Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker
From: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Stigmas and Deafies
Message-ID: <16060@handicap.news>
Date: 17 Jun 91 15:30:21 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 > I don't think I'm judging the ASL folks harshly...I guess
 > it's a combination of things: I *am* deaf myself...but
 > not accepted as such because I grew up oral, and am used
 > to speaking rather than signing. Maybe once I am more comfortable
 > with ASL, things will change.

Jessica - I think those of us who are oral are a bit more acceptive
of others who only use sign language.  I don't think you need to
change your lifestyle or way of communication to be accepted as
a deaf person - if others cannot accept you as you are, that is
their problem, not yours.

We are individuals first, not deaf persons first.  I personally
could care less if *I* am not accepted as a deaf person as I
really don't feel that's the important issue.  I don't want to
be known as a deaf person - I'm a person who just HAPPENS to be
deaf.

--
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