There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he, turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me...
OK today's sermon is about, perceptions of deaf culture, and the allied impaired communities with hearing loss (Not been done before has it ?).
Here is an advert (Sorry deaf.read !), for a worker in the field of deaf support, your task, should you decide to undertake it, is to find some POSITIVES for the deaf community from advertising like this... You have about 30 minutes starting.... NOW !
"Support for adults who are deaf or hard of hearing"
(discuss why do deaf/HI need support?)
"Bromley Council's Adults and Community Services Department provides or pays for a range of services for residents of the borough who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf/blind, to help them and their carers to receive the care they need and to live as independently as possible."
(Why ARE deaf and HI/Deaf-Blind unable to live independently without help, and require 'carers' ?)
"The assessment of need can include an assessment for environmental equipment relating to hearing loss. You may have to wait for an assessment. The Council will respond to requests for assistance according to priority of need. You will be told approximately how long you will have to wait."
(What does this suggest the 'priority' is ?)
"The details of the assessment and what help will be offered will be written down in a ‘care plan’ and a copy given to you. The care manager will then arrange for any services that have been agreed to be provided. This may include deaf equipment, interpreting, support in the home, education, training, work opportunities and leisure activities. Information can be provided in an accessible format. If social services cannot help you the duty care manager will, wherever possible, advise you on where to go for the assistance you need.
A British Sign Language ( BSL) Interpreter can be organized through social services."
General : Do you think
(A) Such advertising for 'support' and 'enabling independence' is a conundrum ?
(B) Does enabling via trained help and support, constitute 'Independence' ? or, Reliance ?
(C) Do such adverts suggest deafness and allied issues are a medical model ?
(D) Does the inclusion on the bottom line of "BSL support via social services" (Welfare help), suggest sign language users are disadvantaged by using sign, and unable to use it without hearing support ?
Ain't it grand we have all these hearing people looking out for us ? Are all such adverts negative about deaf people ?
ATR online is looking for THE most patronising advert you have read !
Send them to me at ATR online via melowmeldrew@yahoo.co.uk, we'll publish the best/worst !
2 comments:
As a Client Support pecialist for Deaf Seniors, I found this an interesting read.
I think if we can all make the shift in attitude that we are working "with" and not "for" d/Deaf/HH/LD/DB people, it is more empowering.
Rather than the outside world deciding what we need, we should be asked how we can guide them in working with us so that we may remain connected to our world.
:)
~ LaRonda
I let a neighbour look at this advert she said "Oh those poor deaf people, I didn't realise they needed so much help..." There was no doubt the deaf were viewed via the medical model only...
The entire phrasing and wording was how much the deaf need hearing help.... many charities for the deaf in the UK,use exactly the same approach, i.e. making deaf people objects of pity.
The UK's largest charity takes in £50m (Sterling), to help us help those who can't help themselves...
there is additional text that states 'empowerment' of the deaf, but this empowerment can only be gained via MONEY and SUPPORT, and not by changing attitudes.
To make a deaf image too positive (!), means less money for that support... it is why many in the UK hate charities, even those created for them. They have made deaf peopel a cash cow, and constant source of HEARING employment.
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