Some of my friends who work in the public schools with deaf/hh kids have shared stories how the implanted kids refuse to interact with the deaf signers simply because they dont want the hearing kids to know that they are deaf. If that is true that is happening in the mainstreamed programs, then is there a new generation of deaf kids who look down on deaf signers? I used to be like that and it is just really sad that being able to "hear" and talk is superior to signing. It just made my stomach turn when I was told that. Now, it seems like deaf kids who are oral, along with hearing kids are shunning the deaf kids who werent able to develop oral skills in the public schools
Shel, I decided to move it here and comment on this because this is highly interesting, definitely worth discussing. I hope you don't mind.
Yes, I've heard of that, and no I hope it's not that (new generation).
I believe this stems from the low-esteem and insecurity of the child as a deaf person. That in turn could only be the outcome of the way the child is being raised, the enviroment he is growing up in.
If the child has strong self- esteem, emotional support, (and it's parents' job to raise an emotionally strong child), such issue should not exist or would be passing matter.
Now, I would like to remind you the opposite is also true, easily observed on this very board- there are also deaf people who shunns the CI implantees. Since the children are a little mirrors of their parents, it's more than likely that there are deaf children who look down upon the implanted kids, too.
Once again, IMO, it's not the CI at the centre of this controversy - it's the matter of personal viewpoint on the subject of deafness, and the emotional state of the implanted child.
Fuzzy