True Life: I'm Deaf Begins
Wednesday July 9, 2008
Multiple sources are reporting that on Sunday, July 20, at 1 pm EST, the MTV program True Life: I'm Deaf will air. The episode description:
On this episode of True Life, you'll meet two young people who were born completely deaf and must overcome huge obstacles to get the most out of their lives. They're trying to make their way in the world but will their deafness hold them back?I'm going to try to watch it, and I may post a critique afterwards.
Comments
I’m watching this episode now. It made me cry, because my boyfriend was born deaf, and now I can understand more some of his struggles, and even some of my own struggles trying to understand him. I think this episode was great, and it shows that the deaf community is amazing, and my favorite part, where I cried the most, was when Christopher heard his name, and his mom was so happy! I love this episode!
That episode was amazing! I love the part when Christopher first heard his name and that all his friends at school were so happy for him. I’m also glad that she made another dance team that she tried out for and her deafness didn’t hold her back. Definitely one of the best True Life shows ever!
This episode really touched me, I almost cried.
I loved this episode as well and I, too, got teary eyed when Christopher heard his name! I’m not familiar with ‘true life’ shows, is this a one time thing? or will there be more on the deaf community? Thanks!
I loved this one! I cried when Christopher and his father were talking about his father’s dreams about his voice. The girlfriend part was touching, too.
Wow… I couldn’t possibly have had a more opposite reaction! This show left a very negative taste in my mouth. Everything about it is based on the theory that deafness is a defect to be cured. It analyzes “not being able to hear” plenty, but fails to every even remotely explore that Deaf Community. It was so sad how Amanda will miss so much in her classes because she does not have full language access with an interpreter (even a CART interpreter who types what is being said while the teacher speaks!). I couldn’t believe that Christopher’s dad actually interpreted for that doctors appointment. Parents (or anyone emotionally involved) should never be interpreting in that setting- on top of which he was no where near the skill level of a qualified interpreter. Before making that kind of decision Chris should have full access to ask the doctors questions and recieve the information. These are just a few of the things that would pretty disturbing.
Where is the example of a strong Deaf person in this show? Many many young (and old) Deaf people live, learn, and thrive in the Deaf community everyday. With qualified interpreters, Deaf schools and college programs, and social events (to name just a little of what is involved)- there is plenty of access to language, social situations, and education. While it is not to say there are “downfalls” to being Deaf (as there are in many minority groups)- many Deaf people would not change it for the world. It is who they are and what they know- hearing leaves crunch under their feet is not a concern or interest. Hearing “their own mothers voice” is not a concern when that parent is so set on their child hearing that they fail to even learn how to communicate with them thru ASL.
That being said- I think the most potentially dangerous thing about this show is the representation of the cochlear implant. While I have no problem with them when the young adult/adult makes the choice to have themself implanted- the episode painted an often very unrealistic picture of the device. This lends itself to the misconception that it makes deaf people “hear”. While I am sure there are some “success stories” that are glorified by hearing-centric organizations- all and all cochlear implants do not just make deaf people hear. How many deaf kids will watch this and thing that by drilling into their head they can hear- how many uninformed parents will think this is the “cure” they have been waiting for? The truth is- many cochlear implants do not even work! Look at Chris himself- his first one was defective. Many people who have one choose not to even wear their device. It is one thing to hear noise, but that does not mean he is anymore capable to making out speech. I think this can be a very confusing concept to grasp if you have always been able to hear.
Chris seemed to have a pretty good sense of himself and his deafness- no focus went to that- just to his desire to have a hearing girlfriend, a job and marriage (which of course is entirely possible either way).
While these were some examples of what deaf and hoh teenagers and young adults go thru- it was by no means representative of the community as a whole. This was obviously heavily leaned towards a certain mentaility and perspective that was limiting. Deaf people may watch this and brush it off, but what about all the hearing people out there that “cry” over this, feel sorry for deaf kids, and rally towards the idea that they need to be corrected instead of supporting and accepting them? The show should have taken steps to show what it is like to be deaf (as they advertise to do), not dramatize the situation and make people who have never even met a deaf person cry.
PS I am hearing
I thought that it was a good episode, i never thought that being deaf was so hard.
i watched that episode last night and i cried, it gave me direction in my life. i applied to college to be a speech pathologist but didnt know what field i would land in, and now i know i want to go towards audiology and those who are deaf.
I just watched the episode, and I thought it was really awesome! Hearing is something we all look past, and don’t realize what it would be like to not have it. It showed me to appricaite the little things, and to not let anything get in my way. When chris first started hearing, and his mother started to cry, I cried too. Chris is SO cute!
I just watched this eposide! It’s one of my favorites.
I’ve watched it like a thousand times and never get tired of it.
Poor Christopher…this really toched me alot (i cried). Keep showing it True Life!