Is Deafness a Disability or a Way of Living - 1593 Words

Two centuries ago, the Deaf community arose in American society as a linguistic minority. Members of this community share a particular human condition, hearing impairment. However, the use of American Sign Language, as their main means of communicating, and attendance to a residential school for people with deafness also determine their entry to this micro-culture. Despite the fact that Deaf activists argue that their community is essentially an ethnic group, Deaf culture is certainly different from any other cultures in the United States. Deaf-Americans cannot trace their ancestry back to a specific country, nor do Deaf neighborhoods exist predominantly throughout the nation. Additionally, more than ninety percent of deaf persons are born†¦show more content†¦Some deaf people also believe that their condition is both natural and cultural and in no sense medical. Therefore, implants only constitute acts of genocide, endangering the continuation of the Deaf community (Edwards ). Deaf people view those who agree to the surgery and get the implants as artificial deaf persons, as opposed to those who choose to be original deaf persons (893). Even though hearing persons try to cure those who are hard of hearing, most deaf individuals consider that they do not need their help, as they do not have any disability, and simply have a different language and culture than the rest of their community. The Deaf community contains the basic characteristics of any particular ethnic group, despite the attempts from hearing people to destroy their culture through medical interventions. This community contains members who share a feeling of community. They value recognition by others and self-recognition (Lane). They feel strongly identified in their group, as they create a family environment, which provides support for each of its members. Moreover, the Deaf community has a set of norms for behavior. In decision-making processes, they try to agree on the course of action to take through consensus and not just by individual initiatives. Allegiance to their culture is also another distinct value that characterizes the members of this community. People with hearing impairments have the â€Å"highest rate of endogamous marriages of anyShow MoreRelatedEssay about Genetic Testing and Reproductive Freedom977 Words   |  4 Pagescertain conditions like deafness or short stature to genetically manipulate the genome of a genetically health embryo to be like them (Shea 1987). There has never been a generally accepted definition for disability. Not even a single model found in the disability paradigm has clearly defined disability. One definition has always been countered and over-ruled by another. However, there are some commonly used definitions describing disability. Some have described disability as the lack of an abilityRead MoreChildren With Disabilities Act ( Ada )1222 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States did not systematically have tools or laws in place for Deaf individuals. In 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – a civil rights law was implemented across the U.S [with four sections] that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities including deaf and hearing impaired people. The purpose of the ADA is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Each section of the ADA – employment, government, public accommodationsRead MoreDeaf : Understanding Hearing Los s1324 Words   |  6 PagesTo see, to touch, to smell, to taste, but not to hear. Imagine living in a world where lips are moving a mile a minute or where sound is only visually depicted, but acoustically absent. Where everyday of your life is spent trying to decipher the words leaping off the tongues of those around you. For over 30 million people in the world this has become or has been their reality. Deaf individuals, spend their lives trying to ways to maneuver around in a hearing world. Although the United States providesRead MoreHearing Speech : Deaf And Deaf1659 Words   |  7 PagesIn the same way that no two individuals are alike, nor are any two families with deaf or hard of hearing members. Due to the various ways that hearing loss can occur, the occurrence of hearing loss in any one family can vary. There are families with deaf parents and hearing children. There are families with deaf parents and deaf children. There are families who have never encountered a deaf or h earing impaired person that suddenly have a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. Hearing impairment affectsRead MoreReflection Of Deaf Jam789 Words   |  4 Pagesestablish understanding. This showed the versatility in the modes and tactics those who are deaf use to communicate apart from ASL, and also the ways in which they utilize their environment to bridge the gap between the different languages. My understanding of the contrast between the cultural-linguistic model and medical and social models associated with deafness were also further developed. Many discussions on the topic of cochlear implants were brought forth during the film and showcased the idea thatRead MoreHelen Keller : Being Blind And Deaf1589 Words   |  7 Pagesthat sense at the time and appreciate their senses more. As a child, Helen struggled to adapt to be being blind and deaf. Due to her handicap, Helen did not have as many of the opportunities in life that the majority of people do. Living a life of both blindness and deafness is a huge challenge, but Helen Keller is proof that people can overcome the challenges of being blind and deaf and still go on with life accomplishing goals. By learning the Tadoma Method to communicate with other people,by touchingRead MoreDeaf : The Deaf Community1299 Words   |  6 Pagesto think that having a deaf child or losing your hearing is a tragedy. Cristina Hartmann said, â€Å"Make no mistake: my deafness was no curse. It shaped my perspective of the world, and I m glad for it. For me, deafness opened up new worlds, rather than the other way around.† The deaf community is a very strong and active community that do not look at being deaf as a disability. What exactly is the deaf community? The deaf community is a group of individuals that are direct, expressional, andRead MoreThe For The Deaf Community849 Words   |  4 Pagesopportunities abled people are innately handed. There is a lack of opportunities that Deaf people received based on their disability in terms of jobs and acceptance. The feeling of acceptance is one thing the hearing community has felt at least once, if not their entire life, however it is a feeling that may be unknown to the Deaf community. Hearing is something people take for granted because living without it, is not something a lot of people know. With not knowing or even understanding the struggles a DeafRead More Ethics of Genocide and Eugenics Essay1407 Words   |  6 Pagesviews on the future of our society. Gene therapy is also a glass that can be viewed in different angles – different perspectives. Some say it has great potential to shape the ideals of our future, while others believe it signifies intolerance for disabilities, imperfections that supposedly deplete from a person’s interests, opportunities and welfare (quoted by Peter Singer, xviii). This global issue has brought people with different opinions in the open, arguing their views using history, morality andRead MoreEssay on Are Cochlear Implants a Threat to the Deaf Community? 1683 Words   |  7 Pagessevere disability. (WHO 2008) Deafness can be the result of many different causes such as otitis media (middle ear infections), hereditary disorders, genetic mutations at birth, prenatal exposure to certain diseases such as meningitis, and trauma to the eardrum or auditory nerves. (Better Health Channel, 2013) While not a cure to deafness, the invention of cochlear implants (CIs) now allows people who are severely hard of hearing or profoundly deaf to experience sound in a completely new way. This