hi I’m really excited to be here today and I’m feeling really enthusiastic I am
and I’m feeling really enthusiastic I am
and I’m feeling really enthusiastic I am talking about my topic because it’s
talking about my topic because it’s
talking about my topic because it’s something that I’m extremely passionate
something that I’m extremely passionate
something that I’m extremely passionate about and that is def Guillen and def
about and that is def Guillen and def
about and that is def Guillen and def Guillen aims to challenge and redefine
Guillen aims to challenge and redefine
Guillen aims to challenge and redefine what it is that we know about deafness
what it is that we know about deafness
what it is that we know about deafness about human diversity and about and
about human diversity and about and
about human diversity and about and being different I guess in our world
being different I guess in our world
being different I guess in our world this idea of deaf Gihon and was first
this idea of deaf Gihon and was first
this idea of deaf Gihon and was first suggested and by am a guy named Aaron
suggested and by am a guy named Aaron
suggested and by am a guy named Aaron Williamson Aaron Williamson is a
Williamson Aaron Williamson is a
Williamson Aaron Williamson is a performance artist and who began to lose
performance artist and who began to lose
performance artist and who began to lose his hearing at a young age and irons
his hearing at a young age and irons
his hearing at a young age and irons parents did what any typical person and
parents did what any typical person and
parents did what any typical person and would day whenever the body undergoes
would day whenever the body undergoes
would day whenever the body undergoes rapid change and they sought medical
rapid change and they sought medical
rapid change and they sought medical help
help
help after years of multiple visits and to
after years of multiple visits and to
after years of multiple visits and to doctors and to audiologists Aaron came
doctors and to audiologists Aaron came
doctors and to audiologists Aaron came to realization and he asked this
to realization and he asked this
to realization and he asked this question why had all the doctors told me
question why had all the doctors told me
question why had all the doctors told me that I was losing my hearing and none of
that I was losing my hearing and none of
that I was losing my hearing and none of them had told me that I was gaining my
them had told me that I was gaining my
them had told me that I was gaining my deafness I just want you to think about
deafness I just want you to think about
deafness I just want you to think about that for a couple of seconds so this
that for a couple of seconds so this
that for a couple of seconds so this concept of being deaf and incorporates a
concept of being deaf and incorporates a
concept of being deaf and incorporates a vast the vastly differing degrees of
vast the vastly differing degrees of
vast the vastly differing degrees of deafness that range from mild hearing
deafness that range from mild hearing
deafness that range from mild hearing loss to Pro find deafness and today I
loss to Pro find deafness and today I
loss to Pro find deafness and today I really want to focus on those who are
really want to focus on those who are
really want to focus on those who are pre lingually deaf and and this means
pre lingually deaf and and this means
pre lingually deaf and and this means that they have lost their hearing or
that they have lost their hearing or
that they have lost their hearing or become deaf before the acquisition of a
become deaf before the acquisition of a
become deaf before the acquisition of a language so that’s usually before the
language so that’s usually before the
language so that’s usually before the age of five for these people British
age of five for these people British
age of five for these people British sign language is their first language
sign language is their first language
sign language is their first language and language of choice and contrary to
and language of choice and contrary to
and language of choice and contrary to common belief British sign language is
common belief British sign language is
common belief British sign language is not just a gestural code that represents
not just a gestural code that represents
not just a gestural code that represents the surrounding spoken language but it’s
the surrounding spoken language but it’s
the surrounding spoken language but it’s a language in its own right so sign
a language in its own right so sign
a language in its own right so sign language and different countries have
language and different countries have
language and different countries have different sign languages but within that
different sign languages but within that
different sign languages but within that and different regions also have regional
and different regions also have regional
and different regions also have regional signs which they use so it’s not a
signs which they use so it’s not a
signs which they use so it’s not a universal
universal
universal thing sign language and as an unwritten
thing sign language and as an unwritten
thing sign language and as an unwritten language I am its visual and it has its
language I am its visual and it has its
language I am its visual and it has its own grammar Defra – sign language sign
own grammar Defra – sign language sign
own grammar Defra – sign language sign language users have a common experience
language users have a common experience
language users have a common experience of life on this manifest itself in Deaf
of life on this manifest itself in Deaf
of life on this manifest itself in Deaf culture deaf culture in corporates and
culture deaf culture in corporates and
culture deaf culture in corporates and art history value beliefs but it’s also
art history value beliefs but it’s also
art history value beliefs but it’s also an attitude deaf people are extremely
an attitude deaf people are extremely
an attitude deaf people are extremely proud to be deaf an extremely pride em
proud to be deaf an extremely pride em
proud to be deaf an extremely pride em of their culture
of their culture
of their culture however deafness can also m be seen as a
however deafness can also m be seen as a
however deafness can also m be seen as a severe loss to the majority and hearing
severe loss to the majority and hearing
severe loss to the majority and hearing people surrounding surrounding deaf
people surrounding surrounding deaf
people surrounding surrounding deaf people but I want to challenge this
people but I want to challenge this
people but I want to challenge this today I want you to take in to
today I want you to take in to
today I want you to take in to consideration a deaf child who is born
consideration a deaf child who is born
consideration a deaf child who is born in to a deaf family they are brought up
in to a deaf family they are brought up
in to a deaf family they are brought up surrounded by sign language and
surrounded by sign language and
surrounded by sign language and therefore they naturally acquire this
therefore they naturally acquire this
therefore they naturally acquire this language and I’ll toy I fully express
language and I’ll toy I fully express
language and I’ll toy I fully express themselves without any barriers just
themselves without any barriers just
themselves without any barriers just think about that for a moment do you
think about that for a moment do you
think about that for a moment do you think this deaf child experiences any
think this deaf child experiences any
think this deaf child experiences any sense of loss within that situation you
sense of loss within that situation you
sense of loss within that situation you see hearing people and have controlled
see hearing people and have controlled
see hearing people and have controlled the construction of knowledge avoid
the construction of knowledge avoid
the construction of knowledge avoid deafness and what it is and to be deaf
deafness and what it is and to be deaf
deafness and what it is and to be deaf and unfortunately because of this and
and unfortunately because of this and
and unfortunately because of this and deaf people have been given some sort of
deaf people have been given some sort of
deaf people have been given some sort of secondary status where they are seen as
secondary status where they are seen as
secondary status where they are seen as different and therefore less valuable
different and therefore less valuable
different and therefore less valuable the social position of deaf people
the social position of deaf people
the social position of deaf people within British society and has been
within British society and has been
within British society and has been reflected by the medical model of
reflected by the medical model of
reflected by the medical model of deafness medical organizations have
deafness medical organizations have
deafness medical organizations have sought to restore deaf people to em the
sought to restore deaf people to em the
sought to restore deaf people to em the status of hearing and speaking members
status of hearing and speaking members
status of hearing and speaking members of society through cure and compensation
of society through cure and compensation
of society through cure and compensation not only does this and does this a
not only does this and does this a
not only does this and does this a privileged one way of being over another
privileged one way of being over another
privileged one way of being over another but it actively seeks to impose a
but it actively seeks to impose a
but it actively seeks to impose a preference being here
preference being here
preference being here and oppresses another being deaf so I
and oppresses another being deaf so I
and oppresses another being deaf so I just want to think about am you in your
just want to think about am you in your
just want to think about am you in your lives I guess and and if you think that
lives I guess and and if you think that
lives I guess and and if you think that at any point you’ve come across a deaf
at any point you’ve come across a deaf
at any point you’ve come across a deaf person I’ve had these kind of an
person I’ve had these kind of an
person I’ve had these kind of an learners oddest attitudes to audism and
learners oddest attitudes to audism and
learners oddest attitudes to audism and which is oppression of deaf people have
which is oppression of deaf people have
which is oppression of deaf people have you been in a situation where you’ve
you been in a situation where you’ve
you been in a situation where you’ve misunderstood that person or that
misunderstood that person or that
misunderstood that person or that person’s been misrepresented to you this
person’s been misrepresented to you this
person’s been misrepresented to you this is where am my research comes into play
is where am my research comes into play
is where am my research comes into play and my PhD which I’m studying here at
and my PhD which I’m studying here at
and my PhD which I’m studying here at Queen Margaret University I really want
Queen Margaret University I really want
Queen Margaret University I really want to explore the experiences of deaf
to explore the experiences of deaf
to explore the experiences of deaf people and within the NHS within
people and within the NHS within
people and within the NHS within hospitals and what that interaction
hospitals and what that interaction
hospitals and what that interaction between nurses and deaf people um is
between nurses and deaf people um is
between nurses and deaf people um is like how do they experience that how do
like how do they experience that how do
like how do they experience that how do they feel in it what does it mean for
they feel in it what does it mean for
they feel in it what does it mean for that identity whenever they’re in that
that identity whenever they’re in that
that identity whenever they’re in that situation you’ll be happy to know I’m
situation you’ll be happy to know I’m
situation you’ll be happy to know I’m not going to go in to lots of detail
not going to go in to lots of detail
not going to go in to lots of detail about my research and if you want to
about my research and if you want to
about my research and if you want to know anything else afterwards you can
know anything else afterwards you can
know anything else afterwards you can ask me though but I would just like to
ask me though but I would just like to
ask me though but I would just like to point out a couple of things that I’ve
point out a couple of things that I’ve
point out a couple of things that I’ve learned from a very limited time of
learned from a very limited time of
learned from a very limited time of being in deaf spaces and deaf contexts
being in deaf spaces and deaf contexts
being in deaf spaces and deaf contexts the first thing is that deaf people and
the first thing is that deaf people and
the first thing is that deaf people and whenever they think of being deaf they
whenever they think of being deaf they
whenever they think of being deaf they don’t feel a sense of loss but rather
don’t feel a sense of loss but rather
don’t feel a sense of loss but rather just a distinct way of being in the
just a distinct way of being in the
just a distinct way of being in the world the second thing is that although
world the second thing is that although
world the second thing is that although I want to capture and see those
I want to capture and see those
I want to capture and see those experiences of what it is to be deaf
experiences of what it is to be deaf
experiences of what it is to be deaf within a healthcare setting I can never
within a healthcare setting I can never
within a healthcare setting I can never fully cross the border into that world I
fully cross the border into that world I
fully cross the border into that world I will never know what it is to be a deaf
will never know what it is to be a deaf
will never know what it is to be a deaf child and I will never know what it is
child and I will never know what it is
child and I will never know what it is to experience the world and a highly
to experience the world and a highly
to experience the world and a highly visual way however I can explore the
visual way however I can explore the
visual way however I can explore the spaces in between the spaces in between
spaces in between the spaces in between
spaces in between the spaces in between my hearing world on an individual’s and
my hearing world on an individual’s and
my hearing world on an individual’s and Deaf world
Deaf world
Deaf world and that’s really that’s really what I
and that’s really that’s really what I
and that’s really that’s really what I want to pass on to you because it’s in
want to pass on to you because it’s in
want to pass on to you because it’s in the cultural moments where I experience
the cultural moments where I experience
the cultural moments where I experience and that space in between where I can
and that space in between where I can
and that space in between where I can open up and my ideas and my knowledge
open up and my ideas and my knowledge
open up and my ideas and my knowledge about what it is to be deaf can be
about what it is to be deaf can be
about what it is to be deaf can be challenged and regenerated
lastly I just want to tell you a story
lastly I just want to tell you a story this is a story about Martha’s Vineyard
this is a story about Martha’s Vineyard
this is a story about Martha’s Vineyard this is a true story about an island off
this is a true story about an island off
this is a true story about an island off the coast of Massachusetts early
the coast of Massachusetts early
the coast of Massachusetts early settlers and Martha’s vineyard’s and a
settlers and Martha’s vineyard’s and a
settlers and Martha’s vineyard’s and a lot of them carried a gene which cause
lot of them carried a gene which cause
lot of them carried a gene which cause deafness deafness became so prevalent on
deafness deafness became so prevalent on
deafness deafness became so prevalent on Island that and then habitant developed
Island that and then habitant developed
Island that and then habitant developed their own unique sign language this sign
their own unique sign language this sign
their own unique sign language this sign language was not only used by hearing or
language was not only used by hearing or
language was not only used by hearing or by deaf sorry members of the island but
by deaf sorry members of the island but
by deaf sorry members of the island but also the hearing just think about that
also the hearing just think about that
also the hearing just think about that for a moment everyone was able to
for a moment everyone was able to
for a moment everyone was able to communicate with one another without any
communicate with one another without any
communicate with one another without any barriers being potently yes this meant
barriers being potently yes this meant
barriers being potently yes this meant the deaf people were incorporated into
the deaf people were incorporated into
the deaf people were incorporated into every part of the island like community
every part of the island like community
every part of the island like community life they owned farms their own
life they owned farms their own
life they owned farms their own businesses and and their certain local
businesses and and their certain local
businesses and and their certain local councils and governments not only that
councils and governments not only that
councils and governments not only that but hearing people and I guess so the
but hearing people and I guess so the
but hearing people and I guess so the benefits of knowing a sign language as
benefits of knowing a sign language as
benefits of knowing a sign language as well so farmers could communicate with
well so farmers could communicate with
well so farmers could communicate with each other across fields women could
each other across fields women could
each other across fields women could gossip and chitchat and
gossip and chitchat and
gossip and chitchat and through-and-through shop windows without
through-and-through shop windows without
through-and-through shop windows without having to enter up their daily life and
having to enter up their daily life and
having to enter up their daily life and Martha’s vineyard’s and meant that new
Martha’s vineyard’s and meant that new
Martha’s vineyard’s and meant that new one was oppressed
one was oppressed
one was oppressed no one was discriminated against within
no one was discriminated against within
no one was discriminated against within that society and I guess my message for
that society and I guess my message for
that society and I guess my message for you today um is that Martha’s Vineyard
you today um is that Martha’s Vineyard
you today um is that Martha’s Vineyard beautiful beautifully em illustrates the
beautiful beautifully em illustrates the
beautiful beautifully em illustrates the kind of world I dream up and earlier it
kind of world I dream up and earlier it
kind of world I dream up and earlier it was mentioned but for something to
was mentioned but for something to
was mentioned but for something to become a reality we need to dream of it
become a reality we need to dream of it
become a reality we need to dream of it first so I want to challenge you and to
first so I want to challenge you and to
first so I want to challenge you and to dream up that kind of world also a world
dream up that kind of world also a world
dream up that kind of world also a world where no one is oppressed a new one is
where no one is oppressed a new one is
where no one is oppressed a new one is pushed to the margins thank you
”
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