Lance Allred Cavs Update

On Tuesday I posted about Lance Allred, the NBA’s first deaf basketball player. Since then, I ran across another article on him which detailed his struggles in getting to his sport’s highest level.

Most of this article details the difficulty that “minor league” basketball players go through in scraping up enough money to live (and mentions he has been signed to a second 10-day contract), but one piece stood out.

Allred is the former East High School player who went on to the University of Utah, where his basketball experience was ruptured by rough treatment put upon him by former Ute coach Rick Majerus. The 6-foot-11 center, who had overcome physical ailments, severe hearing impairment, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a family environment that, for a time, was polygamous, had been verbally abused, called, he says, by his former coach a “deaf, dumb f—” and a “disgrace to cripples” in front of his teammates.

The article goes on to discuss how his coach Rick Majerus (a quite famous basketball coach) resigned shortly after. I had no idea.

It’s unfortunate that this type of discrimination goes on in general, but it’s even more despicable that this coach said these derogatory remarks in front of his teammates. I’d love to hear the coach’s version of the story, but assuming it is true, it really makes me lose a lot of respect for Majerus.

What do you think? What’s the worst thing you, a friend or family member has been called.

Did I Hear You Correctly?

I am naive. I admit it. I did not think that we would have to deal with ignorant people so early in Drew’s life. I knew the time would come with others would look at him differently, but I thought the days of teasing and such would come in elementary and middle school.

On Saturday our friends called to see if we would join them for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. Drew’s Dad was working, but I happily agreed. I love the opportunity to get out of the house when I’m watching the kids by myself.

We were seated right away and immediately waited on. The waiter instantly noticed Drew’s “different” ears. Instead of asking politely or not mentioning them at all, he said, “What’s wrong with his ears?” Now, that wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t said in the tone in which he said it. Having four impressionable children sitting at the table with me, I could not tell him what I really wanted to say, so I just said, “He is deaf. This helps him hear.” We all restrained ourselves well, but I know my friends were equally as mad as me. Oh, if only I could have told him what I was really thinking. I wonder if he liked his tip?

Then, later that night I found myself in another uncomfortable situation. We attended the wedding of some friends from college. It was great to see Drew’s Dads’ fraternity brothers that we had not seen in years! We enjoyed catching up with friends from Denver, San Diego, Chicago and New York. It’s hard to keep in touch with everyone these days. Many of our friends did not even know that Drew was born with profound hearing loss, so I found myself explaining our situation on more than one occasion.

I was telling a couple of our friends all about Drew’s hearing loss and it’s cause (Connexin 26) when I was once again confronted with an ignorant, and that is being nice, person. A friend of a friend was listening in on our conversation. I was explaining all about Drew’s cochlear implants and our friends were fascinated by the technology and how well Drew is doing. Just as I was explaining that Drew’s Dad and I carry a recessive gene for hearing loss the friend of a friend says, while turning his ear to the conversation, “What’s that, I can’t hear you. I’m deaf.”

It took every ounce of me not to punch him in the face. I looked at him and said, “I find your comment to be very, and I mean very, offensive.” Then I turned and tried to continue my conversation with true friends, but I was unable to even remember what I was talking about. He made everyone completely uncomfortable and ruined and otherwise enjoyable conversation.

I understand that there are ignorant people in the world. I am used to being stared at in the grocery store, at Lowe’s and at Target. It really doesn’t bother me, and I enjoy the times when people will actually ask me about Drew. I enjoy telling people how blessed we are that Drew can hear. But I have a hard time with arrogant, ignorant people and their asinine comments.

"The Ends Justify The Means?"

I have mentioned the raging debate over whether cochlear implants are destroying “Deaf culture” or not, and have been trying to learn more myself. I understand that as a hearing person (“hearie”), I cannot fully realize what it is like to be Deaf (Deaf with a capital “D” is often used to refer to deaf persons who do not have an implant, and are not aided, and deaf without a capital “D” is often used to refer to deaf persons who have some degree of hearing either through hearing aids or cochlear implants) – just as I cannot fully see what it would like to be an African-American. However, I just don’t agree that cochlear implants are evil, and I don’t agree that by having Drew implanted that I am “not accepting him for who he is”.

I am somewhat active on All Deaf, a message board which has many different sections, or topics. I originally went there to find out more about the Deaf Culture and others views on cochlear implants, hearing aids, or whatever type of things they are talking about. I have found valuable information and some very helpful people, but a good deal of discussion on the “Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Page” centers around the debate over whether children should be implanted, or whether anyone should be implanted. It can get uncomfortable in there!

This thread, titled “Cochlear Implants Causes Injuries and Death By Electrocution” (take a look) was started by a man who supposedly read a study in the Journal of American Medical Association that indicated people were dying from using cochlear implants.

To save anyone from unnecessary worry, he completely made it up. If you read through the thread you’ll see that I challenge him, and he admits it was faked. Later he even admits that if parents went to bed worried that their child might die from electrocution that “his work is done”. He was actually proud that spreading misinformation may cause parents anguish over whether their child might be killed.

If you are interested in this debate, I suggest you read that thread. I don’t want people to think that ALL people who aren’t in favor of cochlear implants think that way, but I think there is value in knowing that some people out there will spread any kind of misinformation they can in order to cause fear or uncertainty about the use of cochlear implants.

It’s sad, because parents are just trying to do their best for their child, and wading through lies like this make it difficult to figure out what they should do. It is also sad because people like this cast a bad light upon other, non-hearing, non-implant deaf persons and their Deaf Culture, which probably hurts their way of life more than any piece of technology ever will.

Cochlear Implants Do Not Eliminate Deaf Rights

Recently we described how we were kind of at a standstill. We have some tests scheduled for later in January, and a CAT Scan in March. We are attending counseling sessions and so forth, but with no visible signs of the hearing aids working, we are just doing our best to learn about the various viewpoints on Drew’s hearing.

If you’ve followed along, you’ve probably seen the video footage of various children being exposed to sound for the first time after their cochlear implant surgery, which we find exciting. On the other hand, I have also posted some links to the other viewpoint – one in which the implant technology is viewed (in the words of some) as genocide of the deaf culture.

Michelle Dawson has a blog called “The Autism Crisis: The Science and Ethics of Autism Advocacy“. In her January 2, 2007 entry entitled “How Human Rights Dissapear“, she expresses her concern that the cochlear implant technology may be contributing to the dissapearance of basic human rights of deaf people.

In this entry, Ms. Dawson responds to an article that appeared in New Scientist Magazine entitled “Ear Implant Success Sparks Culture War“that asked:

COULD the end of sign language for deaf children be in sight? A spate of new studies has shown that profoundly deaf babies who receive cochlear implants in their first year of life develop language and speech skills remarkably close to those of hearing children. Many of the children even learn to sing passably well and function almost flawlessly in the hearing world.

This article continued:

Geers agrees deaf culture may be under threat, but says “there is no hostility here. People are doing this so that deaf people can live in the hearing world, marry who they like, and work where they like, and so that hearing parents can have their children as part of their culture. But it must seem like genocide to the deaf.”

Ms. Dawson responded to this section of the article stating:

Now deaf people who remain deaf are not only considered to lack “normal” language, their basic human rights have vanished. They can no longer marry who they like or work where they like. That is, they lack some of the very basic human rights that benefit and protect non-deaf people and which non-deaf people can take for granted. “Hostility” is beside the point.

Setting aside arguments about culture, this is a demonstration of how human rights disappear. A group of people has their essential human differences pathologized. Their basic human qualities are then denied–because their differences have become unacceptable. A treatment is then promoted that promises to eradicate their pathology and make them normal, or at least make them appear to be as normal as possible. When a human difference is classified as a pathology and then declared treatable, those having this difference–in this case, deaf people–no longer have rights as themselves.

Pardon my possible ignorance, but I just don’t see as how “promoting” the cochlear implant “treatment” is eliminating “rights” of deaf people.

First, what rights are being referred to? In my reading of the blog entry, I don’t see a description on what rights have dissapeared since the advent of the cochlear implant technology. When the quoted article states “People are doing this so that deaf people can live in the hearing world, marry who they like, and work where they like”, the author is obviously not suggesting that the non-hearing deaf do not have these “rights”. Rather, the author is suggesting that having the ability to hear may increase the opportunity to hold certain jobs unavailable to those who can’t hear, the opportunity to meet and converse with possible mates that hear, and so forth. The use of cochlear implants does not reduce the “rights” of deaf people in the way suggested.

Second, the entry insinuates that the cochlear implant is responsible for “pathologizing” the deaf person’s “essential human differences”. I don’t mean to be crass, but deaf persons, blind persons, persons of a different race or culture, persons with an illness or disease, or anyone with a special need of any kind has been “pathologized” for hundreds, if not thousands of years. We are only beginning (in relative terms) to break through some of these issues due to education of the public at large. Why is the cochlear implant villified? What has changed other than giving those deaf people who wish to use sound to communicate the chance to go that if they wish?

Earlier in this country’s history eugenic sterilization was implemented to “combat” the “problem” of the mentally ill, mentally retarded, and yes, even the deaf. This map below shows states that had implemented such a program as of 1921.

The idea was to prevent anyone with these “pathologies” from having children who could pass along the genetic “defect”. This program continued until even after World War II when some began to feel uncomfortable with the similarities the sterilization program had with Adolph Hitler’s dreams of a superior race of Aryans and matching quest to erradicate the Jewish faith.

Some “deaf culture” advocates would have me believe that the cochlear implant itself is similar to the tanks and ammunition of Hitler’s army, with the population of the U.S. bent on advancing a holocaust against the deaf race. I feel that this is disingenuous.

The subjects of sterilization in America, and the victims of the holocaust were unwilling subjects. Not only were they unwilling subjects, but they lost the ability to do something due to the aggressor (ability to have children, and ability to live, respectively).

The “subjects” of cochlear implant surgery either 1) choose the surgery as an adult after an informed decision, or 2) have the surgery as a child, before they can make an informed decision for themselves. As far as I know, no one has ever been forced by the government, or a third party to have the implant.

Now, there is a sub-issue in this whole debate concerning whether parents should be permitted to have their child implanted. I will leave this issue alone for the moment, since it deals with wholly different issues such as what rights a child has, the responsibility of parents, when a person can give consent, and so forth.

Finally, my view is that an adult or child with profound loss at high db’s loses nothing by having the implant. Should the adult wish to not hear for any reason, they can remove the processer and have the relief of silence. Should a child grow up and decide they do not want invasive noise in their life, they can similarly remove the processer and have quiet.

The only real loss I can see (assuming a successful surgery) is the loss a child faces when his parents choose not to have them implanted. Studies show (see above article) that children who are implanted earlier in life can develop higher level language skills than those who are implanted later in life. By deciding to let your child decide later in life whether they want an implant, the decision is made to not develop these language skills that can never be regained fully. I would rather ensure my child have these skills, and then decide not to use them, rather than decide on their behalf not to develop them in the first place.

From what I’ve seen, the deaf community is a proud community, and they have reason to be. However, I don’t believe that the anger I have seen toward children and parents with cochlear implants is either warranted or fair. I certainly don’t wish to impair the rights of others, and I don’t support the “destruction” of the deaf, non-hearing community. However, I don’t believe that the implant can be fairly described as a weapon in such a holocaust. It simply gives choice to those who wish to utilize its technology. Those that are not interested may choose to ignore it.

It seems to me that there is an outcry from some to eliminate the choice to have an implant, especially in young children. To me, should that outcry be heard, that is where a real loss of rights would occur.

Deaf Culture Controversy

I have found a wonderful group on Yahoo! for parents of children who are deaf and either have been implanted or are pursing implantation. These parents have a wealth of information on cochlear implants, the latest technology, helpful hints for surgery and habilitation. CI Circle has been a great resource for me. The part I love the most is all of the stories about their implanted children and how well they are doing with listening and speech.

The main topic that has been discussed over the last few days has centered around “deaf culture,” primarily the negative opinion of those in the deaf community toward cochlear implants, especially in young children. One mother found a deaf culture forum where a posting stated that it “should be illegal for parents to have children implanted.” Another was talking about classifying children with cochlear implants as “artificial hearing”. The deaf community does not accept those with cochlear implants. The additional argument here is that they are not an accepted member of the hearing world either.

This whole topic got me thinking, and got me really fired up! I wholeheartedly agree that Drew is perfect just the way he is. He has all of his cognitive and physical abilities, and could have a wonderful, happy life without ever hearing. But why should I not take advantage now of the wonderful technology that would allow him to be a part of my hearing world? Why should I wait, giving up the formative years of listening and speech, so that he can make the decision after it is too late? And would I not be doing Drew a disservice by not doing everything I can today to give him all the world has to offer? I do not want to ever think about Drew, ten or eleven years old, signing to me “Why did you choose not to let me hear? Why didn’t you have me implanted?”

More importantly, I do not understand those in the deaf community that feel as though they should be able to impose thier will on others. I have found this attitude toward cochlear implants from hearing individuals that work in the field as educators, speech therapists, etc. While I understand that there is concern about the deaf culture dying as a result of cochlear implants, unless you are a hearing parent that has given birth to a deaf child, how can you have such strong views and positions on a topic that has not directly impacted you? Unless you have stood in my shoes, I certainly do not think that you should pass judgement on my decision.

I have been surprised many times along this journey with Drew. I don’t think anything is more shocking to me, however, than the negative attitude of so many toward those with cochlear implants. I will not judge you for choosing not to implant your child. I would hope that you would extend me the same grace.

If you have an opinion, please leave a comment.

Scammers Abusing Phone Aid for Deaf – Video

This MSNBC video illustrates the lengths that scam artists will go to these days. As if targeting senior citizens or the general public was not disgusting enough, now those in the deaf community are being subjected to these criminals via a service known as IP Relay.

The lastest hotbed for robbery seems to be Nigeria. Undoubtedly you have recieved some of the Nigerian Email Scam emails sent from a wealthy foreigner who just needs your help to move the money out of thier war-torn country. As this video shows, they are now moving beyond the impersonal contact of email to personally contacting would-be victims using a service developed especially for the deaf or non-speaking individuals who are not hearing impaired.

Another article entitled Internet Scammers Target Deaf Community describes more of the same. Their website also includes a similar video.

If this issue concerns you, please contact your local Congressperson and urge them to look into how this needed service can be improved.