I grew up mainstreamed in an oral environment from Pre-K to a bachelor's. Zero programs used.
I never had the accommodation of an interpreter, notetaker, hard of hearing/deaf friends, all the whatnots of deaf culture throughout my life. If anything, I recall having a special auditor evaluate my academic progression during the public school district era every other month; but I felt disdained to request of her services as she constantly asked if I needed help or assistance in my studies. It felt more of a "nag" thing to me, as it bears relation to the word "impaired" in the Offensive?? topic by Adamsmomma. I did not see myself as "physically or mentally disabled" from K-12, and the service being offered in my favor made me feel like I would become disabled to the eyes of the other kids.
(You'll now note that this is where I express having never been "infused" with (D)eaf culture.)
Simply said, I felt I was your average kid competing with the others, and I had more hurdles to jump in the 100m race.
During college I recall in one of my courses I had a deaf student. She had the opportunity of classmates who volunteered to be her notetaker, and an interpreter signing the professor's lectures.
I did not understand a word of ASL at that time, but I was able to pass all courses within acceptable or higher. I never spoke a word to her for two quarters; I think she took two of my courses. Why did I not talk to her? Because I felt like a foreigner not knowing ASL which seemed like it was her main language.
This is where I express the bridge world, as I'm not fully hearing, but I'm not deaf enough to fully rely on ASL (although I have been brushing up on it). This is a different gap of the deaf world, I feel.
Now as I look back and evaluate everything, it is quite obvious that the special assistance program was meant in an expression of goodwill; but as a growing child it is hard to see that. In an oral only environment, I feel that any hard of hearing child will feel that the world is against them, whether of bad or good intentions.
I guess a better way of conveying my expression behind this is that some people disprove of "looking like a cripple" in front of their classmates.
