File This under "THAT SUCKS!"

[wendybeth]

You're right for the most part, Prudence, but there are so many other factors at play here. The Deaf community doesn't think their hearing loss needs to be 'fixed' by technology and many of them are extremely nasty about implants- the sign for 'implant' is a negative one in itself. Their argument fall flat when one realises all the many tech adaptations that exist in order to help them get along in a hearing world- vibrating sleep alarms, lights that indicate when someone is at the door, the telephone relay, computers, etc. While the world is getting better at understanding Deaf culture and people are learning more about ASL and other forms of sign, it's very doubtful that the world is going to adjust to accomodate the Deaf.

Even though you thought it an out of scale analogy, you weren't far off with your 'passing for white' comment. I often describe kids with Tori's level of hearing loss as sort of 'bi-racial'- neither side wants to claim them, and they are often left out of social groups, etc, simply because they cannot hear well, or aren't deaf enough.