Anger as Deaf woman labelled ‘deaf and mute’ by airline

A Deaf woman has accused an airline of “discrimination” after a boarding pass branded her “deaf and mute” for “security reasons”.

Fifi Garfield, actress and presenter of the British Sign Language gameshow Sign2Win, shared a photo of her Air Mauritius ticket for Mauritius to London to Twitter on Thursday.

She wrote: “How dare you call us deaf and mute! I find this very offensive – just Deaf will do.

“First you couldn’t provide us with all films in subtitles and now this. I am not [a] very happy passenger indeed.”

Sorted at the boarding gate – they said they had to put it for security reason 🙄 pic.twitter.com/gFYcY5vQHf

— Fifi Garfield (@_Fifi_Garfield_) March 31, 2022

 

In a follow-up post, Ms Garfield shared an updated ticket – now reading “Deaf, OK to board” – after raising the issue at the boarding gate.

She claimed staff had told her the initial message was put on her pass for “security reasons”.

Replying to one Twitter user who asked what was wrong with using the term ‘mute’, Ms Garfield added: “What’s wrong with just Deaf? Why add more?

“I’m just the same as everyone [else] apart from hearing. That’s it.”

Since sharing the issue online, other members of the Deaf community have expressed their anger over the incident, describing it as “shocking” and “outrageous”.

One commented: “That is actually shocking. I’m stunned that they can actually do this?! Wrong on so many levels!”

“Not seen that word in print for 20 plus years! OMG,” wrote another.

A third said: “Outrageous and glad you got it sorted with the airline. Hopefully with social media, all airlines need to take notice, [especially] with diversity and inclusion high on the agenda. Do NOT use ‘mute’/’dumb’!”

Others, meanwhile, have questioned the possible reasoning behind the term being used, with one Twitter user suggesting “it might be accepted more” as a term in Mauritian culture.

Another wrote: “Doesn’t it make sense in case of an emergency? If I am a steward and we are crashing, don’t I need to know that you are deaf and don’t speak?

“I file in my head at boarding that just in case, I will need you to see my lips and I’ll need to get a physical response instead of verbal.”

The Limping Chicken has contacted Air Mauritius for comment.

Photo: joolsgriff/Flickr.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.