Diversity: Disability and Deaf Studies

Introduction

It has long been held that disability like race, is a socially constructed notion. Despite the seeming arbitrariness in which labels and categories are placed upon certain populations, doing so creates a pervasive divide where deaf individuals are concerned. Once an individual is formally labeled as being “disabled,” it is the branding of a being that is nearly impossible to undo. Joseph Valente writes of the “colonization” of young deaf bodies, which occurs the minute a particular institution has gained control of, categorized, labeled, and publicly declare a young (or older) individual to be ‘deaf.’ In doing so, a label is forced upon a person’s psyche involuntarily, without providing for a natural journey to becoming deaf, as is evidenced in Genie Gertz’s examination of surdesence. Moreover, the notion of disability is not so neat nor compact, that its facets could be thoroughly justified in a single entry. Although the focus of disability and Deaf studies in this instance attempts to be broad, there is a substantial focus on K-12 education and educational psychology. As “sorting hat” mechanisms, these institutions are often the very first episodes of long term exposure for the vast majority of children. As such, how children are classified, categorized, labeled, and diagnosed almost always occur through these mechanisms. As such, the branding of disability begins here and proportionately is examined through this entry.

Disability Defined

Disability, in the mainstream definition of the term refers to a physical impairment that prevents one from successfully engaging in one or more major life activities. Governmental, educational, and medical institutions have varying degrees to which they define a disability. The United States Federal Government defines disability as “any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of having such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.” Major life activities is generally interpreted as seeing, breathing, hearing, walking, speaking, using limbs, involuntary bodily functions, as well as mental and emotional health.

Disability in Medicine

Like the Federal Government of the United States, the medical community has a similar definition of deafness, but notes that it is a ‘disorder’ manifested by a lack of hearing and is viewed as a condition that must be treated through a variety [Page 306]of procedures. Procedures include, but are not limited to: amplification, corrective surgery, cochlear implantation, and often include seemingly unrelated procedures such as the removing of tonsils, removing of the mastoid bone, and sometimes involves the use of prosthetic eardrums.

Disability in Education

The educational system in the United States further expands upon this broad definition by categorizing ‘disability’ into fourteen distinct categories, each with their own set of criteria for determining whether a student is disabled The scope and purview of these categories are set forth under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). Within the scope and criterion of the IDEA, these definitions are used to determine whether a student is eligible for special education. The categories are: Autism, Blindness, Deafness, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability (formerly termed Mental Retardation), Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impaired, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Visual Impairment. Deafness, as defined by IDEA is having an impairment so severe that a child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing with or without amplification that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Hearing Impairment as defined by IDEA is considered to be an impairment in hearing whether permanent or fluctuating that adversely affects a child’s educational performance but is not included under the definition of “deafness.”

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