The Life of a Mainstreamed Deaf Kid

Who’s Right?

dlmayes — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:00:00 +0000

How do I start off? I see a lot of things on DeafRead. Well, one thing I can say is there is a lot of tension in DeafRead. For starters, DBC and AGBell. First of all, let me talk about DBC. I feel DBC has some right ideas but I also feel either too direct approach or the wrong approach. Their insulting AGBell is not solving any problems. In fact, it is making AGBell more relucent to listen. One of the right ideas of DBC is that you should teach ASL to the babies.

Last year I went to an AGBell-sponsored summer camp. I am going again this year. I saw nothing that actually “conceptionally” said no to ASL. One kid used ASL all the way and no one had a problem with it. AGBell said no to ASL? Ha. Are you looking the wrong way or the right way?

I understand there might be some tension because of some of you being oppressed or whatever. But does this give you the right to dictate someone’s opinion?

Deaf Schools vs. Hearing Schools

dlmayes — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:18:18 +0000

I am currently in the hearing school. There are pros and cons about going mainstreaming. One of the pros is the fact that I get good education. One of the cons is the fact it is hard for me to understand hearing people sometimes. I am thinking about going back to a deaf school–Indiana School for the Deaf. But that does not change the fact that I was born hearing, English is my first language, and I live in the hearing world and I choose to accept that.

There are also pros and CONS (I capitalized and underlined cons because I know you’d overlook “cons” on purpose) about deaf schools. One of the pros is the easier method of communication. One of the cons is that sometimes education is a bit too easy. So, aren’t schools about education? If so, why do you emphasize that every thing Deaf is perfect? The generality of you deaf people that went to a hearing school say that hearing people oppressed you. Now I go to a hearing school and I don’t think hearing people oppress me.

The reason why I want to go back to a deaf school is not because hearing people oppress me, but because I miss having easy communication methods.

A Blessing or a Curse?

dlmayes — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:22:19 +0000

Hi, my name is David Mayes. My mom is Karen Mayes.

I was born in Greece, New York, but I grew up in East Rochester. But currently I am living in Indiana. I have one sister, three cats. I was born hearing, but I started losing my hearing at 3 years old. Now I am deaf.

Now, I have hearing aids. I know many of you would disagree with me, but I am more hearing than deaf. But I am doing fine. Please don’t criticize people’s choices because you and I have no right to interfere with their lives. So, I ask you a question: if you don’t like us, does that mean you don’t like yourself either? Because we are all deaf, that means, to your word, “we are all one deaf culture” ? So, you also say that people like us divide deaf people? No, you choose to see that way. So that basically means you divide yourself. True. I am wondering…is the real purpose of deafhood to accept the diversity of deaf people?

I would also like to say: Go, Paotie!:o)

I keep asking myself this question: is being deaf a blessing or a curse? It is not either. It is not a blessing because we have something taken away from us. And it is also not a curse because if you choose to use it wisely, it can also help teach other people.