Rejecting DeafRead for Selfish Reasons?

After sitting back to take some time and read what others have said about CI and deaf children in blogs did I notice the continued deep mistrust, fear, hate or even suspicion by some people against some of the deaf, hard of hearing, culturally deaf and even hearing bloggers when they do not necessarily "toe the line" to the opinions of culturally deaf people/bloggers. And in return cry "foul" or "unfair" in so many words? This is not surprising since ignorance can breed ugliness rather than to agree to participate in various discourses or acknowledge that there are more than just one views that may be just as valid as the next one. Or that various solutions do in fact exist. But from what I've seen so far is the differences on perspective and understanding by those who never experienced the appreciation of sound and the ability to communicate (listening and hearing) within the larger society. And that the gift of hearing isn't seen as a gift but more like a "curse" for a lack of a better word.

But what is ironic is the cry of a supposed "sudden" swing of a pendulum towards CI-related topics that are dominated by, who else, culturally-deaf bloggers who respond to non culturally-deaf bloggers in a mostly not-so-veiled blog protest of sorts against those who are pro-CI, especially for deaf children. And then we have the irony of seeing bloggers who would "gently" remind DeafRead on who their subscriber base are while at the same time point out that they do not want to "boot anyone off." An odd way of playing "neutral" I'd say when it's more like a threat of some kind. Kind of like along the line that DeafRead editors should try and decide who these "deficit thinkers" are. And then we have bloggers who question DeafRead on what it want to be when it "grows up" and how DeafRead shouldn't go about their supposed "anything goes" aggregator website business. All of these things certainly do give an appearance of favoritism rather than open-mindedness preferring not to hear non-culturally deaf people's own opinions and experiences. Perhaps the growing pains isn't DeafRead but rather the Deaf community's instead?

Let's address the supposed "sudden surge" of CI blogs on DeafRead.

There are 6 blogs listed in DR's subscription with the obvious words "cochlear implant" or "CI" in the blog title with 4 being the most active.

"Cochlear Implant Online" - 7 blogs lilsted in DR since January 15.

"An American Mom in Tuscany: Jordan's Cochlear" - 19 blogs listed in DR since January 6, 2008
"Been Cochlearized!" - only one blog dated August 3, 2007

"Cochlear Implant Studies" - only one blog dated October 15, 2007.

"Cochlear Kids" - 9 blogs listed in DR since January 11, 2008

"Tales from a CI Gal" - 6 blogs listed in DR since January 11, 2008.

Then we have other "older" blogs that came on board during 2007 that have discussed CI from time to time or quite often such as "Hearing Exchange," "Bionic Ear," "Chronicles of a Bionic Woman," "Moot Thoughts and Musings" and probably a few more I may have missed. But it is patently obvious that the majority of blogs (539 blogs!) listed in DeafRead's subscription page are mostly culturally deaf blogger type and not of the deaf or hard of hearing blogger variety who may be pro-SEE, pro-cued speech, pro-CI, pro-oral/aural or a mix of those things when it comes to blogging topics in those areas.

And then we have 27 blogs listed in DeafReadwith the specific word/acronymn "ASL" included as part of the name of their blogsite. This is not to mention the overwhelming majority of bloggers listed in DeafRead blog list are mostly the culturally deaf variety anyway. Yet, we hear people bitchin' who say DeafRead is being "invaded" by cochlear implant blogs or that it is becoming more "CI-centric."

"Invaded"?

"CI-centric"?

I'd hardly call it that. A bit laughable considering the majority of such blogs are hardly in that area of supposed contention. I think the "growing pains" are more in line by those who are doing the most of the complaining and not about DeafRead's own "growing pains."

Besides bitchin' about the supposed invasion of CI blogs people are now "demanding" that DeafRead have an "even mixture of a variety of deaf issues." So what does that mean when for 18 months DeafRead main theme has been mostly culturally deaf-related? Does this mean we need to get more bloggers on the DeafRead list who are more supportive of CI, cued speech, oral/aural method, A-V method, SEE users and so on? Perspectives come from many sides and not just about any singular majority viewpoint. This is how we learn. I don't think DeafRead's list of blogs has even yet to "mature" and that it is still relatively new in the blog aggregator business on anything "deaf-centric" rather than only "Deaf-centric" blogs.

Now, I spent some time reviewing several videos that are aimed at parents on the benefits of having cochlear implant such as the Oral Deaf Education website supported by the Oberkotter Foundation. Listening to these kids speak and hear with the aid of their cochlear implant after several years of use is simply amazing to watch and listen. Yet a few/many Deaf people are suggesting the idea that this private organization ought to be sued. And for what? That they managed to improve educationally the kids that are on the same level as their hearing peers? Or that their "Deaf identity" forever damaged? Improving their options to speak and interact with the larger population? Visions and ideas exist on different planes of thought. And certainly technology has changed the landscape forever.

There are also many positive stories of children, teens and adults with hearing aids and cochlear implants, just as there are many positive stories of children, teens and adults who are Deaf and use ASL. But what is equally disturbing is when positive stories about kids with their hearing aids or even cochlear implants, people become dismissive and get into their lack of "deaf identity" (or in this case "Deaf identity") thing as their next line of defense to try and counter positive stories. Even daring to raise the idea that "true" success of "D"eafhood can only come in form of eventually accepting and using ASL (ie "natural language") thinking it's the one "commonality" that would bond us all. Not so. That's not embracing diversity but more like about demanding conformity instead. But the phrase "natural language" is a bit of voodoo expression used by many culturally deaf people despite the fact we live in an age of technology where "natural language" is increasingly the English language among deaf and hard of hearing children growing up with cochlear implants or hearing aids whose parents are hearing. This will evolve and grow along with the evolution of technology and, soon, biotechnology. The one "commonality" amongst us all is the issue of communication and the access of it, and not about ASL.

This is all about acceptance of others and not whether one needs to know ASL in order to "feel at home." It's about feeling at "home" in their own comfortable environment whether it's around deaf or hearing friends, co-workers, relatives and such. And use whatever mode of communication may it be oral/aural, cued speech, ASL, SEE, and so on to communicate effectively and efficiently with their hearing aid, cochlear implant, implantable hearing aid or none at all. That's true diversity.

Choosing not to be a part of Deaf culture is about preferences and even comfort zones, not always about rejection per se. Some may be misinformed about Deaf culture while others understand it very well but it doesn't suit them as a preferred lifestyle or upbringing. It's about embracing and choosing certain values important to him or her and it may not always be about Deaf culture. So, the idea of a "Deaf identity" is a bit over-rated depending on certain circumstances and the amount of hearing loss. A person's own "identity" evolve over time based on several factors and could very well not involve any sign language, ASL, or the the culture of such a community.

Now, all we need is more CI bloggers and cued speech bloggers in DeafRead. Even more oral/aural and SEE bloggers as well. This would truly represent a playing field of diversified list of bloggers in DeafRead along with culturally deaf bloggers so that all can share their ideas, concepts and experiences. By then DeafRead would have hopefully grown up as a place where hearing parents of deaf/hh children would see DeafRead as a one stop place to do their research on deaf-related issues. After all, isn't that what helps parents make an informed decision when it comes to their deaf/hh child? Wouldn't that be great?