it bothers me when hearing people start preaching about Deaf culture.
there is a difference between educating someone and full out preaching.
it bothers me when i see hearing people who think themselves allies write things like, “Deafness is not a disability! and screw all stupid ignorant parents who force their poor deaf child to be isolated and grow up alone!”
some d/Deaf people DO consider themselves disabled. and thats not a bad thing. its a persons identity. and theirs to choose. and yeah, some parents are uneducated about Deaf culture, or even deafness in general, but that means they are just as uneducated as you were at some point its not your job to call them out as being horrible. and growing up oral doesnt mean a child needs your pity. instead advocate for the childs right to equal access to everything.
a better way to say something like that is, “Deaf culture does not view being Deaf as a disability. It is important to educate parents of deaf children on the ways of Deaf culture so that they can provide their child with the best access to language.” then refer them to such and such d/Deaf person.
d/Deaf/ HOH people are all different. and its not your job as an ally to preach, educate and refer yes, but i see ASL students getting all huffy and offended and angry and going over board with out any acknowledgement from any d/Deaf people, and often they say things offensive to deaf and HOH people. You get angry? think about how we feel, we live it.
reasons why its important to teach inclusively about d/Deaf/HOH people in Deaf studies classes. and to teach how students should react to lack of Deaf knowledge in the hearing community.
