Chapter 53

       I was surprised to learn in this chapter how there is a consistent questioning of whether or not people who are hard-of-hearing are part of the Deaf community.  After reading previously in HPO, it had seemed to me that the Deaf community makes up a large variety of people, include both deaf and hearing.  Even though some people are still unsure if hard-of-hearing people should be part of the community, I was glad to read that the authors have the same opinion as me, believing that they should be included in the Deaf community.  However, HPO made a good point, stating that hard-of-hearing people should be included "if the HOH people want to be included" (pg 318).  It truly depends on the individual, and this chapter definitely helped me to understand that!
       In some aspects, this chapter makes it seem like the label 'hard-of-hearing' is a collect-all for many people.  It can describe people who don't want to have any identification with ASL-Deaf, those who want to be associated with ASL-Deaf, and they can be part of both the Hearing and Deaf community.  "They have more choice, and more leeway, than do audiologically deaf people" (pg 318).  However, as the authors wrote about in the last chapter, there is more difficulty for those who are hard-of-hearing because they have the struggle of distinguishing their cultural identity.  One of the factors of cultural identity includes ASL, and the different opinions concerning sign language show some of the differences between HOH and Deaf.  It is really easy for some to stereotype people who are hard-of-hearing as bad signers or those who don't sign.  And although this is true for some, it does not define everyone in this situation.
        "The hard-of-hearing population is determinedly diverse and stubbornly individual" (pg 317).  This better shows how difficult it is to decide whether or not those who are hard-of-hearing should be part of the Deaf community.  It is crazy to think about the prejudices that take place between ASL-Deaf people and HOH people.  There is obviously prejudice in any community whether it is race, religion, or in this case, auditory status.  There is 'snobbery' between both groups, as ASL-Deaf 'snub' HOH for there differences in cultural identity and HOH 'snub' ASL-Deaf by believing that "hearing" correlates with social status and therefore seeing themselves as being 'better' than deaf people because HOH people's hearing is better.  But the differences between some HOH and Deaf people make the question "Does the Deaf community want HOH people?" (pg 317) a little bit more understandable.  It must be difficult to feel like you are 'in-between' two different communities, as I'm sure some hard-of-hearing people feel.
       In addition, this chapter introduced me to the "Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc."  Founded by Howard E. "Rocky" Stone, this group works specifically with hard-of-hearing people and helping them "get social support and technological assistance" (pg 319).  I thought it was extremely interesting to learn that those who are hard-of-hearing have a foundation specifically for them, and I'm sure this is very beneficial for many who are willing to become part of it.