Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants Not Allowed!
Editor: I've been around long enough that I don't shock easily. But
this letter regarding the banning of hearing aids and cochlear implants
at the Deaf Golf Championships really threw me for a loop - until I
realized that it must be a hoax! So I checked it out and was astonished
to learn that it's FOR REAL! Don't believe it? Check it out for yourself
at http://www.deaflympics.com/sports/regulations.asp?ID=3 (See Item J.)
You may sign the referenced petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/239862263
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lauri writes:
I am a serious and very good golfer. My handicap is 10. I love
competition and I love to win. Last year for the first time I entered
the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships. I was told that I could not wear
hearing aids during the tournament. I was shocked. I immediately felt
discriminated against. Here is my story.
My name is Lauri and I live in Michigan. I am profoundly deaf, 90 dB
loss, and have been since birth. I wear only one hearing aid, on my
right ear, due to a disorder called recruitment. I have worn a hearing
aid on this ear since early childhood but because of the severity of my
hearing loss I still have to read lips to understand what people are
saying.
In July of 2003 I went to the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships in
Pinehurst, North Carolina. It was my first time entering the tournament.
On the first day of the tournament, one of the committee told me that I
could not wear hearing aids. I was shocked and upset. I was trying to
focus my mind on getting ready to play golf instead of being upset. I
asked her, "Why?" She said, "Because we now come under
The Committee International Sports for the Deaf (CISS) rules and
regulations." I flew all the way to North Carolina and paid to rent
a Condo along with a couple of deaf friends, and now you are telling me
that I cannot wear hearing aids. Her reply was "It's in the entry
form". I never found this regulation in the entry. She knew I was
quite upset so she went to talk to the officers. When she returned I was
told that they will allow me to wear hearing aids this time, but next
time I would not be able to.
Fortunately I made the top five and therefore qualified to represent
the U.S. Women's team at the Deaf World Golf Championships, to be played
in Stockholm Sweden in July of this year. I was quite upset when I was
informed that we were not allowed to wear hearing aids during the Deaf
World Golf Championships, also because they now come under CISS rules
and regulations. I had to drop out the U.S. Women team. I accessed the
CISS now renamed to CISS/Deaflympics Regulations on the Internet and
found the regulations under General Information, item J, which reads:
"Athletes taking part in the Deaf World Championships shall be
forbidden from using any hearing aids or cochlear implant aids during
competitions."
I do not understand this rule. If a deaf person chooses not to use
hearing aids for their entire life, then they participate in activities
without hearing the associated sounds. They play golf without hearing
the sound of hitting the ball. Their learned skills are developed by
using other sensory perceptions. On the other hand, a deaf person who
chooses to wear hearing aids uses the sounds of hitting the ball to help
orient themselves. In a tournament played under the above regulations,
who would have an advantage? A person playing under their normal
circumstances or a person made to play under unfamiliar ones? The same
regulations also state that deaf would be defined as a hearing loss of
"at least 55dB" That means a person without a hearing aid and
a 55db hearing loss could actually have better hearing than a profoundly
deaf person with a hearing aid. If a person has a 55dB loss, they can
hear something without hearing aids. It's still an advantage over
someone with a 90dB loss. I feel that this rule is unfair because it
gives an advantage to one player over another and is discriminatory.
Would you not permit a person to wear glasses? Would you not permit a
person with prosthesis to play in the game?
Because of this outdated and unfair rule I felt compelled to
relinquish my place on the U.S. Women's golf team. Again, I am a deaf
person who has chosen the OPTION to wear hearing aids. I should not be
discriminated against for that choice. The sad and unfortunate fact is
that this discrimination is being levied by an organization that
certainly should know better and be more understanding about new
technology and its impact on options for deaf people. Children are
learning to listen and speak using hearing aids and cochlear implants
all over this country.
Until the United States and World Deaf Golf Championship are included
in the CISS/Deaflympics I believe its rules and regulations should be
kept separate. I believe that it is time for us to move forward and not
dwell in the traditions of the past. After all this is the 21st Century
and we have made great progress in minimizing acts of discrimination.
I corresponded with the President of CISS/Deaflympics about this
situation last September. She replied back and recommended that if I
wished for this rule to change I would have to ask the U.S. Deaf Golf
Foundation to submit a proposal to World Deaf Golf Federation (WDGF) who
would then submit it to her. She would then put it on the agenda for
discussion at the January 2005 Congress in Melbourne. I complied with
these directions and contacted the President of the U.S. Deaf Golf
Foundation, his reply was as follows:
During its annual meeting on October 9, the U.S. Deaf Golf Foundation
(USDGF) Board of Directors discussed the issue of not allowing competing
deaf and hard of hearing golfers to wear hearing aids nor cochlear
implants at the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships and the World Deaf Golf
Championships. This rule has been in effect for many years with the USA
Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF), of which USDGF is a national sports
organization, and ComitÃ(c) International des Sports des Sourds, CISS
(The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf). The USADSF is
affiliated with CISS. Also, USADSF is affiliated with the World Deaf
Golf Federation (WDGF). The USDGF Board has decided not to take further
action on this issue. We intend to fully enforce this requirement for
those who participate in future U.S. Deaf Golf Championships, as well as
the World Deaf Golf Championships. However, we encourage you to express
your views directly with USADSF, WDGF, and CISS.
I was surprised and very disappointed at his response. I spoke to a
lawyer who works for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and civil
rights about rejecting hearing aids/cochlear implant during U.S. Deaf
Golf Championships. I believe that they broke ADA law because we are
playing in the United States. He said, "They are non-profit
organizational, which means they can make whatever rules they want
to."
I am not giving up my rights. I can't live without my hearing aids.
It is a part of my life. They should not be allowed remove a part of me.
The next United States Deaf Golf Championships will be held in July of
2005. The top five scorers will qualify for the World Deaf Golf
Championship in Edmonton, Canada in 2006. I need your support so please
contact these organizations. You can reach the President of United
States Deaf Golf Foundation and the President of CISS/Deaflympics.
Please feel free to submit any questions or comments; you can reach me
at supporthrngaids@aol.com.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO CONFIRM YOUR SUPPORT TO THE USE OF
HEARING AIDS/COCHLEAR IMPLANTS DURING U.S. AND WORLD DEAF GOLF
CHAMPIONSHIPS. Please pass the word. Thank you!
