CS 24: Feedback Friday
CLERC SCAR 24
5 February 2009
FEEDBACK FRIDAY
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Re: “Redefining D-E-A-F” by Ryan Commerson
I deliberately added PhD to my name as I wanted to cite a point supporting Ryan’s comments on be-littling attitude of hearing persons have toward deafness.
I normally do not use nor do I flaunt the fact I was conferred a doctorate of Humane Letters from Gallaudet especially among my deaf friends; however, I have found that when I deal with hearing persons that may have low opinion of me, I would use either “Dr Bosson” or “Ed Bosson, Phd” in various communication mode. Email, writing, filing out forms, thru interpreter, etc. Sad to say invariably, the attitude of hearing persons changes drastically when he or she learned that I have PhD. They would show respect to me and even more than few occasions address me with either “Sir” or “Dr Bosson”. The conversation suddenly takes on a much more meaningful and informative conversation.
The most recent event of that was I had a laser surgery on one of my eye. Nurse was being disrespectful, so I decided to bluntly tell her to please address me as Dr Bosson. Wow, what a change. She alerted Dr of this, and thereafter I was able to get important information regarding the surgery. The whole Dr’s office was respectful and friendly. Sad that I had to resort to that.
Ed Bosson, PhD
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Re: “Redefining D-E-A-F” by Ryan Commerson
This is a reaction to Dr. Bosson’s comment.
Yes, I get that experience too. When other people find out that I graduated from a Canadian university (which has an international ranking as one of the world’s top 50 universities), their attitudes toward me changes and they show me more respect.
I want to add that I’ve been told that I don’t look or act deaf. These questions then strike me, “So what LOOKS deaf? What does ACTING deaf look like?” This implies that people believe there is a spectrum of who is more or less deaf. This is something for us, as deaf people, to think about. We need to show people that there is a variation of deaf people just like how there is a variation of hearing people. For example, not everybody (deaf or hearing) can read, dance, play drums, etc.
So leading to the article, we need to reframe ourselves in order to change the ideology of “DEAF” for the hearing world. However (as Terri mentioned), the majoriy of world’s view on Deaf is structured by hearing people. We need to do something about that NOW. This won’t be an easy feat. Change is not going to happen overnight. We may not even see change in our lifetime, but it WILL be good for future generations.
This article is a good way to wake us up and realize what we’re in. It’s time for us to take ACTION! Like Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” and that is exactly what we should be doing.
Jordan Sangalang
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Re: “Redefining D-E-A-F” by Ryan Commerson
Reframing in yourself is one thing and a good thing — but the bigger problem is that the entire world view of Deaf people is structured by hearing people who inherently believe that Deaf “can’t”. Deaf learn that the language of choice is English (spoken is even better than writing and reading) and many MANY Deaf BELIEVE this — even to the point of not signing with their hearing children, so they dont disable their children by giving them ASL. Deaf learn that ASL is a “second choice” language for people who cannot learn English, who will not graduate from High School with a “real” diploma. Deaf learn that they will not succeed or compete with their hearing peers — because they cannot — because their interpreters are not able to give them them equivalent experience, much less a competitive edge. Fingerspelling English words is not effective, and does not teach Deaf people English, nor create equal and understandable expereince for Deaf people.
I want to reframe how Interpereters see Deaf people. I want to reframe how interpreters think about how they deliver information to Deaf people. Interpreters are KEY to creating an opportunity for respectful communciation between intelligent Deaf people and hearing people who believe that the Deaf are in some way, incapable of being intelligent. But the interpreter who cannot understand the Deaf person (fast enough — or at all), or is unable to express the language accurately, while sounding confident and being loud enough so that the hearing people know this Deaf person has said something. . . intelligent . . . worth listening to. . .
If the interpreter cannot do this, or if the interpreter is making mistakes unknown to the Deaf person and allowing the conversation to continue, becuase “once we hang up — I dont have to worry about it any more”. . .
The Deaf person can reframe inside themselves all they want but the hearing world will continue to step on them.
Terri Hayes
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Re: “Redefining D-E-A-F” by Ryan Commerson
I think RC was a little too conservative. The source I have from a New York State University study shows that 87% of blind people are on welfare and 92% of deaf people on welfare.
Al
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Re: “Killing NCSD” by Adrean Clark
Great cartoon! That is how many of the teachers and staff feels for the last 10-12 years. . . suffocating to work with the people in the Office of Education Services (OES). 99 1/2 % of the staff have no deaf education degrees nor have ever worked or taught deaf children before coming to work for the OES. They have had cleverly kept NCSD and ENCSD under the mat for so long that the schools have lost enrollment. The Superintendent has persistently said that it is a natural decline in enrollment, but there are 600 deaf and hard of hearing in the early intervention program plus many more are mainstreamed. The parents are encouraged to keep their children in the public school system. Some parents have not heard of the schools for the deaf. So many times the teachers and the staff wants to do innovative ideas to make the school better but the OES’s motto is “NO!” or “Can’t do that”. Their philosophy is “Try public schools first. If a child fails, then send him/her to schools for the Deaf.” The average age of “failed” students that go to schools for the deaf is between 9 and 12 years old. That is toooo late! Then the state and the OES expects the teachers to be miracle workers! I am amazed that parents have not sued the state, OES, or public schools for waiting too long to find out that the deaf child isn’t succeeding in the system. Is this fair to the deaf/hard of hearing child? It is a sad era that the deaf and hard of hearing children have to go to public schools to be more isolated. . .
Caring for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Kids
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Response to Marla Re: “Contortions” by Mary Thornley
Thank you for your remarks.
In the past, I did attempt to contact individuals. Perhaps I got a response. Maybe not.
Whoever I reached might have thought, “Oh well. Just one person’s opinion.” And felt safe ignoring me.
Some years ago, I read an article in a newspaper about a woman who was being charged with child neglect because she ‘left her baby in the care of a deaf mute.’
I called the newspaper and asked to speak to the reporter. I told him many, many deaf people are responsible, caring parents, and he had made their task more difficult by writing what he did.
But–hundreds of thousands of newspapers are published everyday, worldwide, with similar stories and objectionable comments. Addressing each one individually would be like plowing the sea.
Better to get it ‘out there’ in a public format, don’t you think? Others may think twice if they know that someone might give them an unfavorable review.
Mary Thornley
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Re: “2012 Deaf Apocalypse?” by Mary Thornley
I touched on this issue briefly in my 5A5A 2045 comic, page 5.
http://ll.51f.us/?p=51
Would like to know what you think of the comic. At any rate, enjoy!
Cousin Vinny
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