Now understand that I could not be more wrong. I now know that there is a power struggle that is very difficult for the hearing community to understand that they are oppressing the deaf by just not listening and seeing what they are doing wrong. I think that the main problem is that instead to actual listen to what the problems are, the hearing side prefers to ignore the replies and do what they think is best for the deaf using their own perspective. Being part of a minority and now knowing that the deaf are definitely a minority, makes it easier for me to identify with the problems and obstacles that they may have faced and are continuing to struggle with. In the past it was hard for me to understand the degree of difficulty that the deaf people had to endure.
Many people don’t understand deaf culture and they are most likely to ignore it. There are many people that actually prefer to ignore the great values of a deaf person. Most hearing people simply see deaf people as not being “normal” and they just assume that deaf people are not as smart as hearing people or are incapable of down all the other things “normal” people can do. I also believe that there are brave people in the deaf community that have fought against oppression and misconceptions, in order to help the deaf community be recognized and have the appropriate methods of teaching in order to thrive. Even though we still have a long way to go before deaf culture is accepted as it should be, without these brave people, deaf culture wouldn’t have the accomplishments it has today.
This disability may alienate the person from the rest of the group but it doesn’t mean that they are stupid. The way she responded to these reactions was a real eye opener. She would deliver her thoughts about these reactions in a way I could only understand if I were dealing with a disability myself. The reactions to her disability made me realize how inconsiderate and oblivious most people can be, which includes myself. After reading this piece I realized that even though a disabled person has the technology to ‘help’ with their disability, we shouldn’t disregard the fact that the person still needs our understanding and consideration to help with the disability, whether it be deafness, blindness etc.
The majority does not believe that deafness is a positive thing; most people hold the belief that deafness is a negative thing. “Disabled people used to announce, “I am not my disability.” They demanded that society look beyond the withered arm, a clubbed-foot, or a wheel chair and see the human being, a human who was essentially identical to everyone else. Now, for some the announcement has become, “I am my deafness. That is what is special about me.” This is another appeal to tradition, she states that the disabled “used” to announce they are not their disability. Whereas now they say that is what is special about them.
Selected Citations from Poor Richard's Almanack “None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in an error.” and “How few there are who have courage enough to own their Faults, or resolution enough to mend them!” These quotations basically mean that most people don't like to look inside themselves and see their flaws. A well-bred and courageous person sees who they are and acknowledges it without getting discouraged or insecure. The second part means that most people go on with their lives dealing with their flaws and trying to fix them to make themselves a better person. We all know that as humans it is in our nature that we make mistakes and faults but few of us have the guts to acknowledge their faults. These quotes is relevant to me that in every fault or failure I make I don’t have to be defensive about it but accept these mistakes and to use them as stepping stone to improve myself and change for the better.
Deaf Sports and Recreation Since the 1800’s Deaf sport organizations have been allowing the Deaf to move closer to an independence from the hearing sport organizations. Although few organizations were formed, many Deaf loved to play sports. Those who wanted to play in an organized sport had few options: “play for a local hearing organization and brave the difficulties and criticism that arise from a lack of communication and respect, play in small Deaf groups or at Deaf institutions with little competition due to the limited number of participants, or get involved with a sports organization specifically fit for Deaf individuals’ needs and desires” (Getz, Karen). An organization was formed for the Deaf because of those circumstances, the
But Kozol makes some big important points why being illiterate can hurt the person in all parts of life. Kozol states that, “They cannot read traffic signs and, while they often learn to recognize and decipher symbols, they cannot manage street names which they haven't seen before” (Kozol, 4), this is like being trapped inside your own world. If someone cannot read something simple as a stop sign they just have no life to be living. What good are they to the society if a person cannot read? Everything these days counts on mostly technology, being able to understand and read technology is a huge part of today’s society.
On a personal level, I may be deaf, but I live in the world of the hearing. The people who surround me do not use sign language to communicate, but only speak with me face to face, so I can lip-read and use my cochlear implant to hear. It is a tough struggle to be able to catch up on what others are saying to me. At the same time on a public level I can not get certain jobs like secretary or answering phones because of my disability . I am judged on the basis of my disability although personally, I try not to let it get in the way of my life or my future.
In the age of "Sign Language Barbie," it may be difficult to grasp society's earlier bias against deaf people and their unique form of communication. As far back as biblical times, the deaf were not allowed to own property; and as recently as the last century, innovators like Alexander Graham Bell crusaded against sign language and the intermarriage of deaf people. Overcoming these challenges and striving to gain acceptance in the hearing world while embracing the isolation of living in a world without sound have all helped to define the deaf as a group with a distinct culture. But who are America's deaf? Statistics vary greatly depending on the definition of "deaf."
A psychologist must not be judgemental and must listen to everything the patient has to say. Another way to overcome communication barriers would be hearing aids; hearing aids are used to help deaf people to be able to hear what is being said around them or to them. Hearing aids make deaf people feel as if they are just the same as anyone else and can listen and communicate if they are being spoken to. Hearing aids may not work sometimes if they are being used in a really noisy environment. Another way to overcome communication barriers would be Loop systems, loop systems are used with hearing systems they help them to hear as if they weren’t deaf and it sounds a lot clearer.