Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker From: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: COCHLEAR IMPLANT Message-ID: <15766@handicap.news> Date: 23 May 91 19:24:22 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:385/14.0 - Fingers Talk, Lawton OK Lines: 63 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 15766 [This is from the Silent Talk Conference] > I only know that communication is a basic human necessity, > and to make every possible attempt at giving a child unencumbered > communication is to open the entire world to that child. > I feel that it's worth the risk. I have known HI people > who were truly handicapped, and I have known HI people > who were merely slightly inconvenienced. The difference > lay in the level of ability to communicate and function > in a largely hearing world. Hi Verna, and greetings from OkieLand (soon to be TejasLand )! I couldn't have stated the above any better and this is what I've been trying to get across for some time. I've always felt one is only handicapped if they let themselves be so... As one who has a congenital profound nerve deafness and is oral, I feel all modes of communication should be available for children, including speechreading and speech. While I was never trained to speechread (was able to do so from birth and had no problems learning to speak - I am the oldest of 3 who are profoundly deaf), I do feel it is possible for anyone to learn oral communication even though it may often be frustrating and time-consuming, the rewards far overcome the frustrations. My brother's first job out of college was to teach the 5th grade at the Arkansas School for the Deaf. I recall him telling us of a 12 year old boy he had been working with saying his first word and what an emotional experience that was. Unfortunately, there was no follow-up and my brother was so often frustrated by the fact the school was so remiss in providing sufficient speech therapy for their resident students that he ended up quiting after 3 years and went on to work with the Governor's Committee in hopes of improving the sorry conditions at this school. He now is an attorney (the first deaf person to graduate from the University of Arkansas' Law School) and living in DC working on the federal level of US Board of Education - Special Education Services (under Bob Davilla). I've been around many hearing impaired people and have often been told by many they wish they had the opportunity to work with their speech and learn lipreading. Many have been so frustrated by only knowing ASL since this is a hearing world and the majority of our population do not sign and do not wish to learn. People are people and I feel it's our place to learn to communicate with the hearing, not the other way around. We sure would have fewer communication problems if one knew all modes of communication. Also, there is so much out in this big world of ours, why not be a part of it and enjoy it? I hope someday there are many improvements to help those with hearing losses or even prevent them, but in the meantime, all should work together to make life easier. Boy - I really rambled on and on, didn't I? Ah - guess we all have to state our opinions even though mine may be a bit opinionated. (grin) -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org