Discrimination Against Deaf Americans

It appears in today’s society we have become more and more politically correct. We constantly see examples of people being insensitive and rude to one another. We also see more and more advocates becoming vocal and supporting the causes they believe to be correct. We see examples of these advocates expressing concern for the cause they feel is most important. We see NFL players taking a knee during the National Anthem, we see college students protesting guest speakers, we see racial groups marching in the streets to express opinions regarding immigration or the Black Lives Matter Movement. What we have not seen is anyone discussing the discrimination that nearly one million deaf people currently living in the United States experience. The deaf

The deaf are often not given equal opportunity when it comes to job opportunity. When applying for a job though they may have all the proper qualifications the deaf are least likely to be hired because they are considered a liability and the employer does not want to have to accommodate them. Most of the time the deaf are not seen as a valuable asset to companies though most of the deaf do have much to offer potential employers. Though it is harder for the deaf to get a job it is not impossible but even if the deaf do acquire a job it does not mean the discrimination/hardship stops there. Many deaf people are often not given the proper resources they need to adequately do their job, like an interpreter for example. According to Deaf Unity “1 in 4 deaf people have been forced quit their jobs because of discrimination in the workplace”. It is saddening to see that deaf people out there are quitting their jobs that they worked very hard to obtain just because their employer and co-workers did not attempt to accommodate them and make them feel as if they are equal.Though it may seem some of their hardships begin at a working age it actually begins around 5 years old when a deaf child begins school. Deaf children have few options when it comes to schooling. The first option is mainstreaming the child into public school. Mainstreaming is common for a deaf child but it may be difficult unless the child is given the proper resources and an interpreter. According to “signing savvy” the following is how a deaf child is integrated into a classroom. They are either put into a regular classroom where “The student is in a regular classroom with hearing students and all instruction is from the classroom teacher(s). There are little to no additional support services provided for the deaf or hard of hearing student” or the child is put into a resource room where “The student is in a regular classroom with hearing students,