Marlee Matlin to speak at diversity summit in Portland

Marlee Matlin is coming to Portland, Oregon "to speak at Maximizing the Power of a Changing Workforce: Diversity Summit 2011 presented by Portland General Electric. The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the Oregon Convention Center. Tickets are sold at the PGE’s website.

Although tickets won't be cheap if you want to attend. It'll set you back at $249.00.

Portland General Electric describes Marlee Matlin:

Academy Award®-winning actress, activist and ambassador for the deaf community, shares her personal life story, emphasizing achieving inclusion, diversity and access for all.

Speaking of diversity, Marlee Matlin made absolutely clear on diversity and choices in her recent tweet.

@Starkeyhearing does not deny ASL or deaf culture; they provide hearing aids. BTW, lots of ASL users wear hearing aids.
And just as an FYI @starkeyhearing tests hearing when parents can’t afford tests for kids and gives out FREE hearing aids.
I sign, I support deaf culture. And I support ALL CHOICES of communication, all kinds of people. If you don’t like my choices, well….

One smart cookie. That's diversity for ya! Did you read that? All choices of communication. Sounds familiar?

Yet some culturally deaf people get all snippy about her support of Starkey's philanthropic mission on giving out free hearing aids. They simply do not see the bigger picture here. Amy makes an obvious point about Marlee Matlin:

If you have a twitter account, go and check @MarleeMatlin, and she has 91,772 followers. She has a clout. People started taking ASL classes, parents decided to sign to their young Deaf children, and celebrities complimenting her.

You see. When people see Marlee sign on a tv show or in a movie that get them interested on wanting to know more about sign language. But that's not enough for some die hard nuts on trying to mold her into their own "deaf image." There is no need for them to get all upset because she supports all choices of communication. Those people need to grow up and get with the program.

Good point, Amy.

Go Starkey!

Patti, it's not trashing.

I can see how some of my blogging on Gallaudet University could be construed as "trashing" but I and others do not even see it as that. Instead, it's about not being afraid to discuss sensitive issues. It's asking the hard questions while others would prefer to look the other way as if it never happened.

What I provided in my past blogs about Gallaudet University are mostly in the form of facts and figures along with some opinions.  Go ahead and type in "Gallaudet" in the search box in the left column of my blog page (scroll down until you see it) and you'll find all the blogs I wrote that have the word "Gallaudet" in them over the years. Naturally I'll discuss issues pertaining to Gallaudet University since I graduated from there. I do have opinions and valid concerns regarding Gallaudet University, after all, I am an alumnus which makes me a representative of Gallaudet University.

Better get used to that idea.

What's rather curious in my observation is that some people seem to prefer to see such data or information not be publicly exposed or discussed further when it comes to issues or things related to Gallaudet University. Why is that?  What is exactly the message being sent out there in the effort to silence such criticisms? That any criticism of Gallaudet University is off-limit? If that's the case then rape at universities or colleges, specifically Gallaudet University, shouldn't be discussed based on facts and figures as if rapes never occurred? Isn't that a rather cold and heartless thinking? Behind all those rape numbers is a human being and not some faceless statistic.  And what about discussing at length why Buff and Blue choose to keep quiet (it's been three months and counting....) the removal of the Wirick article rather than make a public declaration on explaining to the readers the reason for the removal? Sounds like a preference to keep things mum and out of the light as much as possible.

No, Patti. It's not trashing.

I have my own POV and I look at things differently.  Aren't alternative viewpoints great?! Although what's rather a curious thing to witness about the claims of "trashing" is when Patti wrote out "Kokonutty" in reference to me and my blog. Even though I've always made the effort to call people by their names correctly as well as the names of their blogsites without the need for colorful, euphemistic name calling. What's the point of doing that anyway? Patti, you do know that my name is "Mike" and that my blog is "Kokonut Pundit" and not "Kokonutty," right?

for those of u who have not been properly introduced to the Kokonutty pundit – no loss. enjoy living in the real world and count ur blessings

Not only once, but twice (technically so) the name "Kokonutty" was used by the same person. Must be an example of that infectious "love" and "peace" thing going around, no? Can't say "Agree to disagree"?  Or is this a bitter tea we're talking about? And isn't calling me as "Kokonutty" getting a tad bit too emotional and personal? Isn't the above an example of personal trashing? Is that good?

Me think not.

Nay am I the naysayer. Nay, I say! Nay! Nay! Seriously, just think of it as a POV instead and you'll live a happier, healthier life! Gotta save that stomach from getting ulcers, right?

People can have opinions about other people whether it's positive or negative and be firm about it. Sure. I've no qualms about that. Although I question the wisdom on turning it into a personal thing looking more vendetta-like than not.  But, seriously, how hard can it be to address a person by his or her name or the name of the person's blog without any trailing name callings in its wake using colorful, euphemistic connotations?   If it were me I'd get away from using my blogs as an emotional platform by targeting people the things I do not agree with.

CCAC Introduction

Rarely do I compliment a blog/website and when I do consider that as a honor. I've known about this organization called "Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning (CCAC) for awhile and so I've decided to put their CCAC logo on my blog seen on the left column that links to their blog page.  This is the one admirable and doable goal that reaches across all boundaries for people with hearing loss from mild to profoundly deaf.  This about helping ensure on creating the greatest number of  access for everybody since captioning does reach out to the most number of people in an audience. And without the worry about petty internal politics or discrimination and segregation based on hearing status, amount of "deaf experience" you have or whether you know sign language or not.

Captioning is the single most accessible and acceptable form of communication for most people with hearing loss. Their core concept is based on accessibility that reaches out to the greatest number of people in an audience and thus practices the goal of inclusion to those who need it which is essentially anybody and everybody.

The CCAC states 5 simple goals and actions that makes common sense for everybody.

CCAC Goals and Actions:

1. Ensure that captioning is mentioned and included regularly in all the places we need it; universally; as a common everyday practice.
2. Have captioning mentioned and included in all the places that sign language is mentioned and used now.
3. Support consumers to learn about and ask for captioning, and get it, without all the hassle encountered now in too many places.
4. Push captioning into a "respected" resource/language/technology.
5. Encourage professional providers and also those offering systems to expand services.

What naturally makes sense and we all know this is that captioning should a common everyday occurrence no matter where you go. Technology and greater awareness will make that a reality someday soon.

I like #2 goal. One of the biggest misconception and myth about people with hearing loss is that all of them know sign language.  This is simply not true. This same kind of myth (that had an unfortunate unintended consequence) is perpetuated in one Superbowl commercial which had the potential to leave an impression that all deaf/hh people know sign language as their preferred mode of communication. Not even close. In fact, the signing segment of that population makes up a very small minority when compared to a population of 36 million people with hearing loss in the United States. This goal also makes clear that "sign language only" access isn't acceptable form of alternative communication access if the target audience also includes deaf and hard of hearing people whether done live or in a video format such as on YouTube.

The rest of the goals and actions listed are just as good with large doses of common sense. 

In closing, I encourage you to spread the word about the CCAC organization because it does BENEFIT you in more ways than you can imagine. This is the kind of advocacy organization worth joining.

Deafhood supports cochlear implants and oralism

The philosophy of "deafhood" as it pertains to a deaf or hard of hearing person's journey based on his/her hearing loss experience explicitly acknowledge and support the use of cochlear implants and even oralism. Nothing about "deafhood" ever said anything about rejecting cochlear implant or oralism since they are a part of the whole diversity facet that makes each deaf and hard of hearing person unique in many ways. One of the many valid ways of how a person with hearing loss live his/her life. It becomes a part of that person's identity. Not only that such a philosophy also lends support regarding the diversity and acceptance of Cued speech, SEE, PSE, use of hearing aids, AVT, speaking, talking and listening over the phone, CART, note takers, closed captioning, open captioning, subtitles, and so on. Even living the full and rich life as a person with hearing loss not ever having the need to use or even learn sign language certainly fits the "deafhood" philosophy. The same can be said of those who use ASL. Nothing is rejected under that philosophy but supported and acknowledged instead. It makes no distinction or specificity.

The true philosophy of "deafhood" accepts diversity. A person's journey is a deeply personal one that cannot be pidgeon-holed or boxed in for convenience sake. The problem with "deafhood" nowadays it's no longer seen as a neutral philosophy. It has become a political and ideological machination bent with a money motive designed in mind to segregate and discriminate people with hearing loss based on certain criteria (e.g. not "Deaf-centric" enough). The concept of "deafhood" has de-evolved away from the concept of diversity and acceptance and into the maws of power and politics. If it were about diversity it would have been plainly obvious for all to see.

The mask has fallen off.

Deaf musicians, a contradiction in terms?

I got a heads up from somebody about this little interesting tidbit of history and how music really isn't a part of cultural deaf make-up or so it seems here. But today there is a deaf band called "Beethoven Nightmare. And there are deaf/hh musicians such as Evelyn Glennie, Sky Mundell, and even myself.  How many more deaf/hh musicians are out there whether they speak, know sign or not?  There are plenty and I know them.

From the Gallaudet Press article on how Alexandrea Hermann essentially "lost" even though she won the Miss Deaf California pageant crown in 1991 due to a "technicality" or rather more like people had a bit of snit-fit over her winning the crown.

Those who deviated from this model faced increasing challenges. For example, Alexandrea Hermann won the Miss Deaf California pageant in 1991, playing piano for the talent portion. After the pageant, however, members of the community roundly criticized for her “mainstream lifestyle”—reading lips and speaking, attending a hearing school, and socializing primarily with hearing people. Hermann was informed that she could not use her piano talent for the national competition. She did not win the national title. In the following year, a Deaf Life poll asked readers whether they felt pageant contestants should be allowed to sing or play music as part of their talent routines. Although most (62 percent) answered yes, a strong minority (39 percent) disagreed. One former judge in state deaf pageants suggested that contestants be aware that “some kind of fallout [might occur] if they decided to sign or play music.” Another opponent of “hearing”-style performances answered with an emphatic “No!” The respondent continued: “Most Deaf audience do not benefit from it [sic]. . . . They will talk to each other until the next contestant comes on stage with respect and pride in her culture!” This attitude pervaded many state and national pageants. As a current description of the pageant notes, “This is not an ordinary contest . . . beauty, poise, gracefulness are desirable qualities, but the biggest point is one’s cultural talent performance” and that “the women are judged across a broad spectrum of categories including . . . knowledge of deaf culture.”

Interesting history. I guess her identity as a pianist, preferring to read lips and speak, ability to socialize among hearing people isn't up to deaf culture standards, hence, no "deafhood" for her because her own personal journey doesn't jive with theirs. Yet they still want their music, too.  So, tell me, where's the contradiction here?  Maybe Beethoven's Nightmare isn't really a deaf culture thing and it's really all about practicing the a-wordism. No? With more and more deaf and hard of hearing people wearing hearing aids and cochlear implants nowadays, perhaps some rule changes are needed for these deaf pageant competitions?

I wonder.





ADDENDUM:

More questions about the pageant win.

Many objected when the woman chosen Miss Deaf California played a Bach piano concerto for the pageant's talent competition. Should the title have gone to someone with enough hearing to play music, or picked for her ability to do something that other hard-of-hearing people could not appreciate?

And what about make Beethoven's Nightmare then?

Star studded performance to benefit cochlear implant recipients

Vanessa Williams to give a Benefit Performance where "a portion of the proceeds goes directly to the Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation dedicated to help hearing impaired children transition to a world of sound and life through the use of cochlear implant technology."

More on Barton G. Weiss and his $5 million dollar donation to help kids (and parents) with cochlear implantation.

Last year Barton G. Weiss who is a noted restaurateur announced that his Barton g. Kids Hear Now Foundation has committed $5 million dollars to establish the Barton G. Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center at the Miller School's Ear Institute.

Weiss made the announcement at the Clinical Research Building, during a morning news conference attended by UM President Donna E. Shalala, Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., UM Ear Institute Director Thomas Balkany, M.D., and Miller School Department of Otolaryngology Chair Fred Telischi, M.D.

Weiss, whose Barton G. company is renowned for its event-management, restaurants, and off-site catering prowess, has a three-year-old daughter, Jadin, who was born unable to hear. Today, Jadin is not only hearing, but she converses in English and Spanish thanks to a cochlear implant procedure performed by Dr. Balkany.

“Three years ago my world was turned upside-down when my daughter was born profoundly deaf,” Weiss said. “It left me feeling helpless, overwhelmed and filled with fear. So today really is a dream come true.

“I am honored to help establish the Barton G. Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center,” Weiss said. “My hope is that this will allow all families, regardless of their social or economic background, to have a resource, as well as support.

“My deepest appreciation goes to Dr. Thomas Balkany, who was the surgeon who implanted my daughter – she’s a little chatterbox!” Weiss said to laughter from an audience of roughly 100 people that included many media representatives.

“It is a pleasure to be here today with my good friend Barton G. Weiss, a longtime supporter and friend of the University of Miami,” Shalala said. “Over the years, Barton has donated not only resources, but also his talent and time.

“Today he has taken that support a step further by making an incredible gift to the Miller School of Medicine.”

The goal of The Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation, which Weiss launched in 2008, is to have a direct impact on transitioning deaf children from an existence without sound to a hearing world, through the use of cochlear implant technology.

“When a child is born deaf, a cochlear implant can restore hearing and enable a child to develop normal speech, when the procedure is performed at the appropriate time,” Dean Goldschmidt said. “Barton G. Weiss knows firsthand what a parent faces when they learn their child is deaf, and that is why he formed The Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation — so no other parent will have to go through the process alone.”

Personal money was donated, star studded performances to help raise money to help benefit cochlear implant recipients, more donations, more charitable organizations and greater exposure on the miracle of cochlear implant just keeps getting better and better every year.

Addressing deafness in the field of regenerative medicine

From the medical journal "The Development of a Stem Cell Therapy for Deafness":

Medicine is at the doorsteps of a phenomenal revolution, brought by the advances in the stem cell field and the development of new technologies to engineer cells and tissues into more complex organs. The promise of a true regenerative approach to organ damage and loss of function is closer than ever of becoming a reality. The auditory field is participating of these developments with high ­expectations. Since the cochlea is an organ of difficult access and with very limited regenerative capacity, conventional therapeutic approaches have failed and, currently, the only treatments available are in the form of hearing aids and cochlear implants. The potential restoration of hearing by the use of exogenous stem cells will offer a solution to a condition that has very limited options. In this chapter, we are reviewing the increasing volume of research on this emerging field and discussing the key elements that need to be developed further, in order to translate the basic science into a clinical reality.

Take a peak inside and read a few pages from the Regenerative Medicine journal on how far along stem cells are and how close the reality is on restoring hearing loss using stem cells.

A public relation message to the deaf and hh community

A skill....

Each of us has a particular set of skills that we are either endowed with or worked hard to develop them over time.

Let's start with music.

Some of us are not into music. Others are. And some truly enjoy playing their musical instruments and thrive off of that. Look at Evelyn Glennie, a world renowned professional percussionist who happens to be profoundly deaf.  Should I or others be jealous of her musical ability and skill? No. Why should you be? Why feel negative towards her just because she has a skill when others do not have such a musical skill?  Do you find yourself drifting toward negative thoughts about her musical ability as a deaf person? Why?  What about pianists such as myself or Sky Mundel who are deaf/hh? Do you find yourself feeling angry or upset towards other deaf or hard of hearing musicians as well? Why? Jealous? Conflicting feelings? Exactly what makes you harbor these negative feelings and thoughts?

There are skills we don't have when others do.

Let's look at oral speaking skill among deaf people by taking the case of Stephen Hopson who was born with a profound hearing loss who worked hard over the years growing up and into adulthood the power of speech and became known  transformational and inspirational speaker. Should you be jealous of him or harbor negative thoughts towards him because of his ability to inspire people in the audience? Why?

Kathy Buckley, a known comedienne in the comedy circuit who do these speaking stand up comedy acts who happens to be deaf/hh. Should you get angry because she choose to use her speaking skill to her audience and not sign? Why?

Trix Bruce, a known ASL story teller. Born profoundly deaf. She puts on an inspirational show about her personal challenges, learning experiences and embarrassing moments. Her goal is to give the insight of the deaf world to those who can hear and not hear and help people throughout their life journey. She acts out situations and tells stories using ASL while her partner, Kenan Pekoz, translates the ASL into captivating spoken words. Should anybody be angry about her ability to sign, and how she gets her message across? Or have negative thoughts about her particular set of skills?
No. Why should people behave like that?

If you have these certain internal angsts or negative thoughts about people who value speaking and/or listening then perhaps it'd be better for you to focus on something else for a change. If you have certain negative thoughts or angsts about Deaf people's ability to sign or express themselves through signing then perhaps its time you ought to focus on something else, too. It goes both ways here but the key is to understand that each of us is different and have particular preferences in what we do.

I've always recognized that each of us, deaf, hard of hearing or hearing people, has a particular set of skills that we are endowed with. And deservedly and rightfully be proud of them. Or skills that we worked hard to develop over hundreds or thousands of hours of practicing earn that right and be proud of our accomplishments. I make no distinction over people's preferences to use their voice or sign. I don't begrudge anybody's musical ability. I don't condemn or begrudge people if they sign in SEE, PSE or ASL or whether their signing happens to be more PSE than ASL. If you are striving to sign purely in ASL, good for you! Yet I can see how people easily mistake for noticing signing to be more PSE than ASL as a condemnation when it's not but rather noting a distinction in signing style. I make no condemnation of people who strive to improve their signing style just as I make no condemnation of people who strive to speak and listen better or develop their speaking skills and become an inspirational speak. Or become a musician regardless of whether one can hear or not.

You see, that's the difference between myself and other people. I don't care if you choose not to speak or use your voice, or not wear your hearing aid or cochlear implant. It's personal choice if you want to go all "organic" or not. Just as well for those who strive to use their voice at every chance they get or the chance to hear with their hearing aids or cochlear implant at every opportunity. There is nothing wrong with that. Nothing superior about it. Just a preference.

I recognize that each of us has a skill and how we use it is really up to us and that we shouldn't be condemned for doing what we are comfortable with. I don't spend a whole lot of time focusing on what I cannot do but rather I focus on the things that I can and want to do. If people don't like that and get angry about it, then perhaps they need to prioritize in what they do in life and focus on the positive for a change.

Meanwhile, why not learn a musical instrument? 

I've played the violin, snare drums, xylophone, saxophone, and piano. I've also did the bass drum while in the high school marching band where we competed in marching band competitions in the southeast. Just because you have a hearing loss isn't a good excuse not to try.

Hear the world....and the whining

Rather surreal but lately people are piping up about a public awareness campaign called "Hear the World" where you have well known actors and musicians who posed for the camera with their hand cupped to their ear as a sign for hearing loss. I see nothing wrong on raising greater awareness about hearing loss and ways to prevent hearing loss.  From the point of view of hearing people it is natural for them to feel how important the ability to hear and not lose their hearing.  I've no problem with some of them saying "hearing affects every aspect of life," (Annie Lennox, singer) or by Billy Idol "Three things make life worth living: seeing, feeling and hearing." I can certainly understand how they feel about hearing and hearing loss. No need to whine about it. A total waste of energy.  Those perspectives are from hearing people's point of views. I can understand why they are speaking up about the need to protect your hearing.

I like what Common said:

"If only we protected our ears like we do our eyes."

That's true for hearing people who don't realize how vulnerable and sensitive their hearing is, especially when it comes to being exposed to loud sound on a daily basis and risk losing some of their hearing. Too many musicians after playing so many years are finding out the hard way when they realize loud music can cause them to lose some hearing.

I see all this as no different from making a public awareness campaign about vision loss on educating people about glaucoma or cataract, and how important the ability to see is. Peppered with sage, common sense quotes and perhaps some corny quotes.  Wouldn't you consider keeping your eyes healthy so that you may witness a colorful sunset, see your kids, stand in awe the beauty of majestic mountains and green forested trees? Of you do. Let's not be hypocrites when it comes to a public relation campaign for the prevention of hearing I certainly don't see a bunch of "blindhood" people going around mewling and complaining with mock outrage and show of indignity. Really, folks. C'mon. Is this what you are going to do? Complain about how hearing people feel that hearing is a gift to be protected? And play the victim every single day and do the whole "woe is me" song and dance?

Let me play a violin for ya. 

Handicapable Dolls

Here's something that I came across and it's a rather intriguing website about homemade dolls matched with various conditions such as a blind doll, Down Syndrome doll, cochlear implant doll, hearing aid doll, missing limbs and various other conditions at the request of parents of children with that same condition. Note the name of the website is "Handicapable Dolls" with the focus on "capable" and not "handicap." Think of it as saying "handy capable" dolls and not pronounced first as "handicap."  

 If it's "sewable" it's doable.

From the website:
"Here's a doll with a cochlear implant. The "hearing aid" (also known as the "microphone") is connected with velcro for easy removal, the "transmitter" (round part) is attached with a magnet so it can also be removed and the "battery pack" fits into a pocket sewn on the back of the doll garmet. All pieces are attached to each other with a cord. Parts are made from clay and fabric."

Pictures below  are examples of a "Hearing Aid" doll.

From the website: "This handsome dude has a Latino skin tone, dark brown eyes and black boy hair. He wears hearing aids in both ears, which are permanently sewn in place so they won't get lost. See the picture below for a look at one of his hearing aids from the side."

I think this is great. For kids to have dolls that they can relate to provides a sense of reassurance and acceptance.

What Dr. Paddy Ladd said versus Dr. Gallaudet on 1880 Milan Congress

With thanks to Candy who provided some crucial quotes of Dr. Paddy Ladd in the first chapter of his book.

Paddy Ladd:

What could a Deaf person, a Deaf community become?

What could we have been had not sign language and Deaf teachers been removed from Deaf education after the Milan ‘Congress’ of 1880?

What could we have been had we not been forced to endure more than a century of English illiteracy, self-shame and stigma?

Who and what were we in the centuries before such prohibitions descended, when Deaf Professionals and Deaf pride was reputedly much stronger?

And, what can we bring forward from those times which might inform the fledging steps we must take in this 21st century?

Dr. Paddy Ladd is a British bloke who wrote a thesis from the point of view as a British person relevant to his experience in his country versus an American person in his/her own country. But let's look at what Dr. EM Gallaudet said in 1886 to Lord Egerton during a question and answer session with Dr. Gallaudet.

The most damning quote by Dr. Gallaudet to Lord Egerton in 1886? (6 years later after the Milan Convention of 1880)

"I am not aware that the opinion or the practice of any teacher in America, or of any school in America, has been changed by this action of the Milan Convention."

That is in direct opposition to claims today that deaf people (i.e. signers) were harmed by the Milan Convention decision in the United States.  Gallaudet and many others at the time rejected such a recommendation by the Milan Convention on oral method only route.

But here's an interesting twist, Dr. Gallaudet advocated for the use of the oral method in America as well. It was to be included with all other teaching and communication methods at the time.


32 Abingdon Street, Westminster.
Wednesday, 10th November, 1886.
Present: The Eight Hon. The LORD EGERTON OF TATTON In The Chair.


Source.

You have Lord Egerton asking questions to Dr. EM Gallaudet in 1886. This was done 6 years after the Milan Convention of 1880.  Note the bold sections. The red color ones are the more interesting quotes.

13.306. Lord Egerton: I see that a number of resolutions were arrived at by that Congress, and I think the Commission would be very glad to know if you could give us some idea of the opinion of those in America best calculated to express an opinion upon the results arrived at at that Congress?

Gallaudet: The feeling in America was that the resolutions adopted by that Convention, giving a formal approval to the pure oral method, were not entitled to very great weight. The Convention was far from being a representative body. I mean to say that there was no basis of representation, so that a particular institution or a particular country should be considered as being represented by a certain number of delegates. My own opinion at the time was, and nothing has since occurred to change it, that the decision of the Convention at Milan as regards the pure oral system, as expressed in these resolutions, was not to be taken as of very great weight in determining questions of method, and that opinion was entertained by a very large majority of the teachers of the deaf in America, including many who taught then and teach now on the oral method. In justice to the few who hold to a different opinion I should say there were some teachers in America who accepted the decision of the Milan Convention as expressing their views. I am not aware that the opinion or the practice of any teacher in America, or of any school in America, has been changed by this action of the Milan Convention.

13.307. Lord Egerton: May I take it that from your own experience the combined system, with as much vocalization as can be added, is the method that you would recommend !

Dr. Gallaudet: I should say oral teaching should be included.

13.308. Lord Egerton: Is that the method which is recommended in America today?

Dr. Gallaudet: That is the method which is recommended by the resolutions which I had the honor to read to the Commission yesterday, as coming from the largest Convention that has ever been held in America, and at which all methods were represented. My views are in accordance with the recommendations in those- resolutions, and I have held those views during now a period of 19 years. I may say frankly, that my experience prior to that time was such as to lead me to depreciate and undervalue the oral teaching of the deaf, and I wrote and spoke and worked as a manual teacher purely up to 1867 ; but when I then visited Europe and examined the oral schools, especially in Germany, I became satisfied that I had failed to grasp the situation theretofore, and I accepted at once the addition of the oral method as a necessity in any system that aimed to reach the highest good of the deaf.

So, the acceptance of the oral method today shouldn't be a problem. but the today's approach, understanding, and advance in technology are light years away from that of in 1886. Yet the signing is still recommended to be included. No harm in that but I must re-iterate that an informed decision is still up to the parents. Parents still hold the trump cards. All we can hope is at parents are adequately informed to make an important but informed decision.

Using the Milan Convention of 1880 as a scape-goat in order to blame the so called harm to the signing community does not hold that much weight. Competiting ideas on educational and communication approaches were a continual and dynamic process over the last 130 years since the Milan Convention of 1880. In each respective ideological practices it has become more refined along with increased knowledge and confidence in their area of expertise on AVT, SEE, ASL, MANUAL, CUED SPEECH, AUDITORY or ORAL approaches today combined with the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants that helps improve the acquisition of the spoken and auditory language.  What we now know today along with the advances in hearing technology cannot be compared to the thinking of the 1880s and rudimentary approaches with limited knowledge on educational practices and approaches. There is simply no comparison to be made in terms of equivalency here between two very different eras.

None.

The old adage that's true today is that there is no one shoe size that fits all for people with hearing loss from mild to profound hearing loss.  That philosophical approach is adequate today but not in 1886. Yet sign language is still a very important communication approach (even language) for people with hearing loss and those who don't have hearing loss.

The problem today is that some Deaf people are simply addicted with this whole scapegoating efforts doing the constant blame game in the name of Deaf politics rather than simply focus on positive examples and let that shine through. Which is why today I continue to say, "Deafhood? No thanks." You need to understand from my point of view as to why I say that. It's simple. It's these stupid Deaf politics that get in the way of. Sort of like refusing to agree to disagree but instead prefer to throw a temper tantrum on the floor for the world to see.

I don't judge people on their preference to use or not use their voice. Same goes for signing preferences. And the use of their hearing aids or cochlear implants. Nor do I go behind closed doors and do all these Salem witch trials to determine (i.e. the extreme audacity) whether if this or that person is "Deaf-centric" enough in the name of "deafhood." When that happens you KNOW those people are brainwashed and fervently ideological who do not realize the consequences of making those kinds of inquiries can have. That's one of the reason why segregation and discrimination are happening behind closed doors.  And that "deafhood" has become about politics and ideology and nothing about acceptance for what they are instead focus on "who" they are. This is true for CAD (California Association of the Deaf) when they proposed to use the "deafhood" requirement in order to be a member (see video below).

Can we say "segregation" now? Can we say "discrimination" now? Can we say that those people simply do not accept people with hearing loss by focusing on what they are?

This "deafhood" ideology is now becoming the new "McArthyism." It's no longer a philosophical concept but it has now become a required practice.




Basic summary of that video.

*CAD requires members to be a part of "deafhood."

*Must take workshops in order to qualify as officers of CAD.

*Says it is discrimination if one says "no thanks to deafhood" and cannot run for officer of CAD.

*Medical view of "deafhood" - everything is always about improving our lives, who are they to tell us what shouldn't be or should be.


I'll include more summary briefs for those who don't know sign language later on.

The Gallaudet Experience

Prior to entering Gallaudet University in the beginning of 1988 I knew it'd be a mix of students who were new to signing to those who were native signers. I knew there would be students who wore hearing aids and those who don't. And I also knew that there were be those who have no problem speaking or even use the phone. I came prepared knowing what to expect despite my beginning foray into the world of signing.

Once on campus and got settled into my dormitory it wasn't long during the first year in 1988 that I made numerous friends and along with them did I discover the Union Station, see the sights of Washington D.C. , dance to the loud incessant booming music of Rockfest, met up with George and several of his friends in one of his friend's dorm where beer was flowing, and saw this one deaf guy was gifted in interpreting all those Billy Joel's music that I was even impressed. I went out to bars with my friends, and did the usual stuff what many college students would normally did except that I didn't go and get drunk or lose control of my bodily function. But my main focus and goal was to finish my degree as early as possible since I put off hold on my college work for a few years after transferring from a Georgia college and tech school. It was simply time to hit the books in a much more serious fashion since I wasn't getting any younger. And I wasn't about to dawdle and waste valuable time except during important breaks for own sense of sanity.

The number of friends I made was incredible though the selection I made was purposeful that matched my tastes and personality. I needn't to hang around imbeciles or truly obnoxious people. Though through the three years I was there before graduating I learned about the one obnoxiousness thing at Gallaudet University. The unbelievable amount of Deaf politics that permeated the very fabric on campus. The first clue I learned was purely accidental because of my goodwill nature to help people who ask. In this case, it was several students who asked me to order pizzas for them over the phone on one of those Friday/Saturday night requests. I obliged. No problem. After doing the orders they would thank me and that be the end of it. But the funny thing was that I started to noticed something unusual after doing this several times. None of them even dared to acknowledged my presence on campus which was interesting. The campus cafeteria. Nope. The campus grounds or hallways? Nope.  I talked to several of my friends about this odd behavior did I learn about certain "cultural attitudes" by those who don't look favorably toward "non-native signers." Which I found quite laughably funny if not full of hypocrisy after doing all those phone ordering. And how petulant it was, too.  But I gave some of those people the benefit of the doubt yet the response was still the same on campus even after I agreed to order pizzas for them. Then one day, it dawned on me. Those people weren't going to change their behavior. And so I did the one thing that pretty much got them angry on a very important night. It was a Friday night  those same group of people asked me if I can order a bunch pizzas for them. And what did I say? I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Sorry. I'm too busy." Turned around and walked away.

I smiled, too. 

That was the day my eyes opened up about how Deaf culture and politics can be a ruthless and uncaring place to be in. But not always. Just that instance.


What people don't realize is that I wouldn't trade my experience at Gallaudet University for anything else. It was a one time opportunity to learn about the unique campus culture and the history of it, and the chance to meet more deaf and hard of hearing people in one place. It was a place where I made numerous friends from all kinds of background from hard of hearing, deaf, deaf-blind, and those with cerebral palsy of which one was my roomie. But Gallaudet University as a campus and university have some serious shortcomings. Yet people continue to misconstrue my criticisms in my blogs that it had to do with me getting "rejected" by the Deaf community at Gallaudet University as the reason for the "attacks."  I still chuckle over this misconception of theirs.  And I don't blame them. Little do they know the good times I had while I was there making friends and girlfriends like any other students on campus while studying and working to help pay off the tuition. And have enough gas money for the car and food. My goal was to get in and get out in short a time as possible so I can pursue my graduate degree. And I did that. And in the process made many wonderful friends. And reconnected many of them through Facebook. I still continue to make deaf, hh, and hearing friends today outside of Gallaudet University.

The "rejection" thing is the biggest laugh I hear every now and they do this only because they know me as a blogger/vlogger but not as a person. They say I rant because I felt "rejected" at Gallaudet University? A good laugh over a drink with my friends on any given night whether on FB, VP, the phone or at bar or house with my wife and I with our deaf/hh/hearing friends. That just makes me chuckle. The biggest laugh are the jokers that continue to say those things to this day but in reality do not know diddly what they're saying.

Pretty pathetic bunch they are.

I was right about how cultural and Deaf politics can be ruthless and puerile to the point of utter ridiculous. Make no mistake. I am an alumnus of Gallaudet University. It was a good experience during those 3 1/2 years as an undergrad student and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything else. It can be a good place to get an education when done right. Yet, I am representative of Gallaudet University and nothing can take that away from me. In short, the people who don't like that fact, well, are out of luck.

Good luck to those who continue to rant against me for whatever reasons. And thanks to those who are my friends and comrades in arms. I still enjoy their company, their blogs, and vlogs.

So, maybe my plan is working flawlessly?

*rubs hands together* *heh heh*
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Oh, come on now. Grow some funny bones, folks!

Enjoy!

2011 Hear the World Sound Academy: Amplifying the Grand Canyon

This is pretty cool.

2011 Hear the World Sound Academy:
Amplifying the Grand Canyon

Global Explorers, in partnership with Phonak's Hear the World initiative, is excited to announce the first-ever Sound Academy in Grand Canyon National Park.

Twenty lucky students with and without hearing loss will embark on the expedition of a lifetime. The team will raft the Colorado River; hike slot canyons; collect data with an acoustical scientist; and learn about the interplay between human beings, wildlife and the rugged Southwest landscape through the world of sound. Post-trip, the student ambassadors will launch a Hear the World online campaign to educate others about hearing loss and sound, including a sound-themed podcast for the National Park Service.

When: July 31-August 7, 2011
Who: Full-time students ages 15-20 with and without hearing loss
Price: $1,700 + round-trip airfare to Las Vegas, NV | Limited scholarships available

We expect to have partial and full scholarships available; more details will be available at the end of February. If you are interested in the Sound Academy, please apply and we will keep you informed about the scholarship application process!

Nominate a student, offer a scholarship, or learn more at www.globalexplorers.org/heartheworld. Applications are available online and due February 26.

Questions? Contact Laura Portalupi at laura@globalexplorers.org or 877.627.1425.

Do you have a student you want to nominate?

Here are some more info.

The majesty of the Grand Canyon summons a profound connection with nature and a deep sense of purpose as few places can. But this world-famous natural wonder faces a serious threat: noise pollution. While rafting the incredible Colorado River and exploring side canyons by foot, we will learn about the interplay between human beings, wildlife, and this rugged land through the world of sound. Guided by an acoustical scientist, we will collect sound data in the Diamond Down section of Grand Canyon for use in Grand Canyon National Park’s backcountry management plan.

Sound deepens our experience of the world and the capacity to hear is a fundamental part of life, yet one in five teenagers experiences some degree of hearing loss. The Hear the World Sound Academy will foster awareness about hearing loss and sound preservation while equipping you with the tools needed to step up and make a difference in the world. Using hearing loss awareness as a case study, you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to launch a campaign for a cause you believe in.

Trip Leader Profile: Bill Barkeley

We are fortunate to have Bill Barkeley as one of the Global Explorers expedition leaders on this adventure. As one of 15,000 people in the U.S. with Usher’s Syndrome (Type 2) (the leading cause of deaf-blindness in the world), Bill’s 2007 summit of Mount Kilimanjaro shattered expectations (read article). With the assistance of Phonak hearing technology, Bill was successful in not only reaching the summit but also in sharing a story of inspiration, determination and aspiration, telling the world about assistive technologies available to those with hearing and vision problems (view Bill’s Phonak testimonial video).

Did you know about 800 million people worldwide are affected by hearing loss?
Hear the World is a global initiative by leading hearing instrument manufacturer Phonak to raise awareness about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. Learn more about Hear the World here.

Raising hearing loss awareness is very important and people need to be aware it so that the world may hear.

The meaning of "organic."

The "organic" word is hippy! Cool! Naturrral! Or with the more provocatively French you could say "Au naturel!" For a deaf or hard of hearing person not to do anything with hearing aids and cochlear implants one could try and claim as being the "organic" wholesome deaf person.

Sure. If you believe in that.

Although I do have my "organic" moments whenever I take a shower.  Even going for swim at a remote swimming hole and go "au naturel" within the volcanic bedrock deep in the territory of Oregon could constitute as an "organic" wholesome moment.  Make that pretty darned wholesome moment. Even singing some songs as you hike the trails would be an "organic" moment because it comes naturally to use your voice. Even if you're tone deaf. Nothing more "organic" than using your voice and scream "Hello" and hear the "organic" echos reverberate off the canyon walls.

Just because one action, belief or way of doing is considered as "organic" or "wholesome" doesn't necessarily mean it's natural. Having an "organic" moment by running nekkid through the city streets in broad daylight with your dingleberries bouncing like leather Hacky Sacks will certainly earn you a trip to the nearest asylum. So, is using your voice to yell "fire" in the most shrieking "organic" way will certainly be a guaranteed way to get yourself arrested.

But I'm sure speaking and using your voice constitute as an "organic wholesomeness" action. Something like the time when one deaf person decided to to speak at the Senate Health Hearing in California decided to go really "organic." The whole nine yards, vocal cords and all. After all, to speak and use one's voice is quite natural for many deaf and hard of hearing people. I don't think you can't get any more "organic" than that. Signing is also "organic," too.  The Native American Indians were doing their own "organic" stuff for a long time until a better, improved "organic" way of communicating stepped in.


I end my thoughts here with a captioned 1967 song called "Born to be Wild" by the Steppenwolf band. Crank up that volume and enjoy your "organic" moment whether by feeling it or by listening to it.

Man on the Street

Here's a guy asking people on the street in Denver, Colorado if they know what a cochlear implant is. The answers they gave were surprising and funny, if not so sad. About 1 in 30 would get the answer correct. The video below demonstrates the need of educating the public and how woefully they do not know about the issues of deafness or hearing loss. The video makes a salient point, though not pointedly so, that we have a long way to go on educating the public about this number three condition in the United States.




Oooh, pish tosh! I know it was produced by Cochlear Americas. Just enjoy the video and realize the lack of knowledge people have out there regarding deafness, cochlear implant and everything else.

Discrimination and Segregation

 Recently I've begun to notice a rather curious thing, the blatant discrimination and active support for segregation in some "deafhood" circles. Mostly identifying people with hearing loss in the form of whether they know ASL (and not SEE, et al) or not. Sometimes as blatant as a flyer with the words you cannot miss, "For Deaf ONLY," compounded with an enticing "free admission" invitation to an "Intro to Deafhood." I wonder how a person with a hearing loss with no knowledge of signing would react after reading that sign? Imagine how a hearing person would think, too. Would a deaf/hh person go and check it out because that sign advertisement piqued his or her curiosity? Imagine his/her surprise once the person gets inside and finds out there is no communication access because, silly, you have to be "Deaf" first and not "deaf" or "hard of hearing." No real time captioning. No voice interpreter. No FM loop. All that to go along with sign language access. Something a deaf/hh person would naturally expect at a HLAA workshop or seminar like the flyer below (note the red box at bottom).

But not so in this case at a "deafhood" workshop. Ya gotta know ASL, too. Does not help if you're a CODA, you can't go. Even if your significant other is hearing and you're deaf/hh. It's either Deaf or no Deaf and that hearing, deaf and hard of hearing people are segregated and discriminated on the basis of a communication requirement. You can't say the same thing for HLAA where they do provide communication access for all their workshops and seminars, and everyone is invited regardless of hearing status.

Would anyone be interested in going to a workshop that favors segregation while practicing their brand of discrimination?  Yet it is rather curious to see this "For Deaf ONLY" phrase meticulously posted on a flyer for an intro workshop on "deafhood" that discusses this "journey"

That sort of warning announcement reminds me of time when the differences between black and white were clearly spelled out and a line drawn during the 1950s and 1960s decades of racism.

Maybe it'd be better to spell it out so there be less confusion? Like, for example...

"For ASL-users only. Must be deaf or hard of hearing. No SEE allowed. Turn off your hearing aids. Turn off your cochlear implants. Voice interpreters are NOT available. We do not use FM loop. We do not use CART. Late deafened must know ASL! HEARING PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED!"

Just really get to the point of who are not welcomed to come just so other deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people can know what to expect. Don't leave them guessing if they are in fact invited or not.

It's only fair.  And I wonder wistfully so whether such a workshop would be held at one of those future HLAA conventions?

And just as well, with that discrimination requirement imposed by those "deafhood" workshops leaves out 99.5% of the population of people with hearing loss who are unable to attend even though they themselves are undergoing their own personal journey in life where hearing loss is a part of that. Kind of sad that they get to experience discrimination and segregation from other people with hearing loss and chalk it up as part of their personal journey in life. Who says that signing is a requirement in a personal journey for any deaf or hard of hearing person?

Such ego.

More incredible stories.

Last year, there was an instance when both deaf husband and his hearing wife wanted to go to a "deafhood" workshop together only to be turned away at the door because hearing people weren't allowed into that workshop. The deaf husband decided not to go because he didn't like their segregation requirement.  It appears that he didn't like the discriminatory attitude as well. And, yeah, I read/watched the reasons as to why it was for "Deaf people only" (which essentially means ASL-only) which I found a bit disconcerting if not disingenuous on seeing how they came up with those excuses. Imagine a deaf/hh non-signer surprise on the lack of access.  For them, it'd be called "reverse discrimination." Suppose the wife was hearing and her husband is deaf and blind where she does the interpreting for him? Yeah, kick that oppressive hearie out the door.

Another lost opportunity to reach out.

This whole thing is a slippery-slope issue when you have people turn the concept of "deafhood" (i.e "the journey") into political agenda by focusing on cultural attainment and signing ability requirements. A focus on "Deaf-centric" attitudes which ironically has become a new way of segregating and discriminating. That's not a personal journey. It becomes a CULTural attitude instead.

Good luck with that approach.

ADDENDUM:

Here's an example of segregation and discrimination at work. Two separate workshop coming this April with one called "Journey to Deafhood" that is done in "ASL ONLY." It makes clear that "there will be no voice interpreting." And that "this workshop is designed for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, CI, Advanced ASL students, ASL Teachers, interpreters and YOU." If you're deaf or hh and don't know sign, then too bad. Tough guano. While another workshop is for "hearing people" entitled "Understanding Deafhood: Becoming A Great Ally." That I find ironic considering the first workshop does not provide any additional communication access such as CART or voice interpreting when the topic is about journeying toward "deafhood." Whatever. More like learning and understanding how segregation and discrimination work in a reverse order.

Chris Artinian of Sound and Fury to Speak

Christopher J. Artinian to Deliver Keynote Address, June 16th, 2011
The Hearing Loss Association is delighted to announce that Christopher J. Artinian, Chief Executive Officer and President of Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc., will be the keynote speaker during the Opening Session at the HLAA Convention 2011, June 16 – 19, 2011, in Washington D.C.

The Artinian family is the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Sound and Fury, which tells the story of brothers: Chris, who was born with hearing, and his older brother Peter, who was born deaf. Both brothers married and both had children who were born deaf. The difficult decision to provide cochlear implants for their children ripped the family apart. Chris and his wife Mari chose to have a cochlear implant for their son, while Chris’s brother and his wife Nita, decided they weren’t quite ready for such a medical procedure for their three deaf children. The families finally came full circle and have put the period of “fury” behind them.

The "cultish" test - Part II

# 23. Dual Purposes, Hidden Agendas, and Ulterior Motives.

Frankly, I do wonder whether if there are other hidden agendas or ulterior motives behind some organization's recruitment processes. When there are intense Deaf politics involved then certainly questions will arise on agendas and/or motives.

# 24. Aggressive Recruiting.

The Oxford Group cult had the slogan:
"A person isn't completely changed until he changes someone else."

Maybe not "aggressive" recruiting but recruiting does take place nonetheless in the effort to convince new members to join their kind of "deafhood" fold.  Doing so would make this recruitment process a political one based on their ideology and are unable to leave the concept alone that a person's journey in life is in fact a deeply personal one. Instead people want to recruit others as way to gain political power rather than discuss this natural evolving process.

# 25. Deceptive Recruiting.

What you are joining isn't what you think you are joining. And they won't tell you the truth until they've got you, and it is your turn to go recruit others in the same manner.

A common characteristic of deceptive recruiting is hiding or distorting the truth, and only revealing the truth to prospects and recent converts a little bit at a time.

Number 25 explains it from a religious recruiting viewpoint and it does NOT fit here well at all. I don't think I'd call it a "deceptive practice" but rather that agendas or goals end up being much different from what others expected. For example, read up on Mishka Zena's own experience when she decided to leave one Deaf (and not deaf/hh) organization for suggesting it need to become more transparent. And how "deafhood" was reasons why seven core members who either left or were kicked out (and here). Another former member who was also kicked out realized certain agendas affected the recruitment processes on who to accept and who to "kick out." Another former member left after a few years but that resulted a lot of people questioning the reason for leaving. Another one here who was also booted or left on her own because of an internal politics.

# 26. No Humor.
# 27. You Can't Tell The Truth.

If you find that you can't tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, when speaking to the group, that you have to censor your own speech, and can only say certain things in order for what you say to be acceptable to the group, then you should strongly consider the idea that you are in the wrong group.


A corollary to this is that you can't ask for the whole truth, either.


Another way to say "You can't tell the truth" is "Suppression of Dissent". You are not allowed to disagree with the leaders. You are not allowed to say anything that contradicts the leader or his teachings, even if you are telling the truth. When in doubt, refer to Cult Rules One, Two, and Six:


"1. The Guru is Always Right",
"2. You Are Always wrong", and
"6. Group-think, Suppression of Dissent, and Enforced Conformity in Thinking".

See # 25 as well on my response.

# 28. Cloning — You become a clone of the cult leader or other elder cult members.
# 29. You must change your beliefs to conform to the group's beliefs.

The price of admission to the club is that you must come to believe what they believe. You must also be ready and willing to change your beliefs in an instant, whenever the leader expounds some new doctrine.


This one is so obvious that it is easy to overlook. At first glance, you might think, "Isn't that what all religions demand? That you believe what they believe?" Well yes, it is, more or less. But imagine the opposite. If you have a group that does not demand that you change your beliefs to conform to the group's beliefs, then that is very un-cult-like behavior. So it is still relevant.

I do see that conformity is required although the above example pertains to a religious demand which is not the scope here. Certain expectations and requirements are in fact demanded from you.

# 30. The End Justifies The Means.

The overemphasis on ends leads to a distortion of the harmonious balance between means and ends in various ways: one way is that all emphasis is on ends without sufficient consideration of the role of means. The outcome of this distortion is that ends become abstract, unreal, and eventually nothing but pipe dreams. ... The isolation of ends can have the opposite effect: while the end is ideologically retained it serves merely as a cover for shifting all the emphasis to those activities which are allegedly means to this end. The motto for this mechanism is "The ends justify the means." The defenders of this principle fail to see that the use of destructive means has its own consequences which actually transform the end even if it is still retained ideologically.
Man For Himself; An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics, Erich Fromm, pages 197-198.

This is a tough one. Although I do see some examples such as claiming such actions against other people such as contacting employers justify their end goal based on an illusion or conspiracy thinking. That one there I think are some of the more egregious examples.

# 31. Dishonesty, Deceit, Denial, Falsification, and Rewriting History.

This one here is a loaded one but it's worth looking into.  There are some truths to it. Some not. But rather I see it as an amalgam of those things in one form or another once you look at the history and the mindset of those involved. Sometimes it's obvious while others are not so black and white.

# 32. Different Levels of Truth.

All cults have different levels of truth. "Outsider doctrine" refers to information and "truths" which are told to the general public. Complementary to this "outsider doctrine" is "insider doctrine" which is revealed to members alone and then usually only gradually as they attain status.

Again, I don't think there is this "gradual revealing" once you become a member. Maybe a realization in some organizations that former members found out (see # 25), for example. Although I feel some leaders do go about on determining how "Deaf-centric" people are and whether it's enough or not behind closed doors. Yet Deaf politics keeps rearing its ugly head by constantly focusing on whether a person with hearing loss signs, doesn't sign, hears, doesn't hear, uses ASL or PSE. Whatever. All that shouldn't matter at all, yet some Deaf people continue to make those things an issue.  



Ok. Those are my thoughts. I plan to continue with Part III soon. Here is Part I if you haven't read it.

Six year old deaf boy gets a cochlear implant...struggles...succeeds!

From Hands and Voices November 2010 newsletter I came across an excellent article from a first person account by a boy he wrote while in the 5th grade four years after getting his cochlear implant. Both the boy and his mother recount their experiences and frustrations after he contracted Bacterial Meningitis in an article called "What It Sounds Like" - Jordan Lopez Kinglsey, 5th grader at Tucker Maxon. Be sure to read the rest of the story in a link at the bottom and find out what happened.

(I recently heard what it apparently sounds like for my daughters' with their cochlear implants and I was really upset by the type of sound that was conveyed. In talking about it at a parent group one mom told me her story. Her son, Jordan developed Spinal Bacterial Meningitis at age 6. As a result he lost his hearing. Following is a recount of his experience. Thank you, Jordan for your story. It really put me at ease! Like most parents it is important to me that my girls hear me and now I know they can! Helen)

"... after 11 days the doctors told my mom I was all better but I could not even sit up by myself or walk and everything was very quiet. My mom and I always sang songs and said "I love you" you before we went to sleep at night. I remember that my mom's voice was getting very quiet and far away. On September 13th I woke up and was afraid because I could not hear my mom's voice anymore and she was crying. I cried too.

For the next four months I couldn't hear anything. I remember my mom teaching me how to walk without falling and how to ride my bike but I was sad because I couldn't hear her voice.

She taught me to read lips and feel my throat so I would know how loud I was talking.She told me we were going to fix my ears.I was very happy and excited!

.... My mom and I went down to San Francisco .... the doctors were going to fix my ears so I could hear again! I was tired of reading lips and not understanding everything people said.

When I was 'turned on' and I heard the beep I yelled, :" I can hear!" and mom started to cry. So did I. Hearing the beeps were good but when I heard my mom's voice, I was upset. Her voice and mine sounded like a computer! The doctor's voice and audiologist sounded like a computer! I was real mad because my ear was not fixed! I did not want to hear like this!

My mom and I went back to the hotel room. She told me in her computer voice that she couldn't 'fix' my ear any better than it was now. I remember being very mad because I wanted my real hearing back, not a computer ear!

My mom told me I could choose to hear or not to hear. To hear, I would have to wear a processor. I took off the processor and went to sleep. I was sad and mad. I remember waking my mom up in the morning so she could put the processor on. I wanted to hear again, but I was still upset and sad.

My mom and I came to Tucker Maxon so I could learn about the processor and so I could hear better. I remember being very mad because I had to wear a processor to hear. I could not hear my friends when we went swimming. I was mad because the teachers told me I was deaf but I was not like the other deaf kids. I did not like learning to hear sounds that I once knew. I had to learn what everything sounded like again and that made me mad.

*READ THE REST OF THE STORY AT HANDS AND VOICES* or go here and click on the November 2010 issue.

The "cultish" test - Part I

When it comes to organizations there are sometimes certain signs to watch out for if you think about joining or be a part of somehow. Red flags that is. Below are 100 things to "watch out" for which was taken from a cult test. Below are some of the bold highlights which I think points out rather eerily the commonalities found the behaviors seen by some "pro-deafhood" proponents or even certain organizations.  The links I provided below are the ones that seem to stand out the most while others do not quite fit or apply in those situations. Although I am not prepared to say on what I've seen and heard would constitute on calling them as a cult.  However, actions when combined with others that I and others have seen do raise red flags with such cultish-like behaviors, attitudes and thinking. People are free to create new words like "deafhood" and such. That's not a problem. The problem is the practice of using "deafhood" as an exclusionary tool when there shouldn't be any lines drawn at all in the first place.

Remember, the links I provided below are the ones that I feel that do apply on what I and others have seen and/or heard when it comes to organization that are proponents of "deafhood."


# 1. The Guru is always right.

Always right? Wellll, sometimes a guru can be wrong, too.

# 2. You are always wrong.
# 3. No Exit.
# 4. No Graduates.
# 5. Cult-speak.

The cult has its own language. The cult invents new terminology or euphemisms for many things. The cult may also redefine many common words to mean something quite different. Cult-speak is also called "bombastic redefinition of the familiar", or "loading the language".


"Loaded Language" is one of Dr. Robert J. Lifton's Eight Conditions of Thought Reform — an essential part of any effective brainwashing program. The cult-speak may include a bunch of well-worn slogans, which Dr. Lifton called "thought-terminating clichés. The special words constrict rather than expand human understanding, and the slogans stop thought.


Beginners have to learn all of the new terminology in order to fit in, and understand what is being said. Then, the new language has the effect of separating the newcomer from his old world, and from his old circle of friends. His new cult friends will tell him that "Only another cult member understands", and it will be true. When he babbles nothing but cult-speak, nobody but another cult member will be able to understand.

This "cult speak" reminds me of newly loaded words that were tossed around heavily early on such as "deficit thinking," "deficit thinker," "colonialism," "dysconscious," the a-wordism, "Deaf-centric," "linguicism," "intergenerational unification," "subaltern," "minority imperatives," "subaltern-elite," and many more. Enough to dazzle all new comers with such impressive array of words. All that talk reminds me of Scientology speak.

# 6. Group-think, Suppression of Dissent, and Enforced Conformity in Thinking

Group-think usually means no real thought at all; just repeat the buzz-words and slogans and follow the program.

Jeffrey Schaler wrote in his paper Cult Busting:

One way of testing the cult nature of a group is by challenging the ideology binding the group together. We can discover something about the nature of a group by how well its members tolerate opposition to the ideology that holds the group together. How well do members tolerate difference of opinion, opinion that challenges the very ideological heart of the group?

Members of the cult are like a colony of insects when disturbed. A frenzy of activity and protective measures are executed when core ideologies are challenged. The stronger the evidence challenging the truthfulness of the group ideology, the more likely members of the cult are to either lash out in a more or less predictable fashion, fall apart, or disband into separate cult colonies. .

Such an example on group think could be when a group tries to determine how "Deaf-centric" a person is by discussing it behind closed doors. Or figure out whether if dysconscious a-wordism is occurring by questioning deaf/hh individuals' own background like a witch trial gone bad.

# 7. Irrationality.
# 8. Suspension of disbelief.
# 9. Denigration of competing sects, cults, religions.

This is commonplace, and hardly needs any explanation.


What is curious is the degree to which the hatred of others is based on similarity. That is, the closer two groups are in their beliefs, goals, activities, philosophies, appearances, and everything else that defines the group, the more they seem to hate each other.

Not about sects but rather of other organizations. Example #9 isn't quite that complete because it goes both ways where two separate organizations hate each other but I choose this one because it's the closest thing on explaining what I've seen. A one way hatred towards certain deaf/hh organizations such as taking a personal, extreme aim at AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or to a lesser degree making aim at HLAA.

# 10. Personal attacks on critics.

Anyone who criticizes the Guru, the cult or its dogma is attacked on a personal level.


Rather than honestly and intelligently debating with critics, using facts and logic, the cult will resort to low personal attacks on the critic, using name-calling, slander, condescending put-downs, libelous accusations, personal slurs, accusations of bad motives, and casting aspersions on the critic's intelligence and sanity --

Another red flag to watch for is how angrily cult members react when the cult or its guru is criticized. Most ordinary or "normal" people can tolerate some questioning and criticism of their organizations and leaders without blowing up and insisting that the critic is satanic, or working for the forces of evil, or part of a big conspiracy to destroy the organization, but cult members often cannot. They go non-linear very rapidly when you point out too many faults or shortcomings of the group or its leader — especially when they cannot refute that criticism.

Of course, what views, facts or opinions that I and others have presented do not constitute an attempt to "destroy the organization." No. It's all about the content that counts, not the book cover.

# 11. Insistence that the cult is THE ONLY WAY.

Scientology regards Scientologists as the only sane people on the planet. They are "Operating Thetans", which is something like "functional intelligences", or more like "immortal god-like functional intelligences." All of the rest of the people on Earth are considered to be so brain-damaged, non-functional, and insane that they are hardly worth dealing with. But Scientology is working tirelessly to rescue as many people as possible, by bringing them into the cult and "auditing" them into new Operating Thetans.

This one comes close. Actually I think the last sentence comes close, that is, the rescuing and "auditing" part.Though I'm not sure if what they are saying is the "only way."

# 12. The cult and its members are special.

Frequently, the cult members even regard themselves as The Chosen — the elite, chosen people who will do something grand like save the world, usher in the New Age, or go to Heaven.

I'm glossing over this one somewhat since it's a bit loose and dicey here. Not about the heaven part but something akin to ushering in a "New Age" of enlightenment sort of deal. Or sumthin' like that. Nothing "speshul" about "speshul" deaf/hh people.  We're unique in our own rights.

# 13. Induction of guilt, and the use of guilt to manipulate cult members.

For example, the brainwashers would criticize a white prisoner for having lived a live of luxury, never caring about the fate of the poor Negroes, being just an uncaring heartless monster who went along with the Capitalist agenda because he personally benefited from it, even if it was killing others. Then the confused white fellow had to confess all of that in public self-criticism sessions. Then, to make amends, he had to do something like snitch on a fellow prisoner, or memorize and espouse Communist dogma. And then it went on and on like that until a few prisoners had switched sides.


Margaret Thaler Singer also wrote that one of the essential ingredients of any effective brainwashing or mind control program is "Create a sense of powerlessness, covert fear, guilt, and dependency."


Thus, any cult that combines guilt induction with confession and self-criticism sessions has a good start on a mind-control or brainwashing program. The cult will simply offer the member some other form of self-sacrifice, usually a life spent fund-raising or recruiting or working for free.

I'm sure there's some kind of a guilt trip sort of thing going on. Perhaps it has to do with admission, some kind of confession of sort or even self-criticism. Kind of like AA but in perverse way I suppose. But really, it's the last sentence highlighted in bold is probably what I see as the main altruistic concept hitched with some sort of guilt in tow. Maybe. Maybe not. A not really about powerlessness here.

# 14. Unquestionable Dogma, Sacred Science, and Infallible Ideology.

"Unquestionable dogma" is also called "Sacred Science", which is one of Dr. Robert J. Lifton's Eight Conditions of Thought Reform. The cult's "truth" is the absolute truth, sacred and beyond questioning. The cult's laws, rules and regulations are absolutely correct, always, and therefore to be followed automatically.


There is a reverence demanded for the leadership. They have ALL of the answers, they say, and only to them is given the revelation of "truth". The ultimate moral vision becomes the ultimate science and the person who dares to criticize it is considered immoral, irreverent, and "unscientific".

And....

Relatively new members rise in status and confirm their membership in the group by showing their skill in attacking dissidents and critics with the standard dogma and arguments — that is, by showing their skill in parroting the party line.

Certainly there's dogma.  However, there seems to be an internal dogma being followed rather than allow a concept overlap boundaries between hearing, hard of hearing, deaf and culturally deaf people. I'm not sure if I can make this clear but even hearing people have this sort of "deaf experience" they can relate to and understand, and even want to learn from what other deaf/hh people have to say and hear their perspectives.

# 15. Indoctrination of members.

Members have to learn and believe all of that dogma. The indoctrination can be anything from merely making people listen to sermons to prolonged intense study to industrial-strength brainwashing. Christian cults are notorious for having "Bible Study" meetings every night. Other cults listen to lectures by the leader, or meet to study his writings, or listen to his tapes, or watch videotapes...

Indoctrination is certainly going on although not exactly at the "industrial-strength brainwashing" level hyperbole.  But certainly there are a lot of videos to watch.

# 16. Appeals to "holy" or "wise" authorities.

The authorities can be anything from the Bible or other religions' holy scriptures, to the words of someone deemed to be a knowledgeable authority on some subject, to the words of dead saints, real or imagined. And all of them are supposedly endorsing the cult.

Nothing holy or wise here but there's certainly a level of gushing idolatry going on. Respect and admiration are one thing, but idolatry is going a bit too far. It gets rather obnoxious when people do that.

# 17. Instant Community.

You get a ready-made extended family when you join the cult. Sometimes, you move into their living quarters upon joining, and really get an all-encompassing community. Or you just spend all of your spare time at the temple or center or meeting hall, only associating with other members, who are your new circle of friends.


A common characteristic of this instant community attitude is, "We love you because you are one of us." The cult members will instantly love you, and consider you a beloved part of their family, because you chose to join their group. You are automatically one of the Good People because you joined the cult.

Perhaps there's a bit of the "touchy feeling" going on that I'm sensing.  Maybe it's an illusion? Perhaps the last sentence outlined in bold letters is probably more correct than not? Not the cult part but the reaction to those who  joined their group. This goes in line quite well with #11 about "rescuing" more people which make you one of the "good people."

# 18. Instant Intimacy.

Intimacy? Reveal our deepest, darkest secrets to a bunch of strangers? Gawd I hope not. At least there appears to be some sort of "auditing" process going on but certainly not at the Scientology level.  Not even close.

# 19. Surrender To The Cult.

Nope on the surrendering part.  Although there are certain expectations once that you are "in" and that loyalty is demanded.  Divulge from their constrained parameters then you might be labeled as a traitor very quickly. Even just being friends with, according to them, "deficit thinkers" or "non-deafhood" folks might earn you that boot. Maybe earn a racist title by being called a "yellow dickhead."  How much one can "surrender" to "deafhood"? Why even bother?

# 20. Giggly wonderfulness and starry-eyed faith.

Oh, please!

# 21. Personal testimonies of earlier converts.

When you go to meetings, cult members will all tell you that the cult is wonderful and the best thing that ever happened to them. (And if there are a lot of former members who think that the cult totally sucks, well, they won't be around to tell you that, will they?)


In some groups, a standard part of every get-together or church service is a session where people "testify", or "witness", or "share", and tell stories of what wonderful things the cult has done for them. That helps to both indoctrinate the newcomers and strengthen the "faith" of the current members. In some groups, members graduate from beginner status to regular membership when they can stand up before the whole group and recite an acceptable speech about the wonderful benefits they have gotten from belonging to the cult.

I have a question here. Where does education start and indoctrination ends? Are there any trophy heads on display? Anybody with a 30 db hearing loss on display here? Any group of late-deafened people with their in-the-ear-canal hearing aids that proponents can proudly display? It sure look awfully small when the group is mostly culturally deaf compared to the rest 30 million people with hearing loss.

# 22. The cult is self-absorbed.

That is, the cult is the most important thing in the lives of the cult members. Sometimes, it is their entire life.

Maybe so but I have a few questions about that one.

Ok. Enough for now. There are 78 more "cultish" questions left to go. I'll pick up on that again soon and blog some more. Lots of questions and red flags out there for me to explain my perspective as to why I say, "Deafhood? No thanks."

Not an Optical Illusion but a reality.

No. It's not an optical illusion by a book written by a profoundly deaf man. The title of the book is "Obstacle Illusion: Transforming Adversity into Success." It went officially live today on Amazon where it has rocketed from 746,000th place at 5:30 am to 3,800th place by 10 AM this morning. Numerous well known writers such as Marci Smimoff, the # NY Times bestselling author of the widely known book "Chicken Soup for the Soul," writes:

"Obstacle Illusions is a powerful account of Stephen Hopson's life experiences ranging from defeat to triumph. Readers will find themselves laughing and crying and contemplating life in a deep, meaningful way."

My favorite soup is in fact chicken soup along with some diced celery, egg whites, and a handful of green onions to make a delightful and hand-warming soup to eat and enjoy. Stephen Hopson isn't an illusion. He has made his obstacles in his life as nothing more than a series of challenges to overcome. Mind over matter as some people would say. It's also all about perspective in life and how you deal with it.

I met Stephen through email a few years back or so and corresponded with him several times and I even blogged about him a few times. This was a guy worth keeping an eye one. And sure enough. He wrote a book! People with the right thinking and attitudes are what attracts me to them regardless of their level of hearing hearing loss or background. It's the "can-do" attitudes that count and not a defeatist attitude blaming everyone and everything, always complaining. Negative attitudes suffocate the soul when one says, "I can't" when in fact you....can!  Just like how I continue to face my own kind of adversity. I even had the audacity to become a forest fire fighter and help fight 100,000 to 200,000 acres fire on the front line with my ax and shovel. I'd say that's certainly a different kind of adversity in its own right on fighting wildfires with my fellow fire fighters on the front line in Washington, Idaho and North Carolina. It's not about overcoming oppression, it's about overcoming obstacles in life successfully. Sometimes you have to take risks in life to know what it really means to overcome obstacles life. Even if it means you're the only one to have done that like fighting forest fires for two weeks at a time.

You can order Obstacle Illusions through Amazon. Order one today!

And, oh, I just now ordered the book. It should arrive on March 23. I'll be looking forward to reading it!

UPDATE:  It is now #9 in the Happiness genre and #23 Self Help and #793 overall (out of 8 million books)!

UPDATE II:  Since the book is in the top 1000, Stephen Hopson now qualifies as a "bestselling author" with his book.

UPDATE III: Read in the Huffington Post "Obstacle Illusions: A Conversation with Author Stephen J. Hopson" on their interview with Stephen Hopson.