Journal of Other Forum Analysis

[Uncle]

Deaf people.


Some absolute nutters in there, refusing to get their kids cochlear implants, etc.

before all this trans stuff ever took off, if anyone ever wondered whether humanity had the capacity to glorify disability and dysfunction, the deaf community was a test run

I remember hearing about how genetically deaf people would intentionally look to partner up with others like them in the hopes that their children would also be deaf so they could all be broken together and maintain "deaf culture," maintain the population so all their fire ASL memes wouldn't be forgotten

I haven't kept up with that for a few years, I don't know if it's stayed as insane or if they collectively got over that kind of stuff

That is depressing.

2002

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2002/apr/09/genetics.theguardianwomenspages

The news that an American couple have deliberately set out to conceive a deaf baby has shocked many people both here and in the US. But it came as little surprise to me: I have been deaf all my life and fully understand why a deaf couple would want their child to be like them. In my family, I am the fourth generation to be deaf and a month ago my deaf husband, Noel Traynor, and I had a daughter, whom we have named Givona, who is also deaf.

I didn't know I was going to have a deaf child. I never asked to find out. I did consider approaching the foetal clinic, which might have been able to find out, but together we decided not to. Before I gave birth I didn't have any feelings that I wanted a hearing or deaf child - I just wanted my child to be healthy. I say that because, as part of the deaf community, I in no way see deafness as a disability, but rather as a way into a very rich culture. Which is one of the reasons I was delighted to learn when I gave birth that my baby was deaf.

Many papers have reported that the American lesbian couple, Sharon Duchesneau and Candy McCullough, are part of a "radical school of thought that believes deafness is a cultural identity not a handicap". In fact, it's not a radical school of thought at all. Having a shared language (sign) means we can be part of a culture with which we can all identify. We all share the same ways of life and values - like the same technology such as flashing lights in the home and text phones, as well as common beliefs, games, humour, history and poetry. Why would I not want my daughter to be part of that?

It was obvious, when I gave birth, that the hospital was concerned that our daughter would be deaf, and so tests were ordered immediately. We could tell they were worried about it - but for us, finding out that my daughter was deaf just the day after her birth was absolutely delightful because it meant I could start speaking sign language to her from the start.

"those silly nurses, they were so concerned that something might be wrong with my daughter, they were so sad that she would never be able to hear, I laughed right in their stupid faces! I'm so delighted and thrilled!!"