Sound and Fury : Deaf Culture with Sign Language

[elidontlie]

I am hearing but i know ASL and really respect the deaf community for being so strong, people who hear and automatically think they are superior really must now know any deaf people.

[Deafies4life]

The Deaf are neither missing or lacking anything. They do not have the ability to hear, but so what? Human evolution does not give purpose to our organs, nor does it attribute some human model of hearing for which we are to shoot for. Indeed, there is no biological basis to look at deafness as a disability, pathology, or anything of the sort.

In hearing world, that girl will always be looked at as a lacking-a person with a deficiency. Only in the Deaf world is she complete and whole.

[BoricuaChevere0420]

Let the child grow up and when she's older and more experienced, let her make that decision. She's not ready to make it yet. Like the mother said, she doesn't know d/Deaf life yet.

[Monica17N]

I think it should be up to the person, and no hearing nor deaf person shoud pressure someone into doing it, even if it would help. The father is deaf and knows what it is like to be deaf, he has accepted it as who he is, but I feel bad for him because he might feel upset that people are pressuring him and suggesting that he is a bad parent for making this desicion when he isn't

[Tylex715]

Just because someone is different from you, doesn't make them any less.

[prettypurloinpie]

It's infuriating that people think there is something wrong with being Deaf.  Deaf people are not missing anything.

[nataliexvip]

@prettypurloinpie Hearing is missing.

[JUSTIGNOREDEM1]

Of course there is nothing "wrong" with being deaf. No one chooses to be deaf, but with this new technology, now people can choose whether or not their children will continue to be or not.

Anyone who would willingly deprive their child of the ability to hear, when there is now a safe and proven way to give them this ability, is a completely selfish person and horrible parent. NO EXCEPTIONS.

[elidontlie]

@JUSTIGNOREDEM1 You obviously know little about cochlear implants, they are neither safe or reliable, check the FDA website before you make yourself sound so ignorant.

[101perspective]

@delohester Its not up to her to say the parent's made the wrong decision.

I would agree normally, but they are making the decision based solely on their prejudice and selfishness. Seriously, denying your child the chance to hear is almost as bad as removing that ability. Well, not exactly but you get my point. Now, if they came up with medical or other reasons then that would be diff. But their main reason is that they just want a deaf child and they have the power to keep her that way.

[101perspective]

I seen this documentary. It's very one sided. IMO, what the father and mother are doing borders on child abuse. The kid VERY much wants to be able to hear. Yet, her parents "speak" right in front of the girl voicing their prejudices toward the hearing and that they don't want kids that can hear. By the end of the documentary the kid was saying she no longer wanted it. It was clear she was scared her parents would no longer love her if she got it. This can't be a good representation of deaf ppl.

[flaksturmAILD]

deaf people are just prideful in this respect

[pglso]

why doesnt gran'ma learn to sign?

[darkstar1345a]

@pglso

i am pretty sure she was

[jessiessica]

While there wasn't much research available at the time thos documentary was made, we now know that the earlier children are implanted, the better the outcome due to the high level of neuroplasticity in the critical sensory period, particularly before 6 months. So the argument that parents should wait or even wait until the child is old enough to make the decision for themselves no longer stands.

[specialedtv]

This is an incredibly difficult and personal decision for parents who have already been traumatized by the birth of their hearing-impaired child. It's easy to stand in judgement of others when you haven't walked in their shoes.

[funnyvidoes12]

Myself is deaf, I just hate when hearing parents want their deaf kid to wear CI and go to oral school and never learn sign language. I am so lucky, because my parents is hearing and I'm only deaf in the family. When I was 3, my family taught me how to sign and then I was 4, I got my CI. I went to hearing school WITH deaf program. It's very awesome. So, I can sign and speak very well. I feel like I'm in both worlds all the time.

[funnyvidoes12]

@funnyvidoes12 And also hearing school with deaf progam is maybe the best choice for deaf kids. Because, I went to there and I learned how to speak and sign same time when I was 4. My family and other people is very happy that I can use both language and commuicate with other people clearly.

[whyrms]

Just a personal opinion. I see an insecure man, who's trying to actualize his worth through his daughter. I see defensive words. I see inability to accepts that he's disabled and that his daughter too, is disabled. You can really see what it's all about when he said, "look at me mom, are you saying that I don't have a successful life?" It hits him the hardest.

But in the end, as a parent, He should want what's best for my daughter. Will having an extra sense really hurt her?

[JodiMao]

the father needs to stop poking his nipples every time he signs.

[KilyPT]

@tincancompany Isn't your view the one that's biased? On child with a cochlear implant can still be a part of the Deaf culture. It's a prosthetic device. It's not meant as an offense to the Deaf culture, but as a way to give Deaf people another road to walk. In a sense, rather than allowing their daughter to be able to have a broader experience of the world, they're not giving her a choice.

[em1995]

and the fact that she says the parents are picking a hard road for their kid well, everyone takes a different road and they are all hard ones, because the fact is growing up isn't easy let alone to confuse their child about their identity when they're unsure about the implant as well, that would be cruel. all i know is that i may have a deaf child and i would never let myself be pressured into giving my child an implant if i didn't know 100% that it was the right thing to do.

[em1995]

just because your deaf does not mean you have a disability or that you are disadvantaged in anyway or that you are incapable of anything the deaf culture is a beautiful thing, and i'm lucky to be a part of it. My dad deaf and has a PHD our whole extended family is deaf and their very successful.

[ogith]

@em1995

Deafness IS a disability, a handicap, and a direct lack of ability. This isn't to say that the individual in question is less worthy, important, or capable of all other things, but the fact remains that through disease/disorder/injury, a significant ability that the human form is meant to have is either damaged or lost completely.

That deafness is a handicap is neither insult nor slur: It's the raw medical fact of the matter (considering the nature of an otherwise whole human body).

[deafornot3]

on a deaf specific dating site

Deafornot dot c om, it requires members to disclose their condition upfront

[suebesure]

Heather's parents made the right decision for her when they enrolled her in a deaf school. The grandmother doesn't acknowledge the fact that Heather has spent the first 5 years of her life learning through her first language, ASL. If she continues to learn in ASL, her parents can help her because they are native ASL users. If she gets a cochlear implant and switches to English as her primary language, she may lose some of her skills and her parents will have difficulty helping her at home.

[Vincentaneous]

@suebesure A child's brain can absorb two languages at once with only minimal disruption, as long as there is immersion in both. Heather will not forget signing because of her deaf friends and family, and she will be able to translate one into the other. It's just like I want my children to speak both english and spanish. Learning both is an advantage, not a problem.

[Mousegirl913]

wow..the grandma is wrong, it's her/the parents decistion if she get's a ci or not

[Two49]

@Mousegirl913 Actually no, you're wrong too. Everyone except for the little girl is wrong. Only she can make that decision.

[Vincentaneous]

@Mousegirl913 The grandma is not saying it's her decision. She's saying the parent's decision is the wrong one.

[delohester]

@Vincentaneous: Its not up to her to say the parent's made the wrong decision. She was out of place for saying that. She attacked her son for making a parenting decision instead of supporting them.

[whitesoxrules]

What's also disgusting about this documentary movie is that the deaf parents said they would disowned the girl if she had gotten a cochlear implant? You see how negative and shallow these deaf parents are!?

This is real world folks, if you live on this planet, you need learn how to talk. Its like an immigrant person living in america without knowing how to talk... Do you expect to get a successful job if you don't know how to converse but only know how to sign?

[delohester]

@whitesoxrules: They do know how to talk.....did you think talking was only done with your mouth!! Success isnt based on being able to talk.....when a person who is supported by society and not crippled by their IGNORANCE then sucess is not hard to obtain.

[whitesoxrules]

You guys are wasting your time here... Deaf Culture is nearly extinct!!! Not only Cochlear IMplants will cure the hearing loss, there has been studies that Stem Cell Research can also cure deafness! Look it up!

Truth to be told pple, having CI really does make a big difference in life! It certainly has changed my life! Now I have two CI and I speak like a normal person! I love the fact that everyday when I meet new people, they get astonished that I'm deaf because of how good my speech is!

[Bridgetowalk]

@whitesoxrules Hey, I'm 80%-85% Deaf with hearing aids, I speak well, and I sign ASL. From personal experience I've seen loads of people becoming more interested in ASL and Deaf Culture. An increase from hearing, hard-of-hearing, and even deaf who had grown up in a hearing culture. There is nothing wrong with having everything for options. I like hearing environment noises when they are pleasant and voices I know, but if I go 100% I choose no CI. PS, I tutor English using ASL. It's great!

[Bridgetowalk]

@whitesoxrules Hey, I'm 80%-85% Deaf with hearing aids, I speak well, AND I use ASL. From personal experience: I've seen loads of people becoming more interested in ASL, and Deaf Culture. An increase from hearing, hard-of-hearing, and even deaf who had grown up in a hearing culture. There is nothing wrong with having everything for options. I like hearing environment noises when they are pleasant and voices I know, but if I go 100% I choose no CI. PS, I tutor English using ASL. It's great!

[delohester]

@whitesoxrules WOW!!! YOU'RE DEAF!! When I see your post I keep thinking you are one of the hearing people that have made a point to oppress Deaf people!! And I am so sad for you that you did not think you were "normal" until you got the CI!!! That's too bad that you were not comfortable in your own skin and that having a medical implant made you feel "NORMAL".

[delohester]

This grandmother just pissed me off!! I watched this movie yesterday at school and this lady was a FOOL!! She seemed to resent him being deaf and treated him like his deafness caused HER a hard life. People deafness is NOT a disabiltiy. Its just changes your language bracket. American Sign Languge is a language just like English, Spanish or French!! Deaf people are whatever "normal" means.

[michael99887766]

@delohester She clearly did not resent her son's deafness, but she wanted the most open and normal life possible for her grandchild. Choosing to teach the child only ASL is unfair, and will severely limit her options in later life: she won't be able to cope in many simple, everyday situations; she won't be able to communicate with the vast majority of people in her own country; she will probably have trouble finding decent work, without a glass-ceiling, outside of the deaf community.

[michael99887766]

@michael99887766 Plus she won't be able to appreciate music, birdsong, etc. Also, as audio learning ties in so much with literacy.

[delohester]

@michael99887766 If you ask a Deaf person how they like being deaf the first thing they will say is "Its peaceful" . A Deaf person can do anything they want including hear, if that is something they want to do. And as far as reading....you dont need hearing to read. All you have to do is teach the children another way to learn how to read!! What can really hinder reading for Deaf children are the adults who are involved in the child's education.

[michael99887766]

@delohester Hearing augments reading, as it's a tried and tested method of teaching, wheras others are less well developed - hence literacy rates are lower amongst the deaf.

[delohester]

@michael99887766 Did you know that SIGN LANGUAGE has done just as much for reading as hearing has. Believe it or not, its true.

[michael99887766]

"A Deaf person can do anything they want including hear, if that is something they want to do"- but if you wait til they are an adult who can make such a choice, all chance goes of a normal, fully hearing and speaking life. My sister's deafness was picked up when she was two - she can speak quite normally, but even after speech therapy and 20 years hearing, you can still (just) tell there's something not quite right with her voice-this would be amplified if hearing was implemented later.

[Vincentaneous]

@delohester A deaf person cannot hear, because if they could hear they wouldn't be deaf - although they may still be a part of "deaf culture". Plus, if someone is born deaf, they have no knowledge of what it's like to hear. There is nothing more peaceful than the sound of waves crashing on a beach, or rain, or certain kinds of music.

[delohester]

@Vincentaneous: That's your personal opinion......because for me silence is PEACEFUL!!

[sxc5rhcp]

@delohester I understand and believe that for you silence is peaceful and you are ok and happy with that. BUT the fact is that you may have not have the choice of hearing or getting an implant to be able to hear. This girl had that opportunity and it was taken from her by her parents and that's sad. Would you take the opportunity from one of your childs to see, taste or touch? Would you be willing to be blind in order to be in the blind community? I guess not cause you know what they'll miss.

[delohester]

@michael99887766 She did clearly resent her son's Deafness when she never talked about it in a positive light. Question: are you being unfair to your children if you only teach them English?? You seem to not have many encounters with the Deaf Community. They function well in an everyday society, if they have accepted their deafness. As far as "she will probably have trouble finding decent work" , that can happen to you or me or anyone else that can hear.

[michael99887766]

@delohester My only encounter with the "deaf community" came in the form of the bunch of spiteful letters my parents received when they decided to take my sister down the hearing route - she is profoundly deaf, uses hearing aids, and is now a doctor.

[delohester]

@michael99887766 Though your parents implanted your sister did they introduce her to the My Deaf mother provided the best childhood for me and I know that a hearing person could not have done better. My Deaf mother has an awesome life and she is satisfied with her life. She has a college education and has raised successful children as well. We could go round and round about deafness but it all boils down toDeaf Culture? Did she sign? Does she know she is Deaf, even with implants and aids.

[michael99887766]

@delohester: You can't claim that someone who can only sign will function totally normally in society. Of course anyone can have trouble finding decent work, but for a deaf person who can't hear/speak will have far more trouble than Joe average. It's like someone who speaks only Chinese in the US - they will have limited ability to communicate with most people - making it hard for them to do jobs which involve, for instance, answering a phone, attending meetings, do presentations, etc.etc.

[delohester]

@michael99887766 I applaud your sister in her accomplishments, I love to see Deaf people succeed, because usually their biggest downfall is a hearing person that does not believe in them because they are looking at Deafness as a "disability". And FYI, just because a person gets all these hearing devices does not gurantee them a normal range of hearing. So those things that you just listed are not always guranteed!!

[michael99887766]

@delohester Clearly she loves her son, but deafness is a disability - it's the absence of one sense which nature intended us to have. She does not "resent" it, but realises that, had he been born hearing, he would have had a life of broader opportunity, and a childhood which would have been less stressful for her. That's not to say she "resents" him in any way, merely she appreciates things were not ideal.

[delohester]

@michael99887766 You have not encountered the Deaf Community. Its eviedent in the way that you address the word Deaf, but its ok. The problem with 90% of our Deaf children is that they are born to hearing parents. Parents who all they can say is "I want my child to be just like me". These parents usually have never met a Deaf adult and therefore they are AFRAID! Deafness is not a disability or a handicap, its simply a diffrent way of life. You should read up on Deafness and Deaf Culture.

[lookEhere999]

@delohester "i want my child to be just like me" isnt that what the father is basically saying he wants a "deaf family" as opposed to '"a family" he wants his child to remain deaf. and is this real or fake?

[Vincentaneous]

@delohester Deafness is a disability, because hearing is an ability that the large majority of people have but a deaf person doesn't. A deaf person cannot be a musician or a surgeon or a pilot. Everybody has problems. Nobody is born perfect. My eyesight isn't great and I have ulcerative colitis, so that stops ME from being a fighter pilot. Am I inferior to other people? Of course not. Are deaf people "inferior"? Of course not. But let's be honest.

[Vincentaneous]

@delohester I would not accept any quality that might limit my child's possibilities. I would not accept them just learning english. I would not accept poor eyesight - I would get them glasses. If my child suffered an injury that prevented him or her from walking, and a surgery could restore use of his or legs, I would choose the surgery: I would not accept the wheelchair. No one should ever accept themselves just the way they are, there is always a way to expand your horizons.

[delohester]

@Vincentaneous : This arguement has no merit because deafness is not.....NOT a disability!! And yes everyone should accept the person that they are and then build it up to be the person "they want" to be, and not be what everyone else wants them to be.

[sxc5rhcp]

@delohester deafness is not a disability?! In which planet do you live. On earth human beings have 5 senses and hearing happens to be one. A person who lacks any of those senses is of course disable. That doesn't means a person with disability can't have a succesful and happy life but fuck they'll be in huge disadvantage and will have to overcome many more obstacles than someone who has all their senses, that's a fact. Every human being should have the opportunity to reach their full potential

[Vincentaneous]

@delohester Deafness IS a disability. It is defined by a lack of an ability - in this case, hearing. You cannot say "lack of hearing" is not a disability, by definition. Of course deaf people can achieve all sorts of things and have a very full life. Poor eyesight is a disability, but people with poor eyesight can achieve much, even without glasses. But, a deaf person cannot be a pilot, cannot be a surgeon, and cannot appreciate music. The deaf have limitations. Everyone has limitations.

[delohester]

@Vincentaneous:  So since everyone has limitations does this mean that we are all disabled?? We only have limitations if we believe that we have limitations. And the worse thing a person could do is let IGNORANT people convince them that they have limitations!!!

[Vincentaneous]

@delohester Yes, I suppose everyone is "disabled" in some way. I see deafness exactly the way I see eyesight issues or mobility issues. The term "disabled" has become one of those touchy words. So, let's not define deafness as a "disability", let's call it "inability to hear". The laws of physics determine a person's limitations, not ignorant people. The ignorance of others does not prevent vibrations in the air from producing nerve activity in your brain.

[delohester]

This grandmother just pissed me off!! I watched this movie yesterday at school and this lady was a FOOL!! She seemed to resent him being deaf and treated him like his deafness caused HER a hard life.  People deafness is NOT a disabiltiy. Its just changes your language bracket. American Sign Languge is a language just like English, Spanish or French!!

[grandma2maj]

The way this grandma butted in is sad. The parents let all their kids get CIs in the end. Peter's brother should not have felt his brother's kids needed CIs just because he was getting them for his deaf twin. Since Heather didn't get the CI until age 9, it probably has not worked as well for her as it would have if she was a baby. BUT the point is, it should be the between the parents and the child. Other family should butt out.

[delohester]

@grandma2maj ......Heck yeah I totally agree with this. I am a CODA and this movie made me emotional because I could see both viewpoints.

[chrkat03]

Deaf is a culture....as long as the language is there they can do anything....its a foreign language is all! you dont have to have an implant to live!

[LRadake]

Personally,.. in my opinion ...., this grandma need to butt out. That is the parents choice to decide, not the grandma. That's my final answer, period.

[ex0rdium]

I can't wait till parents start not getting their kids with skeletal problems back braces so they can be part of scoliosis culture.

[chrkat03]

@ex0rdium

its not the same thing! AT ALLLLLLL!!!

[avbria]

@ex0rdium There is nothing wrong being Deaf as we share a language and have a strong cultural background and history. You can't compare scoliosis to Deaf since it is a socio-linguistic culture. I would recommend you to study more about Deaf culture before you make this such ignorant comment.

[delohester]

@ex0rdium .....this would probably be a great arguement but.....we are not talking about something that is breaking down the body, we are talking about LANGUAGE!! You know like Spanish, English, French.....All the people that speak these diffrent languages have their own culture so what makes you think that the Deaf dont have their own culture?? Your comment was obviously made out of PURE IGNORANCE!

[michael99887766]

@delohester Of course all those languages have their own culture, and so does deafness to an extent, but all those languages have a very sizable speaking population, and all those languages are the main languages of various countries.

[michael99887766]

@delohester Forcing a deaf child down the ASL route is equivalent to bringing up a child in the USA to speak only Chinese - yes, I'm sure there's an attached community of Chinese-Americans, but that society is limited - it would be very hard to fit into, and progress in, mainstream US society. And even that example was not ideal, because Chinese has a far bigger associated culture than deafness, and an actual linguistic homeland, which SL lacks.

[Vincentaneous]

@michael99887766 Well said.

[peaceloveasl123]

this grandma makes me soo angry

[alsancle]

@peaceloveasl123 why... she just wants what is best for her granddaughter

[delohester]

@alsancle No this grandmother resented her son's Deafness and thinks the CI is a magic cure for being deaf. However, once they take the device off, then they are right back where they started.....DEAF.

[Vincentaneous]

@delohester I have a friend who is legally blind when he takes his glasses off. If you suggested his wearing glasses meant that he didn't accept his sight impairment, he'd say "Of course I don't. Why wouldn't I get glasses?" And, if you pointed out that when he takes his glasses off, he's still sight-impaired, he'd ask you "Of course I am. What's your point?"

[delohester]

@Vincentaneous What exactly does being blind have to do with being deaf?? The question here is about language.......

[sxc5rhcp]

@delohester because vision is a human sense as well as hearing! It has everything to do with one another. The deaf community attitude is just selfish and ignorant I can understand that they have gone through a lot of injustice BUT the truth is that it's a disability and to not give the opportunity to a child to not develop or experience all of their senses it's just awful and wrong.

[MalfoyFemDom]

Personally, this is one of my favorite documentaries, although I too am irritated that there are no captions. Not all deaf people use sign language, or use the same type of sign language. HoH or late-deafened people are also less likely to sign. Anyway, I totally support the CI for those who want it, but it definitely should be a choice. Deaf kids should be exposed to both worlds.

[delohester]

@MalfoyFemDom......deaf kids are exposed to a hearing world. They live in it everyday. Do you know the saying "You never miss what you never had".

[michael99887766]

@delohester Seems like a redundant argument to me. Mot too long ago, there were plenty of African tribes that had to walk miles for water (as many still do today) and had never heard of a tap - doesn't mean it didn't improve things for them.

What about the kids of Joseph Fritzl? They never knew anything better than being kept in a small, dim, underground complex, with little fresh air and no natural light, for years. Doesn't mean they didn't appreciate what they saw when they got out.

[BeachBunny13]

After all of this arguing for who knows how long, eventually they get her the implant anyways.

[magus386]

This is so sad. If you're more concerned with teaching your child a subculture than fixing their disability, then you're the one with the problem.

[pookymuffin101]

@magus386 they have a wonderful culter you jerk. Deaf people don't have a disability.

[DakotaHayden]

this hearing grandma is so ignorant, getting a cochlear implant absolutely should be partly the child's decision!

anyway after that i dont understand much because lack of signing and captioning....I'm Deaf....so ridiculous that this clip doesn't have caption! trying to read lips but really difficult!

also, they are all arguing at each other in front of the child!!! they are like children themselves! but still i agree with the parents, and i HAVE a C.I.

[Tmarie111]

I agree with the parents!!!! The mother truly DOES NOT understand.

[icekat83]

The irony of this DVD is that it has no subtitles. Am I the only one who thought that was seriously weird!

Interesting to watch though. I understand both sides of the debate and wish I could sign - to be able to be in both worlds would be awesome! From a linguistic point of view the whole thing is fascinating! :)

[Aluapay]

Years later they all got the implants accept for Peter.

[Muggle423]

I just don't understand why everyone was giving Heather's parents the impression that if she got the cochlear, she would have to stop signing. That's the only thing that made me mad about the whole film. I could understand both points of views, but if Heather wanted the cochlear, then she would still be able to sign. She would have to continue signing in order to communicate w/ her parents. I think ASL is a beautiful language & anybody that knows it alongside English is lucky.

[Highwind886]

They made a follow-up video a few years ago.

[Dogzbrk]

@Highwind886 Really? whats it called, I am actually intrigued

[icekat83]

"Sound and Fury: 6 years later" I think.

[icekat83]

I think it's so the children can focus on learning the speech. I'm not deaf but I think sign language is both fascinating and beautiful. But gaining one world to lose another is sad. Being in both worlds would be wonderful and I WISH I could sign. :) All I can do is spell my name.

[Nukeman33]

@Muggle423 I rather just learn a different language. It would be way more useful.

[ScorpioFuror]

Itself? That's kind of sad. I always thought childrens were actually people, not just an it.

[peterb362]

Those parents that are in favor of a CI for their children know the risks as well as the opportunity. It is part of being a good parent. They also know the terrible risks of doing nothing.

[peterb362]

Making decisions for your childrens well being is very common. It is called parenting. Why wouldnt you give a child the opportunity to hear? Cochlear implants are here to stay. Every day more and more parents and deaf adults are making the decision to have this operation. If a child does not want to use the implant when they are older they can choose not to.

[ddcastro8a]

I agree with Joey. The implant should be the child's choice if they feel that the hearing world is a complicated world to communicate with. But the decision is not up to the parents. The parents may have an understanding of being deaf in the hearing world, but it is not something the children have experienced yet. They must experience it on their own. Too much pressure from both worlds. When and if necessary, the child will let you know.

[NoscopeProdigyx]

i hate peters mom alot. my parents are deaf and they had suffering but they went to a deaf school. that grandma doesn't understand what it is to be deaf like my parents. also a lot of deaf people want to stay deaf because if they become a hearing person they would be overwhelmed right off the bat( thats what my dad told me)

[DeafSweetMind]

sam = scam

[DeafSweetMind]

Peter s mom is very audist person since she has no respect for her Deaf son and his family. She is too controlling and oppressed Deaf people. Sighs! Thank goodness she is not my grandmother. I dont like her at all since she thinks she knows everything. Scoffs!

CI is full of sam and more dangerous than being deaf. SO BE IT!

[staraction]

i told my boyfriend to rent it from Blockbuster and we are sooo gonna see it this weekend. He likes documentaries as much as i do. and since he is dating someone who is deaf (me) then he will understand that i am happy being deaf and don't miss the hearing world at all. I am at peace

[singlaprety12]

I new them they were on my bus, but not the five year old onley her little brothers. they went to my old school. I saw it in asl class and i was so freaked out when i saw all my teachers from my other school and a bus stop on the Little bus i took

[staraction]

wicked!

[staraction]

the dad needs to get into a diet though..wow budda belly

[gimpymama]

Our son is one year old, profoundly deaf and having bilateral CI surgery in a few days. I took ASL in high school, loved it...understand deaf culture and all the issues. One thing I keep coming back to is the window of opportunity. Since our son will be getting his CI's while he's young, we will receive the full benefit. If he doesn't want to use them later in life...that is his choice. He can take them off and sign...we want the best and value his choice. Best of luck to this family.

[JoeyTheDeafNinja]

n o no no no! YOU have to let them make choice if they want CI or not! wait for them to grow up.

[veganmochi]

The interpreter is great

[staraction]

i know!

[spershall]

I am a hard of hearing person with a deaf mother and aunt. My aunt got a cochlear implant a few years ago and it has changed her life. I had no idea they were anything but "good." This movie is excellent and did what a good documentary should: changed my way of thinking and opened my eyes to something I hadn't seen before. Highly recommended!

[Motherkuen]

I am a hearing parent and it still should be the child's choice. She should be told about !! Shown about it !! Then she can make her own decision. My children are hearing also and they learn ASL to. I have also taught them Braille so if anything ever happens they will be able to communicate. Any type of language is great!!! ASL should be an International language so their would be no language barriers around the world.

[walkyrie333]

The thing is, these parents have an opportunity to give their child access to an entire sense that she doesn't have. Why on earth would they keep from doing that -- just to be copacetic with a certain culture? To me while I understand their difficulty in making the decision, to deprive their daughter of that is selfish.

[imgonnadj]

ive watched this in ASL class....i dont see why these hearing grandparents compared not getting the implant to child abuse and deafness to being crippled. the whole movie made me mad as a hard of hearing person.

[deafgagirl]

The Grandmother needs to step aside and let the parents decide what is BEST for the child.. She is undermining her son, which I think is selfish on her part.

Just a bit of advice..... EVERYONE GOES THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS.

GOD made the child deaf for a reason.. Let her be herself. And.... in my opinion.. I think the grandmother is filling her head with this CI stuff and she doesn't know what she really wants. Let the child decides when she is old enough to know what SHE really wants.

[insanerugbymom]

CI is a tool for deaf people, and it is each person's right to say yes or no to this. Deafness is not disease, but many people still see it as a problem that needs to be fixed. Every family needs to decide what tools to use and how to use them to communicate. Maybe deaf culture will grow with CI. Accept don't judge, and deaf culture can grow.

A hearing child went into the road, heard 2 people yelling to him, he stopped and listened and was hit by a car. Hearing people have accidents too.

[lilshawty87]

My sister in law is deaf and I am hearing. She is very happy to be deaf and enjoys her life, sure challenges arise but she can do anything she puts her mind too. I don't understand what it's like to be deaf, I do think that the deaf person should be the only one who makes decsion about weither or not they get the implant. My sister in law is very happy without it. Just bc ppl are deaf they should be pressured to have CI let them live their lives how they please try to learn more about deaf life!

[parsnip23x]

if your child was blind and you could make her see, would you? what would the blind community say?

if your child was in a wheel chair and you could give her surgery to make her walk, would you? what would the handicapped communities say?

it's really a tough choice.

[Addboy6]

FYI, the blind and wheelchair do not have a culture like the Deaf people do. We can function just like hearing people in the world. We have 5 senses; see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. What happens if you lose hear? We simple use EYES. just another window to open into our brain. You might lose your hear when you getting old, so watch out.

Cochlear Implant is not a "cure" and still many malfunctions going on with CI from what ive seen

[QuicksilverdotFX]

@Addboy6 Sir, are you retarded? No one mentioned anything about cochlear implant being a cure. Malfunctions with CI are easily fixed. You are just like every single deaf people in the so-called "culture" with that mindset. "I'm deaf, you're deaf, we must stay deaf." Just shut up and learn life.

[Nukeman33]

@Addboy6 This might be a shocker to you but we can see and hear and, now stay with me here, people who know both might know what you are missing. How in the fuck would you have any idea what you are missing? I guarentee you that 10 out of 10 hearing people would not give up the ability to hear. There might be a reason for that.

[chrkat03]

@Nukeman33

yah but who says your not missing out on being apart of the deaf culture? it is very interesting and special...something being hearing is not...everyone is doing it!

[Two49]

@Addboy6 What's funny is that the "information" you put in this post is actually just another example of bigotry. Blind and wheelchair communities don't have a culture?  That's your opinion. You lose your hearing when you grow older sure, but you also lose your eyesight. What happens when a deaf person goes blind? Do they just shut themselves up from the rest of the world?

[Vincentaneous]

@Addboy6 I would give the child the cochlear implant so she could be a part of both cultures. After all, this is America, the melting pot. Just as if I brought a family up in France, I'd want my child to speak French. If it were possible for my child to learn speech as well as signing, that widens her possibilities for friends and for employment. Plus, she would be able to appreciate music. If the cochlear fails, then the child is no worse for it.

[BullyRonnie2006]

i rather the girl growing up and make a decision and the parents have right to say but thats not ur child... i rather what child really wants and be happy about deaf culture.

[eyeluvgir]

What people refuse to look at is the culture that the Deaf live in. They have a community with rules and values just like the rest of communities in the world. When the grandmother says "Forget the Deaf!" She might as well as said forget the Spanish, forget the French. Oh but wait, their languages have been excepted. Why? We all perceive sounds differently anyways. Why should we push this on the Deaf community? I believe this is just another way that the majority opresses the minority.

[2110madhouse]

Actually, it's not true that if you have a CI, you can only speak and not sign as the mom says. You can do any combination of the methods you want. however if she just signs with the implant, she eventually won't get the full benefit. You have to train auditorily for it to really work as well as it can. But you don't have to do it all at once. every day they wait, their daughter will make less progress with a CI than she would ordinarily. the best is under age 2, then under age 7 or 8.

[Muggle423]

Yeah, that's the thing I didn't get about this movie and what kinda made me mad. I don't get why you'd have to give up signing if you get a cochlear, which is what the father was implying. His daughter was already fluent in sign language and since both her parents were deaf, she still could use signing to communicate with them and not lose the language.

[jimbeamcc]

A child chases a ball towards the road. An out of control car approaches.  Someone yells "look out!" The child cannot hear this because the parents have refused the child CI. The child cannot hear the horn on the car because the parents have refused the child CI. This is not a cultural thing. It is a basic sense that can save your childs life. Please put your child first.

[eyeluvgir]

Why would any responsible parent let their child run the the streets? Accidents happen Deaf or not.

[filthyfun]

have you ever spent anytime with deaf people? and it is a cultural thing! For example although my wife is deaf although I can participate in parties and fund raising and help the deaf community I can never be a part of it... why because I will never have the shared feelings of being a deaf person. Its the hardship and struggling to communicate with people who refuse to learn their language ASL. Take it for what it is thanks.

[lady77photo]

Oh my gosh. I am a CI user. There were deaths if they are no mennigities vaccine. Any surgery, appendicities, gall bladder or heart surgery are always a risk. CI surgery is very minor. It goes into your cochlea, not in brain. Also, I am part of deaf community. If do not want CI, that is cool. I wanted CI for myself for I wear hearing aids all my life. Therefore, you do not know what its like to get CI or experience it. Please dont be negative about it when you are telling a myth.

[Rockmangames]

Interesting. I will tell you one thing.. CI destroy deaf communties and it have many accidentally and death about CI. CI will not improvement anything at all. Nope.