The Deaf Person And The Topic Of Discrimination
Once, I had a discussion with a deaf person, about the topic of discrimination. This person asked me "honestly, which would you prefer- a hearing army to protect you, or a deaf army?" The point of that comment was to suggest that not every job is suitable for a deaf person. I pointed out "Well, I'd trust and rather a deaf army well equipped with assistive devices." A lot of people like to say, "well, deaf people can't do certain jobs such as telemarketing, secretarial duties, or any jobs that requires to make and answer telephone calls." That's a bunch of bullshit! Have you heard of a TTY? Have you heard of a phone flasher? Did you know that in Canada, deaf people are allowed to be truck drivers, because people in Canada clearly recognize that deaf truckers are better at driving, because their heightened sense of sight does help them a lot. In America, however, it is illegal. Well, Canadians are human beings, and Americans are human beings. What's the difference? The difference is just the way they think. In many aspects of life, there are assistive equipment that allows one to function normally in life.
A Trip To An Audistic Hair Salon
I have once gone to a hairdresser salon to have my hair cut. When the hairdresser was done, and I was about to stand up, the hairdresser actually put her hand on my chest, to prevent me from going further- and she asked me “How did you get here?”. I looked at her, and anger boiled in me. I replied, “I drove.” She looked at me, her mouth agape. Then she shook her head in disbelief, and literally called another hairdresser to come to us, and told her that I said I drove there. While they were chattering, I just decided to leave. So, I went to my car, got in my car, and drove by, and there they were, standing outside the shop, with their jaws dropped and I waved. They waved back in disbelief. Now, that’s audism.
Audism At The Workplace
Another example- back in 1996, I applied to Wegmans’ grocery store for a stocking position, and/or shopping cart collection position. When I went to the interview, the boss grilled me on the depth of how deaf I was, and gave me several scenarios and asked me “what if you were there and…”, “What if a car hits you?”, and commented “I’m not sure if my supervisor would allow me to hire you as a shopping cart collector, for the concern that you may be hit by a car.” At that time, I was young, and felt very oppressed to the point that I didn’t speak out. Suffice to say, I didn’t get the job. But, three weeks later, the position was filled by a gentleman with Down’s Syndrome. And I noticed it, most especially because it was raining outside, and the new cart collector was crying, refusing to go outside in the rain.
Now, think about that. They hired a guy with Down’s Syndrome. Perhaps, out of guilt for not hiring me, or perhaps to cover their asses in event that I did go after them? I also wanted to mention that another employee noticed this discriminatory behavior and complained to the supervisor. That woman was fired from her job on the spot.
Interestingly enough, that supervisor discovered that I had a hearing sister, and out of guilt, he hired her quickly. The act of doing so is audisitic. Also, the fact that my sister accepted the job is an audistic act, and an act of betrayal. The fact that my family allowed it was an act of audism and betrayal. To my chargrin, I most unfortunately discovered that he was now a family friend, and to this day he still is a family friend and visits my mother occasionaly. To this day I still feel anger and betrayal for that.
Six years later, that same supervisor got promoted to a regional supervision position for Chase Pitkin's- in another town, of which was owned by Wegmans. I decided to apply at Chase Pitkin's because by then, he had realized that my sister was a hard worker as well as having some guilt. I had hoped that fact would help get me the job. I needed a job, because I was forced to find one by my father. (I was in and out of college at the time and living with him when not in college)
Armed with the knowledge that he is unfortunately a family friend, I applied. I was interviewed by him. I'd like to remind you that he is the same person that interviewed me six years earlier- this time, I went by myself, without an interpreter. I was determinded to show him that I was capable of getting a job as well as perform the job without any dependence on an interpreter- which is an unfortunate byproduct of audism. I was applying for a stocking/forklift operator position. Not to my surprise, the guy expressed an concern of me getting hit by other people, or not being able to hear people behind me and hitting them. The office in which I was being interviewed was a second floor office, with a glass window overlooking the warehouse.
Mentally searching for an answer, I glanced through the window, and observed that every person driving a forklift was wearing hearing protection. When one wears one of those ear-muff type hearing protection- that person is 100% deaf! I was a little bit irritated by the question when I had realized this. Then I pointed out to one of the guys wearing an ear-muff and said, "well, he's deaf now, isn't he?" The boss leaned forward and stuttered, and before he could continue, I interrupted him and said "do you realize that I've been deaf my entire life? Do you realize that I have grown up being accustomed to not being able to hear? Do you realize that my sense of sight is heightened? Do you realize that I don't have to wear the earmuffs which obstructs the fork lifter's vision?" The boss was literally shaking and he looked at the other supervisor, of whom was sitting in the interview- and then he leaned back and laughed and extended his hand to me and said "You've got the job!" So there it is- I got hired on the spot. In a month's time, I had become an extremely efficent worker that he was forced to lay off 3 other warehouse workers. My boss realized the huge mistake he had made six years ago, and every time I smiled at him, I thought about that day, and about how much of an asshole he was. He smiles at me back, thinking that his favorite employee respected him and liked him. No. That wasn't it at all. It was my "you're an ignornant asshole smile".
More personal experiences with audism will be added here soon!
Erick Ketcham '97
Date of last update: May 19, 2006