Chapter 70

        Once again, I think that this chapter relates in some ways to the previous chapter concerning light. I know many people who would just automatically assume that because they no longer have hearing, deaf people's eyesight would become sharper in attempt to make up for the lack of hearing.  Although I can see where they are coming from, this is not the case.

"The #1 favorite misconception about disabled people seems to be that when you've lost use of one sense, the other senses magically become sharper" (pg 401).

        In reality, deaf people sometimes succeed more visually compare to hearing people because they have to learn to rely solely on visual cues.  "They simply become more alert about taking in and processing visual messages" (pg 401). While hearing people use their ears to distinguish language, warnings, emotions, and people's tone of voice, deaf people use their eyes for the exact same feat.  I think that deaf people know how to use their eyes in ways that hearing people do not, in order to keep up in conversations.  For example, "alert Deaf signers tend to take better notice of the persons they're communicating with-the nuances of expression, the momentary glances, the subtle changes in posture that indicate a change in mood or a dwindling of attention" (pg 402).  I think it is so cool that deaf people have the ability to notice these aspects of communication just by observing!  In order to function daily, deaf people have to rely on sight, lights, vibration, and other ways to stay in control of knowing what is going on in society/a conversation.

Living with Usher's Syndrome

"Just about everyone in the Deaf community knows someone, or several persons, with US"

        I honestly could not imagine being diagnosed with Usher's Syndrome.  This genetic disorder not only causes deafness, but also causes a developing blindness over time.  With no known cure or treatment, people with Usher's Syndrome usually relate themselves with ASL and Deaf culture.  However, some people with US are oralists, with cochlear implants.  It was uplifting to read that many people who are diagnosed "are talented, strong, high-spirited people who insist on living life to the fullest" (pg 402).  

        I agree with the authors of HPO and people with US, that people who are diagnosed with US definitely need to be informed of their disorder as soon as possible, in order to begin accepting the inevitable and to begin "adjusting, acquiring coping skills, and communication techniques, and choosing a suitable career goal" (pg 403).  I find it surprising that some doctors, counselors, and teachers would prefer keeping this information from children!  Although I can not imagine how difficult it would be to find out about US, I would guess that knowing about the diagnosis would be more beneficial in the long run.