Neutrality: the absence of a declared bias
In other words, neutrality means having no opinion and declining to take sides. ”I’m neutral about this. I refuse to take an opinion. Here are the options, and each has equal viability. I take no stand either way.”
Does this type of neutrality exist in reality? No. It’s unheard of. Really. Each, and all, of us has a bias, a philosophy in life that we follow. My own personal bias is simply this: ASL and English are of equal value. To be Deaf is great. I do not want to be hearing at all. No thank you very much. I like the way I am now.
Now, if you want to look at biases, take the hearing loss professionals who claim to be neutral as an example. These professionals are audiologists, speech pathologists, medical professionals who work with newly-diagnosed Deaf babies, early childhood educators. These people say, “Oh yes, we provide all options neutrally, and lay them out for the parents to look at.” (True, ASL is included, but in such a way that it is not emphasized, and overwhelmed by the array of other options. ASL is offered, but usually as a last option. )
SEE, Cued Speech, AVT/CI, Signed English, etc… all those options are geared for the development of the English language with emphasis on the hearing and speaking component,. Even Signed English places emphasis on the hearing and speaking as it includes voice, mouthing as well as signing. So does Simultaneous Communication and total communication that are included in the wide array of options. ASL, although seriously underemphasized, is offered on the table for the overwhelmed and bewildered parents to ponder.
Of course, the parents would go for the options that support the development of the English language solely. They would go for what is familiar to them: hearing and speaking. For further explanation on how the system is stacked in favour of the monolingual, hear-and-speak ideology, view Don G’s excellent vlog. That vlog shows that neutrality is nonexistent when it comes to offering options to parents of Deaf children.
If you want actual evidence that the hearing loss professionals are NOT neutral, just take a look at the large number of Deaf children that end up in the mainstream setting with cochlear implants, and taught to speak. Look at the smaller number of Deaf children that are enrolled in Deaf schools. That, to me, indicates a definite bias on the part of the hearing loss professionals who influence parental choices that impact their Deaf children.
Further evidence of that bias can also be seen in the recent passage of AB-2072 in California. Here is the link to this article that proves that neutrality DOESN’T exist on the part of the professionals behind the writing of AB-2072.
REMEMBER: There is no such thing as neutrality in real life!
Great post. I think a lot has to do with the fact that at least 90% of deaf babies are born to hearing parents. Naturally, hearing parents want their children to speak their language and be more like them (hearing). Also, I do think that parents genuinely think they are doing what they think is the best for their child by going with the option that will help them speak and hear. Even if they were given a lot of useful good information about ASL, they will most likely prefer to find other ways to help their child hear and speak.
(e
This made me think back to when our son was first diagnosed as profoundly deaf at a few weeks old. Only one option was offered: possible cochlear implant at a later date. We said NO, because at the time it was still experimental and unproven. (Even now the standard of proof is not high enough to satisfy me.)
What was interesting was that nothing further was offered. No discussion of schools, educational methods, resources, NOTHING. I had to research the schools myself, including my old alma mater, and obtain resources that way.
Did these early professionals assume that because we were deaf parents, we needed nothing more? Or because of our answer to cochlear implants apparently closing the door to all else?
That alone was telling enough. Parents aren’t getting the support they need, and God help them if they have no prior experience at all.
I heard similar complaints from Deaf parents of Deaf children, Dianrez. If Deaf parents say no to CI or mainstreaming, no further support was offered to them. Even today I still hear of lack of support for Deaf parents other than pressure (intense, I might add) to implant their Deaf children, and the impression that the professionals knew more about the needs of their Deaf children than the Deaf parents themselves. Goes to prove that neutrality is just a facade to push a certain agenda. I agree with your last statement, Dianrez.
Dianrez-You probably assume right. They probably thought that since you are deaf yourself, you don’t need as much information. Geez, I am sorry you did not get the support you needed.
(e
The desire for children to be like the parents is natural, but this need to make children FIT into Hearing society rather than allowing them to be who they are, just the way they are is quite troubling. Too many children have grown up with issues related to the lack of acceptance of their Deaf being, with attendant language and mental health issues.
Parents may be given useful information about ASL, the issue with North Americans right now is the heavy focus on monolingualism: ENGLISH ONLY. Spoken English is heavily emphasized, often at the cost of other aspects of the child that needs attention. Bilingualism SHOULD be accepted, but it is not (not even for the Spanish-speaking children of Hispanic ancestry… I digress). The point here is that there is INTENSE focus on monolingualism, and I believe that plays a huge part in what is happening in Deaf education.
That’s terrible. Deaf people and deaf children without Implant or hearing aids do have the right to early invention (is that proper wording for it?) Especially if deaf is concern about the reading level of their children.
For years, public school in my area did not want to help private schools with speech therapy or anything like that. I guess they realize how much catching up to do when children enter public schools. No matter what, they should help all children of different background because they are going to be their future taxpayers.
There is no such thing as a neutral view, it’s a total myth With respect, I fail to see this blog as neutral. Just an observation, you have a right to a view, but in saying it, you are then no longer neutral… neither is anyone responding.
I disagree.
As a parent of a Deaf child who uses ASL and has also received a CI, I have a unique perspective. We chose ASL because it worked, worked quickly, and was 100% sure to work. My daughter was late id’ed but had a progressive loss, so it was assumed she would learn to speak fairly easily. It didn’t happen that way. She did very well with ASL, but not with spoken language, but we never wanted to give up on it, so we continued therapy and eventually got her a CI.
The CI changed the game. She is catching up very quickly, picking up tons of language from other kids and overhearing people talk, it is amazing! The CI worked for her in a way that hearing aids never could. It allowed her easy access to spoken language.
So, why do parents choose spoken language in droves over ASL? Is is the professionals fault? Are they not getting information? Are they judgemental and biased? I don’t believe so. I think they believe that spoken language will open up doors for their child, give them opportunities. And I agree. ASL is a beautiful full language, so is English. Both paths have pros and cons. It depends on your goals for your child.
ah MM. I never claimed to be neutral in the first place. Please read my post again. It is the professionals’ claim to neutrality that I question. You and I finally agree on something! There’s no such a thing as neutrality.
Miss Kat’s Mom, you are one of those strong-minded parents who are determined to go the bilingual route… give them BOTH ASL and English. You ask if it’s the professionals’ fault and whether the parents aren’t getting enough information. From where I am, I AM getting the message from parents in Canada that they are NOT getting enough information, and based on what I’ve seen, that information is biased. You are clearly fortunate enough to have professionals give you sufficient information. Such is not the case for so many parents. As you have seen from other commenters, Deaf parents get the short shrift if they don’t go the CI route. This certainly gives credence to the lack of neutrality that is obvious. If you have been following the AB-2072 situation, then you cannot say that those professionals behind that bill are neutral. Also, so many parents don’t have access to Deaf adults that would show them that bilinguality is the way to go. Hence, the information provided to them is slanted.
I do think that the bill is good. I think it is fair and well written. I think it is a good step in a great direction.
I think the Deaf community is wrong in thinking that parents are only choosing the oral route because they don’t know about ASL. Many parents choose oralism inspite of knowing about the benefits of ASL. They believe that the benefits of spoken language outweigh the benefits of ASL.
Please read Amy’s blog about disenfranchising the Deaf community in the process of writing AB-2072, Miss Kat’s Mom. Julie Rems-Smario explained the situation as it is quite well. http://www.deafeyeseeit.com/2010/04/29/californias-ab2072-disfranchisement-the-deaf-community/. The Deaf community was NOT consulted in the process at all. The conflict of interest involved in writing this bill is clear. It is NOT coalition between people of different perspective. It’s not a coalition of oralists and the Deaf community. It is the Oralists who are trying to decide what is best for the Deaf children WITHOUT the Deaf community’s involvement. This is not the only issue. I think Amy’s blog will give you a better idea of why AB-2072 is so controversial.
Well, how can you explain why the dictionaries have the word “neutrality” in them? It is because there are some people who believe that neutrality is possible. It is difficult to be neutral but it is not impossible.
Neutrality comes from the Latin word “neutralis” meaning “of neuter gender” that comes from the other Latin word “neuter” which is composed of two words: “ne” for “not” and “uter” for “which of two”. It is a very old word dating back to the 15th century. (All from Encarta World English Dictionary.) Apparently, some people during the past 500 years believed that neutrality was and is still possible.
Joseph Pietro Riolo
josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com
Joseph, whether neutrality is in the dictionary ISN’T the point. The point is whether neutrality truly exists in reality. We can claim to be neutral but actions would indicate otherwise, as they always do. So, argue about the contents of my blog, rather than why neutrality is in the dictionary.
I’ve read the blogs….so many of them. I simply disagree. I think the Deaf community is going about this in all the wrong ways. Alienating parents, especially of newly diagnosed little babies is all wrong. Show them why they should ADD ASL, not why they should choose ASL INSTEAD of spoken language.
With due respect, Miss Kat’s Mom, none of us are telling parents to only choose ASL. That ASL-only option is a myth. We are advocating bilingualism. ASL AND English. There is no choosing one language over the other. Both are essential. Yet the people behind that bill (who are of the oralist persuasion) are in the business of monolinguality, speak-hear only ideology. We are advocating for BILINGUALITY. We are telling people to USE ASL as well as English. Hope this clears things up for you?
Shel, I think we all need to understand the history behind California and all of this early hearing detection and how they have been disseminating information to parents. CA is a very big state with many resources and parents have gotten lost in the shuffle. Not to mention different centers with different philosophy (there’s the un-neutrality of it all). Fact is that many parents are not getting ALL of the information. Fact is many agencies/professionals are deciding what options a child should be receiving (they decide what the best fit is). The history behind it all will reveal a lot. When you say none of us are telling parents to use ASL. I believe you’re referring to you and ?? Who else? That statement is unfortunately not true for many hearing parents in CA. That is the reason why they contacted Mendoza. Truth be told, we hear about professionals telling parents to go for CI or oral route, what is astonishing is that there are professionals telling parents they have to learn ASL and didn’t bother to inform them of other options. Apparently it’s happening more so in the state of CA.
“apparently” is the operative word, Candy. Where is your proof that professionals are telling parents to learn ASL and not informing them of other options? Where did you get this ASL-only option myth? NONE of us, including the Californian Deaf folk are telling people to go the monolingual approach and choose ASL to the exclusion of English. Personally, I find this very very difficult to believe. NONE of us are advocating the monolingual approach. In fact, we have been telling people to go the BILINGUAL approach… ASL and English!
ASL and written English. Audism Free America says that CI’s are tools of oppression and that a parent choosing to require a child to wear their processor is “raping (their) soul”. They are horribly opposed to spoken language, and I’m not ok with that.
Oh, and I know a parent who was never told of CI’s and told that they must learn sign. They researched and chose AVT for their family and the children were very successful. http://www.cochlearimplantonline.com
Miss Kat’s Mom, are you familiar with the history of oppression against the Deaf, and all that has happened, especially since Milan 1880? I’m going to be honest with you, and hopefully won’t antagonize you in the process.
I know you disagree, but try to put yourself in the shoes of Deaf people who have been told that ASL is not a real language, and that we cannot be equal to Hearing people unless they spoke and heard (something or anything). That we have been told that we are not smart unless we heard and spoke? That we are less than Hearing people? That we needed rescuing from the silence? That oralism was THE thing that would cure us of Deafness? That many experiments have been made in the name of making us hear, and failed?
Have you seen the DVD Audism Unveiled? If you have not, then it is a strongly recommended viewing. Some of the contents may bother you, but hopefully this will help you understand better where we are coming from. There are many of us who feel dehumanized by the quest to make us hear regardless of whether we actually acquire and develop a genuine language? Miss Kat’s Mom, in light of the countless encounters of audism (yes, I can label it thusly), can you TRULY blame the Deaf for viewing CI as yet another tool of oppression?
There are Deaf people who accept CIs as merely a piece of technology that can be useful, but there are those who view them as instruments of oppression. Have you seen the Missoula Moanings vlog? If not, I would encourage you to view this, and hear the grandmother’s story. Hopefully this will help you understand the strong reactions to the CI. I pray that you will open your mind and see things from our perspective. Just because CI works for your daughter (for me i think it’s more because your daughter already has a strong language base that is ASL) doesn’t mean it is great for all Deaf children, and in fact could be a nightmare.
As for cochlearimplantonline.com, I’m familiar with it, and had some debates with the blogger and her mother. The issue I have with them is they are bound and determined that oralism and CI is THE ONLY option for Deaf children, and do not believe that ASL would benefit Deaf children. They have the monolingual viewpoint, with which I strongly disagree. I’m a fluently bilingual individual with strong command of ASL and English. Also, as a Canadian, I value bilingualism, seeing as my country has two official languages (French and English) and research has shown that bilinguality actually improves the child’s intellectual.
This may be off the point, but it’s still related. I believe one HUGE problem with Americans is their monolingual (and monomodal) thinking… meaning English is the ONLY language worth learning, and to hear and speak is the only thing worth doing, and that to be Deaf and use ASL is unnatural.
Miss Kat’s mom has been to both poles and her daughter is benefiting from her flexibility and willingness to explore all avenues.
She remains staunchly convinced of the value of ASL and early language base, but has recently been to programs offered by AVT institutions which gave her information on successful results of their programs. That they exist and that her daughter appears to be headed that way, too, is fortunate.
Her path is still unfinished and she continues to learn more as she and her child develop in the field. Miss Kat has been fortunate in several ways: she also had a solid base of language developed early through ASL, and was able to build upon it when started on AVT after her implant.
Inevitably Miss Kat’s mom will learn what we all know–that there are thousands of less than successful stories of hearing/speech development strategies for every hundred spectacularly successful stories. She will meet them along the way and her daughter will have friends among them. If Miss Kat’s mom makes this field her career, she will see them every day. And she will realize that the Cochlearimplantonline.com crowd represents the exceptions compared to the whole community.
However controversial and however loud the citizens of the d/hh community are about it, people still must see for themselves the truth and keep eyes open to all sides of it. Miss Kat’s mom has not closed her mind to all options and so will arrive at it on her own.
hi all
wow what a lively discussion
shel – thanks as always. ur posts are always well-thought out, honest and GOOD.
thank u.
joseph are you saying you are neutered? not that there is anything wrong with that but in this day and age – im just curious is all
re: the dictionary – G-d bless the dictionary – our home sweet home…
re: neutrality – as in the concept and not the printed words that may appear in the webster – even countries like Switzerland were not neutral during the Holocaust. Joseph im sure you have seen what Dante had to say about neutrality?
Miss Kat’s mom – name please? id much prefer to call u by ur own name than via ur daughter’s
I am a card carrying member of the AFA (just joking – we dont have membership cards but i am indeed “one of them”) and the AFA vlog re: CI’s is referring to a child’s right to say “NO” as it pertains to their own body.
We make it VERY clear that we dont have anything against folks who have CI or the parents who have chosen CI. We have a lot of concerns about the safety of CI (physical, social, cultural, emotional, linguistic etc) – hence our petition with the FDA.
There have been deaths as a result of CI surgery Miss Kat’s mom and that ain’t cool.
There have been chronic headaches YEARS later. There have been the inability to get a MRI scan to find out the source of these headaches because of the CI would self-destruct in the MRI – talk about catch 22. (i know i know they insert the magnet part a little closer to the skin now so it doesnt involve AS invasive of surgery as it would with the older models but here is the think miss kat’s mom – i care about ALL the people who have been implanted. Not just the stellar stars. i care about the ones who have died, i care about the ones who would need to undergo surgery to get it removed, i care about the ones who felt suicidal due to the pressure they experienced to get one from their family, i care about the parents who believe it is a must do for their child’s sake only to find out it doesnt work that well or that their child was happier being loved as a Deaf person than someone who had to WORK everyday really hard to be a less-deaf person, i care about everyone)
There have been gag orders. There have been lawsuits. There have been complications. There have been settlements out of court hush hush and there have been successful lawsuits against Advanced Bionics for their CIs having water moisture and SHOCKING the children. Shocking them miss kat’s mom!
That ain’t cool miss kat’s mom.
it ain’t cool.
we are happy it has never happened to miss kats. I personally pray it never does. But we can not abandon the folks who have had less than raving experiences with CI. We want answers miss kat’s mom and you should want them too cuz these devices hang out in your kids heads for a mighty long time. Things break down over time. Things leak, things malfunction, things just quit. We dont know the full of it cuz folks are too busy blocking this information – why is that miss. kat’s mom? Why is that?
RE: AFA being “horribly opposed to spoken communication” 0h dear miss kat’s mom that is such a falseHOOD u may just be headed towards very bad company. I myself use spoken communication. No one in AFA has ever shown me any disrespect because of spoken communication.
Where DO you get your information?
AFA is horribly opposed to AUDISM (even though its not in any published dictionary – it is in some online ones and in some dissertations and other scholarly books and academic documentaries). You can go to AFA’s blogspot for the definition of audism. We are not crazy about ORALISM (the systematic denial of access to a fully natural and accessible language for Deaf children by means of forcing them to speak and listen ONLY) – that exclusive system just ain’t cool in our books.
call us crazy if u like miss kat’s mom but please dont call us things that are not true.
Re; Ur daughter – i did read a blog entry u made a while back of how miss kat’s was faring when her CI was not quite working up to par – she was having trouble, yes. it is times like these or when they dont work or when they are lemons ( i have had a few cars that are lemons – much cheaper than CI but still lemons) and when these things dont work – what’s a infant to do, Miss Kat’s mom? did u know they are implanting 3 mo old infants in europe now miss kat’s mom?
now with ur daughter – thankfully u have been raising her bilingually – that is GRAND but it is atypical.
When the audiologists and CI industry and specialists come up with a CI/ASL program that offers certification and has an academy for CI/ASL then I will be able to believe that the system is NOT skewed to an oral / aural only bent.
Ya know due to history repeating itself when folks keep denying the truth, I’ll have to stick to what i have seen out there and what i know to be true (have you visited the AG Bell academy webpage for AVT training – guideline #3 Miss Kat’s mom?)
I apologize for my really strong tone here but i have seen u pop up all over the place over the years and u have not always been speaking the truth miss kat’s mom.
soul force / truth force all the way says Gandhi
I do love and cherish you and your daughter as well as your other family members
Again Shel – many thanks
sorry for my long reply
peace
patti
Shel, there is proof that it has been happening. If asked, many parents will have documentation to show that they were told to go the ASL route. Maybe I shouldn’t have used the word apparently, but it has happened. I see you find that hard to believe. I did too. But, now I believe it did happen.
My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
Patti,
Do you have documentation that we can view? Documentations and links to evidence that there have been serious damages to an individual’s quality of life? How many and what? So, far I have not found anything other than the need for kids to have meningitist shots so they don’t get it because the bacterial kind can be fatal. The consent waiver form warns of infections which is typical in any surgery. Facial paralysis has been taken cared of by changing where they cut to avoid I think the fifth nerve or something like that. I think after 20 plus years, it has become safer than ever. But, if you can prove me wrong by showing me evidence, then I will bow out. It has to be something within the past five years because there are trial and errors in the beginning that have already been corrected.
If you are so concern, why don’t you blog about it and include real evidence for all to see? If I had that at my fingertips, I’d report it as a blogger. Why don’t you?
Not again! Another 3rd argument is now a moot. You want only ONE option….ASL and English, that’s it.
Have you visited the link that shows the states to provide the unbiased information from many various organizations? If you did not visit over there, here’s the link.
http://communicatewithyourchild.org
Go click on the right side, “My baby has a hearing loss.” It shows the states you can research. Do your homework. Options now has invaded the USA. How can you beat them? You can use one of the aliens’ gun to shoot the options.
Neutrality is now in the works. It still exists. Be nice to Miss Kat’s Mom.
I’m heading to the dreamgirlz’ blogs.
great post as usual!
Ironically, this reminds me of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. No one can see (or feel) the whole elephant and each has his own opinion.
WHOOOOOO! Patti! GREAT response! I couldn’t have said it better! *STANDING OVATION*
“Ironically, this reminds me of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. No one can see (or feel) the whole elephant and each has his own opinion.”
Just pray you aren’t the one standing at the rear end…. wondering what it is will be the least of your worries
Patti,
Great comment!!! I enjoyed reading it!
I hope MM keeps up with his prayers to keep whomever pushing us towards the rear of the elephant.
It is really sad that Deaf community have been living through this for too long.
Unlike you, I believe that neutrality can exist in reality. We have the referees who promise not to take any side while they are refereeing the games. We have the judges in the courts who promise not to take any side with prejudice. We have elders and arbitrators who decide the disputes without favoring any sides. It is because of some people who believe in neutrality that peace is made possible for the people.
I am fine with your opinion that neutrality does not exist in reality but it does not mean that your opinion is any more valid than my perspective. I am not going to force you to believe in neutrality but I do wonder how you can interact with your students, for example, without favoring some students over other students. Is it ever possible that you can be neutral to all of your students so that they can be treated fairly? I wonder.
Just for the sake of argument, let’s assume that neutrality does not exist in reality. How are you going to recommend the parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing babies to do? Will you be biased and recommend them to go to the professionals who favor bilingualism over any other options? Will you be biased enough to steer the parents away from the professionals who offer many options other than and in addition to bilingualism? By the same principle, do you approve that other professionals can be as biased as you are and can steer parents toward their own options?
You don’t have to answer these questions. I am not like Socrates who would expect the questions to be answered.
To Miss Kat’s Mom: Don’t feel that you have to tell or reveal your true name. Anonymity and pseudonym are very old but extremely important American values that intertwine with the First Amendment. That, unfortunately, sometimes comes into conflict with the Deaf culture that greatly frowns on them, at least for some members of the culture.
Joseph Pietro Riolo
josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com
Public domain notice: I put all of my expressions in this post in the public domain.
JPR, the comments under my post has proven beyond any doubt that NOT one individual is neutral when it comes to Deaf babies. Are you saying that professionals that deal with parents of Deaf/HH babies are neutral? I’m sorry, but based on what I have seen of the system both in USA and Canada, I have NOT seen true neutrality in existence. Each professional has a bias and so does the system that professional works for! For the bias, all you have to do is examine AB-2072, and who the people behind that bill are. Can you truly tell me they are NEUTRAL? Hogwash. There is a serious conflict of interest at play here.
Yeah. Dianrez… your parable of the blind men and the elephant proves my point exactly. Neutrality is a myth especially when it comes to Deaf babies.
MM, would you volunteer to stand at the rear of the elephant? ;D There are times when I feel like Deaf people are at that end anyway! Thank God for the shower. For that I would need to go to the other end, but for that to happen both the elephant and I would have to be in the river, eh?
Joseph Pietro Riolo,
Neutrality gives the person the right to go further of their mission according to their status such as wealth with money like doctors and people with writing skills to convince the normal society of how their mission is neutral but still subtly biased.
Joseph, I would respect your opinion if you are bilingually fluency but you do not have the skills with ASL communication modality skills so therefore in your heart, you still don’t get it, and with my perspective about you, I think you are between a rock and a hard place, hearing reality and Deaf reality. I was once a person lost like you and now I am found….normal and happy.
WG, Thank you for leaving your comment here and for the link you sent me to the beautiful website communicatewithyourchild.org.
1) I didn’t say that I want only ONE option. I want bilingualism… There is a difference. What’s wrong with wanting your Deaf child to have TWO languages… ASL and English? As a Canadian, I’m fortunate enough to grow up in a country that has two official languages, so that means I get to be TRILINGUAL if I so wish! Dieu de Remerciement!
2) You claim that the website communicatewithyourchild.org is unbiased. You also claim that link provides unbiased information from “many various organizations”. Let me disabuse you (and everyone else) of that notion.
Is the Communicate With Your Child website UNBIASED?
a) Is t bilingual? Check! (English and Spanish!)
b) It has audio for those who may have reading issues… accessible for hearing? CHECK!
c) ASL translations? (NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.)
d) FOCUS: the ability to hear words and songs.
e) FOCUS: LANGUAGE (ASL)… WHERE CAN IT BE FOUND? ZILCH and NADA
Checked “My Baby has a hearing loss” and clicked on states as you advised, WG. Guess what? The number of hearing loss professional organizations like AGBADHH, NICDC, Hearing Association, Let them Hear Foundation, etc etc FAR OUTWEIGH the number of Deaf-centered, or at least ASL-friendly organizations.
Let’s see… I clicked on http://www.raisingdeafkids.org which is on the list for any of the states you click on: Go to Communication choices, then you will see:
- Auditory-Oral, (Emphasis: Hearing/speaking)
-Auditory-Verbal (Emphasis: Hearing/Speaking)
-Bilingual-Bicultural (ASL/ENGLISH)
-Cued Speech (Emphasis: Hearing/speaking)
-Total Communication (signing and talking with voice simultaneously… STILL EMPHASIZE SPEAKING AND HEARING)
Considering the evidence here: There’s an overwhelming emphasis on hearing and speaking, and little focus on ASL.
Do you call that link unbiased, and do you still call the information from many states unbiased, WG?
This STILL proves my point about the absence of neutrality in the system, and overwhelming bias in favour of the hear and speak ideology here!
JPR, “I am fine with your opinion that neutrality does not exist in reality but it does not mean that your opinion is more valid than any perspective.” Question is: Based on the medical and ethnical technology, a couple who desires to have a baby boy used the genetic engineering to avoid any diseases or deaf/hearing loss. Is it the biased situation? Perhaps it would be, maybe not. However, the carried couple should use it for a medical and particular reason.
That’s true, JPR. It makes me wonder how can we neutral in the boundary zone? Thus, it still does exist.
Well, Shel, May 3, 7:15 PM — Why would you think if there is a conflict of interest at play here? Is it because they (Non-profit deaf organizations) were not called to sponsor the AB 2072? We cannot see the behind-the-scene. We should not have jumped any conclusions.
Just because there are several options for learning spoken language, does not mean it is being favored. They list ASL-English bi-bi, right with everything else. Do you want them to write it several times? I don’t understand…
Also, yes, I have seen the film. I get it. I understand that many Deaf people have been oppressed, on large and small scale. So many have been failed linguistically and educationally. But, what are they doing about it? Yelling? Calling parents names? Protesting with bullhorns outside of childrens schools? None of those things will work.
We need to build bridges with parents. Show them that the Deaf community is a welcoming, loving place. Show them successful adults who are bilingual in the way they want for their children. Don’t tell them that CI’s don’t work. They know it’s not true. They see that they work in their lives and homes everyday. Don’t say that their children will never become oral. The research isn’t on your side. Show the parents the benefits of adding ASL to their lives. ASL only, (meaning without spoken language) or even ASL first, spoken language later, will never fly. Parents want their children to have everything, every opportunity, they will not choose to ignore spoken language. (They may choose not to use ASL because they don’t understand what it can do for them.)
candy
AFA has a petition out seeking answers and documentation
It is incredibly hard to get these FACTS but we have some. We want more – the full picture.
We care about the folks who got their CI before 5 years ago too – Candy. There experiences are VERY important and valid. We also care about the folks 5 years out from now and 10 years out from now and 15 years out from now who are getting CI today.
CI ARE NOT CONSISTENTLY EFFECTIVE
The keynote presenter, Dr. David Pisoni, at AG Bell conference in St. Louis expressed the need for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to look into the effectiveness of Cochlear Implants.
In his address he explained: Efficacy means “Does the CI work” (run or operate) Answer is yes. Effectiveness means “Does the CI effectively work for everyone” Answer is NO.
FDA needs to measure effectiveness not just efficacy
Perhaps you’d be interested in watching the video of Emma moaning in missoula
hope you will help us find some of the answers to these unexamined questions
Peace
Patti
Miss Kat’s Mom – may i call you MKM?
Just feels very awkward to be addressing you via your daughter’s name
re: CA AB 2072 – it is an amendment to CA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 124115-124120.5
In this code there is no mention of sign language – just under 124116:
Communication services, including, but not limited to, aural
rehabilitation, speech, language, social, and psychological services.
There is no mention of bilingualism or ASL.
In the amendment that folks are contending, it is mandating early intervention via CA Early start program as well as electronic information on specific communication options (this to be given out by an audiologist or other specialist).
In looking over the CA Starting Out Together – An Early Intervention Guide for Families – there is no mention of ASL or sign language. Tons of other expected stuff re: hearing technology and services etc – its 44 pages long. Only bi-bi thing is a Spanish and English poster.
You end with the comment (They may choose not to use ASL because they don’t understand what it can do for them.)
Please help me understand why it is such a hard concept for folks to understand – “my child can no hear but my child can see. there is a visual language that is 100% fully accessible and natural for my child. I think I’ll go with oral / aural only?” this does not compute for me unless perhaps some folks are thinking of what it will do for them over what it will do for their child.
You might be interested in the DBC’s petition re: bilingualism – biculturalism
The scale has been forever tipped in the favor of the dominant culture – this has been the case for African-Americans, Women, Gays/Lesibians/Bi/Transgenders, religions minorities etc – and still folks stand and push onward to ring that bell of liberty and equality.
You are a mom – how can we help folks understand the obvious – that all people were created equal and they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights – the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
with no other population – are the babies forced to start out forever lurching and grasping at syllables that slide through the air and often past their ears. Where as the sign for “milk, more, and mommy” can be readily understood via the eyes or the hands (for Deaf-blind folks) and requires no work beyond natural language acquisition.
Peace
Patti
oh also MKM
no one has EVER proposed an ASL only education
not even back in the days before AG Bell showed up on the Deaf education landscape did any program that i know of BAN articulation or English from the educational experience of a Deaf child.
But today ASL and visual acuity is still being BANNED from the classrooms and livingrooms of Deaf children’s lives … STILL
help us break the cycle
thanks
peace
patti
Miss Kat’s Mom,
You say parents don’t understand what ASL can do for kids. PRECISELY. You ask if the choice for ASL-English Bi-bi choice should be written several times.
I’m trying to think of the best way to help you understand why we see a bias in the information being given to parents. It’s not a matter of writing ASL-ENGLISH Bi-bi several times over. It’s not just what is being stated, it’s also what is NOT being stated. There are subliminal messages all over that lends weight to the bias.
Let me use WG’s website link which I just analyzed as an example. Let’s analyze it further. On the ultra-professional Communicate With Your Child website, they provide links to the Spanish version (translation) of the information. This shows that the people who developed this website recognizes Spanish as a language, and see it as necessary, especially since the USA has a large Hispanic populace.
Contrast the availability of the Spanish version with the absence of ASL translation on that website. This shows an ignorance (and often devaluation) of ASL as a valid language. Of course parents WON’T understand ASL or what it can do for Deaf children if they are not exposed to it at all! No-where on ANY of the links provided from that website, to other websites would you see ASL translation of the information provided in either English or Spanish (at least in the USA)!
If there are no ASL translations available on any of the website, but there are Spanish translations and audio available on the text, what does that tell parents about ASL? The subliminal message is that ASL is not important nor even essential for Deaf children. It’s easy to go for options that promote hear-and-speak ideology as it’s ALL OVER the links and various glitzy websites. It’s both overt AND covert.
Now, if you view this website, Canadian Hearing Society, you will see English, French, ASL and LSQ on that website. This shows that the CHS organization values and recognizes all four as valid languages. It’s through this website, for example, that parents CAN begin to understand ASL and why it is so important for Deaf children to have ASL. The subliminal message on the CHS website is that ASL is valid and important. Parents will be much more likely to see ASL in a more positive light.
Do you see the difference? It is all in the subliminal messages… messages given below the threshold of conscious perception. The bias is there alright, but people are unconscious of it because they DON’T analyze the information, how it’s presented, nor the absence of pertinent information.
But deaf kids can hear. Many deaf children, especially those with CI’s, are hearing, understanding, and discriminating all the sounds in the English language. They are hearing and understanding at whisper levels. To say “they can’t hear but can see” just isn’t true. My daughter, and many others, do not struggle to hear or speak. It takes time to learn the language, but they are certainly not “lurching” or “grasping” at things that pass by their ears. It is that kind of misinformation that pushes parents away.
Oh, and why would there be an ASL version of the website? Bilingual ASL users should be reading English. Why on earth would they translate it?
Yes, spoken language is banned in the classrooms of bi-bi school. You MUST be voice off at all times. (Because spoken language isn’t accessable to all persons in the class.) That means spoken language is equally as banned as ASL in an oral class. (Which by the way, no one has EVER told me that my child could not sign in ANY of her oral classes. They may not sign back, but she has never been put down, or in trouble, or admonished for signing at her home oral school, a private oral school in another city, at John Tracy Clinic, or at Central Institute for the Deaf).
Miss Kat’s Mom,
I could ask this: “Oh, and why would there be a Spanish version of the website? Bilingual Spanish speakers/users should be reading English. Why on earth would they translate it?” ASL and Spanish are both languages, for goodness’s sake! That is why there are ASL and Spanish versions of the information that is written in English.
I could also ask “Oh, and why would there be an English version of the website? Bilingual English speakers/users should be reading (insert language). Why on earth would they translate it?
oh miss kats is hearing sweet
my bad – i guess i didnt understand about deaf hearing kids
so can u help me understand why it is u hang out in Deaf read
i mean ur kid can hear freely easily with any bumps in the road
can u help me understand why u blogged about some of the problems she has from time to time
does she still have an IEP – what for? she is a hearingdeaf girl now
re: the grasping and lurching – im a partially Deaf person MKM – au naturale – and i have seen many a presentations by the CI specialists and audiologists and CI users who have said “we are basically hard of hearing at best” which is what i am MKM
i know lurching and grasping
i also know acting
im a pretty good actor when i have to be
i also know parental placebo effect too MKM
so can we return to this TRUTH that there has NEVER been an ASL program that banishes and excludes English but there are PLENTY of ENGLISH ONLY programs for Deaf children – programs practicing exclusivity yet calling themselves “options”
scratching me head MKM
much peace
patti
also re: all the oral programs allowing Miss kat’s to sign
that is super cool
have u written a letter to the AG Bell academy that their AVT guideline #3 is not being enforced and is unnecessary?
can u help me understand why she is still in oral programs when she can hear and does not grasping or lurching?
why isnt she in a hearing school since she is a hearingdeaf girl?
im just a wee bit confused
re: bi-bi programs not banning spoken language – i was speaking of ENGLISH. re: spoken language – it is my understanding that they allow it to be practiced within their hallowed halls – even by the practionaries and specialists called Speech therapists
where i have yet to see any ASL specialist at john tracy or CID or the other PRIVATE OPTION programs
ok nighty nighty for me
look forward to more illuminations
while im being very sassy here MKM cuz we have done this dance before – i do appreciate the dialogue and ur fortitude
Peace
Patti