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From: Tim.Smith@f429.n275.z1.fidonet.org (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Deaf and/or hearing im
Message-ID: <18016@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 12 Mar 91 05:15:19 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Well hello!  I read with interest your message about the terms of HI/ HH
or deaf or whatever..
I just wanted to squeeze some of my own words in there.. Hope it's not
too way behind in the thread.. But tough.. {grin}

Personally, I perfer the term "DEAF".
Well, maybe for those deaf people who are involved in the ASL deaf
community.  I can't speak for the people that have some hearing left and
are not part of the community.

Anyways, back to the subject...  I feel as if "Hearing Imparied"
or "Hard of hearing"  causes the society to view deaf people through
the pathological point of view.. "They just can't hear."
That is far from the truth.  We are a separate cultural group with their
own LANGUAGE.  We don't use a cheap imitation of the english language,
we use AMERICAN sign language which has nothing to do with English.
 ASL has its own grammar, structure, syntax and in no way can it be
compared with the english language.

It's a real shame that the hearing community does not really seem to
accept that.  Granted, ASL is a very different language.  But it has
been proven to be the best way for the deaf indivuals.  It fits the mind
procession of the visual deaf.  English is too much of an oral language.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying English is not the way to go, that
deaf people can't learn it.. If I said that, I would be lying through my
teeth. {grin}  For, I am deaf as a post.  I can't hear a single thing,
ASL is my language.  However, I've been lucky enough to accomplish at
the English written language. (excluding the usage of puncations.
uh, and spelling. {grin})

Boy, I'm ahead of myself.. I only meant to discuss the term, "deaf"..
Deaf is what we want to be called.  We have pride in being deaf.  We are
not ashamed of it in any way.  It;s a cultural thing.

"It's a deaf thing, we can't hear it!" {{Grinning}}

             Tim

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