DEAF not Dumb!!

A lot is being done within the Deaf community to empower the Deaf Youth. This will eventually bring about a positive change within the Deaf Community in India.

Targeting the Deaf youth with topics like Deaf Empowerment, Deaf Human Rights, Access to information, Right to Education has helped in creating a curiosity in the minds of the Deaf youth to look at the world differently. They are keen to learn more.

I have been part of various workshops , seminars and conferences of the Deaf, as a sign language interpreter & also delivering lectures. Quite often hearing people who may be the chief guests, or the organizers of such gatherings out of respect towards the Deaf community address the Deaf as " DEAF & DUMB / DEAF MUTE".

After a lot of reading across the internet have learnt the following .

• how people label themselves is a personal decision as its an identification of themselves.
• Deaf people prefer being called Deaf only
• people with minimal hearing loss prefer to call themselves Hard of Hearing.
• other labels like Deaf & Dumb, Deaf Mute, Hearing handicapped, Hearing Impaired are offensive to the Deaf.
  

Let us see why so..

• Deaf and Dumb - The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, pronounced the deaf as “deaf and dumb,” because he felt that deaf people were incapable of being taught, of learning, and of reasoned thinking. To his way of thinking, if a person could not use his/her voice in the same way as hearing people, then there was no way that this person could develop cognitive abilities. (Source: Deaf Heritage, by Jack Gannon, 1980).

• Later on Dumb meant to be silent. This again is untrue as the Deaf are definitely not silent and use sign language, lip read, use vocalizations for communication. Now Dumb has a newer meaning - being stupid / unintelligent. Deaf are not stupid in any way and we need to realize it and accept this.

• DEAF MUTE - Mute also means without a voice. This we have already seen is an untrue fact as the Deaf do have functioning vocal chords and they have a voice when they laugh, cry, yell to call each other or yell in pain.
  
• Hearing Impaired - Once this term was used as it seemed politically correct . However as times have changed "Impaired" as a term is considered with a negativity to it. It focuses on the inability to perform something. It implies that something is not as it should be and ought to be fixed if possible. To be fair, this is probably not what people intended to convey by the term “hearing impaired.”
  

In short Deaf across the globe are realizing what they want and how they want it. Its a revolutionary age for the Deaf community across the world. Many countries are accepting only one word to describe this community and it is DEAF.

It is about time that we in India too respect the thoughts of the Deaf and stop labeling them with various names like Deaf & Dumb, Deaf Mute, Hearing Handicapped, Hearing Impaired.
The Deaf are proud to be called Deaf because being Deaf is being part of a rich and varied culture - The Deaf Culture, having a wonderful Deaf History with many great historical moments and the use of sign language for communication.

India is proud of its rich heritage, its culture and its various languages. We stand up against disrespect for anyone. However we have never given the same respect to the Deaf community till date. We call them by names that are offensive to them and we are of the opinion that we have the right to call them by that name.

Let us change now and treat everyone , even the Deaf with respect. Lets ask them what they want and what is the rationale behind it. Lets respect the opinion of the Deaf community who is as intelligent as any of us and has the Right to Express themselves. Lets Change....

Cheers..
Atsy..