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From: griesel@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU (Curtis W. Griesel)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Musings of a demented mind
Message-ID: <9929@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 1 Feb 90 17:58:11 GMT
References: <9899@bunker.UUCP>
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Reply-To: griesel@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU (Curtis W. Griesel)
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Organization: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis - CSCI Dept.
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Index Number: 6544

I'm not sure if the original poster was serious, but I definately disagree
with him so I have to respond.

In article <9899@bunker.UUCP> Stephen.White@p1.f853.n681.z3.fidonet.org writes:
>
>   I wonder if deaf people should be trained to talk if they cannot
>produce easily understandable sounds. It is very embarrasing to see
>them make weird sounds and have other people look at them as if they
>were stupid. I personally dont blame them, as if I didnt know better,
>I most certainly would come to the same conclusion.

This sort of reaction to atypical speech is a problem of the listener,
not the speaker.  It is a very old-fashioned attitude, left over from
them time when it was thought that physical handicaps were signs of
mental deficits.  As anyone who reads this group knows, physical
difficulties are in no way a reflection of the quality of one's mind.
I can't believe someone is still encouraging that attitude!  Sure,
there are others who still view physical handicaps this way, but what
we need to do is educate the public, not discourage the disabled from
interacting with others!  A person should use whatever means of communication
is most effective for them.  For many people, the most effective
means is their voice, even if it is not a typical voice.

As has been discussed before, probably the best way to educate the public
will be to begin early, in elementary school.  The current movement toward
integration of all students, regardless of handicap, is a step in the right
direction.  That way kids will group up around each other, realize that
everyone is 'normal', and won't have the same warped attitudes that their 
parents have.

-Curt
-- 
Curtis Griesel                                        griesel@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu
                      Coordinator of Computer Access
Microcomputer, Workstation and Network Center; U of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
   "Disability is not the problem, peoples' attitude toward the disabled is."