Are we still trying to fix disabilities???

For the last one or two years, I have been hearing more and more about a new kind of discrimination called, "Genetic Discrimination."

What is Genetic Discrimination?
According to Genome.gov, "Genetic discrimination occurs if people are treated unfairly because of differences in their DNA that increase their chances of getting a certain disease. For example, a health insurer might refuse to give coverage to a woman who has a DNA difference that raises her odds of getting breast cancer. Employers also could use DNA information to decide whether to hire or fire workers."

What's the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)?
Gina is a new federal law that protects Americans from being treated unfairly by health insurers and employers on the basis of their DNA. **However, it does not cover life insurance, disability insurance and long-term care insurance. That means health insurers.**

PARADOX

Here's something to think about... Now we are protected from virtually all kinds of discrimination. In other words, no one can treat us unfairly based on who we are, what we do, where we do things, when we do things, or how we do things.

Yet, everyday, doctors and scientists are trying to find ways to fix or cure something whether it is a disease or a disability. Eventually, we'll be able to create our own babies through computers. Every baby will be perfect!Will there be anything left to discriminate in the future???

Which is more important? Fight against DISCRIMINATION or Fix Disabilities / Cure Diseases

Deaf clubs are fading....

Hello Gentlemen and Ladies,

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. It is always nice to work only 4 days a week instead of the usual 5 days a week.

Meanwhile, I was sent an email with the title, "Why Deaf Social Clubs suffer?"(Deafdigest.com) Sure enough, I was intrigued. I opened it up and there was a link to a video. After watching it, I couldn't help it, but agreeing with the narrator.

He gave 5 primary reasons :

1. Disagreement among members
2. No volunteers
3. Deaf people stay home because of video chats
4. Older and younger members are apart
5. ASL and oral members are apart

I only have one simple response to this...

      Welcome to 21st century!!!! Everyday, technology (and science) force us to open our eyes to the world... the REAL world... By forcing us to open our eyes further, literally million of opportunities appear in front of us. We have so many more doors than before... How do we choose which door to open? I'll give you an easy example... Back in time, if we were to look for a job, we simply go into the newspaper or go to the employment office. That's pretty much it. Today, we can look for a job anywhere in the world; thanks to the Internet.

      (Looking at #4 and #5), ASL and oral students + Older and younger members socialized among each other. That was because they HAD to. Back in time, It was much harder to find other people who have the same interests. But now, we have Facebook, emails, VP, and etc. It is so much easier to find other people with same interests as you. It is only natural for us to abandon the old traditions and go onto new trends. Things are changing on a daily basis... Keep up with it or go home. :)

The truth is........

Yes, Deaf clubs are fading away......

BUT AT SAME TIME......

Hundreds of Deaf organizations are appearing.....

Deaf travelling to South Pole

That's right. You "heard" me.

A Deaf gentleman, Ian Berry, have already reached the North Pole and now will join a team of 4 in an attempt to reach the South Pole. No one ever has done it in the history of mankind.

"The expedition to the South Pole is part of Ian's mission to reach both Poles as an ambassador for the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), a charity which transforms lives of deaf children and deaf young people in the UK" http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/Deaf-Ian-on-daring-polar.5904003.jp

One thing for sure, it'll be a World Guinness Record!

I applaud Ian Berry, an IT specialist, for his efforts and for being a role model. He is a true embodiment of a quote that is well-known throughout the Deaf communities in the world.

 "We DEAFinitely can do anything except hear." 

So let me ask you...... What is next?????

Deaf man on way to a Guinness world record

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091202/local/deaf-68-year-old-on-world-expedition-makes-it-to-malta

This just came in....Vladimir Yarets is embarking his life-long goal: to make it into the Guinness Book of world records for being the first deaf person to complete a round-the-world trip on a motorbike.

He's been to 76 countries in the world and there are 195 countries in the world. That means 119 countries to go! I don't know about you, but that's a lot of countries!

I wonder what are the other Guinness World Records out there that were established by Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blinds?

So far, I have found these:

• Graham Hicks, Deaf-Blind motorcyclist broke the Guinness World Record
• http://fookembug.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/graham-hicks-deaf-blind-motorcyclist-broke-the-guinness-world-record/
• San Diego Great Dane named world's tallest dog (who is Deaf, Blind, and Epileptic)
• http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_odd_world_s_tallest_dog

Anyone know of more records??????

Disabled, and Seeking Acceptance in Fashion

I read this article and it made me wonder........ What are your opinions on this one?

The article was telling about a new show in England (Great Britain) called "Britain’s Missing Top Model."

"Britain’s Missing Top Model,” a reality show that begins on Tuesday on BBC America that pits disabled women against one another to compete for a photo spread in the U.K. edition of Marie Claire magazine."

The winner gets a photo spread in the Marie Claire magazine.

It happens one of the contestant, Sophie who is paralyzed all the down from the hip, is complaining about another contestant, Kellie. The reason she is complaining is because Kellie is Deaf and relies on British Sign Language to communicate.

Sophie commented, “5he chance to meet a designer who is willing to put a disabled girl in his show is such an opportunity, but I want someone to choose a girl with a really obvious, really visual, really kind of blatant disability,” Sophie says after Kellie wins an audition. “So that it makes a change. And choosing someone like Kellie is not really the same — it’s the same as just picking a girl that speaks French.”

Mhmmm, who is right in this situation? While Deafness is a considered a medical disability, but is it a valid disability in the fashion world?

According to the United Nations (UN);

• Disability: Any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.

• Handicap: A disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or disability, that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal, depending on age, sex, social and cultural factors, for that individual.

Mhmm, that's a toughie! 

Here's an interesting thought. 

The name of the show is "Britain's Missing Top Model." If we are to take the title literally, then the show would be open to those who are missing a physical limb such as an arm, hand, fingers, nose, and etc. 

I suppose before we can argue, we'll need to ask the producers to provide a copy of their criteria and their mission statement (their goal for this show). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/arts/television/01model.html?_r=2