It is very common to have some misconceptions about disability and persons with disability. This particular post is just a summary of some of these and just aims to debunk those.
1) 'Deaf are dumb'
How many of us have grown up listening to these two words about a person with hearing loss. They are commonly addressed as 'deaf and dumb'. Well, people with higher degrees of hearing loss are technically 'mute' for life and dependent on sign language as a form of communication. But it would be wrong to label them as 'deaf and dumb' as they have very normal speech system and can come up with spoken language if given a means to hear and understand spoken language. The terms definitely throw light on the fact that congenital hearing impairment is a 'duel disability' as in a person cannot hear and hence cannot speak. However with improved technology, we definitely can identify hearing loss at a young age, provide audition and training and the hearing impaired can also come up with speech. So 'deaf' are not 'dumb' any more.
http://youtu.be/GkwEOzDYkrc
2) Disabled person.
The latest guidelines are to address a person as a 'person' first and then focus on his/her disability. Hence it would be wrong to use terms like 'deaf', 'stutterer', 'disabled'. Instead use terms like 'person with hearing loss', 'person with stuttering', 'person with disability'. The focus should be on the person and not his disability which could be or is temporary and manageable.
3) Speech is the only form of communication.
Speech definitely is the most predominant form of communication but not the only one. The ultimate aim of any communication is to get the message across from one person to another. Speech is one of the factors that sets us apart from animals. However not all of us are able to use it to express ourself due to various disabilities. How many of us use our eyes, facial expressions, smile,gestures, pictures, music and sometimes just silence to communicate in our daily life apart from speech and writing. Hence, these can be a form of communication for many.
4) A person with disability needs help and support always.
One of the words I am in love with and I suppose many of us are, is 'Independent'. Yes, we all love to be independent, physically, emotionally, financially and in whatever ways we can so that we are not 'dependent' on others. The same applies to a person with disability. He/she requires help and support but not always. They would have been trained to do things. They may take a longer time or may not be able to do in the 'right' or 'perfect' manner as us 'normal' people, but the fact is that many of them can. So, never hesitate on being friends with a person with disability fearing that he/ she may be dependent on you for everything. If you confront someone and if you are confused as what to to do, just offer help. They will definitely take your help if they want to. Never deprive them of dignity and self worth of accomplishing a task by themselves.
5) Interacting with kids with disability can make your kids disabled too.
Disability is not an 'illness'. Parents do fear that by letting their child interact with kids with disability, they may pick up some wrong behaviours or themselves get slower. Disability is not an illness. It is very important for us to mainstream these kids and treat them as any normal child. This improves the social well being of the kids and their parents. Instead of your child picking up the wrong behaviours it would be wiser to think otherwise i.e. your kid setting an example of helping a kid learn from him.
6) It is a waste of money and energy to rehabilitate the disabled.
The initial cost and time required to be invested in rehabilitating a person with disability may seem high. Healthcare is of reach and free in many countries. Many governments and organisations provide free aids and devices. The hearing aids and the investment required in training initially may seem considerable. But the long term benefits will definitely make it well spent. For example, good digital hearing aids may cost at around 30000 Rs in India. Compare this with the fact that in three years a child will learn the speech that he will use for the rest of his life, leading a normal/ near normal life interacting with others. Hence, it is never a misuse of money or time.
7) One should speak loudly to a person with hearing problem.
It is very natural for us to speak loudly to a person with hearing loss and seems very logical. The fact is that loudness is not the only issue associated with hearing loss. It would be wiser to speak loudly (not shouting) and clearly to a person with hearing loss. The clarity can be brought in by speaking a bit slowly (as in the rate). Imagine listening to someone with a different accent, you can catch some words but not all. It would be very helpful if he/she speaks a bit slower to you. Similar logic applies here. Make sure you get the person's attention before you start speaking, there is no obstacle between you and him/her and speak in a naturally clear and loud speech.
1) 'Deaf are dumb'
How many of us have grown up listening to these two words about a person with hearing loss. They are commonly addressed as 'deaf and dumb'. Well, people with higher degrees of hearing loss are technically 'mute' for life and dependent on sign language as a form of communication. But it would be wrong to label them as 'deaf and dumb' as they have very normal speech system and can come up with spoken language if given a means to hear and understand spoken language. The terms definitely throw light on the fact that congenital hearing impairment is a 'duel disability' as in a person cannot hear and hence cannot speak. However with improved technology, we definitely can identify hearing loss at a young age, provide audition and training and the hearing impaired can also come up with speech. So 'deaf' are not 'dumb' any more.
http://youtu.be/GkwEOzDYkrc
2) Disabled person.
The latest guidelines are to address a person as a 'person' first and then focus on his/her disability. Hence it would be wrong to use terms like 'deaf', 'stutterer', 'disabled'. Instead use terms like 'person with hearing loss', 'person with stuttering', 'person with disability'. The focus should be on the person and not his disability which could be or is temporary and manageable.
3) Speech is the only form of communication.
Speech definitely is the most predominant form of communication but not the only one. The ultimate aim of any communication is to get the message across from one person to another. Speech is one of the factors that sets us apart from animals. However not all of us are able to use it to express ourself due to various disabilities. How many of us use our eyes, facial expressions, smile,gestures, pictures, music and sometimes just silence to communicate in our daily life apart from speech and writing. Hence, these can be a form of communication for many.
4) A person with disability needs help and support always.
One of the words I am in love with and I suppose many of us are, is 'Independent'. Yes, we all love to be independent, physically, emotionally, financially and in whatever ways we can so that we are not 'dependent' on others. The same applies to a person with disability. He/she requires help and support but not always. They would have been trained to do things. They may take a longer time or may not be able to do in the 'right' or 'perfect' manner as us 'normal' people, but the fact is that many of them can. So, never hesitate on being friends with a person with disability fearing that he/ she may be dependent on you for everything. If you confront someone and if you are confused as what to to do, just offer help. They will definitely take your help if they want to. Never deprive them of dignity and self worth of accomplishing a task by themselves.
5) Interacting with kids with disability can make your kids disabled too.
Disability is not an 'illness'. Parents do fear that by letting their child interact with kids with disability, they may pick up some wrong behaviours or themselves get slower. Disability is not an illness. It is very important for us to mainstream these kids and treat them as any normal child. This improves the social well being of the kids and their parents. Instead of your child picking up the wrong behaviours it would be wiser to think otherwise i.e. your kid setting an example of helping a kid learn from him.
6) It is a waste of money and energy to rehabilitate the disabled.
The initial cost and time required to be invested in rehabilitating a person with disability may seem high. Healthcare is of reach and free in many countries. Many governments and organisations provide free aids and devices. The hearing aids and the investment required in training initially may seem considerable. But the long term benefits will definitely make it well spent. For example, good digital hearing aids may cost at around 30000 Rs in India. Compare this with the fact that in three years a child will learn the speech that he will use for the rest of his life, leading a normal/ near normal life interacting with others. Hence, it is never a misuse of money or time.
7) One should speak loudly to a person with hearing problem.
It is very natural for us to speak loudly to a person with hearing loss and seems very logical. The fact is that loudness is not the only issue associated with hearing loss. It would be wiser to speak loudly (not shouting) and clearly to a person with hearing loss. The clarity can be brought in by speaking a bit slowly (as in the rate). Imagine listening to someone with a different accent, you can catch some words but not all. It would be very helpful if he/she speaks a bit slower to you. Similar logic applies here. Make sure you get the person's attention before you start speaking, there is no obstacle between you and him/her and speak in a naturally clear and loud speech.
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