Laws Needed

deaftears

deaftears

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I propose two laws and would like to hear of other laws needed to protect the deaf.

First: I think they should ban cash registers that do not visually show the price.

Second: I believe that all gradeschool children should be required to pass minimal standards of sign language.
 
Cash registers--I agreed. It annoys me.

Gradeschool children---Once I knew a deaf guy who married to hearie woman, and they have a daughter. The deaf guy uses ASL for communication, so his wife communicate wit him through ASL, however he refuses to make sure his little daughter learns and using ASL.

I asked him wouldn't you like to be able to communicate with your own daughter? He shrugs. I feel bad for his little girl. I don't know what is wrong with him.

I get upset when family dont want to bother with making effort communicating with their deaf family member. I don't get it, especially when it comes to parents not wanting to make efforts with their own deaf child!

There should be law or something to deal with that--it is not fair to deaf child.
 
You're preaching to the converted on every single point Stargazer Lilies.
 
deaftears said:
I propose two laws and would like to hear of other laws needed to protect the deaf.

First: I think they should ban cash registers that do not visually show the price.

Second: I believe that all gradeschool children should be required to pass minimal standards of sign language.
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I'm all for the 1st.

The 2nd, not so much. After those kids finish school there is very little chance that they will ever meet a deaf person and have occasion to use it. Language is a use it or lose it kind of thing, they will forget it, so what's the point?

Also, there are far far far more Spanish speaking people in the US than deaf/hoh that use ASL. Do you see kids having to pass minimal standards of Spanish? Why should we be so special?
 
This may sound cruel and/or cold, but, as I have learned from being the only deaf kid in town and living/working in the hearing world for 40+ years....the needs of one do not outweigh the needs of many. (unless you are royalty, of course)

I am the one that lost my hearing in a world of billions, therefore I have to adapt in order to survive. I don't expect the world to change for me, but I do expect a little help from others when asked.

You are late-deafened, which is much harder to adapt to than those of us who have been deaf since young age. Living in a small town does not help either.

Check out the other sections where late-deafened folks come in to share their experiences.

Like Ambrosia said above: ASL is a great way to communicate, and more and more schools are teaching it these day, but everyone will eventually forget.

Can you move closer to a big city?
 
If not sure of total when buying something, just figure your area's tax before you buy. Then you'll be able to figure your spending $.

Also, it's so cool to see all those different cash registers. Some are vintage :). You get to see different ways to see the total. The fun of shopping :).
 
:thumb:
green427 said:
This may sound cruel and/or cold, but, as I have learned from being the only deaf kid in town and living/working in the hearing world for 40+ years....the needs of one do not outweigh the needs of many. (unless you are royalty, of course)

I am the one that lost my hearing in a world of billions, therefore I have to adapt in order to survive. I don't expect the world to change for me, but I do expect a little help from others when asked.

You are late-deafened, which is much harder to adapt to than those of us who have been deaf since young age. Living in a small town does not help either.

Check out the other sections where late-deafened folks come in to share their experiences.

Like Ambrosia said above: ASL is a great way to communicate, and more and more schools are teaching it these day, but everyone will eventually forget.

Can you move closer to a big city?
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more, very well said! I think he lives in Seattle though, pretty dang big :giggle:
 
deaftears said:
I propose two laws and would like to hear of other laws needed to protect the deaf.

First: I think they should ban cash registers that do not visually show the price.

Second: I believe that all gradeschool children should be required to pass minimal standards of sign language.
Click to expand...

Yes for the first suggestion, no for the second. We have grown adults that can't even speak coherent English or write well, never mind speaking in other languages.


Laura
 
Maybe you disagree with me but the deaf community seems to live in a pre-Civil Rights struggle condition, in a siege mentality, unable to consider a world where everybody knows sign and the doors of our world open. Leaves something to be done for the deaf future.
 
deaftears said:
Maybe you disagree with me but the deaf community seems to live in a pre-Civil Rights struggle condition, in a siege mentality, unable to consider a world where everybody knows sign and the doors of our world open. Leaves something to be done for the deaf future.
Click to expand...

Everybody knowing sign is not a realistic expecation. This is our problem not their problem, it is considerably self centered to expect everybody else in the world to do something about your problem.

That may be harsh, but truth can hurt.

That isn't a you in particular "your", Ive seen the same sentiment in others, that's a general all of us deaf folks "your".
 
ambrosia said:
Everybody knowing sign is not a realistic expecation. This is our problem not their problem, it is considerably self centered to expect everybody else in the world to do something about your problem.

That may be harsh, but truth can hurt.
Click to expand...

then you're saying ADA Law should be abolished?
 
Many of the most fundamental signs, like help, a world constructed for useful guideposts is not that much different from elementary Driver's Education. Accordingly, I think it is a matter of jump starting our educational system to include sign language, basic skills, as a requirement. It is a case where they can learn our language, we cannot learn theirs. Make can a must. It's called reform. Think KING.
 
Jiro said:
then you're saying ADA Law should be abolished?
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That's a pretty big hop skip and jump assumption you're making.

No, not thinking that everybody in the country should learn ASL so I can talk whoever strikes my fancy is not the same as thinking ADA should be abolished.

I expect more than that from you Jiro, you're too intelligent to make such an asinine assumption.
 
ambrosia said:
Everybody knowing sign is not a realistic expecation. This is our problem not their problem, it is considerably self centered to expect everybody else in the world to do something about your problem.

That may be harsh, but truth can hurt.

That isn't a you in particular "your", Ive seen the same sentiment in others, that's a general all of us deaf folks "your".
Click to expand...

This is true. Nobody learned Italian for my family or for the millions of Italians that came here. As with everything, you adapt to the greater majority or fall behind.

Laura
 
The point is that most Italians could learn English. Deaf people cannot learn to hear. We're entitled to the same potentials as others.
 
deaftears said:
The point is that most Italians could learn English. Deaf people cannot learn to hear. We're entitled to the same potentials as others.
Click to expand...

U really got it. Thats what many of us had been trying to say how important it is to learn ASL. I am impressed.

I agree with your thinking. It is hard for people to think outside of the hearing mentality box.
 
Gallaudet says 2-4 individuals in 1000 are functionally deaf.

The world does not revolve around us, and no we are not "entitled" to have everyone have to learn something for us. When they might go their entire life and only run in to 2 deaf people? How selfish is that? That's like toddler mentality.

Let's say they did this though. They made ASL part of grade school curriculum. They finish school. 15 years later they run into someone at the grocery store who's deaf and wants to know where something is. You think that person is going to remember enough ASL to have any sort of useful conversation with? Of course they're not.

I'm 37, I worked with a deaf guy when I was 18 when I worked at a groceyr store. I worked with another massage therapist who was deaf, he had a CI, a deaf guy came into the gas station I worked at looking for a job. Since I started wearing HAs I've had 2 or 3 deaf people come up and start signing to me while I was out and about. That's it. That's the sum total of deaf people I have encountered in my almost 38 years on earth. I'd say that is fairly typical considering we're even more of a minority than the minorities. And you think everybody should learn ASL to talk to a handful of people they might run into over the course of their lives? I have no words for how self centered that is.
 
Many people who are deaf would involve themselves more in the community at large if the community at large where prepared to integrate us. You think being colonized is natural and sufficient. I'm inclined to disagree. Wheel chair ramps don't build themselves. They have to be required.
 
I don't want to open a new can of worm. What if law was made to require every one to take ASL class? How about a law that everyone learn brailles? I cannot remember the last time I needed to use brailles. It would have not been helpful for me.

ASL is not on island of its own. Maybe it seems like we're on an island with ASL as our language, but we do have to blend into society just like everyone else.
 
People learning braille may not be the most effective way of enhancing the mobility of the blind in American society. Requiring sign language by contrast incontestibly is the most effective way of enhancing the involvement of the deaf. By what right are we excluded? It's not that hard to learn basic sign. What's civilization for?
 
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