ADA and Audism
You know, I will have to admit, I used to be one of those brown-nosed deafies, an audist. But that was when I was young and didn’t know better, much less about the Deaf culture. I thought I knew what consisted of that culture, but as I grew up, in college, I grew to realize that the ‘culture’ I was in, was purely made up, a cult more than a culture (if the terminology even make sense).
While I was in middle school, I learned some skills about self-advocacy. I’ve been to several camps for the blind and deaf blind, and learned the general stuff about ADA. But there was one thing I was never quite taught in school or in camps I’ve been to. How exactly do you even initiate ADA laws on those who are not following through.
Especially the people who cite that they could not pay for the services I need.
I am both angry and frustrated with this aspect, how then, can I expect to succeed? There’s a plethora of information online, but where to start is tricky. I could go blog-hunting, but that’s almost like trying to find an ant in a pile of beetles. Compared to the number of beetles, they’re easily hidden.
I talked to my mom yesterday about how I felt as a deaf blind person, and that she wished that she could understand how I feel and doesn’t know what to tell me. I think that’s the first time I’ve seriously talked to her about my experiences as a deaf-blind person. I think there’s a momentum building up soon after that. Today, I somehow came to the conclusion that I have got to go to Gallaudet University. I found that the university has my major and minor, and that’s when I decided that I needed to go.
My vision isn’t causing me problems right now, at least, not on a large scale where I need to start reading large print (I might never need to since large print usually overwhelms me). What is giving me problems is my deafness. I requested to have Real-Time captioning to the disability resource center, and she said that it’s a no go, saying that no one can pay for it. Yeah, that pisses me off. But I don’t know how to shove ADA in their faces, and that’s an issue. I’m also too nice, and rather not want to deal with a tedious process that would force them to pay.
So, she offered a solution: a course waiver or a substitution course. I felt like saying “F*** that.” Actually, that phrase have been repeating in my mind for the past two days, particularly towards my dad. He was the driving force in reason why I was an audist. He’s your role model as the ultimate audist, so I guess he’s the stuff of nightmares and horrors in every Deaf cultured persons. He divorced my mom three and half years ago and with each year, I slowly moved out of his audistic ways.
So, I guess in all the controversy with cochlear implants and what not, about robbing of one’s identity, is true, because I honestly do not know what to call myself. I mean, most strangers I mee thought I was not at all afflicted with hearing loss until the first misunderstanding on my part that I missed, then I bring up the fact that I’m hard of hearing. I never said deaf because I felt that I don’t belong in that category at all. That deaf is only reserved for people who can barely speak or listen and probably relies a lot on signing.
I read some blogs that made me understand and take a new perspective on being a cochlear implant user. That I actually had to memorize, apply what I hear and speak over the long period of time. I wondered why I couldn’t recognize familiar songs except when the lyrics are obviously heard. It’s just that my braing cannot comprehend, or somewhere along the line between the microphone and the brain receiver signal. That I did have to memorize the lyrics or at least, follow along the words as it is being said, and I was able to hear the words.
Why couldn’t I hear it without the reliance of lyrics in front of me? I guess music is that complex to break down for me to hear if I didn’t have anything to rely on for interpretation. For that reason, I highly enjoy instrumentals because I didn’t have to worry about any of the words being sung. And why I know a very limited amount of songs I know and can sing by heart. Actually, I know only three songs.
That aside, the reason why recognizing and comprehending sounds are hard for me is that I have to sort out the sounds of pitches for each word as well as syllables. I really liked the analogy I found on one blog where being a CI user, sounds I hear sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher that goes ‘yak gawao obahack’ etc. I thought of Sims, when they talk to one another, and that really describes how I hear sometimes when people speak.
I always have felt a need to hear exactly what the hearing people hear, and when reflecting on the blogs I have read, I am conflicted. Is that considered a betrayal? I know my hearing will never be cured, short of stem cells growing cochlea. Now that’s going to be even more of a danger to Deaf Culture when that becomes possible, I’m sure. What will the Deaf Culture do when that day comes, when getting a new cochlea is as easy as getting breast implants? (My mom got them… and made me realize how easy it was to get them.)
…
Well, that’s something to think about, I’m sure.
11:16 pm | 7 Comments »
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Hi! I’m just wondering WHO told you CART was “too expensive” Was this a public college? **This is discrimination.** Public colleges that receive federal tax dollars MUST accommodate you. Was it Gallaudet?? Or who? They are in violation of the law for not accommodating you with CART. You need to contact the Office of Civil Rights. Before filing, I always let institutions know I plan to contact the office of civil rights unless they accommodate me. Sometimes they get a little huffy and try to intimidate you. Don’t back down. Usually they’ll comply when they know you mean business. Only one time have I had to actually contact them and file. Once I filed, they accommodated me literally within MINUTES of the time they were notified. hehe! Public schools are usually very afraid of the OCR. Good luck.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html They will mediate for you. They have lawyers and do not charge.
Comment by kim — December 7, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
CART is growing in popularity than ever. Many oral students request them and with the emerging shortage of interpreters, signing students are also asking for this service.
You can still be nice to them while filing for a grievance. Just inform them matter of fact, but with a nice smile that you are filing a complaint with Dept of Justice and your local Dept of Education about this violation of ADA, along with an attorney specializing in ADA. Have you found a disability clinic or a lawyer in your area?
If you still find it too difficult to do, practice with a good friend and build up your confidence. I suggest you get an advocate now, a friend, a relative, or a worker of resource center for the deaf. If you need more idea, feel free to contact me. I have considerable experience with ADA during my work and also some in my personal life when I used Dept of Justice, too
Good luck and stay true to yourself
Comment by Mishkazena — December 8, 2007 @ 6:39 am
I believe CART is cheaper than hiring an interpreter. If they deny you CART services, then you could say well, I’m willing to negotiate. What services can you provide that will meet my needs? After discussing a range of services, they’ll realize that CART is pretty cheap after all. I also like to ask them if they would put their own daughter or son through a class where they could not understand what was going on. Somehow, this helps people have a bit more sympathy.
Comment by Rox — December 8, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Hi!
I can perfectly well understand you and empathise with you.
Mishkazena has said it all. I am going to do the same myself.
Good luck.
Comment by Jean Boutcher — December 9, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Things how to prevent…. hearing dominating deaf…
1. We need multi-national corporations like Apple or SONY that is owned by Deaf group. Deaf board / investors. Thousands of employees (hearing) under the power of Deaf elite. It will change the attitude of hearing people towards the Deaf community. Deaf group needs to invade the large market in the world, challenge against the hearing competitors.
We need deaf inventors, investors, scientists, finance officer, lawyer, market expert, and more… not blue collars!! not educators!! not counselors!! not bachelor from deaf colleges!!! (Not belong to: 100 top universities in the world) They need PERFECT ENGLISH!!! Use it as WEAPON to fight against hearing experts. They can deal with different kinds of hearing business people, too clever, experienced ones!!
In movie business. Deaf needs to prove that Deaf director / producer succeed a film business in the hearing market - at least 20 million dollars revenue. Not Deaf actors or actresses!!! Not Deaf market, nearly ZERO in the market.
DEAF CONTROLS HEARING!!! that can lead big time change! Hearing people will bow to you, all DEAF GUYS!
2. Deaf Education. It’s too soft and weak - from elementary to university. compared with Harvard, MIT, Standford University, Yale. No friends from White house, No powerful alumni network. Too far from hearing ELITE, NOT DEAF Elite (too tiny!). Stop them from “too busy fighting about their pride, deaf and deaf.. until they become DEAF CULT!” they forgot - THE REALITY of WORLD is UNFAIR and HEARING is the MAJORITY. They waste their time! They need to study more… more practical! To move on with their lives. To play game against hearing competitors in many smart ways!
3. Deaf group needs to know how to play a game with hearing politicians, business people, instead of “too busy” fighting against AG Bell or something like that. Wasting their time! They need to set up political party joining them! Push some deaf experts to become congress man or any positions in the government.
4. Anyone wants MONEY! DOESN”T CARE ABOUT OPPRESSION, DISCRIMINATING, CRYING ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS!! AG BELL is totally DRAMA! JUST WANT MONEY! PERIOD. NO NEED TO EXPLAIN THEM! OR ENFORCE THEM. Make Deaf people very RICH and POWERFUL!!! THEN, CHANGE THE BILL RIGHTS IN CONGRESS.
Comment by William — December 9, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
William–You have made some very, very good points!! This is how blacks and other minorities have gotten ahead– but making money and getting educated and elected into political positions.
Comment by kim — December 16, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
[...] had already found myself in that situation, needing a CART. Thanks to some of the comments made on ADA and Audism blog entry, and my friend, Zenn–I was able to put together an e-mail, and with Zenn [...]
Pingback by Daily Life » CART, DBC and Identities topics — December 28, 2007 @ 2:48 am