The Washington Post has a great write-up on deaf culture and identity politics in the context of the ongoing protests at Gallaudet. Many students are arguing that the woman in line to become the college’s next president isn’t “deaf enough”. They want to ensure that Gallaudet remains a place where deaf culture continues to flourish, free from the influences of the hearing world.
I don’t pretend to have a full appreciation of the nuances of the debate, but I admire the passion and conviction of those students. They are willing to risk arrest in their efforts to define themselves and their collective. The disability community could sometimes use a dose of that pride and self-assuredness. We spend a lot of time explaining what we are not–sick, helpless, unemployable, heroic–but disproving negatives can be a wearying business. But the vast range of disability experiences make finding a common identity nearly impossible. Then again, the situation at Gallaudet seems to suggest that the deaf have the same problem.
