Prejudice Against Deaf Culture By Tom L. Humphries

Prejudice is everywhere, including against the *Deaf culture. Deaf people, as a linguistic minority – they use sign language to communicate – have a common experience of life, including beliefs, attitudes, history, norms, values and even literary tradition. This culture it is not universal, that is, every country have its own sign language and different norms, as any other. In a Deaf community, they identify themselves as members of a cultural and linguistic group, being an individual choice to be part of it – independent of the individual’s hearing status. Unfortunately, some hearing people really believe they are superior to Deaf people. Sometimes, even Deaf people believe that they are inferior to them.

This kind of prejudice against the Deaf Culture is called Audism. According to Tom L. Humphries, the

A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly Deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin. Usually, Deaf people are against the implant, because it would destroy the unique characteristic of themselves. Another point is that, the implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it can give a Deaf person only a representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her to understand the speech. Of course, the implant can change lives, but it is an individual choice. If a Deaf person does not want it, the decision must be respected. Audists feel that they have to force cochlear implants on Deaf people regardless of whenever they want it or not. Why would someone prefer to stay deaf? Simple: Members of the Deaf culture do not see themselves as disabled, and resent any discrimination or inference that they are disadvantaged. Their culture is wonderful and they are very proud to be part of