19th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 8-10, 2020 • Kansas City, MO

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3/10/2020  |   3:00 PM - 3:30 PM   |  The Lives of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Individuals: A Sociopolitical Perspective   |  Empire C

The Lives of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Individuals: A Sociopolitical Perspective

Using sociopolitical frameworks and critical theories, participants will examine how human interactions and social norms impact deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. This includes all deaf and hard of hearing individuals regardless of hearing levels, hearing devices, communication modalities, and educational philosophies. Because the world is predominantly operated on hearing and spoken languages, it is anticipated each person with hearing loss will be affected somehow. This creates barriers when it comes to education, employment, and other social opportunities. The workshop will include statistical evidence provided by the National Deaf Center on Post-secondary Outcomes and other sources that show people with hearing loss at a disadvantage. Historical events will also be examined to make sense of how our society has gotten to where it is in regards to deaf and hard of hearing children, those that eventually become deaf and hard of hearing adults. Participants will learn about everyday habits that reinforce negative stereotype and unintentional discrimination. With this information, participants will examine their own upbringings, biases, and environments to identify how their own network supports people with hearing loss, at the same time, identifying how their own network marginalizes people with hearing loss. The goal is not for individuals to feel guilty, but to become aware. Awareness will allow participants to assess their personal situations and how they can contribute to inclusion. Tools will be shared on advocating in different areas to support the wholeness of each deaf and hard of hearing child.

  • Participants will review the basic dynamics of sociopolitical biases in society and how they affect individuals related to race, gender, sex, and disability; further focuses on those with hearing loss.
  • Participants will have increased awareness on how deaf and hard of hearing individuals navigate a world that is predominantly operated in listening and spoken languages; and how norms impact education, employment, and social opportunities.
  • Participants will leave knowing how they can advocate with deaf and hard of hearing children to improve the quality of life and dismantle barriers through advocacy, equity, and inclusion.

Presentation:
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Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference


Presenters/Authors

Mark Ramirez (), New Mexico School for the Deaf, ramirez.mark.a@gmail.com;
Mark Ramirez was born hearing and grew up like most hearing children. It wasn’t until he was 8 years old that he experienced hearing loss and the new inability to interact and receive education as he had always known. He wore hearing aids at home and was supported with the FM System at school. However, it was not the same. Mark’s mom decided to implement basic signs at home to support communications and placed him in an academic environment where he could receive his education in American Sign Language (ASL). It was not easy; but ultimately, this is when he finally felt normal again. Mark became fluent in ASL and maintained his listening and spoken language abilities with his residual hearing, hearing aids, and speech therapy. Today, Mark is a bilingual, bimodal licensed social worker focusing on all deaf and hard of hearing children, adults, and their hearing family members.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.