I made a contribution to CSUN!A week ago I came across to this Equity & Diversity website out of boredom at NCOD Library. When you enter the website you can see the link 'Deaf and Hard of Hearing' under Information for minority groups. But it was not 'Deaf and Hard of Hearing' a week ago, it was 'Hearing-Impaired'.
Truth be told, I was enraged to see a diverse university using politically wrong term to refer the people that cannot hear. I cannot leave it alone, because it is my university. So I emailed the website a long letter. I wish I save it so I can share with you. The email was pretty lengthy with throughout explanation of the term 'impaired' with thesaurus. Basically 'impair' is equivalent to 'damage', 'harm', 'spoil', 'weaken', 'blight', and 'mess up'.
My argument is that deaf and hard of hearing people are not damaged, harmed, spoiled, weakened, blighted or rather messed up. We are human beings with a missing sense that created barriers in communication. You deaf people know this stuff.
My email was not angry or criticism, it was rather a friendly and expressive letter. I asked the website to consider the change to fulfill its 'mission statement', if any. I explained a bit about how CSUN is so inclusive and diverse, and it can continue to be most diverse university in nation.
I received a response from the website saying that they cannot change it immediately, but it will be an item on their agenda to be considered. Meaning they did not promise me that they will change it.
Today, for some reason, it popped in my mind about the website. I returned to the homepage to find the link changed to 'Deaf and Hard of Hearing', and I am so ecstatic. I thought they probably not change it unless we take some drastic action like petition, have Dr. Roz the NCOD Director involved, or something like that. But it took just an email from one deaf student.
Of course I emailed the website again to give them my thanks. I wonder, is there any other CSUN websites that I can change? Hehe... :]
P.S.
NCOD just updated its website-- FINALLY! Check it out or be square.
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