My Thoughts about privilege/attitude in the Deaf community

Tough topic but we need to have a dialogue about it- privileged Deaf person (some call it Deaf elite) & the attitude/perspective. I myself recognize I have to check my own privileges as well as I’m not exempt from it either. All of you aren't. Just bringing this to the table to create a dialogue.
Catching up and uploading my content that was posted on my Instagram and Facebook throughout the quarantine year! This video was posted on IG on October 4, 2020. (Check out my other videos!)

[@LindaLinda-qc4mm]

The Internet is full of garbage. But it is also full of wonderful things: with opportunities to learn, and become a better person. Your posts are examples of the wonderful things. Thank you Renca. You are a gem.

[@alexisbiles4467]

Hello Renca Dunn

[@sandramapson]

I completely agree! For so far ling we Deaf community have been divided. I was ridiculed in Deaf school (big) cuz I wasn't Deaf enough. I considered myself 1/2 Deaf and 1/2 HoH. So I graduated from mainstreamed. We need to be open minded. And discuss it more.

[@carol2336]

How spiteful

[@danielleeaston2321]

It has not been easy to be part of deaf community, due to many reasons and my experience as deaf person. I was never felt welcomed in deaf world. I am in hearing world for too many years and most of the time I'm in my own little world....

[@mdjones905]

I’m in that kind of disposition too. I was hearing then progressive hearing loss gives me the feeling not belongs in either worlds, but I’m content with who I am. Yes, I’m fluent ASL. Love it. 😍

[@carol2336]

The government-funded facilities supplied to help all hard-of-hearing people including the deaf. The quality of life and standards have been ignored. It appears only the chosen ones get help. Who decided to discriminate individuals and how did they get away with this.

[@alanolson6913]

I’m hard of hearing and I sign. But being hard of hearing and not deaf or fully hearing puts me in two worlds, yet not fully in one or the other. It was refreshing to see Renca bring up this topic. Many pieces of this topic to unpack and discuss. So interesting!

[@carol2336]

Yes, the subject of bad behavior and the reasons behind it. I think the stereotype of hard of hearing and deaf should be looked into. The difference between hard of hearing and deaf people is not right. I wonder if the deaf sit at the front of the bus and the hard of hearing at the back.

[@alanolson6913]

@@carol2336 It feels that way sometimes. I’m not as quick or as informed on ASL as some of Deaf I’ve interacted with because I don’t use sign daily. Yet there is a type of hierarchy in that community : if you are deaf with deaf siblings it’s a high mark. If you’re from a family with deaf parents and deaf family members, it’s even more highly regarded. If you’re someone like me with only hearing in the family and being the only HOH , well, that’s nice for you and I really have to go now. So, I have others who are part of my life and I’m fine with that.

[@pattytadak]

Denca, You are absolutely right. We tend to stereotype each group which we have to stop. Look at the person not the group. Thank you for bringing that up.

[@SH-pg9qw]

Well said. I understand you clearly and I have learned some of deaf who strongly from deaf school usually called me outsider that's what I lost my confidence and I couldn't share my privacy express feelings from what I have been struggling with others. However your pov is very clearly and make sense 🫶🏻♥️🤟🏻

[@jenniejones9711]

The issues created more complications due to misunderstandings and misinformations related to technology. It actually between ASL and English obsolete each other out, yet it is at the Deaf school who loves to switched ‘plays’ which is horrendous of cutting off communication on both sides to the classroom’s teachers. Why are your perception is pretending that problems are from mainstreamed? Then why are both social norms of groups pretending that deaf should be forced to be DEPENDENT not independent individual as through a regular HEARING telephone even to ‘sell’ a maybe working or non-working tty machine when it is against the agreement of ADA policy which means it was being processed with the wrong way of concept of ‘handling’ tty when many, many, many people don’t even know what it is? How was a person to contact the bank when ASSESSABILITIES is being deprived and ‘playing games’ through a console game controller to mask between textings to cover up another part of bi-products, yet still makes it HARDER to fight for ADA as independent individual when your social norms does not recognize or respect their own co-workers within the state being undeaf, uncitizen and unchristianized with service/disservices? They themselves actually support ‘reverse mainstreamed’ which means going against the schools’ systems against who??? TEACHERS/ADA swapping out both part of ENGLISH and ADA which means already in violations of both part switching out against bi-products. Why would a teacher who herself brought a sexual position book to school within at the end of her first year of work, meanwhile takes away the neutrality of the both D/deaf adults and children of NOT understanding assessabilities among deafness pretending that professionalism of teachers is based on ‘sexuality’ rather than respect for professionals as TEACHERS!? Why does social norms does not respect the neutrality of cued speech which is a conflict between an actual sign for sexual context and cued speech placement are not the same space on the face? Yet both social norms does not recognize that many have both ASL and cued speech, yet some social norms would rather make it awkward.

[@denyceacquah8778]

I wish there more option have video under the comment and it’s design is friendly for me to have access to the video. I remove some my comment. The question is who invented Deaf Elite and why had to label to only to Deaf and Hard of people? I am not agree with label and everyone’s different perspective include myself and where is clear Elite meaning to all same?

[@sherryllarue]

Agree. Why not home schooling on computer?

[@vinnyslagle2288]

Renga Dunn! Your comment is wonderful to recognize what is between deaf and mainstream at hearing HS. Awesome! My experiences are about deaf school and mainstreaming at healing school were much different. I used to attend at Washington State School for the Deaf (WSSD or WSD) in Vancouver, WA in 1971-78; also, I used to fly from my hometown, Reno, NV to Portland, OR Someone came to pick me up and went to deaf school for 7years. Ok! At deaf school, stayed at the dorm socialized with other deaf students; however, I was not fond of the dorm because I had bad experiences and I will not talk about my bad experiences at the dorm; the education was the best I’ve ever had to learn a lot and had opportunities to learn mores. But I decided to leave the deaf school and settled at my hometown, Reno, NV. At mainstreaming at hearing high school I attended for two years instead of four; it was okay. The interpreters were not many. One teacher who knew ASL signings teach wrong way in English. I really wished I would stay at deaf school for education only that I would cherish to learn more but there was nothing I could do so I went ahead to add correspondence course for US government that I could pass and graduated in 1980. Went to Ohlone College in Fremont, CA for three years. Between deaf school and mainstreaming at hearing high school were big differences. Some wanted to go at deaf school That would be great! Some wanted to go mainstreaming at hearing high school probably fine but the accommodations at hearing high school would be sufficient for deaf students? That was hard part at mainstreaming I am deaf but not profound. I use my hearing aid but I rather sign ASL that was the best. My family are hearing I am only one deaf. Wish you the best if you apply for the position at Iowa deaf school, go for it. I am not familiar if Iowa deaf school is small or big? Hope all goes well! 😎👍☀️ have a great summer!

[@nihilizmskizm]

Love thier facials - amazing they have thier own dialogue even there

[@evelynpasqua6968]

It is a great idea to discuss this topic regarding the attitudes of the deaf/hard of hearing people who came from the deaf schools as well as the mainstream schools. Everyone should share their experiences and opinions as long as they respect each other.

[@UFOFU]

I’m profoundly deaf and yet have no loss on the low frequencies. My experience of the last twenty years is the deaf community is the most unwelcoming hostile group I’ve ever tried to be accepted by or even just hang with. Luckily for me it discouraged me from getting the c implant for over 15yrs now. 😅I still can enjoy listening to music but only 16% of critical speech yet not deaf enough to join these angry groups. Thanks deaf community for twenty years of loneliness.

[@carol2336]

This attitude needs to be looked into. The deaf community has decided they can pick and choose people who are welcome and not welcome. I am saddened to find people medically diagnosed people, who have been tested by a professional doctor are not accepted by other deaf peaple who have no degree in deaf disabilities. They threw the people out of the community before they had a chance to use the government-funded amenities and get a better quality of life.

[@bonitasmile21]

i am so glad you're opened this video about this in general perspective and attitude. i have experienced something similar only a bit different. i went to mainstream hearing public school with small hoh and deaf program required english sign language in middle of west Texas. it was all that they had at the time. after going there. i used to visit SWCID with my mother as a child to growing up, she was major there as an interprerter major. with the old students of '93 to '95 they were kind to me even regarded of my english sign language. till in '97 to 2005 and even at social media like Tik Tok i was discriminated by some deafies about my english sign language, my not enough ASL, deaf backgrounds and not familiar with the deaf social, people, etc you name it. even they made fun of it. i was sad about it as well. it hurted me. and their expectations of certain people like me were very harash. so as i said it's similar with your deaf small school to the big deaf school. the perspective and attiutude. unfortunately they were taught, custom, influenced,etc by however. not every one has good hearts like you and me could be open and welcoming and keep an warm hearts spreading the love and unity. thank you for sharing this video. i'm relieved to learn about you like this. i've seen you in one of the video "the World needs You" by Kirk Franklin. with other twos. loved it. bless you. i pray and hope you continue to open their hearts and educate them. keep it up the good work. prayers.

[@lynndrown3742]

True. Once they put us in 2 different side. One at deaf school and other mainstream system which ruin everything but we have to face that issues. No matter how big or small, I hoped it would work out for the best for deaf/HOH.

[@carol2336]

Ok cool

[@carol2336]

I was treated badly by a deaf teacher. I went to learn sign and i was told im not deaf enough to learn . I left the building i actually encountered a taste of deaf peaple who have jealousy about the level of deafness that is acceptable in a deaf world. The question is is this a mental health problem ? I think its jealousy and disrespectful to a individual

[@sandramapson]

Whoa! I was too treated badly by a deaf teacher. "You chew gum like a cow!" Which gums aren't allowed. Just awful I had to take a test in order to transfer! The assignments were hard to read by his terrible handwriting!

[@sandramapson]

Oh yeah. It BOTH. Mental problems and attitude problems. Racist too.

[@carol2336]

@@sandramapson I was in mainstream school all my life. I was told to sit at the front of the class as they said I am distracted a lot. mostly by looking out the window. The teachers thought I was distracted and could be disruptive. I was accused of not listening and being bad-mannered. I left school at the age of 16. Many years later I had a hearing test, diagnosed as hard of hearing. that's when I went to see the deaf school teacher who said I'm not deaf enough to sign. You saw all about that in the above comment. I fully understand how spiteful and entitled teachers are. To compare a human being to a cow is mindless. The teacher should have said please remove the gum. The handwriting on the blackboard was always a scribble and the teacher did not care a less if anyone could read it or not. A teacher threw books at me once because I did not speak back to him. He was shouting I did not respond so he threw a pile of books at me. I hope you are ok and everything is fine.

[@sandramapson]

@@carol2336 the teacher was deaf. And I was required to take a math test in order to be transferred. Really traumatized to mentally ill heath ill emotionally ill EVERYTHING! Sorry about your experiences.

[@carol2336]

@@sandramapson I am fine thank you. I am not traumatized by the experiences. I just move on they don't worry me.

[@keidwyn]

This may not be the write place to ask but I came across this video at the same time ive been thinking of learning Auslan ,my question is ,if I learned Auslan as a hearing person would I be taking away a job or potential job form a non hearing person ? Also is non hearing an ok phrase to use ? I apologise if this is not an ok place to for my questions

[@MissCarlafrances18]

YEs, its a good dialogue! I, Myself go to the most wonderful school for the Deaf In NY called Lexington school for the deaf since 1993-2009!! Yes, its the best school in my option and surprisedly Graduated in a mainstream school 2010 because of transfer of my credits to graduate and needed a new life experience.experiences. Its people, just assume that we have privileges to be able to learn. School is School, what I am learning in school, is what I learn in school its the same no difference. No school is better than others.

[@stevegroggins7487]

i agree with renca dunn,s story good

[@williambrown7908]

I agree with u that they should focus on both to learn from each than only see one side but need to see both side to get whole image and see from their own point of view to understand better

[@donnarsprague5558]

i agreed with u , I do believe that persons should have open and talk about things relate to deaf or mainstream schools, for better socife life (wrong spelling) excuse me.. i think not all deaf people should get along with hearing people where u work or social. i myself is hard of hearing, i learned many ways, i mean two worlds are much difference lives but i have to live with hearing world no matter what or who.. just be happy with anyone who u feel trust. someone who believe in u. my family are hearing , im only one hard of hearing, can talk by mouth, not expect ok

[@carol2336]

I understand you, life is not as simple as it appears being hard of hearing. I too am hard of hearing in a hearing family, the fact is we get by as best we can. I got no help when I asked many years ago I was told I am not deaf enough and I am still trying to get a job to pay my bills and improve my quality of life. I will be doing education for the hard of hearing and finding out what opportunities are available for me, I wish you good luck in the future.

[@nohearfilms]

Hi Renca, you and I come from a rival school! I am OSSD with two SS meaning, I am old. I kiss fist your choice of words for this topic. However it is very irony to have that issue for k-12, not Gally and “undergraduates from hearing university with interpreters.

[@samgold9151]

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[@childofcascadia]

What on earth are you talking about? What does Deafness have to do with blindness?