants
drafting the bill have provoked a great deal of unrest.
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