deafness

I am a minority.

I have a disability.

I am not ashamed of my disability, or who I am.

It is not a disability that affects my quality of life, or the way I live. It only affects the way I learn, or the effort I put into hearing. I can hear, talk on the phone, and listen to music, I just have to wear hearing aids while doing it. Since my medical insurance covers a portion of my hearing aids, that makes it a medical disability, right? Health insurance does not cover things that are not necessary.

I am 26 years old. I've tried to understand all of the "Deaf power" stuff. Yes, we're deaf, Yes we should have equal access to things. Yes we should not be discriminated against. But that doesn't mean deaf people should go out and demand equal access to things, and get everything for free because of their disability.

Life is what you make of it. People who have other medical conditions such as dyslexia, ADD, or learning disabilities learn to adjust the way they learn and work hard to make something of themselves. So many people out there have disabilities, but they do not let it hinder their future. They work as hard as they possibly can to get ahead in their life. It makes me SO Mad when people on one hand say "Deafness is not a disability, it is a culture" And then on the other hand they go and get SSI. Well, having SSI means your admitting to your disability. And that your not planning to achieve anything with your life. I know there are, as always, circumstances where SSI is not a bad thing.

Deafness IS a disability. Its how you let it affect your life that matters.

Be proud of who you are.

work hard, and get ahead, because you CAN do it.