Reply #4: I am Deaf myself [View All]

I can very much understand the opposition to cochlear implants. However, keep in mind, that many Deaffies and I appreciate older children and young adults' choices to have cochlear implants...but what most of us do oppose are the forced implants on very young children before they can decide for themselves. While it may seem very perplexing and strange to you, the Deaf Culture can be incredibly dynamic and high-functioning. If you don't believe me, check out the history of Martha's Vineyard where there was a very high percentage of Deaf people in that population...and many of them thrived very well and independently. Many of us do not see Deafness as a handicap, but a difference. Granted that we are disabled regarding the hearing sense, but we can still be just as high-functioning and independent as the regular hearing population.

The biggest problem facing many Deaf people is the attitude by society at large that does not understand the worth of our world, the value of sign language, and so on. That in itself affects the educational system, which causes many Deaffies to be very undereducated. On a personal note, I think that Deaffies can be better served by working with and blending with the hearing world while maintaining their values regarding sign language and a very visual world...instead of cutting off the larger world. Unlike the Black population, we just don't have enough numbers to make the world pay attention to us if we shun the hearing world. I think that both worlds can be best served if they look at what each other can offer.

Regarding the autistic issue here, I work with autistic/Asperger's children (through use of interpreters). While I can empathize with the Autistic society's strong desire to be accepted for who they are as do the Deaffies, there is a crucial difference. Many lower-functioning autistics do require help in order to survive on their own. Deaffies are very very very sufficient in surviving on their own. As for the high functioning autistics/Aspergers, they have unique gifts and strengths that ought to be cherished and made use of (e.g., they make the best witnesses with their incredible visual memory and attention to minute details that most of us don't recall). However, many do require assistance or support in areas that most of us are independent. For example, I've met a few young Asperger's adults who are academically brilliant and very interesting, but need some kind of job mentor or facilitator to help them keep their jobs (i.e., helping bosses understand their social quirks and setting up situations that reduces severe social anxiety).

So in short, it's very easy to be caught in our narrow views of how the world should run, and that others who are quite different need to be fixed. I suggest that many of us take more time to look at the other side, and see what really works.