“Handicap: The extent to which a person’s overall functioning is limited by their disability.” Blah. Another medical description. No one likes the word “handicap” and very few use that word anymore. But in this vlog, I will explain how a Deaf or Hearing person can feel situationally handicapped.
Transcript:
Hi. I recently joined a college class for observation. It was part of my homework project for my own college class. I’m currently going to school for my Adult Education Certificate. Anyway, I joined this class called: Deaf Students with Disabilities. The teacher of this class was Deaf, as were several of the students int he class. But most of the students appeared to be hearing. They had two interpreters in the class voicing for those hearing students who depended on them to receive information from the Deaf teacher.
Anyway, they were discussing an interesting subject, and there was one thing that the teacher said that impacted my thinking. He said that the term “handicap” or “disability” (they discussed the meaning and differences in those two terms) can be shifted back and forth from situation to situation.
For example, suppose I am the only Deaf person in a large classroom of hearing peers, and I’m dependent on an interpreter. In a way, I might still feel disabled or handicapped because I still don’t have the luxury of having smooth and easy communication there. Yet, suppose a few minutes later, I leave the classroom to go hang out and socialize with my deaf friends, maybe to chat and have lunch outside, would I feel handicapped or disabled? No, not at all! I would feel like I was just comfortably hanging around with my peers.
So this means that during the same day, I might feel normal and able or handicapped, back and forth, depending on the situation. Kind of strange. Or, here’s another example. Remember those hearing students in the class I observed who were not yet fluent enough in ASL to follow the teacher? They must depend on the two voice interpreters to understand the teacher’s ASL. In that situation, the Deaf students are able to receive the information smoothly. But, supposed when the class is over and the interpreters get ready to leave, 2 or 3 hearing students have a question for the Deaf teacher, but they find the interpreters just left! Now, in that situation, the hearing students feel handicapped or disabled. They feel limited and their communication feels blocked.
I found this fascinating that we can each feel handicapped or disabled in different situations at different times of the same day. Different people in different groups can feel similar, depending on what kind of communication access they have. I thought that story was worth sharing.
Bye (ILY wave)
So true!
Left by Lane on May 5th, 2008
Yeah, there were some parties in my house where a lot of deaf people and some hearing family members were here. The family members needed interpreters (friends of mine too) to talk with deaf friends here — they were handicapped. The interpreters needed to have some good time drinking, etc
Of course, the family members gathered at some “corner” of the room and chitchat together (like, a hearing club)
Left by Judge on May 5th, 2008
This is a very good point.
I don’t anything prepared me so well for being sensitive to my son’s communication needs as my study abroad experience, and the shock that “duh! I don’t know French! What am I going to do alone in this country for the next few months!?”. Talk about feeling handicapped!! LOL!
Left by Jeannette on May 5th, 2008
Hi there,
You never have an opporunity of telling us your name. That is a norm of the deaf culture. Smile!
Well, the communication pardigim (gap) within various classrooms are more with the issue of limited communication or language barrier than the concept of disability itself.
Let’s suppose that several foreign-speaking students in the American university classroom have an interpreter, who speaks their own language or tongue.
Does the foreign-speaking students consider themselves “disabled”? That would be seen as big “NO”.
So the deaf or hearing classmates should not obsess with the defintion of disability whatever they feel that way inside the classroom or outside the classroom.
At least, you made a good analogy between the inside of classroom with interpreter and outside the classroom with your friends.
The classic ASL folkore, “Eyeth”, definitely make an good example of what and why and how we look at ourselves as disabled or not.
You ought to read the “Language of Oppression” how the powerful aspect of language could define us for who and what we are all about. Smile!
Good luck with your class project!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
Left by RLM on May 5th, 2008
Hi RLM.
My name is LaRonda.
It’s on the top of all my v/blogs and on the side bar. Where ya been? (wink) I guess since i’ve been v/blogging for a year and a half, I assume people know my name, so I didn’t sign it in this vlog. *chuckle*
Just for clarity, please know that I do not use the term “handicap” myself. This whole discussion was part of the class discussion the teacher had in the classroom I was observing. I am familiar with the book you mentioned above and I understand what you are referring to about using the right language to define us.
In this post, I was trying to make a point about how anyone can be “situationally handicapped.”
Thanks for the references though. I just wanted to make sure you know I’m not a deficit thinker and very proud of being Deaf.
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on May 5th, 2008
Judge,
Funny you!
Hugs.
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on May 5th, 2008
Hi, LaRonda!!
been a long while since I typed up here… got tied up with the rountine and kids, smile.
Okay, I want to mention here that I had this obversation a while ago, and yes, it was worthwhile to be even mentioned, smile. Sometimes, I would be feeling blocked, or unable to move on in some situations. Usually, I find a way to get around the situations, BUT sometimes, the hearies do not allow me get around the situations. For example, they would prefer to get interpreters for me, while I can write fro and back with them. I find it rather odd. It is their handicap, not mine, smile.
Thanks, deafk
Left by deafk on May 5th, 2008
interesting thought thank you for sharing.
Left by Mark Maki on May 5th, 2008
LaRonda,
Interesting observations LaRonda! Thanks for sharing that; many people need to be aware of that. It shows that anyone can feel or become “left out” and “handicapped” to an extent if they are not the so called majority in a situation (i.e. the hearing students in the class of mostly deaf students and a deaf teacher). It clearly shows how not having access to communication or whatever they may need at that moment is the handicap, not the person with the disability.
Usually, it’s the other way around: the hard of hearing and deaf students in a class full of hearing people may need and request equal communication access; unfortunately, many deaf and hard of hearing students are not heard. Some people don’t bother to listen and some pretend to not understand what the student needs; therefore many of our needs in the classroom are not met.
How can that be equal standing if the school doesn’t support the student with appropriate services? As you can tell, I can relate to what DeafK said.
Some people ignore what deaf or hard of hearing students often need (despite how clearly we get it across to them) because they don’t listen, don’t care and don’t want to do their jobs in which they are paid to provide services and support in whatever way necessary (i.e. providing the tools that the students needs rather than what the school wants (which might be to do nothing); if what the school wants is not helpful, how are they providing adequate and appropriate support or services to the student? How is that reasonable accomodations?
Some hide behind the word “reasonable accomodations” as if that justifies them not providing what is really appropriate for the student. If the so called “reasonable accomodations” does not benefit the student, how is that helping or being “reasonable” to the student? It is not. I keep telling my college (disabilities office) that ignoring me or any student is not supportiive, not reasonable and since no accomodations were provided to me me, they do nothing for me despite my proof of need.
As you point out LaRonda, anyone can be “handicapped” based on a situation whether it’s temporarily or permanently. Why do so many schools “handicap” their students rather than providing as much support and necessary services?
I’ve discovered that the “disability” is not the problem; the problem is some people who handicap others in various ways. For example, some students with “disabilities” are being further “handicapped” by their own schools, teachers, etc. due to the unnecessary yet removable barriers that others create. The lack of access creates the handicap for many.
Maybe after reading your post, some folks will be enlightened on how easily THEY can become “handicapped”, “disabled”, etc. by a situation and may have to request support and rely on certain services to “deal with” their situation (whether it’s temporarily or permanently).
Left by Learning ASL on May 5th, 2008
Thank you for providing transcripts!
Left by Bill on May 6th, 2008
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Left by DeafPulse.com - the one-stop pulse for all Deaf-related news and blogs. on May 6th, 2008