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My Challenge of Deafness
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I am a individuals with disabilities, myself I have an 80% db loss in the high frequency have always viewed life as being filled with opportunities and challenge. I have always tried to take all the opportunities presented to me, and even some that were not! Nevertheless, I try to see the positives in life and in my co-workers. It is through the hearts of many who have helped me through the years, that I have maintained a positive attitude toward every-day life's challenge.
My primary challenge of deafness is invisible. I do have what's called an invisible handicap. Translated, that means it is unrecognizable to everyone, but me. I feel I must interject here: I really dislike the word handicapped and disabled. The very connotations of the words bring forth the image of "can't do."Do you know where the word "handicapped" originated? In the early years people with impairment would take their caps in hand, and beg for money to survive.
I propose that everyone of us needs to take a strong look at the "can do's" in the life's of those that have a limitation, it would certainly make life a lot more exciting. Too many people fall into the trap of the "can't do," and believe me, I know just how easy this is to do. I wish I had a nickel for every time someone told me I couldn't achieve something while I was growing up; I would have been a millionaire by age 21!
If one looks at normal physical or mentally challenging events in one's life such as, the fear of not doing a good job, or the fear of what your peers or colleagues think of you: these things are very stressful; [ This is true for all people.] However, with those individuals like myself with impairments, it's a double whammy!
Both the physically-and mentally-challenged and the non-handicapped (do you like that word-sounds bad doesn't it?, well, it's not) I must live the tremendous fears, and it is my feeling that only with the avenue of positive education and awareness, combined with the positive motivation of good business economics, will the fear and the misconceptions change. As you can see, I do not support separatist, militant, or radical advocacy avenues by which the handicapped person is treated. We've all been put down and shut out. Rather, I support showing the need for the physically- and mentally- challenged. We are a positive, viable resource when employers are aware.
The physically- and mentally- challenged have many unique talents, which we can use to give to others, proving that giving is indeed a two-way street. Do you know what the biggest handicap in the world is? The lack of knowledge and awareness about individuals with any type of impairment. Generally defined, it is a preconceived notion of what an individual can or cannot do. As you can see, progress is not consistent in dealing with the handicapped. But that is why the handicapped are now being recognized as a last minority. I would like to offer a challenge to you today and all forthcoming days:
believe in me, for I, may have a limitation, but my views of challenge are not limited. Yes I could use a little training to better myself, and perhaps You could use a little training to understand those of us who are only, limited by handicap..
Now lets talk about the Law under the (ADA)...
"The Americans with Disabilities Act is powerful in its simplicity.
It will ensure that people with disabilities are given the basic
guarantees for which they have worked so long and so hard.
Independence, freedom choice, control of their own lives, the
opportunity to blend fully and equally into the rich mosaic of the
American mainstream."
- President George Bush, ADA Signing Ceremony, July 26, 1992
I. If the difficulties you have been having with your employer are related to your hearing loss, whether or not your employer is intentionally or unintentionally discriminating against you, you may have a valid employment discrimination claim.
II. If the difficulties you have been having with your employer do not relate to your hearing loss, you could still have a legal claim to protect your rights under other employment laws. If your employer is not following an agreement you have with him, he may be violating a contract. If your employer is violating a contract (which includes, but is not limited to personal policies, employees' handbooks, and employer/employee correspondence) you can bring a claim based on the breach of that contract.
III. In addition to employment discrimination and breach of contract claims, there are other laws protecting and employee's rights. For example, if you have been laid off or fired for reasons other than misconduct, may be entitled to unemployment compensation. If you have suffered a work-related injury, whether physical or emotional, you may be entitled to worker's compensation.
IV. If an employer is taking action against you because of your race, age, sex, religion, national origin or DISABILITY, he is discriminating against you. If an employer unintentionally treat you and other employees with hearing loss differently from other employees who do not have a hearing loss, and this impacts upon your work, you may have a strong employment discrimination case, also an employer has a duty to make the workplace free from Harassment.
V. If an employer or co-workers are directly harassing you or doing things to mock you or treat you differently from hearing employees, then you may have a valid discrimination claim.
VI. Defamation is the injuring of a person's good name or reputation by false and malicious statements that subject the person to ridicule, contempt, shame or suspicion.
VII. Defamation, unlike criticism, invades the privates life of an individual and causes a loss in prestige and standing.
This very thing was the basis of what I am today!,
somebody name David A. May
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