Keys to Opening the Doors to the Deaf and Hearing Worlds
The Importance of Developing Positive Parental Perspectives in the Overall Development of the Child Who is Deaf
By J. Freeman King How does a hearing parent assist a When being deaf is viewed deaf child in establishing an identity as a Deaf person? How might this as a pathological condition, a Deaf identity foster being a contrib- disability that distinguishes uting member of both the Deaf and abnormal from normal, there Hearing worlds? What provisions are inherently low expectations need to be made to assure that the deaf child is given the human right of that accompany this perspecbeing Deaf – of establishing an iden- tive. However, when deafness is tity of which he/she can be proud, considered a difference... expecof having a fully accessible language that can lead to literacy in the writ- tations are immediately raised. ten language, and be allowed to dream and realize dreams just as hearing children are encouraged and allowed to do? The parents’ responses to these questions can be the determining factor in the overall educational, social, emotional, and linguistic development of the deaf child. Statistics indicate that over 90% of deaf children have hearing parents, and these parents often view their child as being disabled. Parents identify with the pathological view of deafness because they have been led by professionals to view it as such. A more productive view, however, is to understand that if given an appropriate education and an accessible language in the least restrictive environment, their child can achieve whatever he/she might dare to dream. With this thought in mind, it is important to understand that there are basically two diametrically opposed ways in which being deaf can be viewed: either as a pathology or as a socio-cultural difference. Normal or Abnormal When being deaf is viewed as a pathological condition, a disability that distinguishes abnormal from normal, there are inherently low expectations that accompany this perspective. However, when deafness is considered a difference that distinguishes normal Deaf people from normal Hearing people, expectations are immediately raised. 24