Posting #13: Chapter 35

I love that the author’s start off the chapter by saying that, “Deaf people are individuals. They shouldn’t be stereotyped” (pg. 205). I feel like deaf people are stereotyped more out of other people’s ignorance. So many people are clueless about the deaf community and deaf culture. Unfortunately, the deaf get labeled out of hearing people’s stupidity. This is one reason I’m glad I am taking an ASL class; I want to bring awareness to the deaf culture. When asked why deaf people can’t talk, the authors answered by stating, “If we do use our voices, are we oppressing other Deaf people?” (pg. 205). This reminds me of what was discussed in the previous chapter, Chapter 34, referring back to how many deaf people aren’t confident in using their voice.

People assume that because many deaf children go through speech therapy that they should be able to talk, but the reality is that, “Some children enjoy the training and find it rewarding. Others loathe it” (pg. 205). I also had never heard of deaf people being categorized before so this chapter really taught me a lot.

Categories (pg. 206-207):

1. Those born-deaf. “They usually disdain using their voices, but may use them to communicate with a hearing sister or brother, or other close relative they feel comfortable with” (pg. 206). They are labeled “deaf”.

2. Those born-deaf or early deafened, may use their voice around hearing people, they are categorized as “deaf-speech”.

3. People who become deaf later in childhood are classified as “HH-voice” (Hard of Hearing)

4. Progressively-deafened or late deafened adults- “ex-hearing”.

5. Deaf from hearing families who learned ASL but are not fluent signers- “oral”.

6. Hard-of-hearing from deaf families/ hearing loss of 60 dB- HH-voice”.

7. Oral-deaf who don’t know how to sign and don’t plan on learning- “hearing-in-the-head”.

                After reading all the categories, I am glad that the authors added that, “People are not labels. We are more important than categories. Our prime concern is that there be communication” (pg. 207). Towards the end of the chapter I also came across a sentence I found ironic. It said, “It should also be noted that there are some hearing persons who don’t use their voices when in the company of Deaf friends, co-workers, relatives, or clients” (pg. 207). This is exactly what our teacher taught use to do at our Deaf Culture Events; it is a perfect way to become immersed in the deaf culture and learn ASL.