Understanding Deafness as a Language Barrier
Recognizing deafness as a language barrier rather than a medical issue changes how we approach accessibility and inclusion for the Deaf community in Malaysia.
The Deaf community is diverse, with a crucial distinction in the term "d/Deaf", which differentiates between those who are audiologically "deaf" and those who are culturally "Deaf".
- Culturally Deaf individuals are often born deaf or become deaf early in life.
- They use their respective national or local sign language as their primary language.
The distinction is fundamentally about linguistic and cultural identity rather than just the timing or the degree of hearing loss.
Author's summary: Deafness is a language barrier issue, not a hearing problem.
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