WHO WILL SPEAK UP FOR DEAF CHILDREN:
After I watched a video called: "Journey To Sound," it hit me hard that the medical community really thinks that Deaf babies are undesirable and need to be fixed by inserting cochlear implants in order to try to make them hearing children. I watched the children's behavior, how they cried, clammed up, and were despondent, then I asked myself, “Who will speak up for Deaf children?”
ARE DEAF BABIES UNDESIRABLE?
Here is a letter of AGBELL: Eugenics http://www.eugenicsarchive.org/html/eugenics/index2.html?tag=432/
I read this letter which was written by Alexander G. Bell’s and I was like, wow, that’s how he thought of us as Deaf people as an UNDESIRABLE GROUP. Yet, the A.G.BELL organization is still proud of itself, as an organization, and they continue to perpetuate myths about A.G.BELL himself. They are aware of what was happening in Deaf history and what he did to the Deaf community. How are we supposed to feel as Deaf people when people tell us that we are a UNDESIRABLE and we are NOT MEANT to be on earth because we are Deaf people? This letter indicated that we, Deaf people, are not acceptable as being a DESIRABLE group to live on this earth. There are many beautiful intelligent Deaf-SIGNING children and adults. Do we want to wipe them out and turn them into something that they are not?
*UPDATE INFORMATION: THE VIDEOS WILL BE PROVIDED A VOICE OVER. THIS PERSON WHO WILL DO A VOICE OVER IS ON A VACATION. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED WHEN IT COMPLETES.
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37 comments:
Wow! Very impressive analysis. Yes, that is very sad irony that CI babies aren't allowed to be natural just because they have to go through training (training!?) to use CI successful (?).
For 2nd & 3rd video, POWERFUL. Indeed, the psychological processes, communication, and language acquisition are manipulated and misrepresented in deaf child. You provided VISUAL PROOF! The child’s crying and pulling away implant, that's first signs of inner communication! A damn SHAME to deny and bribe child’s process! I can’t stand watching the child’s muted disassociation. These children would have already been signing by now if provided ASL. That disgusts me most of all. Also, the ongoing process to eradicate our beings on earth as a signing community. No way, and we have rights to exist. Earth belongs to a higher power instead of humanity. Challenging thoughts from your vlogs; best I’ve seen this year. Cheers.
First video, you are truely awesome to share your own open opinion separately from DBC's!
2nd and 3rd video clips were so gratefully appreciated to proof that it was so disgusted to see some mothers laughing and smile when the baby were crying! It hurts! Thank you so much for prooving us to watch that film.
Thank you so much for giving out the AgBAD's Eugenic's link!
Big hugs, Shawn
Aidan,
Your second vlog is the best vlog I have so far viewed. Never in my whole life have I ever seen a baby cry or demonstrate an aversion to hearing a gentle and loving sound uttered by his parents or by the loved. He would smile, wink, giggle.
It is clear that sounds coming from the cochlear implant frighten and make him cry. Definitely something that audiologists and parents avoid to notice.
Hope you will observe CI children more closely and make more videotapes so we could show them as hard evidence to the FDA.
How could hearing parents allowed their deaf babies go through horrible training to use CI?
Thanks Aidan Mack for showing us your very powerful videos.
exactly the perspectives we need more of to balance the huge denial or overlooking Deaf babies' attempts at real communication. i wonder how audiologists no matter how skilled in ASL or knowledgeable about Deaf history, culture, identity, experiences can ever know what really goes in the childrens minds. and they are ones that most parents are influenced by when struggling or researching CIs for their children. Sad. And thanks for the challenge to do something rather than joining in the huge denial or suppressing our deepest consciousness.
Aidan!
You nailed it!
That was exactly what I did with the audiologists when I was very young! Boo-hoo. Nothing changed.
I felt like that audiologists have treated me and others like many animals.
Save your projects for DBC.
White Ghost
Real insightful vlog presentation in regard to the unpleasant consquences from the so-called "social engineering" of our deaf babies.
You hit all the notes on questions raised about the psychological and emotional scars within deaf babies whose have CI.
Dr. Harlan Lane, professor of Boston University, did raise the issue of medical ethics involved cochlear implants on deaf youngsters without their consents pretty long time ago.
The Gallaudet community told Dr. Harlan Lane to mind his own business and questioned the professor why he had to speak out for us, deaf people.
Where could I find "Voygage to Sound" documentary? Netflix? Is this film totally captioned or what?
You are very sincere by making yourself clear that the DBC have to do nothing with your personal perspectives/postiton on CI.
I oppose any kind of artifical body part which really dehumanizes our own existence as diverse humanity.
I wish that I have some time to chat up with you last weekend during the protest. I saw you walked all alone along the street after the protest. I couldn't cross the street quickly to get your attention.
We are very blessed to have you to be one of our deaf activist on the issue of AVT and CI. Thanks!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
Aidan - your message IS very powerful. The 2nd one has got to get out for the education of the parents. Speech therapist/Audologists/hospitals/doctors are the ones that are telling parents about CI - we need to get YOUR message OUT to them.
We need to get the TRUTH out, like your 2nd Vlog is the GREAT truth, and evidence. WOW! I'm speechless!
Thank you for your investment in this...VERY MUCH!
Where is a V/Blog showing evidence that CI is working/almost like hearing? I've met kids with CI and they still look around not knowing the "sounds"......It breaks MY heart.
Adian-
The film about children with CI has touched my heart deeply. I am saddened to see children being abused....I get very sensitive when I see children cry. I don't know where the parents came from and I only can guess they came from abyss. I can't think of any another place.
I get disgusted when I see some Deaf leaders with CI (I mean those who hold important positions...no names here) because they are ones who spread false information and myth to ignorant parents that it is okay for their Deaf child to have CI. I have no clue why board members hire those Deaf leaders to represent our community. I don't understand them. Do you? I don't. I know many board members are against CI and yet they hired Deaf leaders with CI. They need to fire those people and hire Deaf candidates with no CI so they can set good role models to hearing parents that they are smart people and can be a leader without having machine in their ears/brain. Again, I am narrow minded when comes to CI because many children are being abused every minute of the day---every single day...every minute of the day. The blood is on our hand!
You know, I find this a little bit frustrating. My husband and I applied to adopt a non special needs baby from China, but were given the gift of our daughter who happened to be 2 years old and deaf. We decided that we wanted her to know that she is loved and valued exactly how she is, so we made the decision to learn to sign( I actually know ASL, but not my husband or other children) and not implant or even do speech therapy. I called our local deaf club and never got a response, so I emailed and after the 3rd try, someone finally emailed me back to tell me that the deaf club was really for adults and not for children. I called the local college that offers ASL classes taught by d/Deaf instructors and never received a call back. The audiologist and speech therapist call me weekly. I can't get any help or support from our deaf community. If deaf adults do not want to be bothered with supporting hearing parents or being language models for deaf children and the only ones offering help are those in the hearing community what is a hearing parent to do. We still sign with our children, but we are the only ones. They do not have deaf friends or deaf adults to look up to or learn from. I am frustrated and scared for my girls(we adopted a second deaf daughter a year later). I worry about their language development, their brain development, and if 2 hearing parents can provide enough language to fully benefit them. I decided to get on the computer and see if I could find info to help us, but 90% of the info is on implants and oral and the others are blogs like this complaining about hearing parents. I fight our hearing family and friends EVERYDAY trying to explain why we won't "fix" our girls. I can't get support from the hearing or deaf communities. I speak up for my girls everyday, but no one is listening.
AGBAD or AGBELL come out truth on his statement about against ASL. AVT require no ASL. Don't believe?? here is a link and look at #3.
http://www.agbellacademy.org/whatISAuditoryVerbalTherapy.htm
Shelby,
You raised many excellent points, and I'm very glad that you brought this to our attention that this area needed much attention, that families like yours who really want to interact with the deaf community for your children's needs. Yet, you get frustrated. You opened my eyes, and I know how much there is a need out there.
The best possible way is online 'videochatting' sessions of Deaf role models to have a videochat with families of deaf children. I think that would be a great opportunity!
Amy Cohen Efron
Wow - What an awesome Vlog!
I wasn't brave enough in watching the entire 2nd vlog, I started to cry when I watch that poor baby cry. I just stopped right there and then!
Loved the 3rd Vlog!
**Shelby**
- you are on my mind -
please get in touch with me and I will see what I can do to help you out! Sometimes, it does take a while and get to the right person to help you with what you may need.
Don't despair, help is on the way!!
I am sure others will help out as well! :)
Kelly -
Aidan,
Awesomely well-signed with the powerful messages!!!
Thank you for sharing this with all of us.
As for Penny, I agreed with you totally about Deaf Adult CI users are giving bad influences to the ignorant hearing parents that it was "ok" for them to implant their Deaf children.
Judy B
Hi everyone, thank you for your comments.
Shelby,
After I graduate, I plan to adopt some Deaf children from other country. I look forward to hearing your experience about adoption.
Please contact me at Deaffilmmaker@gmail.com. I need to get more information from you like where you live so I can find someone to work with you. I assure you that many good Deaf people want to work with you and your child. Good News, most of Deaf people are collectivists. :o)
Thank you for sharing your experience what was it like for you as a parent.
Smile,
Aidan
Wow!
This is the vlog of the year!
Masterpiece and excellent analysis.
I'm speechless.
Again, I admire you and I'd love to see you become the NAD president one day.
I never met you but I'd love to meet and chat with you one of those days.
Well done job, Aidan.
Shelby! I have 2 months old deaf baby. please contact me--- I'm happy to help you out. Even I have five adopted kids who are deaf, too. (one from Texas, 4 from China)
Aidan,
powerful vlogs. wow....
Shelby,
Feel free to contact me at mishkazena@aol.com. I would be happy to discuss with you and see how you can meet with Deaf people.
Thank you all so much for your willingness to help. When I click on the names, I can get to some of the blog sites, but not to the email address, so here is my email shelbymckenzie@hotmail.com Anyone with ideas or suggestions for us, please contact me. I did email Aidan and the other poster who supplied her email address. Thank you again, so much, Shelby
Wonderful to see many reaching out to Shelby.
I'd like to make a suggestion to deafread and have them create a page of resources for everyone.
Or perhaps DBC can create a page for parents as well.
The need is out there.
most doctors and audistist (sp) want money for their part of job.
I am against CI on babies and children
Thanks for discuss issues to make hearing people wake up.
Shelby,
stand up for your deaf daughter.
what city or county are you in? There are some club or organzation
Hope you find more info. from deaf community or hearing parents of deaf children.
Panda
Wow! What a powerful message! I've watched 2nd and 3rd vlogs, poor deaf children have been very frustrate and UNhappy with their CI. There's no way to communicate with them without ASL. How sad. Deaf children do have a feelings just like us.
I was a kid, went to an audiologist for a renewal hearing aids. I sat at a table behind a plastic clown medium size, it kept whisper repeat, glared at the clown. That is how I become phobia of clown ever since because of this. Same with deaf children are scare of something that make them cry, they have right to be crying or upset because they don't like it.
Thanks for the vlogs! ...And thanks for showing the clips and sharing with us.
I already left my video message on this copied and pasted link:
http://asl.deafvideo.tv/watch/2206
Sorry not time to use my video clip on my vlog. Thanks for understanding!
Shawn
hello...
Tell you the truth that I have one granddaughter is deaf that I am proud. i told my daughter that don't put any special on her head. I will take her away from this. God give her baby deaf that accept and thank God for blessing.
Dee
Aidan, take a bow. These are some of your best vlogs yet! The passion, the intelligent discourse, the emotion behind each video clip was just amazing! My heart opened wide....
~ LaRonda
Thank you, Aidan! Thank you!
You just destroyed many, many arguments by the hearing parents of deaf children who claimed that it is their RIGHT to decide for their children -- your vlog was simply a masterpiece to dispel these false claims and focus on the needs of deaf children who attempts to express their frustrations with their parents who wanted them to impersonate as hearing individuals!
My heart sank when I see parents and damned audiologists forcing the kids to put the CIs back on.
The kids are truly being borgized in the name of "normalcy".
Shameful.
Cheers,
R-
Thank u for making the videos - especially the 2nd with the clips from a "journey to sound"
i have seen many news programs that show the moment when the implant gets turned on and the baby (as well as older people who get implants) crying
it has always shocked me. the audiologist is always quick to reassure the parents that this is a normal reaction
Normal?
the clips u have grabbed r very important because it shows the truth of the physical response of crying and for the one little girl such a sad and withdrawn response
the clips r also very important because it is clearly a film designed to PREPARE the parent for a negative / upsetting response from the child
1. it asserts that the audiologist is the expert and should be trusted
2. that the child will resist that which is "good for her/him"
3. the film tells the parent they must support the audiologist not matter how the child responds. this is not natural or normal to a parent
4. that in the process of training the child to leave the CI on the parent must grab the child's hand to prevent her/him from doing that which is natural - taking off the the thing that is causing her/him pain. this begins the process of holding the child's hand or keeping the child away from actually using her/his hands for language development (ASL)
5. the eye contact in the film is interesting also - the children r shown looking around often to try to grasp an understanding of what is happening - they r already people of the eye unfortunately they are in an environment that is depriving them of visual acuity and information and language
the control of Deaf people's bodies through they hands, eyes (denial of use), mouth and ears (forced use) speaks loud and clear
an awesome ethnographic field study conducted by lakshmi fjord examines the denial of natural visual acuity of deaf children in U.S. audiology labs
"voices offstage:" How Vision Has Become a Symbol to Resist in an Audiology Lab in the U.S." published in the Visual Anthropology Review vol 15 nu 2 fall/winter 1999/2000
note: re - the clip of the mother laughing - i would be careful to judge that one to much - to me she seems to be laughing out of shock - some people do respond to horrible things with laughter oddly enough and the second clip of the mom to me shows a bit of anguish and conflict
also re: the first video and the link to AG Bell's letter - thanks so much for posting the link to the letter. i always want to see primary sources - i read the whole letter and didnt really see him mentioning deaf people specifically and also noticed that he was down playing eugenics for preventing "undesirables" via any kind of marriage restriction but felt instead that desirable marriage lines should be promoted
letter is evidence of his shift in rhetoric as a result of public opposition - interesting to see in his own words
to SHELBY
thank u so much for posting ur note
i am so very sorry your attempts to join the Deaf community with your daughter were not met promptly and positively
u did everything right in your reaching out and your persistence to keep reaching out
what a good momma
ur daughter is blessed as r we that u have kept trying
peace
patti
Aidan-
I just noticed that I spelled your name wrong in my previous comment. Please forgive me! I don't like to spell anyone's name wrong. My apology!
Thanks!
Aidan,
Can your second vlog be added with voice so that hearing parents would hear what you say in ASL? I feel that hearing parents really need to hear your message. Amy Cohen Efron might be able to help you because she later added voice to her vlog, "The Greatest Irony". I must repeat that your second video is so powerful it can hit hearing parents very hard! That is something that audiologists and CI doctors do not want them to know about!
By the way, it has been theorised that wearing hearing aid can affect the eyes negatively. If so, that means that CI would be much more damaging to the eyes. I will try to get more information for you.
i am very angry i have hurtful deaf baby are innocent and natural, the parents more excite of world music, not important i felt the parents are torture deafbaby. where is human right? if hearing baby have human right, the police arrest to the parents but deafbaby have human right the police not arrest to the parents. my god!!!!!!!!!!
i think they are responsability fight to law human right deaf baby not CI UNTIL 18 YEARS OLD THIS IS RIGHT HUMAN.
Oh, you took the words right from my mind! I have been so frustrated about the new craze. It is wrong. It is abuse.
DEAF PEOPLE ARE NOT BROKEN, SO THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE FIXED
My sisters are both deaf and were lucky enough to grow up when they did (70s-early80s). They went to a Ft. Worth Regional School for the Deaf where everyone knew sign language and there were no communication barriers so they were able to learn about the deaf culture and learn how to be a part of it AND feel its beauty and strength. Then something happened with the school system and they were all split up and sent to different schools where they were often alone with only an interpretor. This was hard back in those days without this current technology to keep the community together. They ached for one another...and many transferred to the State School for the Deaf. This was a very hard time for deaf students.
Today, they are using "INCLUSION" in public education so that deaf kids are placed into hearing classrooms with hearing teachers who seem frightened of them. They are shunned and abused by other students and adults. They should call it "SECLUSION" since they expect a first grader to use an interpretor in a classroom consumed with this same idea that deaf people are broken.
One of the instructors at one of the schools is deaf. She was successful and had her own classroom where she had been responsible for teaching kids and creating the lesson plans. After the INCLUSION, she sits in the back of the classroom out of the picture while the deaf kids are scattered here and there out of her reach. The hearing teachers refuse to include her even though she has a Master's in education while they each have Bachelor's degrees. They whisper behind her back and once, a hearing teacher told her to turn the light off during a lesson (the interpretor got her attention and asked her)..which she did. (Deaf kids cannot hear in the dark). Then the teacher told her to turn the light back on. When she failed to do so, she got angry and raised her voice, "turn the light on!" One of the students turned it on because...well, you get the picture. Sometimes the expectations are not realistic. Why?
I think it is very important to understand that deaf people are not broken. Surgery to "fix" children is very traumatic and unethical. A Deaf Culture exists right here in America (where we are taught from a young age to accept differences)...except our own.
I watched your second and third vlogs several times. I observed everything details in that films which are very powerful documentary. Now I see why Parents make a choice more than what Deaf Baby really need. Dealing with predators to that innocent childs. Audiologists and AVT involment with CI is horrible. BOth are very deep denial of our Deaf people. I despise what they do to that innocent child like that! I feel bad and sad for that innocent childs who were forced to have CI when they already response to Ci very negatives! Their faces already express very clear.
After reading n seeing all informations about the audiologists and what they are doing to deaf children. I say 'THANK HEAVENS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE 30'S. We are human not guinea pigs. Yikes having those metal thing in the skull is totally uncalled for. Many of us were born deaf or hearing and lost after some illness was "meant to be" and audiologists should get out of the way and leave our deafness alone. We deaf people are happy to be the way we are. Hearing parents should put themselves in their children's shoes and see how they would like it if it happened to them. I'm totally sure they wouldn't go thru with that.
Thank you so much for the blog on CI. I am the hearing parent of a deaf child and we made the decission years ago to NOT go with the CI but instead to focus on raising him as a deaf child. I am so glad that we did not put him through what I saw in that video. As for deaf children being undesirable, what a crazy thought. I would never change him, he is the most intelligent, funny and joyous child to be around. He is precious just the way God gave him to me.
Wow - Very powerful comment in part one, part two and part three videos. I am Cochlear Implant user and it is true I was getting pressure from my mom who wants me to fix into her world. Now, I have completed understood that Babies need attention than we have to accept their emotions too. I wish this video clip you made has captions so I can send this link to my audiologists, hearing people as it will make them think twice after they see this.
Thanks for taking the time to speak up for our deaf children, however I am concerned that this Vlog is only accessible to those who use ASL, do you have a transcript for those of other sign languages or more importantly is there any text transcripts that other hearing parents of deaf children can read before deciding the fate of their deaf babies? I shall keep visiting your site for that so I can bombard those parents who ask me whether they should implant their babies.
Ramon
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