Re: Evolving Deaf Culture?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/1/2004 12:12:40 PM Pacific Standard Time,

wuerges@... writes:

Deb, would you allow me to forward your message to this group? I'm sure they

will love to know that there are Deaf people who accept CI's, at least in the

other side of the world...

Artur....Feel free to forward my note. Maybe it will help open up some

positive dialog. There are still problems in the US of course, and there will

always be " Deaf " people who resist the thought of CI's. But if my local

friends

are any indication, things are changing. I think getting proper information

and education about CI's is the key.

>>since they think the CI is a way for the " hearing people keep their control

over the Deaf people " . I know it sounds stupid, and I don't know if this idea

is spread in other countries<<

I have not personally come across that particular train of thought! How can

improving your life with a CI give hearing people control over you? I would

think it would be the other way around........you would have more control over

your life with more help aids at your disposal.

Looks like you have a few interesting discussions coming up! Good luck! : )

Deb H

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb,

I'm amazed to read that the Deaf (culturally speaking) are starting to change

their minds about CI and other technologies that help them to get the best of

both worlds. Here in Brazil we still have problems between the two groups - the

" deaf " and the " Deaf " . It's still common to see Deaf people giving rude answers

to parents interested in having their children implanted, since they think the

CI is a way for the " hearing people keep their control over the Deaf people " . I

know it sounds stupid, and I don't know if this idea is spread in other

countries. At least in Brazil that's what many Deaf think. Sounds like Marx,

don't you think so?

Well, in a discussion group here in Brazil we are discussing about the fact that

Deaf people don't accept CI's. Deb, would you allow me to forward your message

to this group? I'm sure they will love to know that there are Deaf people who

accept CI's, at least in the other side of the world...

Thanks,

Artur Wuerges

Evolving Deaf Culture?

In a message dated 2/1/2004 10:11:59 AM Pacific Standard Time,

djwool@... writes:

He can either live in the hearing world

> by using his cochlear implants or he can live in the Deaf world and use

> ASL. Waiting to implant him later could have taken that choice away.

What I really would like to see is people getting CI's, knowing ASL ( if that

applies to their lives) and living the best of both worlds! My adult Deaf

culture friends who are implanted have not been shunned by their Deaf culture

communities like they thought they would be. There has been an occasional

rude

comment made, an occasional snub...but the overall mindset seems to be

curiosity and watchfulness. I have asked them what is the most amazing thing

they

have gotten from the CI's and they all say music!

One friend of mine who is very very Deaf culture, recently watched the new AB

video that just came out. The only reason she watched it was because two of

her friends were in it. She is now ready to have a surgical consult to see

about getting a CI. She asked her hearing parents to help her. I am

flabbergasted because she would have to be the last person on earth I would

have guessed

to show interest in CI's!! She does say " don't tell anyone " ....and has her

concerns about what people will think. I see some slow changes occurring as

people become more aware and learn more about CI's.......interesting!

Deb H

[Guest guest]

>>since they think the CI is a way for the " hearing people keep their control

over the Deaf people " . I know it sounds stupid, and I don't know if this idea

is spread in other countries<<

>I have not personally come across that particular train of thought! How can

improving your life with a CI give hearing people control over you? I would

think it would be the other way around........you would have more control over

your life with more help aids at your disposal.

Honestly, I don't know why some people think like this. Maybe it's because many

oral deaf don't use Sign Languages, so it'll became harder for them to have

interpreters and stuff. Basically, they'll lose power if deaf start doing CI.

Makes sense, doesn't it? I don't think it's wrong to want more interpreters and

to keep using Sign Languages; what is wrong is the way they try to keep their

power. For example, there's a researcher here that said (based in nothing, by

the way) that oral deafs have higher suicide rates. It's just a strategy to

scare parents and keep teaching them LIBRAS (the Brazilian Sign Language).

I'm sorry if I look like a shiite or something. In fact I'm not very involved

with deafness issues, but I know how things are here and wanted to share this

with you.

Thanks,

Artur Wuerges

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/1/2004 12:12:57 PM Pacific Standard Time,

wuerges@... writes:

I'm amazed to read that the Deaf (culturally speaking) are starting to change

their minds about CI and other technologies that help them to get the best of

both worlds.

I am not.

In 1976, a year after graduating from High School, went to Gallaudet, I was

rudely welcomed by the Deaf Community. It was perceived if you did not go to

Deaf Institution, you are " not " deaf. I went to Gallaudet armed with only

finger spellings, I was told that was all I needed and can learn the rest once

there. At the time, majority of students at Gallaudet were students at Deaf

Schools.

Fast forward, 10 years later, due to Section 504............ Majority of

deaf children been mainstreaming, Deaf Schools enrollment had dropped so much to

point that some States had closed the Deaf Schools.

Another 10 years passed,,,,,,,, I noticed more and more Deaf are " allowing "

the " oral deaf " to take part, at same time, those " babies " from the 70's

mainstreaming are not ashamed of hearing aid or their ability to speak. We

became

more assertive to what each of us believe in, not " what would they think " .

The ADA could be the major factor, the freedom of using interpreters allow us

to " go and see " the world more, therefore our freedom was " discovered " .

The way I see it, each of us are unique. We each have our own voices and

thoughts.

Five years ago, I wouldn't think of having CI. When I was involved in a

serious car accident 4 years ago, I was badly injured. Looking back, I never

saw

or heard a large truck coming toward my Honda Accord. Witness said the brake

was LOUD and I did had my hearing aid on. The injuries left me with limited

range of motion, unable to move as quickly as before to look around to see what

I was hearing with my hearing aid. Two years later, I decided to look into

CI but was told that I was deaf too long (since birth) to benefit from it. It

didn't stop me. Last summer, when my sister told me that one of her classmate

got CI and got WONDERFUL result from CI, even though she was born deaf, I

again looked into it.

Today, not even a month after hook up, I am excited to say, my self esteem

skyrocketed, I am hearing things and praise the guy upstair for all the sounds

that I am hearing. Hearing the crows every day is so heavenly, even though its

a " pain " to hearing people, the rain on my roof, that " awful " alarms from my

car, letting me know I left light on or key in. Heck.. I even picked up

" bubble gum " on a cartoon this evening!

The way I am seeing, we are evolving.

Lee

12-12-03 N24C

1-8-04 3G