Chris Haulmark shares his controversial perspective on why he is a Deaf person who doesn't view himself as a disabled person.

Transcription:

[Video Description: Chris Haulmark, wearing dark blue long-sleeved, and button-up shirt, is sitting in a coffee shop.]

Hello, hello!

This is Chris Haulmark, running for U.S. House of Representatives in Kansas’s Third Congressional District.

Today’s hot-topic discussion is about…my controversial Deaf identity, as this will trigger some folks...

Why I don’t consider myself “disabled” as a Deaf person.

Let’s think...

*careful contemplation*

Okay, in one way, it’s basically a simple perspective, really- It’s not because of my ears or that I...don’t hear…

It’s much more than that because,

I don’t have full language access at all.

Why is this so?

How to say this….

Simple- because of our divisively complex world…

If all people all across America learned fluent American Sign Language, then everyone could be included, not just the Deaf.

ALL Americans who were not Deaf could sign in American Sign Language?

Think about that...how would I be disabled?

(mic drop)

I don’t need to “hear” music to be alive.

I don’t need to “listen” to a radio.

I don’t need to “hear” to drive.

I don’t need to “hear” to raise children.

Come to think of it…

There are so many possibilities I can accomplish!

For example, when I give a presentation and the audience knows American Sign Language, there’s no need for an interpreting team at all!

That idea means we are all equal, on the same level.

If one person presents to an audience using voice and I enter the room, I can politely ask the speaker: “Excuse me, could you please use American Sign Language, shifting your language from voice to sign?”

The speaker would be TOTALLY willing to start using ASL; to simply close the mouth and start signing.

The entire audience and I can inclusively understand entirely.

Can you imagine that?

In that vision, that’s how I don’t “look” “disabled”- it’d be just ME, Chris Haulmark.

Let that sink in a bit…

Ah, of course, it’s a fantasy, yeah, if all people all across America learned fluent American Sign Language, therefore, accommodating with American Sign Language is a necessity for me, which means a professional interpreting team.

On that thought, visualize the Star Trek franchise’s Prime Directive in a scenario where the Starship Enterprise arrives at an unknown planet spinning in outer space, and discovers that the inhabitants are ALL Deaf?

What would the Enterprise crew do?

In fact, they would diplomatically accommodate the inhabitants in order to determine
their communication mode, and discovering that the natives used Sign Language.

The crew members would then research and create techniques and technological equipment to translate what the inhabitants were signing, all the while, aiming for effective communication.

Would the crew members subjugate the Deaf inhabitants to speak? NO!

That would violate the Prime Directive!

So I, Chris Haulmark, want the same respectful treatment here in America- pioneering a Deaf Prime Directive for ALL Americans to truly understand our Deaf community’s accommodation needs relative to American Sign Language.

Imagine that….

Yes, THAT is the answer to the question: I don’t consider, or paternalize my Deaf identity as being “disabled.”

Yes, Deaf, ASL-using, and proud!

[Video fades into a black background with a logo of a cartoonish Chris Haulmark signing “Believe” with white text of “Yes, We Can Believe” below the logo. There is the text of www.HaulmarkForCongress.com at the bottom]

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   CoolPJR Reply

   7 years ago

   ReplyTo:   ChrisHaulmark
   Title:   Able to function