Dear K.,
Deafness does not isolate or "disable" people. Hearing people not
allowing these visual beings to be visual disables them. Their beautiful visual
language can teach us, hearing people, how to see better. Instead,
almost all the attention is on ears and mouths.
Many deaf babies grow up without language or little language because
over 90% of doctors in the US and Canada (ENT surgeons who are the ear specialists) say,
"don't sign to your deaf baby." They say this because they are excited
about fixing the ear. [Cochlear implants, invasive brain surgery, does help with speech and is a kind of hearing, but does not make a deaf baby hearing; he or she is still deaf, but has a tool]
They or the parents who follow them are not evil, but don't see that any
time there is objectification (ears instead of a human baby), it is an
act of violence.
We all need to include all people as equal in order to encourage OUR
full human potential. If you look me up, you'll find my address. Write
me if you want my book, A Man Without Words, and I will send you one.
The best thing you can do to help Deaf people is learn ASL. You'll be
treating yourself to a great feast for the eyes.
Yours for language for all babies,
Susan Schaller, soon to be author of an English/ASL version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, ASLTales.net
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