Monday 19 September to Sunday 25 September 2022
We acknowledge the language, culture and history of our richly diverse Deaf communities around the world with this year’s focus during NWDP to help build inclusive communities for all.
We Can:Do that!
Legally, deafness qualifies as a disability.
However, we acknowledge that Deaf people, who are part of the Deaf community, do not see themselves as disabled or impaired and dislike being referred to as “hearing impaired”. They see themselves as “Deaf people”.
Think about it and take a quick look around you; just like you may visit an Irish, Italian or Greek Club if you are Irish, Italian or Greek, the same happens when deaf – you generally hang out with those who speak your own language.
The difference could be that the many ways of living and being in the world that our diverse Deaf communities share, include those of varying gender, age, sexuality, linguistic preferences, ethnicity, socio-economic background, disability, and religion.
More so, we acknowledge that we live in a world that is primarily setup for hearing people.
What some people call partial deafness is now better known as being hard of hearing and of course, Can:Do provide a full range of audiology services through our accredited practice.
This week, while we celebrate the Deaf community and their language, Auslan, take that moment to consider those whose hearing has changed over time and also live with deafness.
The stigma associated with seeking advice regarding hearing loss and hearing solutions is diminishing.
We know that older individuals with untreated hearing loss are at a greater risk of depression and isolation. Arguably more concerning, they are at a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
As we age, we might find our friends or family say we turn the television or radio up too loud. We may struggle to understand speech, especially in noisy environments. We may have difficulty hearing people on the phone. Or, we may have a feeling that we can hear what is being said, but we don’t understand.
We encourage you to act on your instincts and schedule a hearing assessment.
We have been providing hearing solutions to the South Australian community for over a decade. Can:Do Hearing is independent and not for profit.
Our audiologists do not receive commissions, so you can trust our recommendation.
This National Week of Deaf People, we celebrate this resilient community, its language and culture and we will always continue to celebrate their expertise and friendship.
Reference
https://wfdeaf.org/iwdeaf2022/
