Chapter 70 :)

I thought this chapter was great!!! I have always wondered if this was true or not, but it makes sense that it is not that Deaf people can see better, they are just more alert.
At the last DCE I actually met a lady who was born Deaf and was losing her sight now. I do not believe that it was caused by anything but old age, but I feel like it would be very frustrating to lose both of those senses. 
I thought the portion about Ushers Syndrome was amazing, I could not believe being both Deaf and Blind, I was however even more surprised that professionals in the past had withheld the knowledge that people have this syndrome!!! Isn't that Illegal?!! Yes it would hurt to know, but in the end that is just something a person needs to know so that they can "acquire coping skills and learn to adjust" as well as choosing a suitable career. I found it very interesting to know that NTID students receive mandatory vision testing... this is a really cool thing and something I definitely didn't know about!

Chapter 69 :)

Deaf people.... not sleeping with lights on?

I thought this chapter was really interesting, this is definitely a part of Deaf culture that I had never thought of before, but it makes perfect sense. As the book mentions Deaf people are much more aware of their visual surroundings than hearing people because that is what they rely on. I do think it is cool thought that "Deaf children don't choose to sleep in complete darkness; they're forged to" This is a quirk of DC that I would have never known about if I didn't read this book. 
I also thought it was funny when the author talked about 2 deaf people getting married, one from a residential school and one who is not, I do think that this may be a battle fought by more than just Deaf people... I know my sister and I disagreed on this growing up. She would fall asleep with the TV on and lights on... I on the other hand CAN NOT! I love the complete Darkness, so Residential school people, I feel some of your pain.

Chapter 68 :)

Do Deaf People Have to Wear Dark Colors?

This chapter was odd to me at first.... I remember my first semester of ASL the syllabus specified not to wear flashy distracting jewelry or really low cut tops. I understand the purpose behind these things but I had never really thought about the color or pattern of clothing. 
This chapter says that "novelty fabrics such as lame, metallic, or anything with a shimmery, sparkly, or holographic affect should be saved for parties." My first thought about this phrase was... most people wouldn't wear these sorts of things to professional jobs anyways. Also I know that when I dress up in professional attire I usually have on black dress pants... a black blazer... or something dark.  
I don't know, I understand some dress code restrictions but I agree with the authors of this chapter that this is not a valid point!

Chapter 67 :)

"Do Deaf people show a slight difference in their facial anatomy?" 


I have never even thought about this question before... as this chapter mentions, Deafness has been called the "invisible handicap. I have not met too many Deaf people, but I the few I have been in contact with have shown no (at least noticeable enough for me) visual or physiological signs that they are deaf. As the book mentioned, Deaf people do use their facial muscles more often and in different ways than hearing people, which could explain why some people may think this. I think it is really cool that Deaf culture relies so heavily on expression and facial movements.... because of this I have thought lately "there must be no shy Deaf people." I know that especially this semester I have had a hard time signing in front of the class or group because I do not really know anyone and I feel odd... even in a class of people doing the same things as I am. I just think it would be really difficult to be a shy Deaf person because so much expression is necessary when signing.  

Chapter 66 :)

 Song Signs 

I really enjoyed reading chapter 66, I always enjoy watching the "music videos" on YouTube of people signing, but I didn't know that some Deaf people frowned upon this...  but you can't please everyone I suppose. I also think that it is cool that Deaf children learn to sign songs from (hearing) teachers and sign them in front of audiences. if this has become a staple for Deaf culture why do people not support it... I understand that it has not always been a tradition, but things change and evolve. 

I feel like having Deaf children sign songs could help them learn English syntax which could help them with writing, reading, and comprehension!

I really like how the book points out that "meaning isn't the most important consideration here" I think that it is really pleasing to watch and it is even cooler when I see signs that I know and can piece them together to understand the concept. 

This is a really funny video of a man signing "Party in the USA"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmKnQjBf8wM 

Chapter 65 :)

Can Deaf People Appreciate Music?

This chapter was very interesting, I always just assumed that Deaf people did not like music, or simply didn't care because they couldn't hear it. (a little ignorant I now know) but I am sure I am not alone on previously thinking that. when I first read through this chapter it made me laugh and be thankful I don't have Deaf neighbors with high quality stereo systems with lots of amplification. I also found it interesting that Deaf people liked to watch MTV for the music videos.... not that there is even music (especially good music) on MTV any more... but I can not see why deaf people would enjoy music videos, they tell a story in a sense. 

I was surprised to read that  schools for the Deaf have music programs... this just isn't something I would expect to see at a school for the Deaf, but it is really amazing that they do have successful music programs.

Chapter 64 :)

Deaf People and Dancing!  

This has been one of the most interesting chapters to me yet! I can hear the music and I can't even tap my foot to a beat, let alone dance to it; yet people who can not even hear the music can be professional dancers! This is so amazing!!  It stuns me that "Deaf dancers feel the vibrations of the music through their bodies!"  The link below is of some Gallaudet Dancers performing a concert. It is so thrilling to watch... and their expressions are so strong which makes the dancing even better to watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5vDWzgqsIM

I think it is amazing that Deaf people can be taught to dance, I know that all people are different have different talents but to not be able to really hear the music and still become a professional dancer is soo soo amazing!

Chapter 63 :)

Which Films Would Deaf People Enjoy?!

Recently at the Deaf Culture Event at Stakz in Bowling Green, I met a Deaf woman named Debbie there. When I asked her what she liked to do in her free time she said... go to the movies. My initial thought was... movies... why in the world would you enjoy going to the movie theater... well then you wouldn't hear all the annoying people talking and such during the movie. Anyhow Debbie went on to say that she loved romantic movies and hated action movies. This really surprised me because in this chapter Action movies were the number one suggested film. One suggestion I hadn't thought of (IDK why) was to read the book first, and take into consideration of there is a book when inviting a Deaf person to the movie theater with me.

Another surprising suggestion for me was to go see subtitled foreign films, I completely understand why Deaf people would like these films but there really isn't many of them out in the mainstream theaters, but it would definitely be an option when renting (even though I HATE those movies).

When I read about the innovation of closed captioning goggles I was so amazed... this really shows how far technology has come! I think this is so great, and I hope that more theaters got this capability. I was really surprised to read that home videos and theaters are not covered by the ADA! There are so many educational as well as entertainment videos out there that Deaf people should have the right to watch and "hear"/read!

Chapter 62 :)

Is there Deaf Literature?

This chapter was a bit of a no brainier for me......  Wasn't Beethoven Deaf? One of the best composers/ pianists of all time was almost completely deaf... so of coarse there is Deaf Literature. All people want to express themselves and tell their view point why would Deaf people be of any acceptation? Also while I was reading this chapter, the first thing that came to my mind was YouTube! There are so many amazing memoirs, and documentaries in ASL on YouTube, and they are so intricate and full of emotion! I would definitely consider videos as being literature. Not only can Deaf people express themselves through video, but also as noted in this chapter... there have been many professional Deaf writers, who write about all different things! I think it is so amazing that Deaf people write books and have them published... it is hard for me to even make a 5 minute video in ASL. I am trying to picture the tables turned and imagine me publishing a book in another language. To me the fact that there is so much Deaf literature out there it really shows intelligence and determination.

I do think that the the author of this chapter makes a great point in saying "instead of comparing contemporary ASL artists with Shakespeare, it might be more instructive to try and understand how ASL literature uses visual- kinetic instead of written/spoken language" As I mentioned, there are so many amazing videos out there by Deaf people that show so much expression and literally sets up a scene from the person's perspective.

One of the best examples of Deaf literature I have seen (and I have not seen that much) is the Personification Bobber by Trix Bruce. It is so amazing how she role shifts and portrays so many different perspectives!

Chapter 61 :)

Are Deaf people still stereotyped? If so, how? What kind of stereotypes are still popular? 

Immediately when I saw that this chapter was giving examples of Hollywood movies as stereotypes I was disappointed. Hollywood producers stereotype everyone (OOPS... I may have just stereotyped Hollywood movie producers =/... none the less) I think that it is a little inaccurate to base Deaf stereotypes off of Hollywood movies because they usually take the stereotype and make it extreme. The only movie/ TV show I have ever seen is Switched at Birth and I haven't seen it but a handful of times. I feel like (and this could just be me) people as a whole have gotten better about stereotyping others. BUT just to be sure I asked my boyfriend (who makes fun of everyone different from him... and it drives me insane) what he thought about Deaf people (and trust me he will be honest, partly because he has no clue I am writing it down) and he responded that they are "probably lonely, quiet, and all teachers." This kind of shocked me, even someone who watches me make videos and grew up knowing Deaf people (he has grown up with my friend Charlie and his family as well) still has these crazy thoughts about deaf people. The Deaf are social (probably more social than he and I combined) and smart and definitely not quiet or boring!!! It saddens as well as confuses me that in this day and age Deaf people are still stereotyped even though they have their own language and culture just like everyone else. The only explanation I can make is that people will judge and make assumptions about everyone who may be different from them. =((
 

Deaf Awareness Quiz :)

I thought this quiz was very thought provoking..... it would make great final exam material ;)

All of the questions were pretty easy... the one that made me think the most is number 9. 

Chapter 60 :)

Is the Internet going to Destroy Deaf Culture?

I had to think long and hard about this chapter..... and I am pretty sure I have come to the conclusion of..... wait for it.......
NO! 

In my opinion I think that the internet has offered Deaf people, and Deaf culture a whole new easier, more accessible way to communicate. Okay so the "Deaf Club" has become a thing of the past, that is how things work in everyone's life no matter deaf, blind, hearing, black, white... whatever things change and with chance (often) comes improvement. I am not sure... just guessing so don't hold me to this but Deaf clubs probably weren't available in every single town where deaf people lived. The internet is available virtually everywhere in the US and in many foreign countries. The internet allows deaf people to collaborate in DeafChat as the book mentions and meet other Deaf people in their same community as well as all over the world. The internet makes video-chatting IE skype available with the click of a button.  The internet is also helpful to us hearing people who are learning ASL, when I forget a sign I hit up ASLPro and I have the sigh in front of me in under a minute (if insight is cooperating) or I can Skype Stacey and get a whole ASL lesson right on my computer! 
Just like in any culture there can be bad influences and unreliable sources on the internet, but by no means to I think that the internet is going to destroy Deaf culture.... I mean what are you using right this very second to read my rambling???

Chapter 59 :)

Comparing the Deaf community to a ghetto? 

I thought this chapter was a little far fetched. I do not think that Deaf culture is dying out because of the cochlear implants, it is a major/ dangerous surgical procedure and it is very expensive. I do agree that "deafness is a part of their personalities that they cherish, and consider special."
This chapter says that a ghetto is "imposed on a population as a means of oppressing it, keeping it under control- powerless, demoralized, terrified." I do not think that any of the above applies to deaf culture. The Deaf community is very powerful and are not afraid or incapable of standing up for themselves. 
One aspect where I do agree that the Deaf community may be like a ghetto is in the aspect that "they derive a feeling of safety, security and shared concerns. 
Overall I would not compare the DC to a ghetto, yes they like to associate with each other in a place where they can communicate freely, however I think the word "ghetto" has such a negative connotation that I would not use it to correspond with the Deaf community.

Chapter 57 :)

"How did Alexander Grahm Bell almost succeed in wiping out Deaf Culture?"

Ummm.. WOW! I always thought that Alexander Grahm Bell was an advocate for the deaf, and I just assumed he was all in favor of Sign Language! Even today I have heard about the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf. If he is a leading advocate for this association, why would he think that "deafness was a terrible curse... a pathological aberration [that] perpetuated negative genetic traits." 
I always assumed that because Alexander Grahm Bell was such an advocate for the Deaf, that he also loved and embraced Sign Language. It is sad that he tried to ban marriage between two Deaf people, and in addition to this he also tried to take away their only comfortable means of communication. 
This chapter was a real eye opener, I am so surprised and saddened that someone with so much esteem and power could try to use their power to pretty much wipe out ASL and the Deaf community.  

Chapter 58 :)

Deafness: A disability or a culture?

Before taking ASL I considered deafness to be more on the side of a disability, in the school system deaf children seem to be grouped with the special needs/ disabled children and I had never really been aware that Deafness had so much culture! This chapter quotes [there is] "richness and color in our lives- as deaf people." Through learning ASL and watching others sign I can see the life in the signs. There is more to ASL than just signs, there is so much expression and mime, ASL literally draws a picture full of detail and sometimes I get a better understanding through signing than speaking words. The 3D aspect of ASL is amazing and it really makes conversation interesting. 

I thought it was really cool that there are APT buildings as well as retirement communities designed for deaf people! That is very cool, this really goes to show that Deafness is not a disability. "Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do, except hear." 

Chapter 56 :)

"Should A hearing person write about Deaf Culture?"

 Chapter 56 discussed some topics that had never crossed my mind before. It is a great point that both insiders and outsiders should write about culture so that people can get some understanding from multiple view points. I also think that it is important for the outsider to know some background information on the subject they are observing/ writing about and also always keep an open mind! 
I have been to the Educational Resource Library in Gary Randsdell Hall on Western's campus and while they do have an ASL/ Deaf Culture section it is very mall. Is this just because there isn't much literature on Deaf culture, or is is just that WKU doesn't have many resources? 
When I read the section that talked about Your Deaf Child: A Guide For Parents, I was shocked to read that ASL was not mentioned one single time in the text!! how else are Deaf people supposed to communicate effectively?? I think that it is important that hearing sociologists and linguists are paying more attention to the Deaf community and ASL, maybe more accurate and positive literature will be produced! 
While I can see where some Deaf people could feel suspicious at first about becoming the "subjects of hearing scholars' studies," I really hope that the scholars can be inviting and open minded and maybe learn some ASL so that the Deaf person feels more comfortable and willing to share their culture. 
I thought it was great that the author mentioned a solution to having more Deaf scholars, being that more Deaf people master the complexities of written English. I can not imagine how difficult it is to master... considering I grew up speaking, hearing, and writing English yet I still could never write at a publisher's level. I think I now have a better understanding as to why there is not as much literature out there written by Deaf people. 

***"The root of prejudice is the inability to accept human differences"***  I LOVE this quote! This pretty much sums up this chapter :) 

Chapter 55 :)

"What is Deaf culture? Has anyone studied it from a sociological perspective?" 

I REALLY enjoyed reading chapter 55! So many good points were made clear. I like that even on the first page that the authors emphasize that Deaf culture is more than just ASL.
I found it interesting that the "U.S. arguably has the most sophisticated and creative-- and public-- Deaf culture of any." My first thought was that maybe this is true because America is [becoming] more accepting of different cultures and people. It is disappointing however that there is a "certain anti-intellectual bias" still present regarding the Deaf community.
Something that I found interesting... and surprising is that "to Deaf people, sports are a social experience, a kinetic way of expressing "belonging."I did know that the hand signals in baseball were made for Deaf baseball players!  I wish more hearing people just saw sports as a fun social experience, I think we often take these types of events too seriously.
One topic that this chapter addresses is racial segregation among Deaf people. This is a topic I had wondered about before, I was not sure if all deaf people no matter of skin color had always been grouped together or if segregation had in fact even existed in the Deaf community! Interesting! 
Another topic this chapter addressed is ethnic culture. It is a good point that often Deaf children of hearing parents don't have as strong of a connection with the Deaf community. It makes perfect sense that Deaf children with Deaf family members have a better sense of belonging in the Deaf community and are more confident when signing. I can relate to this matter because in classes where I have a background in the material and understand it I am more apt to speak out in class and volunteer to help others.
I thought the concept of the "Deaf Renaissance" was really cool! I am sure deaf art and poetry/plays etc are all very dramatized and interesting to watch because ASL is so visually based. 
The remarks made at the end of the chapter by Dr. Allen E. Sussman were very true and thought provoking. He makes some great points in saying that so many professionals are concentrated with what is wrong with Deaf people rather than what is right! He makes some great points that we should try to apply to all aspects of life! 

Chapter 54 :)

Problems faced by late-deafened people

I found this chapter to be very interesting, I love working with older people and in the future I hope to be employed in a nursing home setting. 
I can not imagine what it is like to be deaf, especially after experiencing the hearing world for many years. As the book says, "picking up a telephone and making a whispered call, music, conversations, family dinners, interacting with children and grand children, chit-chat and jokes, on-the-job communication, the everyday spoken details of life--"aural wall paper." all of these things that people take for granted their whole lives becomes impossible. 
It is very sad to me that "rock solid marriages" can fall apart after a partner is deafened.  This just goes to show how important communication is. I can not imaging losing my hearing and my family... Isolation is such a scary thought. 
I was glad to read that there is a group like the Association of Late-Deafened Adults exists. I am sure sharing experiences and talking about what is going on really helps late-deafened adults to express their feelings and talk about problems and everyday life. It is always helpful to talk with others who understand your situation and can sympathize.

Chapter 53 :)

"Are hard-of-hearing people part of the Deaf community?" 

Chapter 53 elaborated on many of the points brought up in chapter 52. One thing they really hit the nail on the head with is that "the situation is complex and sticky." 

A main point that I need to keep in mind is that "hard-of-hearing is not just an audiological situation, it's a state of mind." I feel like there are so many different categories of hard-of-hearing that this phrase is really important to remember. 
When I first read that HOH children who attend a school for the deaf feel like they're "better" I was caught off guard. There seems to be so much snobbery and snubbing over this issue... it is hard for me to fully understand it. I didn't really like how this chapter ranked people, everyone is different and I feel that the more people rank each other and put others or themselves in a hierarchy there will be conflict and hurt feelings. 
As I read this chapter I began to wounder..."how new of a conflict is this?" I always grouped hard-of-hearing and deaf people together," but this chapter definitely let me know that this is not the case!  

These lats 2 chapters have definitely made me sympathize with hard-of-hearing people. Every one wants to have a sense of belonging and I get the feeling that HOH people don't feel that way with the deaf or hearing community. 

Chapter 52 :)

"What's the difference between 'hard-of-hearing' and 'deaf'?"

Chapter 52 was a little sad... I had no idea there was this much drama there was over this seemingly small issue.
I was surprised to read that hard-of-hearing isn't an audiological category, it does make sense that it can be a state of mind. I think I may disagree that "if you loose your hearing after age 8 you are concerted hard-of-hearing, no matter how deaf you are." I just don't understand this, if I meet a 10 year old who can not hear... I would say they are deaf, 8 is still young and learning a new language would still be fairly easy. I have a friend who came from Cuba to America when she was 10, she didn't know a lick of English but she picked it up perfectly after being immersed in American culture. Now if you met her you would have no Idea she ever knew anything but English. I think that if a child becomes deaf any time before about 13, and are immersed in deaf culture and sent to a school for the deaf they will learn Sign Language and pick up the norms of deaf culture naturally.

I found it disturbing that "within the Deaf community. Each faction looks down on every other one." I think that a little bit of this happens in every society. It almost seems to be (a tragic) part of human nature to look down on other people who may not be just alike. 

After reading this chapter I think that I have come to the realization that I would rather be Deaf than hard-of-hearing. It seems like HOH people just don't really fit in anywhere. They can't function normally in the hearing world and Deaf people usually reject them because they see them as "hearing in the head." I could guess that HOH people are not as proficient of signers as Deaf people, I think that it would be more difficult to become motivated to learn and practice ASL if I could communicate somewhat effectively in the hearing world. 

Chapter 51 :)

"What Categories does the Deaf Community Include?"


Oh my! This Chapter was very informative. There are so many labels and such... I had no idea! This chapter reiterated some information introduced in chapter 49, as well as expanded on many new terms.

One big concept that I had wondered about for a while is whether hearing people can be considered a part of the Deaf Community. I know Deaf people can give hearing people sign names, so does this mean that you are considered a part of the Deaf community? Anyhow I am glad that I now know that relatives, friends, and other supporters of the DC can be considered as a part of the Community. 

I really like the sort of vocabulary list laid out on page 310, this is a good reference sheet for all the different titles per-say for people who may be a part of the Deaf Community.

The last sentence of this chapter really left a lasting impact on me... it reads, "All members of the Deaf Community, as U.S. Citizens, have specific needs, and our democratic society is obliged to ensure that those needs are met." I think this is a great closing statement that throws all of the titles and hostilities out of the way and just talks about what should be done.  

Chapter 50 :)

"Is deafness 'bad karma'?"

This chapter caught me off guard a little bit... it seemed a little outdated to me.
When I first hear the word "Karma" I think of the phrase what goes around comes around, I do not think of previous lives or reincarnation. I think that it is slightly crazy that people think that "a deaf or disabled person must have done something bad in a previous life to deserve the punishment of being born "defective." This phrase shows ignorance and holds absolutely no truth. Another absolutely crazy thing this chapter talked about was the Ancient Greeks would abandon their babies to die of starvation and exposure if their children were different. The only way I could justify this is with the fact that in early civilizations, anyone who was the least bit different was shunned and treated badly. I am in no way making this seem okay, but this is the only tiny bit of reasoning I could find in this situation.

As I continued to read this chapter it just seemed to give example after example of horrible instances: parents believing that they are punished through their children, deaf people not being considered fully human... all so crazy!!

Finally at the end there is a little light at the end of the tunnel... I definitely like the outlook that "a soul chooses to be born as a deaf person as a challenge or learning experience," this outlook is much more positive. I am also glad to hear that Deaf Muslims are making some degree programs and that they have their own Sign Language. This is something I have thought of before.... If Deaf people are still sometimes looked down upon and denied rights and freedoms in modern day America, then what is it like to be a Deaf person in another country, especially a developing country.
This chapter was overall eye opening! It makes me realize how lucky I am, as well as how ignorant people can be.

Chapter 49 :)

"How do People Become Deaf?"

I thought this chapter was sooo interesting! I love learning all of the terms and causes of Deafness, I find it all so interesting! I am currently working on an undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology, and I think that knowing and understanding these terms is important. Someone who is postlingually Deaf may have a better/ different understanding of speech, and therefore the SLP will likely use different methods on a postlingually Deaf person than on a prelingually deaf person who may not grasp the concept of speech sounds so well.
In addition to all of the terminology, this chapter gave some interesting facts! I would have never thought that "more males than females are born-deaf and early-deafened. I was aware that women usually outlive men, but I had not previously made the connection that more women than men become deaf late in life. May I add that I think this is God's way of saving men from their stubbornness...  in my experience women are much more resilient to change, and are much more willing to learn new things, even at an old age.  =)

Another thing I was surprised by is that roughly 1/2 of all known deafness is caused by "unknown etiology," with all of the medical technology today I am very surprised that this is still the case.

Also before reading this I thought that Deafness commonly ran in families... As I have mentioned in many previous blogs, my best friend Charlie's grandparents are both Deaf. Charlie's mom teaches at the Indiana school for the Deaf (but is hearing), and his sister is Deaf. I thought she was congenially deaf because of a gene or something. He was at my house this past weekend when I began to read this chapter and I asked him if he thinks he will have deaf children.... well come to find in conversation it came up that his sister was born hearing.... she got meningitis and had a very high fever which deafened her! What a coincidence!

I find it interesting that there is 2 types of Deafness: sensorineural and conductive! The conductive deafness is new to me, I think tinnitus would be incredibly annoying and frustrating. I think I would rather lose hearing in that ear than hear a constant buzzing, ringing, or wooshing sound. In a gerontology class I took we did a simulation project where we had to put a shell up to one ear and hold it there for an entire class period.... and boy was that annoying. The constant noise drove me insane!

Another type of deafness that I didn't know was real is adventitious deafness. My mom has always joked about Waylon making her 'deaf' (she was right next to the speaker for 2 Waylon concerts within like a week of each other) and since that day she says her hearing hasn't been the same since.  While the loud music damaging hearing makes since, I was really surprised to read that living too close to an airport and riding a subway often were really surprising! I am from a small town with no airport and definitely no subway... so I have to ask.... does anyone warn people about these dangers?? Scary!

So far in my experience with Deaf culture I have made the assumption that they are very blunt and will ask/ tell anything.. so would it be rude to ask when/how they were deafened?

Chapter 48 :)

Falling while pregnant causing Deafness! 

This is one claim that I have never herd before but is completely ridiculous. I can see how everyone wants to attribute differences and such to some concrete cause but I definitely don't see this being true. As the book describes, deafness is usually expressed through a gene. I think that this would deeply sadden the mother and cause her to believe that she has done something to cause their child to be deaf.  

 On a lighter note I am really glad that falling does not cause deafness because my mother is one of the clumsiest people I know.

Chapter 47 :)

"Do deaf parents breed deaf children" 

Ummm... WOW! I was so shocked to read that "unsuitable parents would be discouraged, even prevented, from having "inferior quality children." I think this relates back to chapter 39 where it is made pretty clear that deafness is not a disability. These proposals seem very ignorant, especially the sterilization of American deaf children!

I agree that the "facts speak for themselves" 90% of all deaf people have hearing parents, and 90% of all deaf parents have hearing children. The book says it best by saying "anyone who wants to prevent deaf babies from being born should prevent hearing people from breeding." 

A perfect example is my friend Charlie... Both of his grandparents are deaf and his mom and all of her (7) siblings are hearing. And the only reason Charlie's sister is deaf is because she had meningitis as a child! But families with Deaf relatives are the transmitters of Sign Language!

Deaf Awareness Quiz! Chapters 31-46

I found this quiz to be overall very easy.  These answers seem to be very straight forward, I do think these quizzes are a good way refresh myself and make sure I am comprehending what I am reading.

Chapter 46 :)

Parents of Deaf Children 

This chapter was a lot for me to take in. I have so many different thoughts and opinions, but when it comes down to it, I do not know what I would ultimately do if I had a Deaf child. It is a scary reality that for some parents "their child is the first deaf person they've ever met." This is terrifying and what I think is one major reason that many parents may rush and choose cochlear implants.

I thought it was an awakening statement that often "high quality day or magnet school school programs" are only available in a few select cities. Many parents can not pick up and move to a new city and find a new job. This is why I agree with the statement that "some parents can no find any satisfactory option."

I can definitely see that many parents could commit  to ASL at first and make the commitment to learn it, then quickly get discouraged and make a rash decision to choose other approaches like oral ism, and cochlear-implants.

"there is, of course, no one right way" this very true and I think this scares many parents because their decisions early on will affect their child for the rest of their life!!

Chapter 45 :)

I found chapter 45 to be very interesting!! As a future speech-language pathologist it is interesting to think about hearing children who have deaf parents not having god speech models and therefore in need of speech therapy once they enter school. I would love to be able to interact with these children because I think it is amazing when children are bilingual and there are so many benefits to them.

I think that deaf parents raise a hearing child better than the latter because the deaf parents can immerse their children from birth, the "children are given a native language". It may not be spoken language, but nevertheless ASL is a rich language, while hearing parents of deaf children are not usually immediately immersed in a language that they can understand. I am a firm believer that Speech Models are VERY IMPORTANT!

I feel strongly that the experience CODAs get is one of a kind, and as the book supports, they are given a perspective on life that is so different from hearing children of hearing parents. these children also have great perspective job opportunities like being an interpreters, or ASL teachers.

Chapter 44 :)

Deaf Parents 

This chapter was completely new to me. I knew that not many Deaf parents had Deaf children and vice verse, but I did not think that it was that big of a deal. I thought that the phrase "to see if the baby's 'one of them' or not" was a little harsh, my thought is that if the child's parents are Deaf then they will adapt that culture. I would think that the baby's health would be more important than whether it was hearing or not. 

Something mentioned in this chapter that I found to be really interesting is that there is a strong cultural affiliation between deaf children and adults, and I see how some hearing parents could resent that. When parents have this child they expect to have this strong everlasting bond with them, and yes I do think that there would be some what of a wall between a hearing parent who does not know much ASL or understand Deaf culture and the Deaf child that is immersed in this sort of thing. I can see how this would be some what heartbreaking, however the hearing parents should try to learn ASL and try all day everyday to make a point of being in their child's life. 

On the subject of Deaf parents having hearing children... My best friend Charlie (I have talked about him in these blog posts before) has 2 deaf grandparents, a Deaf sister, and his mom teaches at the Indiana School for The Deaf, is going through a bit of a crisis. He is fluent in Sign Language and has strong ties to the culture, well about 2 weeks ago he woke up and had very fuzzy vision... well by the end of the day his vision in his right eye was almost completely gone, the next day the same thing happened to his left eye. He has has 3973468 tests done over the last couple of weeks and the doctors are almost positive that he has a rare (irreversible) genetic disease called Leber Hereditaty Optic Neuropathy, it causes sudden blindness in men in their mid 20's (he is 23). Anyway he and his family is at a loss for what to do, they are used to Deafness, and blindness is in a way opposite.

Chapter 43 :)

Deaf people against universal infant hearing screening? 

This chapter came as a complete surprise to me!! I had no idea that people were against universal health screening, I am such an advocate for early intervention that this thought never occurred to me. My mom performs hearing screenings on newborn babies at a major hospital in Louisville and I have herd her say over and over again how surprised she is at the number of Deaf and hard of hearing babies that are born! (My mother is not an audiologist, therefore she does not do any follow up on the children)

After reading this chapter I now understand a little more why some people are against infant screenings, but I still think the screenings should be in place. It is the follow up information that needs to be mandated, information should be given to the parents on ASL and schools for the Deaf. They should be given the opportunity to explore options, and not be scared into expensive hearing aids and permanent implants.

 It think that it is sad that the cochlear-implant industry has to "play on the hopes and fears of parents." Cochlear implants are a risky seemingly permanent "solution" to what is not really a problem. 

I think that more audiologists should be better educated on the benefits of ASL, the the public in general needs to be more informed about Deafness and try to understand that it is not a death sentence, it is a minor difference.

Chapter 42 :)

"Is is possible to have the best of both worlds?"

I do not agree with the FDA's decision to allow parents to implant children with a cochlear-implant without their consent. This is a huge decision that will have a massive impact  on the rest of the child's life. I do not think children as well as parents will have the drive to learn ASL and immerse themselves into Deaf culture of they have a cochlear-implant. I have read about children who are bilingual and the proven benefits this knowledge provides. While I am not completely against cochlear implants, I do believe that children should be taught ASL and given the chance to make their own decision about whether to go through with a cochlear implant or not.
A very surprising yet saddening thing I read in this chapter is that "medical professionals have been advising parents of Deaf  children that they must never, ever use Sign Language." I do not think that it will interfere with a child's speech, if anything I think it will improve it because it gives the child a true language with structure and format that they can understand.
It really scares me that cochlear implants are such a huge procedure to implant and there is not significant longitudinal research done that supports benefits or explains side effects of this major procedure.
If I had a child who was born profoundly deaf I think that I would immediately begin signing to them and let them consider the possibility of an implant much more later in life. 

Chapter 41 :)

"Do all Deaf people benefit from hearing aids?"

Being a Communication Disorders major the concept of hearing aids and cochlear implants are very interesting for me. A question I have always wondered about is whether hearing aids will really help Deaf people, because it seems to me that no amount of amplification could help. After weighing the pros and cons I think that hearing aids would only be annoying and possibly detrimental to the small amount of hearing someone may have.  The only major pro I can justify for hearing aids is that they can "make them more aware of what's going on." 

I could not believe that even newborns could be fitted with hearing aids, I was even more appalled to read that most of the time the decision about hearing aids is made by educators, parents, and audiologists, and that the children often have little or no say in the matter. HELLOOO... the children are the ones who have to wear these annoying contraptions, learning Sign Language would help the child actually learn a language and develop better skills than insufficient hearing aids. I think the children should be introduced to Sign Language ASAP while still be given the option to use hearing aids in the future when they can decide for themselves. 

"The Cochlear-Implant Controversy"

This is a topic that I really struggle with. It takes major surgery and "drilling hole in the skill," this sounds like a huge risk to be taken for something that isn't guaranteed to work. Last semester I was totally against Cochlear-Implants especially in children, I had an experience over Christmas break that slightly swayed my opinion. I was at University of Louisville Hospital observing the Speech-Language Pathologist, I had the most amazing experience. There was a 7 year old girl who had just been implanted with a cochlear implant and I was able to be there after her surgery to witness her hearing her parents voices for the first time. I know that she will need lots of therapy and rehabilitation but it was so amazing to witness this little girl hear the world for the first time that it is hard for me to be completely against them. 

I do think that parents and educators should wait until the child is old enough to decide for themselves, but this amazing experience has changed my outlook on implants.

Chapter 40 :)

"Hearing" "Hearie" "Hearo"

Chapter 40 discussed the term hearing, which I found helpful because at first this was an odd concept to me as well. One very interesting point brought up in the beginning of chapter 40 is the idea that the minority sees themselves as insiders, and has its own terms for outsiders. I had never thought much about majority and minority groups having different names they use for outsiders.  (especially straight to their face!) I never think of myself as hearing because it is normal to me to hear, and as the book mentions, I definitely thing it is something I take for granted.

I had never been called HEARING until taking an ASL class, I have been around Deaf people before but never had herd this term. I do not think it is offensive as some minority names are, it is just different.

A bit of a "WOW" moment I experienced when reading this chapter was towards the bottom of the first paragraph on page 254. Deaf people have been labeled by things that they can't do and have been called things like "deaf-and-dumb" and "deaf-mute." the only label us hearing people have is hearing or hearings, I do not understand how people can feel uncomfortable about this term when Deaf people have been called far worse for their entire lives.

The term hearie is a new one to me, I have never seen the sign or seen it finger spelled. the book says that it is signed like the word hearing, when I read this my first thought was..." well then how do I know the difference between hearing and hearie??" 

Another term that was new to me in this chapter is the word hearo , I have never seen this signed but I am not sure that I would think of it as being insulting. In my opinion every group has their own labels for themselves as well as other groups. These labels are not always insulting, they may just distinguish differences between people. 

Chapter 39 :)

"When I use the word "handicapped," my deaf friends get angry. Why is that?"

I do not see deafness as a physical disability or a handicap. Where I start to trip over my words is when I tell people I am a "Communication Disorders" major. Yes, many communication disorders professionals work with Deaf children yet I do not see deaf people as having a... "disorder." I really like the quote by Dr. I. King Jordan that says "Deaf people can do anything.. except hear." I also like how the chapter goes on to talk about what a disability really is. I think it is a very good point to be made that "some hearing people can't dance, some have no artistic skill whatsoever; some have lousy coordination" yet these people would not consider themselves handicapped. This part of the chapter really gave me a new perspective on this matter, no one con do everything perfectly! 

I was unaware that the Federal Government considered Deafness as a disability/ handicap. While I have never experienced any decision like this before I think I would have to agree that Deafness is not a disability, there is a whole rich culture and community. The book says it perfectly "'handicapped' has acquired a negative connotation. It suggests social inferiority, poverty, hopelessness; it solicits pity not respect." Deaf children should get special help in schools and receive services to make sure they are receiving an equal opportunity for education but I think Deaf people life "fulfilling lives" and are not disabled.

Before deciding on being a Communication Disorders major I contemplated being a special education teacher. This chapter really opened my eyes and made me think about labels and spreading the word to other teachers/ professionals as well as children about not labeling people by their difference or disabilty but to look beyond that and get to know the person not the "disability"

Chapter 38 :)

"Can 'Deaf' be used as a noun (as in the Deaf') or should it be used only as an adjective?"                                                                                                                             

My first reaction to this chapter was 'WOW! how cool... there is such thing as a library service to the Deaf community,' my next thought was, 'wait a minute, the last chapter just told me to write Deaf.. as in the Deaf Community with a capital "D." Any how I really liked this chapter, and it was much shorter than the last which is a plus.
One concept mentioned is that "a number of individuals don't want to be designated as "deaf artist" or "deaf writer." Rather they are "writers who happen to be deaf." I really like this philosophy, I know in special education we are taught to always put the person before the disability, for example a child with a disability not a disabled child.
It was a little odd for me at first too to be called "hearing" and the title "hearings" sounds even more different but as the book mentions "one gets used to it."

I found the story by Richard Nowell to be very interesting. It was very polite for the man to let him know his mistake and explain why some people might take his work choices the wrong way. This is very important in all aspects of life I believe, because most of the time people don't mean to offend others they just don't know. Mr. Nowell puts this concept perfectly when he says "there is a right way and a wrong way to teach dumb hearing people like me this kind of lesson*"
I attached a link to a funny story I read having to do with ASL and football fans who simply didn't know what they were signaling.

 Oregon Ducks and Sign Language Story- New York Times

Chapter 37 :)

 "Is it OK to use the term "deaf-mute" in reference to a deaf person who can't talk?"

Chapter 37 was FULL of information that was new to me. While it was very long, it did address some very important points what I was unaware of. The book mentions early on in the chapter that "being deaf, they cannot hear themselves talk, and thus, can not easily modulate their voices." I can relate to this in a way when I have an ear infection, I get them quite frequently and when the fluid builds up behind my eardrum sounds become very muffled. Because my hearing is impaired, my ability to control the loudness of my voice is as well. If it is difficult for me who has been hearing for 20 years to modulate my voice with just an ear infection I can't imagine how difficult it is for someone who is Deaf.

"Why isn't deaf and dumb" an acceptable term?" I feel as if this concern should not even need to be addressed. It is a very outdated phrase and people should now know that it is not an acceptable term. Something I did learn from this section of the chapter is that "The American School for the Deaf was first called "The Connecticut Asylum, at Hartford, for the education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons." I can not believe that the words "asylum" and "deaf and dumb" were included in the title of the school! This really puts into perspective for me how times and rhetoric have changed! I have never herd anyone use this phrase, but if they did I would be sure to correct them or write a letter to the editor. At the end of this chapter there are examples of time magazine using the phrase "deaf-mute," once the public saw this phrase they wrote to the editor and actually got an explanation and an apology from Time! 
Another "historical reference" that caught my attention was that Deaf leaders preferred to continue calling them selves "deaf-mutes!" It is hard for me to get over the fact that phrases like "deaf and dumb" and "deaf-mute" were acceptable and even preferred terms at one time.

Another thing I found to be surprising is that Deaf people do not like the term "hearing impaired," I am studying speech-language pathology currently at WKU and I have seen "hearing impaired in text books and websites many times. At first I did not understand the negative connotation accompanying this word, but after reading the reasons Deaf people do not like the term I now understand. In the future I will be sure to use the terms "hard of hearing" or simply Deaf.

I really enjoyed the story on page 223 about the women gong out to lunch and one being a hearing interpreter and the other ladies being deaf. I thought it was very bold of them to respond to the rude women making remarks about their signing and calling them "dummy's." This is such a negative word to use to describe someone. I have never been in a situation like this but I hope that if I ever am, I will have the courage to stand up for my self and others around me because stereotypes like this need to be stopped.

A point made in this chapter that really made a good distinction for me was the difference in "Deaf" and "deaf" I have been confused as to whether to capitalize the word or not. I think it does make sense though that Deaf with a capital "D" means Deaf culture and community. I actually included the word deaf on an important paper recently and was told by The Writing Center that it was not to be capitalized, so now I know the correct rules!

I marked so much in this chapter that it is hard to point out all the insightful and thought provoking points. This is definitely a chapter I will keep marked and refer to in the future for clarification.
:)