Reading this brought me back memories how I came into the deaf world in my sorta late teens by enroll in deaf school at the age of 14/15.. I grew up as a hearing culture child but became as Deaf human being and loving it every minutes. Good and bad but it is still a home and familiar to me.. My hearing culture past is so foreign to me.. But it is not forgotten cuz we are surrounded by them. But we know where to go if we feel sorta out of place. Home(deaf community) is where we go..

This is awesome! You make excellent points and share with us a good story!
Thank you for the sunshine.

Amy,

I think it’s all good,..and I, like you, am pleased to see that we are not alone.
We must maintain our truths and beings.

Especially with those who choose words like: “Battle”.

I believe we are doing just that.

I discovered my “Deaf” self when I was at Gallaudet, after growing up as an oral for 17 years and learned sign language afterwards. It took me a long time to understand what is “Deaf” self is all about. I struggle everyday with so many ‘forces’ outside telling me otherwise. People out there think that my “Deaf” self is too deaf for them, too exclusive, and too this and that….

They just don’t get it. Lt. John Dunbar, you and many of us within the community do get it.

The problem we are facing right now, is that there are so much skepticism. prejudice, discrimination and audism out there. Everytime we stood up for our beliefs, then we get accused for reverse-audism, or being too exclusive and clannish.

LaRonda, I’m glad I am not alone with this.

Amy Cohen Efron

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).