Deaf Culture and Hard of Hearing Individuals....

National Association of the Deaf have explained the difference between to cultures What Is The Difference Between a Deaf and a Hard of Hearing Person? because Deaf and hard of hearing are often labeled in terms of their hearing loss may reflect identification with the Deaf community. Whether the culture will accept hard of hearing individuals or whether hard of hearing accept the Deaf culture. This is about feelings, attitudes, perspectives, and personal lives of each individual deaf/hard of hearing persons.

While I want to get involved in "deaf/hard of hearing advocacy" like I am involved in Multiple Sclerosis relating to advocacy. Advocacy basically means "is the act of arguing on behalf of a particular issue".

However, I have had issues on how to do about this. Currently, I am considering becoming a member of Hearing Loss Association of America For awhile, I would not because I have mixed feelings about this because that I believe that National Association of the Deaf and Hearing Loss Association of America should be partnered simply because they do have one thing in common which is "hearing loss". I am not a member of National Association of the Deaf (NAD) however, I was involved with various deaf associations locally that had ties to NAD. I was in part of the Deaf culture but it was not easy however, many deaf individuals did accepted me as I am whether I am deaf or not. Medically, I am deaf however in terms of hearing loss, I can hear with the help of hearing-aids and by that, the deaf culture will view me that I am not really deaf. To be really deaf means you are unable to hear period, even with hearing-aids.

For years, I always have not so sure about Alexander Graham Bell Association of the Deaf and I think this organization is between the deaf culture and hard of hearing individuals. In terms of advocacy, they have various agendas that I need to carefully study before I make any determination regarding how I feel about this association. This week, they issued a letter PepsiCo and encouraged its members to contact Pepsico and object to its tomorrow night's Super Bowl commercial, complaining that it “perpetuates a common myth that all people who are deaf can only communicate using sign language. I understand the logic of this action but I disagree with this action. At least, we are "educating" the public about the deaf culture whether or not Alexander Graham Bell Association agree with this or not. Pepsico is educating the public about the Deaf culture and I am for it. Simply because, I am supoorting National Association of the Deaf's statement: (NAD)Salutes PepsiCo for its Super Bowl Ad in ASL I am not deaf but I do understand the Deaf culture and the need for to be known as a different group of hearing loss people.

According to research, of the millions of hearin-impaired individuals, there are over at least 400,000 who are totally deaf and are part of the Deaf culture. Hard of hearing is a group of invisible people that you wouldn’t even know are hard of hearing unless they personally made you aware that I am. The hard of hearing population is remarkably diverse because there are differences in communication preferences, the use of assistive devices (i.e. hearing-aids), knowledge of sign language (i.e. ASL), and many other factors that can make each hard of hearing individuals different. While the Deaf culture basically have one form of communication which is American Sign Language (ASL) and majority of them are in common relating to the Deaf Studies.

All I can say, from my position, all disabilities are very "diversed" and they all should have their own way of coping their disabilities while at the same time be accepted as part of the "disability world" in general.

People with more than one disabilities do have issues because they have multiple disabilities and they are feeling isolated at times. I have been feeling this in the past few years but not as bad since my disabilities are mild compare to others who have much worst disabilities.