Comments on: Deafness: Is It a Disability? http://grantlairdjr.com/wp//2009/05/10/deafness-is-it-a-disability/ Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:08:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: James http://grantlairdjr.com/wp//2009/05/10/deafness-is-it-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-93372 James Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:30:21 +0000 http://grantlairdjr.com/wp/?p=879#comment-93372 I basically agree with the first poster MM but he is being a bit harsh / terse / abrupt and few things are ever as simple as that, especially when we are talking about the human condition. I am deaf on one side which is different from being hard of hearing on one side so even at that level there is a difference that needs to be respected. http://deaf.headplug.com Those who think they know all the answers like MM are especially welcome to drop in as the sense of abject humiliation they shall inevitably experience will do 'em good! :-)),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,James I basically agree with the first poster MM but he is being a bit harsh / terse / abrupt and few things are ever as simple as that, especially when we are talking about the human condition.

I am deaf on one side which is different from being hard of hearing on one side so even at that level there is a difference that needs to be respected.

http://deaf.headplug.com

Those who think they know all the answers like MM are especially welcome to drop in as the sense of abject humiliation they shall inevitably experience will do ‘em good! :-) ),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,James

]]> By: DaveO http://grantlairdjr.com/wp//2009/05/10/deafness-is-it-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-93339 DaveO Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:41:56 +0000 http://grantlairdjr.com/wp/?p=879#comment-93339 I have learned in my Ph.D. program at the University of Texas at Austin that disability is a physical or mental condition that, when present, significantly limits a major life function. A handicap is defined as an environmental or societal barrier that, when present, limits a life function. It sounds to me as if deafness is both a disability by definition and society makes it a handicap. I am blind and experience the same situation. Not deaf, just blind. I have learned in my Ph.D. program at the University of Texas at Austin that disability is a physical or mental condition that, when present, significantly limits a major life function. A handicap is defined as an environmental or societal barrier that, when present, limits a life function. It sounds to me as if deafness is both a disability by definition and society makes it a handicap. I am blind and experience the same situation. Not deaf, just blind.

]]> By: D http://grantlairdjr.com/wp//2009/05/10/deafness-is-it-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-93325 D Tue, 19 May 2009 19:33:23 +0000 http://grantlairdjr.com/wp/?p=879#comment-93325 Deaf / Hard of Hearing is hearing handicapped! So it's still considering disability... Deaf / Hard of Hearing is hearing handicapped! So it’s still considering disability…

]]> By: John http://grantlairdjr.com/wp//2009/05/10/deafness-is-it-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-93324 John Fri, 15 May 2009 15:31:12 +0000 http://grantlairdjr.com/wp/?p=879#comment-93324 I agree its a linguistic minority not a disability. Deaf people can accomplish anything and do anything that "normal" people can do. I just watched this season of the amazing race and was rooting for Luke who is deaf and his mom to win. He navigated tasks and traveling far better than other people who were not deaf. He almost won the entire race. If not for a small mistake in the final race to the finish he would have taken the million dollars. Luke was a great example that deaf people can exceed the performance of non-deaf people at almost anything. I agree its a linguistic minority not a disability. Deaf people can accomplish anything and do anything that “normal” people can do. I just watched this season of the amazing race and was rooting for Luke who is deaf and his mom to win. He navigated tasks and traveling far better than other people who were not deaf. He almost won the entire race. If not for a small mistake in the final race to the finish he would have taken the million dollars. Luke was a great example that deaf people can exceed the performance of non-deaf people at almost anything.

]]> By: D http://grantlairdjr.com/wp//2009/05/10/deafness-is-it-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-93315 D Tue, 12 May 2009 03:37:33 +0000 http://grantlairdjr.com/wp/?p=879#comment-93315 There's a problem in this argument. If you want to claim that you do not have a disability, then you are not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Perhaps, you are a linguistic minority. That's cool by me. That would mean we fall under Chinese, Mexican, and many other linguistic minorities whom would need to pay out of their pocket for a translator (or interpreter in our case). We, the deaf, share many historical oppression. We have been institutionalized, colonized, dehumanized, measured by our physical/sensory "deficit", and among many other traits of oppressive systems. See, we're not disabled. None of us are. It's society that is disabling to us. D D There’s a problem in this argument. If you want to claim that you do not have a disability, then you are not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Perhaps, you are a linguistic minority. That’s cool by me. That would mean we fall under Chinese, Mexican, and many other linguistic minorities whom would need to pay out of their pocket for a translator (or interpreter in our case).

We, the deaf, share many historical oppression. We have been institutionalized, colonized, dehumanized, measured by our physical/sensory “deficit”, and among many other traits of oppressive systems.

See, we’re not disabled. None of us are. It’s society that is disabling to us.

D

D

]]> By: MM http://grantlairdjr.com/wp//2009/05/10/deafness-is-it-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-93301 MM Sun, 10 May 2009 15:54:17 +0000 http://grantlairdjr.com/wp/?p=879#comment-93301 I can't see the point, this is a very old chestnut. The answer is simply: (A) YES it is a disability if you acquire it after being hearing. (B) NO it isn't if you were born deaf anyway. Simple really. I can’t see the point, this is a very old chestnut. The answer is simply:

(A) YES it is a disability if you acquire it after being hearing.
(B) NO it isn’t if you were born deaf anyway.

Simple really.

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