Anti-CI Vlog

One thing I will definitely address which shouldn't come as a surprise- any anti-CI/deafness talk.

Here's one vlog from YouTube that got me really, really riled and I just couldn't understand why would he put such a video up like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YN5Fdz1En0&feature=player_embedded

I tell you, there is still far too much prejudice in this world against the deaf. Since truly realizing this when I left high school, I had to work very hard at my hearing in order to "blend in" with the society. Otherwise, I was on the fence, or even pushed over to unfamiliar territory (the Deaf community). Unless their hair is cut short, most people with CIs who speak clearly can get away with not having their deafness noticed. It's one of the things that people with CIs are proud of- not having their deafness noticed.

But like the deaf, we strive to be accepted for our abilities. Like them, we still have to work hard to prove ourselves as valuable participants of the society. Unlike them, we still have to take measures and strategize our form of communication and placement to the main speaker.

Since my college graduation, being pushed out in the Real World, I've had to work even harder on my listening and communicate skills. I am blessed to be part of this generation where texting, e-mailing, and other forms of visual communication are the norm. But there's still part of me that craves for telephone conversation because being able to talk on the phone was and probably is still so valued and I want to fully be able to do it. When I used to call 1-800 numbers, I used to use TTY/IP Relay system via AIM. But the relay couldn't move quickly enough and sometimes I've had people hung up on me after the relay operator explained how the relay worked. I was astonished. Embarassed. Humiliated. Shame. Yes, I was ashamed. I wanted to stop this. The real solution I saw was to work on my listening skills. Learn to talk on the phone, regardless of who it was. And so I did, slowly. I wanted to stop wasting my time as well and take care of things on my own. I wanted to be totally independent. I've had my CI for 20 years now and I thought it's long enough. Time to be free of prejudices.

So for my summer research, I had to make phone calls to complete strangers who were elderly, half of them with German accents. I also had to call 1-800 numbers for my airline and SuperShuttle. The conversations went relatively quicker than if I had used the relay system.

I am damn proud. Nobody prejudiced me because I could well talk on the phone to deal with business. I call adults in their homes and offices. I still text with friends because our own lives are very busy and it's just easier to respond when we're free to do so. I am aware of my slight accent but I don't give a damn for most part so as long the person is responding to my inquiries and comments appropriately.

It might not solve the whole deaf-prejudice problem but at least they had an opportunity to meet a deaf person and can see that it's still possible to communciate.