Deaf Perspective

[deaflove04]

We move on with time. We carry scars but they are evidence of battles that we have conquered

[deaflove04]

I feel like I’ve lost control, like I’m thrust into a whirlwind, and trying to guide it without a map,

I don’t know if I want life to be like this. I have good things to look forward to and I’m excited about it but I feel lost at the same time.

People need me to be reliable but when I need them to be the same back, they’re not.

I hate that.

It’s like I’m trying to solve something that I don’t even know where to start

[deaflove04]

My life feels like the ocean.

For a few days, weeks, sometimes months, it’s calm and stable.

And then something happens - good or bad, and creates a ripple effect that turns into a wave.

I become the surfer riding it, trying to stay stable and standing on the board.

[deaflove04]

I’m feeling torn like shredded paper.

Some people don’t get it. Having a disability sucks sometimes. Especially when people tell you to your face that they can’t deal with your disability.

Like we have a choice...? You think we can deal with it all the time? No! We don’t have a choice, they do.

I’m tired of it. I’m mentally drained.

[deaflove04]

I use this page when I feel the need to filter thoughts and be a place where it’s okay.

I’m wide awake yet so tired. I find solitude in music and the night sky.

I feel nature is prettier at night

And the silence less terrifying almost peacefull

[deaflove04]

Overthinking

It’s normal for anxiety but it’s not nice.

You try and convince yourself the opposite of what your thinking but the demons just shove through and the only way to stop it is to ask for reassurance.

Because someone else telling you the same thing you want to convince yourself just some how puts a wall up against the demons.

Do not be afraid to ask for reassurance. Please if it makes you feel grounded and it makes it better, ask for it.

For the people that are with someone who have partners/friends with anxiety. We hate that we overthink as much as it annoys you. But reassurance works a million times. Text them that you love them, reassure them everything’s okay. Let us express how we feel. Communicate with us.

[deaflove04]

Life is like the ocean... it gets rough sometimes but it’ll calm down again

[deaflove04]

Social Injustice

This was a subtopic taught in the first semester, and has since stayed with me.

What is Social Injustice? It’s occurs everywhere. Social injustice is when a minority group experiences inequality, oppression or even the violation of a person’s human rights.

There has been many examples of social injustices over the past few centuries, whether it be women not being allowed to vote, genocide, the years of ongoing oppression against black and ethnic minorities, or even access to language and education. The Deaf community, for example, have faced centuries of social injustice, with one of the most iconic and oppressive examples of social injustice on the Deaf community is the 1880 Milan congress, with the aim to eradicate Deaf people from society and make the oral method the superior educational method. Oralism is still occurring today as a form of Audism as it is oppressing Deaf people’s right to sign language.

However, the question is, who’s job is it to stand up to social injustice?

Some may say the communities themselves, but in reality, we need everyone. When it comes to social injustice and whether it is their responsibility to address it, there is controversy, as stated by Aiken and Wizen in their article Law As Social Work - “This isn’t law, it’s social work”, implying it is social workers and advocates roles to address social injustice. However, on issues such as equal pay, there is an overlap of legal and social justice. In terms of the law and how it still doesn’t mean that equal pay is fully established, Similar to discrimination, just because it says you can’t discriminate, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Minority groups still face discrimination all the time, it is up to everyone to help minimise injustice.

Do those working with minority groups and community have a role of tackling social injustice? In an article by David Coyne (‘Social Justice: An Obligation for Sign Language Interpreters’) looks at whether some of responsibility of tackling injustice within the Deaf community lies with sign language interpreters. I agree with this as they have understanding of both the Deaf and Hearing world and can help in raising awareness of issues.

What’s your thoughts? Comment bellow :) 

[deaflove04]

The Law

I have been studying law for 1 year now as I am a Law student, but my perspective on it has fluctuated way before that. Indeed, my opinion will change again, with the more knowledge I acquire. 

As those who read my blog on here, will be able to take the hint, that yes, I am Deaf, and use sign language. This part of my identity provides me with a  unique prospective towards almost everything, including law. 

One of the common topics I talk about is accessibility, and sign language, and deaf children’s lack of access to sign language. Why is this a problem? Well, language deprivation is real, and it is one of the biggest things that affect Deaf people. 

Language Deprivation Syndrome (LDS) occurs when a child does NOT have access to a natural language, or a weak foundation of a language. From 0 to 5 years old is the “Critical period” of language acquisition. This is because within this timeline the brain makes 700 connections per second.If there is no (or a weak) foundation of language within the first 5 years of a child’s life, the impacts are irreversible. For example, the ability to access the curriculum is taken away from them, as they are struggling to comprehend and understand the content due to the level of language not being developed. In 2020, the National Deaf Children’s Society stated that Deaf young people are achieving an entire grade less than their hearing peers, and that the gap will take 24 years to close.

How can the law help solve this problem?

Language access should be a human right, and the fact that deaf children are not achieving to their full ability because they don’t have access to sign language, makes me angry. Because I’ve been through this myself.

According to “The Legal Recognition of Sign Languages”, a journal article by Maartje De Meudler, dated in 2015, 11 countries have constitutionally  recognised sign language. However in the likes of the UK, the government recognise sign language as a language yet there is no law stating that Deaf children have a right to it. We have the Equality Act, yet that is vague when it comes to access. In California, the “Deaf Child's Bill of Rights” states that “Believes that children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing have the right to receive appropriate services that will provide them with exposure to fully accessible natural languages – American Sign Language (ASL), and spoken English (or other spoken language)”, This is powerful, as it shows Deaf children have been recommended by law to have sign language.

This is one of many reasons I am studying Law. There’s a lot of work already been done, but we have a long way to go. 

[deaflove04]

When you’re tired and feel knocked down, remind yourself of the reason you’re doing what’s tearing you down. If there’s no valid reason, walk away

[deaflove04]

I am not a stereotype

I am not a statistic

I am not a sob story

I am more

I am everything I ever wanted to be

I am a success in my own way

I am limitless

[deaflove04]

My Life is a rollercoaster...

That no one understands

i get tired of explaining it

The questions that surround it

I get tired

Of them saying

“You’re an inspiration!”

I’m not

I’m trying to be myself

Hell, i don’t understand

I’m just trying to make myself seen, heard

[deaflove04]

You can always start again - nothing wrong with wanting to learn from the past

[deaflove04]

Change the world? No, change the way you think, challenge things, question them, absorb a new perspective... then you can change the world

[hilarioushumorfromouterspace]

[deaflove04]

It ain’t easy

I’m not gonna sugarcoat it - never have, never will.

[mookybear12404]

Can we please please normalize subtitles? 

[mookybear12404]

Subtitles are:

1. A necessity for deaf people

2. REALLY helpful for those who are partially deaf, have APD (like me and my sister) or any other hearing problem

3. really helpful for those who can’t focus well, especially for those with ADD/ADHD (like me)

4. Is incredibly helpful for people learning a second language, or for bilingual people who can read better than they can hear 

5. Even if you aren’t into learning the language, there are countless amazing foreign movies and songs you really can’t enjoy without subtitles!

6. Can help people (like my sister) who have reading comprehension 

7. Can help when you’re having a party and you don’t want to pause every time someone wants to make a comment/joke

8. Can help when the characters in the show have a heavy accent (especially in period shows) 

9. Let’s be honest subtitles can really add to the humor of the show! (”sobs mathematically”, “screeches loudly”, “angrily fixes bowtie”)

10. Can let people watch content without headphones, or in areas of loud noises. 

11. Alternatively, If someone has sensitive hearing or is triggered by loud noises, they can turn the volume down low and still be able to enjoy the content

12. The last bit is VERY true for movies where they switch between soft speaking and LOUD BOOMING NOISES (I’m looking at you hunger games)

13. Very good for helping young kids recognize and associate words and learn to read faster!

14. Really good when you’re eating chips/crunchy candy and can’t hear the movie

15. IS A NECESSITY FOR DEAF PEOPLE!!!

I can’t even tell you how many of my friends made fun of me for needing subtitles, to the point of where I just don’t bother with them anymore. Asking for subtitles at an event is the scariest thing I can imagine. People often complain that it “gets in the way” of their movie. Watching shows (especially in loud areas or with people who talk a lot) is incredibly frustrating for me. People often think I’m stupid for not understanding a show or needing to rewind when someone talks. Most Youtube users don’t bother to create subtitles for their videos (and auto-generated subtitles are crap). I just wish people were nicer to people who need subtitles, and that they were more accessible on other platforms. 

[deaflove04]

This👌🏼 I can relate