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From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: NAD Position Paper
Message-ID: <18506@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 4 Apr 91 19:36:00 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 JC> Why is the NAD position on cochlear implants for children,
 JC> absurd?

It seems to be a very self-serving position paper, Jay, well
written - but not well reasoned.

While I recognize that everyone who is deaf will not agree,
many would prefer to hear if possible.  I believe that in a
free society, children and their parents should have access
to all responsible means they believe will improve their
quality of life.  Why should NAD deny them that option?

Where NAD's paper really gets absurd IMHO, is at the bottom of
page 4 on my fax copy.  There they say:

 "We should not aim to make children who would otherwise be Black
  adults into white ones, children who would otherwise be women
  into men, or children who would otherwise be members of the
  deaf community into members of the hearing community . . "

Equating cochlear implants to race-changing or gender-changing
is quite absurd!  And that statement seems to generalize NAD's
premise to one of opposing, not only cochlear implants, but also
anything else that might make it possible for deaf children to
hear.  How can one get much more absurd than that?

Not every deaf child is a candidate for a cochlear implant.  And
no one is FORCING anyone to get implants for their deaf children.
But NAD's position would deny that freedom of choice.

Not to worry, more rational views will prevail.

... Pax vobiscum.

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