Some years ago I spent some time learning sign language. I was shocked at how deaf people saw themselves and their deaf culture. A lot of them were upset about new developments in hearing technology (e.g., cochlear implants) because they felt that eventually scientific progress would cure deafness and bring about the end of 'deaf culture'.
This
position statement from the National Association of the Deaf is very telling:
Many within the medical profession continue to view deafness essentially as a disability and an abnormality and believe that deaf and hard of hearing individuals need to be "fixed" by cochlear implants. This pathological view must be challenged and corrected by greater exposure to and interaction with well-adjusted and successful deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
The media often describe deafness in a negative light, portraying deaf and hard of hearing children and adults as handicapped and second-class citizens in need of being "fixed" with cochlear implants. There is little or no portrayal of successful, well adjusted deaf and hard of hearing children and adults without implants.
I can fully understand that if you are not used to hearing the sudden ability to do so may not be very beneficial, as you may not have the ability to deal with the new sensory input. There are many deaf individuals who have adjusted well to their disability. But it is a disability, and it shouldn't be wrong to call it such.
But some of the deaf people I have talked to believe if would be immoral if we could suddenly prevent all new cases of deafness, because that would kill the 'deaf culture'. Somehow this culture's rights trump those of individuals.
-paridel
The funny part about the deafies is their aristocracy. Only the deaf of deaf (born deaf, signing only) consider themselves the true representatives of the “beautiful deaf culture.” Everyone else is looked down upon.
From a political correctness standpoint this is also funny. This is a ridiculously small number of people. Any politico who gives them the time of day, let alone panders to them, is an idiot. The most efficient way to put these people out of our misery is to simply take away their bennies and let them preserve their beautiful deaf culture all by their lonesomes. Write government-supplied ASL interpreters OUT of the Americans with Disabilities Act, cut off the taxpayer money to Gallaudet University and watch the problem dry up and blow away on the wind. A bunch of angry old people who wave their hands and make ape noises is what you’ll be left with.
Cochlear implants are not perfect, and learning to talk with one as a child is not easy, but they are improving steadily. Most parents do not want their deaf children to grow up in a militant self-segregating subculture.
And that’s about the size of it.