It is with great pride and nostalgia that I must bid a fond farewell to Deafread.com. I have recently been invited to collaborate with Cochlear, Italy to create a blog written in Italian (God help me) focusing on parent support regarding issues in Deafness. While I have been granted freedom in choosing topics, arguments and methodologies for creating this blog, there is a collaborative element, therefore I must go. There is a great need for support in Italy and based on my experience as Jordan's mom, yahoo support groups and the education I have received here on deafread.com, I embrace the opportunity to help other parents. I am obviously a cochlear implant advocate, but I appreciate the diversity of each and every family's approach and experience with Deafness.
Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me into the Deaf Community, enlightened me and shared personal experiences, I have appreciated every single interaction-positive or negative...they have all been learning moments.
One post in particular greatly affected my perceptions and increased my sensitivity with regard to the Deaf Community...I leave you with this:
Response inspired by Jodi’s comment re: her view that hearing aids / CI are essential to function in a hearing world and her view on the word “hopeful”
Just wanna let ya all know that Deaf folks who dont have CIs - even Deaf folks who dont talk can FUNCTION in a hearing world
shocking yes
i know you only catch fleeting glimpses of us on Dancing with the Stars and as sex objects, victims, or crazed men on TV and films but i wanna let u know that we go to the bank, we pump our own gas, we hold jobs, we raise children and we do all of this in WHAT?…
drum roll…. “THE HEARING WORLD”
we not only live in the hearing world, we not only function in the hearing world, we not only make love, give birth, shout, cry, laugh, pray, die, but we actually excel at many of the things we do in the hearing world
and guess what …we can do this with or without hearing aids or cochlear implants
and guess what …even though parents go to all the great length they do to ensure that their deaf child can live and FUNCTION in the hearing world - they will still at times experience discrimination, being left out, prejudice, misunderstanding, identity confusion etc
being able to TALK on the PHONE does not ensure full “functioning abilities” in the hearing world
being able to say - hey, im me. i may be different than the majority but i am NOT inferior, i am NOT helpless, i am NOT pitiful, i am NOT defective, i am NOT deficient, i am NOT an outcast - i am a full fledged member of society whether u like and/or can accept my difference or not - i really dont care what u think cuz i am ME
now the “Hopeful” part - underrepresented folks cling to hope that the Dominant WORLD will some day be able to FUNCTION in their world instead of trying to obliterate it, demean it, destroy it, minimize it, etc
The hopefulness is oriented toward u and what u can be - not towards me
The potential that the US might soon have its first African-American or female president is more a testiment to the US’s legacy of discrimination and a milestone for our society than the individual achievement of Obama or H. Clinton
We shall overcome is not about becoming worthy - its about shattering injustice
if u believe that it is foolish or futile to hope because u r cynical that our society will ever change so instead u invest everything possible in changing ur child to fit society - so be it - i wish u well. at the end of the day though there will be a moment when a cloud passes over your child’s face and it will be one that u have been dreading and one you have been denying and failing to see and it is best that u do not stare into ur child’s face to see what more you can change in his being to cast away that shadow - instead it may be best for u to turn and look over ur shoulder to see what is it that is casting this shadow and turn ur energy to combating the real foe - society’s perception of what is NORMAL, DESIRABLE, ACCEPTABLE and what is FUNCTIONING!
since the time that Spilman (you can google her jodi) was quoted as saying “Deaf people are not ready to FUNCTION in a hearing world”i have known that the essence of this message really is “Hearing people are not ready to FUNCTION in a Deaf world”
oh yeah - in case u didnt know - u totally insulted me and all my people by saying non-CI non-speaking people can’t function in a hearing world. This is audism plain and simply - “the belief that the ability to hear and speak are superior to being Deaf”
im doing a way lot more than just functioning sweetheart
re: hope - if u desire i have no hope that u will “get it” - that is fine with me
however i will continue to hope that the rest of society will - we have come a long way but it is slow going given the attitude that some hold so dearly
peace
patti
just saw these entries that seem to relate to this topic:
http://deafpagancrossroads.com/2008/03/06/a-simple-sign-but-it-means-so-much-more/Quote near bottom from Children of a Lesser G-d really relates to what is discussed abovehttp://randomthoughtsnmusings.blogspot.com/Discusses how to remain principled and passionate
Um...Thank you...
*I Fistsmack You*
Bookmark Me
14 comments:
JODI- YOU MADE MY DAY.. I BEEN WAITING ALL MY LIFE TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS! YOUR QUOTE..Hearing people are not ready to FUNCTION in a Deaf world”
YOUR ABSOULTLY RIGHT! ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THIS BLOG IS THE BEST BLOG I HAVE EVER READ AND IT IS SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS. I REALLY NEEDED IT.
Hi Jodi, I'm sure there are many DeafRead-ers who will be sorry you're no longer posting there, but they know where to find you. I'm glad you're continuing to follow your goals and dreams and will be educating thousands of people about cochlear implants, deafness and its impact on children and their families. Cochlear couldn't have picked a better woman for the job! xo
Ahhhh... Paula, the zesty, bold blogger who knows how to let her hair down and to boogie her hips.
DeafRead lost a good one. Well, victory is yours since you represent the maajority of deaf children's parents... something I see is overlooked *shrug*
I thoroughly enjoyed your blogs when you were on DR.
Dani, thank you, but it was Patti who wrote that blog post...I was just the recipient *smile*
Paula...THANK YOU, I'M SO EXCITED TO GET STARTED...THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO!
Karen, Thank you..I'll still be here, just on deafvillage and not deafread. I find the whole situation rather sad, but I'll still be reading and commenting.
Hugs,
Jodi
Deafread system by Tayler has become a bloody sandbox of sorts. Kids going to be kicking sand all the time at other's faces. I'm glad you found another place to move on upwards and good luck on your italian grammar. I find it tricky.
Richard Roehm
There is no place like home.
I still like you eventhough we have had some disagreements.
Let Toto, the dog be yours.
White Ghost
Good Riddance!
Grazie, Richard...molto gentile.
White Ghost...sei un tesoro-ti voglio bene anche io...Jodi (translation: u r sweet, I love u 2)
About time, you bowed out. Thank you! Good luck with your new blog. I wont be surprised if Deaf Italians start to jump on you like us. We, Deaf, stay together no matter where we are. Good luck, I will pass the note to my friends at Italy to make sure they set up a watchdog on your blog. Cheers!
Going away to join the other camp, I see...will miss your presence but recognize that you follow another passion not shared by many here.
Please remember those of us who enjoy life without hearing and the freedom to communicate as we choose.
Why can't you do both, Cochlear and via Deafread?
I'm back on Deafread. There was a misunderstanding. Apparently I can do both, they needed to be made aware of the collaboration so that they could monitor my posts. This blog,however, is not in any way affiliated with Cochlear Italia, it's another one of my blogs that I've just created and a new forum that I'll be involved in that represent the collaboration. I don't know, in any case, I'm still here...apparently, I'm not so easy to get rid of. lol,
Jodi
Grin. I am glad this misunderstanding has been cleared.
I look forward to read your blogs.
People in both circles can continue to learn from each other
Mishkazena should be banned from Deafread both as human editor and blogger. She can move to Deaf Village and live there happily ever after.
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