One of the things I have tried to do with this blog (though I haven’t added to it recently) is to help bring attention to diversity issues in general. And as one part of that, I try to encourage people to read blogs by people whose experiences and backgrounds might be different from their own. So, yes, in that context, I *DO* sometimes specifically say, for example, “Christie has a blog where you can learn about her perspectives as a deaf-blind woman” (not an exact quote, but that was the general intended purpose of another, earlier blog post here).

When I refer to diverse characteristics of people, it is usually with the purpose of calling attention to an opportunity to learn about diverse experiences. Although neither your deafness nor your CI are the focus of your blog, you have occasionally made references to both and I think I recall that you even had a nice blog post a while ago focused specifically on your CI (or, more precisely, not having it for a while).

And I try to make CI users a part of this overall diversity because there is sometimes a split where some Deaf people think CI users automatically don’t “belong” in the Deaf community, so I try to help overcome this.

But you are correct that there are times when references to specific personal characteristics, such as CI usage, is simply not relevant and thus becomes offensive. For this reason, I will delete the reference as soon as I post this comment. I apologize for my offense to you.

However, I’m wondering why I was identified as a “deaf man with a cochlear implant.” To be frank, I feel offended.

What was the need here to point out that I use a CI–what is the relevance? Does it help readers understand my blog better? Do you also point out whether other bloggers use hearing aids, or wheelchairs, or canes? Is pointing out usage of auditory aids somehow part of your overall mission to help reunify Gallaudet? Honestly, I do feel very marginalized when I am described in this way.

As many of the Interps know it took WASLI many years to become what it is today……RID too took several years to form and become strong and fuctioning. Interps out there willing to share thier expertise and experiences should get in touch with the Chair for more details.

Surely there is more to Kenyan Deaf Community than what I have read here…..Gally grads from Kenya please stand up and represent Kenya!

Dr. Andrew Foster was the first deaf black man to enter and graduate from Gallaudet University. There is some controversy about the exact number of schools he established in Africa, but it is known that he spent about 30 years of his life from the 1950s through the 1980s to the endeavor of spreading deaf education in Africa. He raised funds from churches and the deaf community in the United States (and spent a certain amount of time doing this I think pretty much each year) and then would go back to Africa and establish a new school somewhere. Dr. Foster died in a plane crash in the 80s (I think in about ‘86 or ‘87).

If you google his name, you should find plenty of information about him. I also imagine that the National Black Deaf Advocates (I might have their name wrong) may well have further information about him on their web site or might otherwise be able to point you to appropriate resources.