#audism

I'm not being an asshole when I tell you that obviously we don't use American Sign Language in Australia. (/directed)

I'm not being an asshole when I tell you not to push me when I'm in my wheelchair without asking.

I'm not being an asshole when I tell you you're being ableist.

As of yesterday, Florida is no longer allowing interpreters of any kind when someone takes a driver’s test (this includes the written portion and the driving portion).

They’re requiring all tests be taken in English.

Not only is this complete discrimination against people who read and speak spoken languages that are not English, it’s also complete discrimination against people whose primary language are neither spoken nor English. Like people who communicate mostly or entirely in American Sign Language.

Not allowing interpreters during the written portion is still awful in the context of people who use ASL because not every deaf person’s first language is English. ASL and English are not the same language at all and ASL is not a written language. Just because someone uses ASL does not automatically mean they can read English.

This new rule or whatever makes it more likely disabled people can’t drive and won’t be in public. This independence being taken away also means we [disabled people] have to rely on other people for things we need. This can lead to disabled people being abused. It also makes it a lot more difficult for disabled people to leave if we are being abused.

And, yes, this is illegal. A lot of discriminaion that’s technically illegal - and has been for decades - happens all the time.

I feel like 7 hours a day on average is plenty. Like I will wear my processors all day at work but then not very much when I'm just at home or on the weekends. Like I just have them on when I actually need to hear stuff.

Also, it's not like it's hindering my progress with the implants. My speech discrimination is in the top 10% of cochlear implant users. So I feel like it's not really that necessary for me to be wearing my processors all day every day to get the benefit from them.

Also FYI, I am a grown adult (26) and it just seems a bit invasive to have my audiologist able to see my time "on air" (yes, that is the official term). Like quite frankly I don't really think it's any of their business.

what I see most often is one character who can’t speak using ASL and everyone else just… keeps talking. No. No!! You don’t do that!!! Not in real life!!! I mean you can, sure, but it’s rude and also makes it more difficult to communicate! ASL and English are two different languages that are not interchangeable. Switching between those languages constantly is hard, and in a realistic scenario if you tried this it’d just lead to the signer being ignored because talking in a language you know is easier.

it’s also so weird because all these inaccurate fanfics where characters use ASL and not a d/Deaf person in sight? Like. The main group who uses ASL in the real world. The group who ASL is literally made for. Where are they? Where are they in your stories?? It’s not that hard to write a d/Deaf person. They just can’t hear very well. You don’t even have to make it a big plot point just at least put it there, c’mon. (“they’re not deaf in canon!!” bro they aren’t gay either)

and it’s ALSO inaccurate to nonverbal people! Do many nonverbal people use ASL? Yes! But just as many use things like AAC devices to communicate, or can hardly communicate even with them. A nonverbal character is great, but it’s even better to show the breadth of the experience. I wouldn’t be complaining about this if I saw fics where characters actually had AAC devices they used, but if there are any I certainly haven’t found them! It doesn’t even have to be big, you don’t even have to change quotes, just put in the description that they typed it out or something!!

Hell, this isn’t even touching on all the other ableism surrounding these things. Like why do I only ever see fully nonverbal or d/Deaf people, why not semiverbal or hard of hearing?? Why does it seem like when people bring it up it’s always an acquired thing instead of from birth??

This is ableism, transphobia, exorsexism, and varsexism.

Holy shit. I cannot believe this. So much is wrong with this, where do I even begin?

The people they want to ban from driving include:

-Deaf and HOH people. (Literally for what purpose? Because they may not be able to hear honking and police sirens? Well, just being observant of surroundings is all that's really necessary, you don't have to hear to be a safe driver!)

-People with colorblindness (not all forms of colorblindness make it impossible to tell a red light vs green light!)

-People with epilepsy. (Plenty of epileptics are not a danger behind the wheel!)

-People with paraphilic disorders. (I cannot even concieve of a possible connection. It's just stereotyping us as dangerous individuals.)

-Schizospecs. (Literally just the stereotype that a schizospec person becomes dangerous when having an episode, that is not the case for a majority of them.)

-People with personality disorders (again, for what purpose? Just stereotyping us as dangerous?)

-People with behavioral disorders (Like with para disorders and personality disorders, its just again, another stereotype!)

-People with neurodevelopmental disabilities (not all neurodevelopmental disabilities impair ability to drive!)

Audism is when your friends cut you off for being a "gaslighter" because you couldn't hear them and asked them to repeat things. (Expressing your communication needs is abusive.) This is interpersonal ableism.

Audism is when your partner promises to take a sign language class for you for the 5th Christmas in a row and yet again does not follow through. (Your communication needs are just not that important) This is interpersonal ableism.

Audism is when your friends take advantage of your deafness to talk shit about you right around the corner. (Your trust in your friends is just not that important) This is interpersonal ableism.

Audism is when your friends take a sign language class but refuse to practice with you. (Your communication is just not that important) This is interpersonal ableism.

Audism is when a stranger makes a comment that they would have aborted you if you were their child. (Your life is just not that important) This is interpersonal ableism.

Audism is when your professor decides that he will only caption the videos you watch at home for homework, not the ones shown in class. (Your understanding of the material is just not that important) This is institutional ableism.

Audism is when the interpreter is "charging too much" to be hired for the event you were supposed to be attending. (Your access to the event is just not that important) This is institutional ableism.

Audism is when interpreters aren't required for traffic stops or any other police interactions before arrest. (Your safety around the police is just not that important) This is institutional ableism.

Audism is when your job won't let you use your FM system around customers because "they might not feel comfortable with it." (Your ability to keep your job is just not that important) This is institutional ableism.

Audism is when your professor tells you that wearing your FM system is "annoying" so he won't be doing it anymore. (Your ability to understand the lecture is just not that important) This is interpersonal AND institutional ableism.

Audism is when the police officer mocks your deaf accent while you try to speak after being denied an interpreter. (Your communication is just not that important) This is interpersonal AND institutional ableism.

Audism is when over and over again you are rejected by the people around you and the institutions you live within. Audism is when you are treated as worthless day in and day out. Audism is when you can't keep friendships, jobs, good grades, etc. because everyone gives up on you- you are not worth it. That is what the world tells us every day.

When you wake up deaf* you wake up to a world that does not want you. Your waking up in and of itself is an act of resistance in a world that would have rather you died than have to accommodate you.