Now here is what bothers me – we always say “We are Deaf, nothing else”   We can do everything hearing people can do but just can’t hear.  Okay if that is the case then why do we HAVE to suggest to change the rules all the time?  Why do we even have to modify it?  Why can’t we just play along the rules and just enjoy ourselves.   Well I’ll tell you why – is because we don’t think of ourselves up to the level as hearing people.   For as long as we keep doing this we will always be looked at as “You CAN’T”  because we can’t play by the rules like hearing folks.

Now this is from a sports perspective – now lets go into reality.   One of the major problems are we as deaf individuals, and parents (not all parents but some who I have encountered).   They reinforce our behavior – they reinforce our feeling of needs of being able to do things differently.   When we have parents who feel bad for their deaf child because the child can’t hear then they overcompensate the child by modifying things then the child learns to live in a modified world where everything is changed but not the same as hearing folks.   Granted we do have needs – accessibility needs.  But I’m talking about in real life – if we are provided an interpreter in a classroom then we should be able to do everything a hearing child can do.  But when we are put in an expectation that we can’t perform in the level of a hearing child then that is the result, we end up performing to the expectation of what they expect not being able to perform to the level.   Or I have met some parents who let their child behave in such way that would not be respectful or toleratable in public and I inquire about it and they are like well he is deaf and so we can’t get through him.  So its like “Hey come on!  You treat that child just like you would with a hearing child and expect respect and proper behavior”   Communicate with the child don’t just sit there and think well my child is deaf and he/she doesn’t listen to me.   Some of us were fortunate to have parents to raise us with high expectations and expect the most out of us.  But then there are some who don’t have that expectation so as a result the child fails.  And when the child is not able to play by the rules he/she will grow up expecting the rules to be changed for him/her because the expectation level is lower.  It is time for us to make that change!  Start with us, the adults – start playing by the rules and PROVE a POINT we as deaf individuals DO NOT need the rules to be changed!   So it all starts with YOU! 

~B

Seriously folks – sure we have what? three or four interpreting agencies here.  We have DARS here but they can only do so much.  But honestly we are really lacking on a true political social system here.   I mean seriously Houston has to be one of the most uneducated cities in the U.S. when it comes to accomodating the deaf employees.  Even the school systems here are not very beneficial for our future deaf leaders and followers.   How do we go about educating people/organizations our rights, our needs, and more.   It seems that Houston is more interested in socializing (which is good and fine) than really building a political team that can influence and encourage support for the deaf individuals.

I have been blessed to be working for major organizations in the last 14 years, but then again each one has been a fight for accessibility, for my needs, or more.  I am constantly educating them on what they need to be able to provide.  I am a contributing member to society but just give me some tools and I would be even more productive.

Point being is – it all starts with “YOU”!  We have (I might have heard wrong) a few organizations that have come up and then crashed and then come up and crash – and some dont want to work together as one whole organization because of personality conflicts.  We need to set those personal issues aside and focus on the “BIG PICTURE” we all have the same common needs!   One organization where everyone is a contributor to help and grow the organization.

For example, when Hurricane Ike came blasting through our beloved city last year, how many of you knew what was going on, what was happening, where can you go to get help – most of us had no power.  Probably most had no information or resources – I do know I was getting an email from one individual – Kelly Reagan who was being very proactive in providing information.

Point being is – if we continue to squabble within each other and not put down our differences for one common goal to build a common unity to educate, build, develop a better unity for all deaf individuals in the Houston area we will not accomplish anything.  So lets put our differences aside – it is my dream one day to see an organization called Houston Deaf Center (or something) where we could provide services for deaf, aka interpreting, legal, counseling, job training, education training, early childhood intervention, corporation/organizational education (training them on deaf accomodations), and political lobbying.   And maybe even a deaf school here for our deaf children so we can watch our children grow -

To be honest – Houston is lagging behind Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas/Ft. Worth on these.  So its time for us to unite together and make a difference.  Otherwise we continue stay divided then we will fall and continue to have the same fustration and disappointment we face!  So lets Unite and Just DO IT!