For those of us who are associated with the Deaf community, it’s a well known belief that apathy is one of the biggest barriers we face.
What this means is basically this: if there are negative reforms targeted at Deaf people, whether directly or not, such as the impact of changes to Disability Living Allowance, cuts to legal aid funding, cuts to local authority-funded services etc, they usually pass by without so much of a whimper from Deaf people.
Why?
The general consensus is apathy. People either feeling they can’t make a difference, or not being willing to try. Some say it has got worse since the recognition of BSL as an official language in March 2003 by the Department of Work and Pensions.
What changed after 18 March 2003?
Here are a few factors I believe may have made a difference.
1. The demise of the Federation of Deaf People – this voluntary organisation spearheaded many of the BSL marches that occurred before the recognition of BSL.
2. The lack of a strong campaigning organisation to equal FDP since it’s demise. Now the British Deaf Association have a clear vision for the future many are hoping they will pick up the mantle.
3. A lack of deaf identity in young people. More and more Deaf children are being mainstreamed, taking them away from the Deaf community and most importantly, Deaf politics.
That’s not to say that there hasn’t been periods of protest or campaigning activity among the Deaf community since: the Stop Eugenics and Save Deaf Studies campaigns and the emergence of the group Deaf Parents Deaf Children (who released this YouTube hit video of a mother and daughter signing) spring to mind.
However, these are few or far between, and rely on Deaf individuals who are willing to expend their time and resources to lead a campaign.
Apathy was the subject of a brief exchange of tweets on Twitter recently, and it was suggested that social media and virals need to be embraced more.
The power of social media was plainly obvious following the broadcast of the Deaf Teens: Hearing World BBC programme which launched the “limping chicken” phenomenon.
Within hours of broadcast, the Deaf community was afire with jokes, amateur video clips, and social groups courtesy of Twitter and Facebook.
It was THE talk of the Deaf community for a few weeks and for that brief time, there was a genuine feeling of unity among all D/deaf people.
It even inspired the name of this very website and has arguably become part of UK Deaf community culture. For example, Deaf people who regularly use interpreters will now as a matter of routine ask interpreters who are late for an assignment whether their chicken was ill!
So, the future is bright. We know it is certainly possible for the Deaf community to unite for a brief period of time. The trick now is to harness the opportunity that has presented itself through the use of social media and virals to bring some real change for Deaf people.
We now need someone or a group to lead these changes. Perhaps a resurrection of the Federation for Deaf people is on the cards? Or can a Deaf organisation lead the way?
Let’s see.
Rob is a qualified solicitor and Head of RAD Deaf Law Centre at the Royal Association for Deaf people. He specialises in employment and discrimination law and is passionate about achieving equality for Deaf people. He is happily married with two gorgeous kids and lives in South Wales. You can follow him on Twitter as @RWilks
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Ian N
April 23, 2012
I would quite like to see some kind of 38 Degrees online campaigning community for deaf people. There was a debate about this on Twitter a while back. Perhaps there could be an online campaigning arm (or wing?) of Limping Chicken?
Lizzie
April 23, 2012
I would like to deaf Martin Luther King who is outspoken and inspirational on the media /TV/ Question times that would bring more awareness and BSL Legal policy and other issues.Other issues need to film deaf people telling stories about their experiences accessing to services and where were they?or due to Broadcasters/researchers with little understanding of deaf community dont know to show social issues deaf people facing discrimination or has discrimination diffculty to access to services.Rob might set up you tube about theses issues with text or subtiles to hearing audiences?
Linda Richards
April 23, 2012
The success of any campaign is leadership. The FDP (with these incredible marches that did so much to unite Deaf – and hearing – people for a long time and without the widespread use of technology and social media that now exists) was led by Doug Alker who has a incredible track record of involving and empowering Deaf people. His other initiatives included the move to get the BDA their first ever Deaf chair (as far as could be ascertained from records) in 1983, establishing the Deaf Tribute Group, the 1880 Committee, and of course, the Deaf Comedians. He s done many other things but critically, in all of these, he was a leader and still is with significant Deaf led projects in his home area and work with the East Lancashire Deaf Society (ELDS).
It is this leadership that is lacking in the Deaf world. There isn’t anyone of Doug s calibre leading us. Divisions across the community (a somewhat paradoxical term at times) are complex. Rob s analysis is barely scratching the surface. I am reminded of my old boss’s comment (which he learned from his boss), “When you point your finger, remember there are three fingers pointing back at you”. So while we lament the lack of good charismatic leaders, there’s always a role for us to play. Social media is ad hoc, temporary and is still new. Adding a political dimension to the limping chicken could be interesting as a means of testing the water about the strength of feeling about issues. Would that be called ‘the chicken drumstick’?
visualrevoluti0n
April 23, 2012
Great article from Rob Wilks! Personally, I see number 3 as most critical at the moment. The reign of oralism had a devastating effect on deaf people’s language development and emotional wellbeing. However, I feel this integr.. sorry, I mean inclusion – is even worse than oralism. Why?
During oralism, deaf children still had each other. In the shadows of these boarding schools, deaf children used sign language. They used it so subtly that teachers would not notice – these kids with visual superpowers were not stupid, they learn very quickly not to get caught. When these dark school years were finally over and time for freedom came, they knew where they would find each other.
When a deaf child is mainstreamed, you could be the only deaf kid in the whole school. If you’re lucky, there may be a few others, too. Maybe not your cup of tea but hey, you can’t be fussy when you don’t have much to choose from. All the hearing kids are doing so well in the classroom. You’re not like them. At home, it’s the same. Blah blah blah mouths going all the time. You try to fit in, you try to become like them. Sometimes you feel really lonely. There’s no point talking to anyone about it because you know they wouldn’t understand anyway. By the time you reach your teens, you find yourself still trying to be like them. Stress, anxiety and eventually depression – these could become your friends for the rest of your life. It becomes your comfort zone and you find it difficult to snap out of it because everything seems hopeless. You don’t want to mingle with deaf people – they talk with their hands. No one in your school does that. No one at your home does that. It’s better to try and fit in. Sometimes you wonder if you will ever get there.
Yes, I totally and wholeheartedly agree about setting up an online campaigning community – social media is extremely powerful and can spread awareness and change attitudes over a very short period. Take http://www.avaaz.org for example – they have over 14 million members worldwide. Why not set up something like that and welcome sign language people from all over the world join the community. That won’t be a small number because deaf communities are naturally transnational – and international signs knock down any communication barriers.
And yes, I agree with Ms Richards above – we need leadership. Someone to make it happen, someone who we can trust and follow. Being a leader is always a sacrifice – that’s why not many have come forward.
Lizzie
April 23, 2012
I agree with Ms Richards about needing leadership.that why I said we need to see a deaf Martin Luther King who make it happen on media, news,question times and shows. I often wonder why some deaf orgs uk havent come forward to make and why they were too slow?
David
April 24, 2012
I would have liked to be involved in campaigning if given the opportunity to get involved now! Come on show us what you can offer here!
Lizzie
May 2, 2012
not many people reply to Rob Wilks great article. why?
Arlen
April 26, 2013
Awesome blog you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover
the same topics discussed in this article?
I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thank you!