Features of hearing such as talking, using excellent English, using English word order in sign, and speaking while signing are rewarded. That it suppresses and distorts ASL is not recognized, or if it is, it is dismissed as unimportant.

Their attitudes become our attitudes. We grow up feeling proud of our ability to talk or use English and look down on other people who don’t have these. Words such as audism and linguicism didn’t exist then…if anybody criticized us, we were considered snobbish, nose-in-the-air, hearing-in-the-mind, and high C-on-the-forehead.

It became a barrier to acceptance in the ASL community, a barrier to communication, and to sharing one’s strengths with each other. One feels forced to make a choice between communities simply because of having distorted ASL.

Good blog, Shel! I hope this suggests better ways to educate children to be able to mix fully in both Deaf and hearing communities as well as other benefits.