The mental health in Deaf community is always a struggle; it is always composted of denials and lack of information, ideas, and facts. It is never the struggle itself, which completely ignores the welfare of Deaf community. Rather, it is a violation of language deprivation, and a violation of well-being.

When Kaiser Permanente (KP) makes an authority to refer to hearing therapists who have no training to work with Deaf people. It is a good example of hearing privileges. It is seriously unethical.

In the world of hearing privileges, there is a power trip between humanely oppressive and the stories by Deaf people remains true to the sources of disrespecting them for their well-being. Deaf people who are living in hearing world, which is constantly stressful and experiencing neglect. This is, hard enough for them.

While social satire is certainly a valid way of language hegemony towards Deaf people, it became ignorance on their part. We all need to remind ourselves about the book, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, whom I read the book back in high school days.

Chicago Tribune writes, “Brave New World is a searching vision of an unequal, technologically-advanced future where humans are genetically bred, socially indoctrinated, and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order-all at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls”

BINGO! Then where is Deaf people’s right to seek pursuit of happiness at the cost of their freedom, full humanity and their souls to seek for Deaf-centered therapists who have full knowledge and training to work with Deaf clients?

The hearing therapists who have no training with Deaf people have long practiced Audism. My heart goes out to Deaf people. The challenge of Audism with love and intelligence is tough more than we really think.

It is important to know that Deaf counselors had been available for service, but hearing-dominated therapists decided to take away Deaf people’s right for communication, knowledge and information and….. for direct access instead of changing to hearing counselors with interpreters. It is worse. It is what it is called “pulling the rug from under”—why should Deaf people suffer with this? Why?

The importance of Deaf counseling therapists cannot be overstated, but it seems unfortunate that KP have to overstep its own authority. Haven’t they got enough to do? Can this be done in a respectful, supportive, and professional manner? That denial or ignorance by KP does not show any heartfelt concern for Deaf people’s well-being, but KP kept being defensive. That is something that Deaf people are prone to deal with in our society and creates a lot of hurt in the long run.

Welcome to one nation under hearing privileges, by the hearing privileges, and for the hearing privileges.

Please visit Deaf counseling for well-being: www.deafcounseling.com

 

-JT

Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier

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