Victory for UK Deaf Parents? Five LSD Arrests, BoT Unaware.
Eugenic Victory for UK Deaf Parents A Possibility
Under the proposed Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, using embryo-screening deliberately to create a child with a serious medical condition – which officials had said includes being deaf – would be illegal
Now, however, the Department of Health has agreed to cut from the Bill any reference to deafness as a serious medical condition.
The move could pave the way for the Bill to be amended, when it passes through the Commons later this year, permitting a challenge over whether deafness should be classed as a serious medical condition for the purposes of the bill and allowing parents to pick an embryo, using IVF treatment, that will develop into a deaf child.
The issue first came under the spotlight six years ago in America, when it emerged that a deaf couple had sought out a sperm donor with a family history of deafness. After the anger caused by that case, officials singled out deafness as being a condition that would be covered by the Bill.
Ministers, however, were shocked by the strength of opposition from members of the deaf community. Campaigners now believe the removal of the reference to deafness signals a softening of the Government’s position. For the full article: Couples could win right to select deaf baby – Telegraph
Commentary: It is too soon to say… but this new attitude is encouraging. The strong efforts by the UK Deaf Community in raising awareness on this issue and trampling over parents’ rights may be paying off! Deafness is not equivalent to a degenerative and fatal illness like Tay-Sachs Disease. The inclusion of the deaf gene in the IVF bill reportedly came from the publicity of the intentional creation of a deaf baby here in Maryland some years ago.
Hands waving to Paula Garfield, Tomato Lichy, the UK Deaf Community and their Deaf Friends for their hard campaigning. Nevertheless, the battle is not over until the bill is passed.
Of course there are some audistic jerks decrying this enlightened attitude of the Parliament : Deaf couples choosing deaf babies is sick « Letters From A Tory.
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Five Arrests at LSD, BoT Unaware of Four Arrests last Nov.
”The head of the board overseeing the Louisiana School for the Deaf says she will call for a report after a series of recent sex-related arrests involving individuals connected with the school.
Glenny Lee Buquet, who is chairwoman of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s committee that oversees the school, said she was not aware of five of the six recent arrests involving allegations of indecent behavior with juveniles who attend the school.
Of the five individuals arrested, three are current or former teachers at the school. Another is an alumnus not currently affiliated with the school.
The latest arrest involved the arrest of a youth minister who worked with students in an off-campus after-school program. Police allege that Joey Eugene Thomas, 31, considered a 14-year-old student to be his girlfriend, although investigators say both denied having sex. To read more: Report called for on arrests at deaf school
Commentary: When I first heard about the arrests, I took note on the prompt reporting to the police these cases of these cases by the staff and administration Though first victim had inappropriate relationships via electronic communication with the staff and one alumnus off campus as a day student, her mother caught on and reported it to the school authorities who turned it over to the police. That perverted Deaf minister was also reported quickly to the authorities once the second victim confided the relationship to the school counselor. So far, very good. However this is where things becomes interesting. The BoT wasn’t even aware of the four arrests made last fall until just now. Were the administrators withholding the information from the BoT even after the parents were promptly made aware of the first four arrests last Nov? That is very unusual.
Incidents like that happen to even the best schools anywhere. However, four arrests of staff at a small school are rather high. It does make one wonder…..
Earlier articles on the five arrests as a result of inappropriate behavior and/or indecent exposure to two LSD students:
Last Fall:
Two arrested in case involving student at state school for deaf
Teachers and Trash Education: Baton Rouge, LOUISIANA
Issues Relating to Louisiana Sex Offenders: Fourth suspect arrested in deaf school sex case
By the way I didn’t see any reference to the sixth arrest.
P.S. Any non-constructive comments will not be published. MZ
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Eugenic Victory for UK Deaf Parents A Possibility
Under the proposed Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, using embryo-screening deliberately to create a child with a serious medical condition – which officials had said includes being deaf – would be illegal
Now, however, the Department of Health has agreed to cut from the Bill any reference to deafness as a serious medical condition.
The move could pave the way for the Bill to be amended, when it passes through the Commons later this year, permitting a challenge over whether deafness should be classed as a serious medical condition for the purposes of the bill and allowing parents to pick an embryo, using IVF treatment, that will develop into a deaf child.
The issue first came under the spotlight six years ago in America, when it emerged that a deaf couple had sought out a sperm donor with a family history of deafness. After the anger caused by that case, officials singled out deafness as being a condition that would be covered by the Bill.
Ministers, however, were shocked by the strength of opposition from members of the deaf community. Campaigners now believe the removal of the reference to deafness signals a softening of the Government’s position. For the full article: Couples could win right to select deaf baby – Telegraph
Commentary: It is too soon to say… but this new attitude is encouraging. The strong efforts by the UK Deaf Community in raising awareness on this issue and trampling over parents’ rights may be paying off! Deafness is not equivalent to a degenerative and fatal illness like Tay-Sachs Disease. The inclusion of the deaf gene in the IVF bill reportedly came from the publicity of the intentional creation of a deaf baby here in Maryland some years ago.
Hands waving to Paula Garfield, Tomato Lichy, the UK Deaf Community and their Deaf Friends for their hard campaigning. Nevertheless, the battle is not over until the bill is passed.
Of course there are some audistic jerks decrying this enlightened attitude of the Parliament : Deaf couples choosing deaf babies is sick « Letters From A Tory.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Five Arrests at LSD, BoT Unaware of Four Arrests last Nov.
”The head of the board overseeing the Louisiana School for the Deaf says she will call for a report after a series of recent sex-related arrests involving individuals connected with the school.
Glenny Lee Buquet, who is chairwoman of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s committee that oversees the school, said she was not aware of five of the six recent arrests involving allegations of indecent behavior with juveniles who attend the school.
Of the five individuals arrested, three are current or former teachers at the school. Another is an alumnus not currently affiliated with the school.
The latest arrest involved the arrest of a youth minister who worked with students in an off-campus after-school program. Police allege that Joey Eugene Thomas, 31, considered a 14-year-old student to be his girlfriend, although investigators say both denied having sex. To read more: Report called for on arrests at deaf school
Commentary: When I first heard about the arrests, I took note on the prompt reporting to the police these cases of these cases by the staff and administration Though first victim had inappropriate relationships via electronic communication with the staff and one alumnus off campus as a day student, her mother caught on and reported it to the school authorities who turned it over to the police. That perverted Deaf minister was also reported quickly to the authorities once the second victim confided the relationship to the school counselor. So far, very good. However this is where things becomes interesting. The BoT wasn’t even aware of the four arrests made last fall until just now. Were the administrators withholding the information from the BoT even after the parents were promptly made aware of the first four arrests last Nov? That is very unusual.
Incidents like that happen to even the best schools anywhere. However, four arrests of staff at a small school are rather high. It does make one wonder…..
Earlier articles on the five arrests as a result of inappropriate behavior and/or indecent exposure to two LSD students:
Last Fall:
Two arrested in case involving student at state school for deaf
Teachers and Trash Education: Baton Rouge, LOUISIANA
Issues Relating to Louisiana Sex Offenders: Fourth suspect arrested in deaf school sex case
By the way I didn’t see any reference to the sixth arrest.
P.S. Any non-constructive comments will not be published. MZ
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
April 14th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Thats why the sign for “Louisiana” also means something else.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Inflicting unborn children with disabilities is indeed an “enlightened attitude”, so well done to you.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
What part of ‘Culturally Deaf people don’t feel disabled’ don’t you get? They consider themselves a linguistic minority with its own language, culture, arts, and history.
You are projecting your internal bias against Deaf people and also showing your ignorance. One’s definition of disabled is different from another one’s. Wouldn’t they know better than anyone else if they are disabled or not? By the way, Deaf People can do almost everything and they honestly don’t feel themselves limited…except by the society’s prejudices and discriminatory practices.
Do me a favor. Go read some literature on Deaf Culture. Talk with Deaf people and find out why they don’t consider themselves disabled.
Or do you subscribe to “Disablism”… anyone who is physically different is disabled and therefore inferior? Do you view ‘Short People’ handicapped? Should they also be weeded out via IVF?
April 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
The argument used, to suggest discrimination, anti-culture,’disablism’ (Surely not ? as deaf don’t believe they are !), has little to do with future choices, as these ‘choices’ are NOT being made for them, but for their children. It’s whether you believe children have a right to choose themselves or not… after all this is the crux and thrust of deaf debate that deaf children DON’T get a choice, so the deaf parent is now ensuring they don’t as well ? Just because a parent may well believe deafness is not an issue other people are, that doesn’t mean the next generation will see it the same or be accepted either, it’s a lie to say, deaf have no issues,we all do, we don’t all blame everyone else. It’s a medical fact your ears aren’t working.
I cannot see mainstream ever approving of deaf parents rejecting the hearing child, a ban would certainly follow ! If you think there is pious outrage from mainstream now, wait until deaf parents dump hearing embryos…. you really have seen nothing yet.
We are what we are by NON choice, too many are forgetting this, and forgetting that being deaf isn’t a culture, but can be a serious disablement and issue to those that may acquire it, this sector has been dismissed, and indeed attacked out of hand. One forgets They are deaf too, and have a view on things. There are MORE of them too, and frankly I see little support for more deaf children from them.
Paula and Tomato are almost sure, to be rejected if they apply for IVF, no-one would risk taking them on, to be a test case for deaf culture…. let us not forget they are not even IN the IVF program at all.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Never in my whole life have I ever considered my deafness as a “serious medical condition” until I lived independently from my parents. That was when I discovered that the society DISABLED me.
AGBell invented for hearing people
but AGBell neglected to invent
Text phone is none other than TTY.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Deaf people would NEVER DUMP THEIR HEARING EMBRYOS!!! UNLIKE HEARING PEOPLE WOULD DUMP THEIR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN TO THE FARTHEST SCHOOL THEY CAN FIND AND NOT BE A PARENT TO THEM.
I have seen this in my lifetime!!! MM I hope you meet some Deaf people and really get to know them.
My baby girl was abandoned at 3 years old because she is DEAF!!! Her parent were HEARING HEARING HEARING. Seeing kids being abandoned other than being Deaf is hard enough to stomach.
I have nothing against hearing people in fact my best friends are hearing and I adore them. My family all members are hearing I love them to death. I work with hearing people they are great. Unlike you MM and a letter from Tory are just provoking us with your stupidity.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
My personal belief is that what comes out normally without any intervention is cool. I don’t believe in messing around with things. I don’t think anyone should “create” a baby to their liking nor do I believe anyone should decide which embryo should survive and which shouldn’t. So in other words don’t mess with anything. Leave it alone.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
MM, are you aware that your argument can be used against parents who decided to have their deaf kids implanted without their permission? It can go either way. Some of their deaf kids will grow up, feeling violated by the surgical procedures, especially when the devices don’t help them understand speech. They also experience a sense of rejection by their families and society because they are seen as ‘failures’. These are already verified.
Jean and deafmommy, will they ever understand this, I wonder?
Candy, I do agree to some point. However, some genetic diseases are horrific, bringing prolonged suffering for the children before death release them mercifully. I can understand some parents’ desire not to carry to full term these embryos. It is a double-edged sword : /
April 14th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Mishkazena,
I like your response to MM. You have made an excellent point. Well done!
Deafchip
April 14th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
The Embryology campaign is a direct result of the American deaf lesbian issue, it was quoted in the UK draft Bill, a knee -jerk if you like, but perhaps deaf in America need to look a little closer to home, for the reason it has all kicked off…. and at their own eugenics and IVF programs too. Perhaps those in glass housing need to be more careful where they throw their stones…. we don’t do hysteria here….
April 14th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
MM, No IVF bill is being drafted here, discriminating against Deaf People. Only at UK. Who is being hysterical here?
April 14th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
being deaf is not an illness or disease. it is like making choice between boy and girl or blue eyes and brown eyes. Hearing and deaf. if you want to have a hearing baby that is fine. if you want a deaf baby, that is fine. Some deaf parent wants to adopt a deaf child. Most hearing parent rather not adopt a deaf child I dont see wrong with that. I am deaf and I am doing well.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
The story about the two British couples aforementioned can be found in “Building Baby From the Genes Up” by Ronald M. Green in The Washington Post, Sunday, April 13, 2008; Pages B1-B3-5 — or if preferrably, visited
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/11/AR2008041103330.html
————————————
An equally interesting story, “The Future Is Now,” By Joel Achenbach can be found in the same source aforemtioned or visited
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
content/article/2008/04/11/AR2008041103328.html
April 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Misha Zena,
Someone told me you once sued a hospital because the violated your rights under the American Disability Act. Is this true?
How can you say in one way we are not disabled and then go sue people for exactly that same thing you are saying doesn’t pertain to you.
Either you are disabled or not.
Or maybe just when its convenient.
I would like to know the answer to this one cuz you keep casting out that being deaf isn’t a disability. Last time i checked I am deaf and diabled, cuturally or not.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Your question is valid. Yes, I organized a large lawsuit against the hospital that discriminated a good number of D/deaf people and their hearing family members in this community.
What I write doesn’t necessarily reflect my personal opinions. Please don’t assume you know what I feel based on my writing unless I distinctly state my personal opinion. It’ll reduce a lot of confusion this way.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:15 am
So in plain terms, you do consider yourself disabled. I think that is what you are saying. No?
I don’t understand your point
“What I write doesn’t necessarily reflect my personal opinions”.
If you are writing about it and at the same time giving your commentary as well as your personal opinions. In the past you have stated this as a personal opinion by yourself.
It is easy to hide behind the journalistic curtain but when you contradict yourself it only makes your point less believable as well as just stir up emotions from others ,which were brought on by casting out false beliefs.
No confusion here. I just read exactly what you write.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
No, that’s not what I am saying. That’s your interpretation.
Often, even when I write commentaries, I don’t share my personal opinions unless I clearly state that I’m doing so.
Commentaries are commentaries, not personal diaries. The only contradictions you find here are because you expect them to reflect my personal feelings.
Mishka Zena is not a diary blog, and people who read it should know that what appears here doesn’t always reflect how I truly feel and if that doesn’t satisfy you, there are many other blogs for you to read. MZ has a high readership and is very respected, so I must be doing something right
April 17th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Do you personally consider yourself disabled? I think this is a valid question that I am asking and have yet to get an answer. I think the we the readers should know that.
Simple question.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Why would you want to know that? This blog is about news, ideas, attitudes and controversies that may interest the readers.
It’s not a tell it all blog. Again like I said, it is not a personal diary
April 17th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
#18,..Janice C.,…I am hard of hearing and I consider myself “disAbled.” However,..the loss of hearing is not the disAbility!! My disAbility is my right knee, which is full of arthritis!!
If you want to meet someone with hearing loss, who is disAbled,..go meet up with some of the victims of the old oral training programs and see how that “training” crippled those poor people for their entire lives! Those people were blocked from learning any useful or functional form of language at all and those are the deaf that I truly consider..”disAbled!!”
I read Mishka Zena’s blog just BECAUSE it is full of news, ideas, attitudes and controveries that are of interest to me and I am using Mishka’s blog here at Deafread to teach my Hearing college age son and his hearing friends that there is truly a culture and language and visual way of life beyond their world of sound!!
…..Stanelle
April 17th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
To Stanelle,
I get the rhetoric. Great job. You really told me!! News, ideas, controversy, attitude what due you think this is.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
What do I think this is? Heh! A blog!!
And yeah,..”controversy!!”
I couldn’t make a correction of the misspelling of my version of “controversy” after I had put it into the forum!!
Have you ever met Miss Pelling? She is hard to avoid!!
Hey! come on over, Janice C., to my blog at Xanga, and raise cain with me there!1 this is miska’s blog!! Just click on my name above this post and you’ll be at my blog!!
April 19th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Mishka,
You have been tagged, check out my blog, Jodi
September 10th, 2008 at 10:25 am
DEAF PARENTING UK LAUNCHES DEAF PARENTING UK ANNUAL CONFERENCE 4 OCTOBER
Building toward empowering, enabling and
supporting Deaf parents
Sabina Iqbal, Chair/Founder of Deaf Parenting UK: “As 90% of Deaf children comes from hearing families and when they grow up into adults and become parents and yet very little resources and support is available to them in an accessible format. This is particularly noticeable as Deaf Adults have a 90% chance of having hearing children where access is a real issue.”
The following is common in Deaf parents’ daily lives, as services offered to Deaf parents are sometimes non-existent, very limited or patchy as compared to those available to hearing parents:
Deaf parents are unable to access mainstream information, including maternity, parenting skills classes, midwives or health visitors. Deaf parents find it difficult to access to childcare, nursery or participate in primary and secondary school life adequately due to staff inability to communicate in sign language or because of lack of Deaf awareness. This has in turn prevented Deaf parents of their human right to participate fully in their family lives.
Sabina added: “Deaf Parenting UK are proud to have a fantastic speakers at our upcoming conference, working together on united front, enabling and empowering Deaf parents to have their voices heard, to influence decision-makers about their needs access to mainstream services across health, education, equality without barriers.”
Maria Miller, Shadow Minister for the Family: “Parents with deafness have the extraordinary task of not only looking after their children, but also dealing with the problems they face with everyday communication. Deaf Parenting UK is a fantastic charity that provides vital help and advice to these parents. I am delighted to be supporting the Deaf Parenting UK conference which will raise awareness of the particular needs of deaf parents in this country”.
Councillor Les Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Young people, Families, Birmingham City Council: “As a city Birmingham is committed to unlocking the potential of young people. In order to do this, we have to offer services that are appropriate to those who need them. By working with organisations such as Deaf Parenting UK, and attending events such as this conference, we are able to identify exactly what is needed to achieve this.”
Professor Ulrike Zeshan, Deaf Parenting UK Ambassador: “I fully support the way Deaf Parenting UK has been set up by deaf parents for deaf parents – this is the right way forward, and it is this underlying philosophy that will make their upcoming conference a unique contribution of crucial value to the audience.”
Natalie Salmon, Head of Equality and Diversity, Nursing & Midwifery Council: “I am delighted to be invited to speak at the Deaf Parenting UK Conference, it is an incredibly valuable opportunity for the Nursing and Midwifery Council to engage with deaf people and parents, to learn form one another and discuss very important issues for deaf parents and the health sector generally.”
Department of Health: “DH has been involved with the work of Deaf Parenting UK since its launch in 2001. Like DPUK, we are committed to ensuring that all parents, regardless of circumstance or background, have the support they need to provide their children with the best possible chances in life. That means reducing the inequalities which sadly many disadvantaged people still face. It’s thanks to the invaluable work of organisations such as DPUK which are doing so much to help address those concerns – from making parents aware of their rights to providing the much needed practical help, advice and support – from pregnancy through all the key stages they and their children will go through in life.
As is so often with organisations such as this, it is down to the dedication, drive and personality of people like Sabina Iqbal, a deaf mother herself, and all DPUK’s supporters, to take up the challenge on behalf of deaf parents everywhere. It is thanks to their efforts that the needs of deaf parents are getting the recognition they so justly deserve.”
Disability Committee of the Equality and Human Rights Commission: “The Equality Human Rights Commission welcomes and supports the role of Deaf Parenting UK in working towards the greater inclusion of disabled and Deaf parents across all areas of society.”
Department for Children, Schools and Families: “DCSF wishes Deaf Parenting UK a successful conference”
-Ends-
For all media enquiries/ contact please contact Asif Iqbal via email media@deafparent.org.uk
http://www.deafparent.org.uk
If you want to know more about Deaf Parenting UK, please email them on
info@deafparent.org.uk
Editors notes:
• Deaf Parenting UK Conference held at Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road Birmingham from 9.30am to 4.30pm
• Speakers:
• Chauhdry Abdul Rashid JP (Lord Mayor of Birmingham) & Shafait Begum Rashid (Lady Mayoress),
• Sabina Iqbal (Chair/Founder of Deaf Parenting UK)
• Maria Miller MP (Shadow Minister for the Family)
• Councillor Les Lawrence (Cabinet Member for Children, Young people, Families, Birmingham City Council)
• Professor Ulrike Zeshan (Deaf Parenting UK Ambassador)
• Yasmin Kovic, (Safeguarding Advisor: Deaf children and young people, NSPCC)
• Louise Fitzergerald, (Senior Early Years Educator at a school for the deaf)
• Natalie Salmon (Head of Equality and Diversity, Nursing & Midwifery Council)
Workshops:
• Professor Alys Young, DPUK Ambassador (Chair the workshop summary & closing remark)
• Deborah Jamieson, Programme Director for Health-Led Parenting and First Years of Life, Dept of Health
(Parenting and Early Years)
• Lyn Frith, Director Children’s Services Policy, Implementation and Research Ltd
(Parenting Implementation Project/ Department for Children, Schools and Families – supporting
local authorities on parent support services to meet the needs of Deaf Parents?)
• Neil Crowther, Disability Programme Director, Equality and Human Right Commission
(The Future of Disability Equality and Human Rights)
• Deaf Parenting UK is the first ever charity and small national organisation to be run by Deaf parents for Deaf
parents. It represents the needs of Deaf parents in the UK, who have hearing children, deaf children or children
with disability.
• Deaf Parenting UK was established following research done on gaps in services for Deaf parents within the
UK. From research, a picture emerged demonstrating the lack of awareness and consideration for the needs of
Deaf parents.
• Because of communication issues within the home and at school Deaf children often lack access to basic
Information in the area of personal, social and health, such as growing up, sex education, pregnancy and parenting. Yet the background statistics are:
90% of Deaf children are born to hearing parents. As well as mainstream support and information, which is available to parents in general, parents of deaf children have access to information, resources and support via Social Services and organisations providing services to deaf children and their families. Information on parenting is also readily available in print, Video/DVD material and Parenting Classes etc.
Deaf children grow up into adults and become parents and yet few resources and support is available to them in an accessible format. This is particularly with services noticeable as Deaf Adults have a 90% chance of having hearing children where access is a real issue.
• The following is common in Deaf parents’ daily lives, as services offered to Deaf parents are sometimes non
existent, very limited or patchy as compared to those available to hearing parents:
Deaf parents are unable to access mainstream information – parenting skills classes, midwives or health visitors. Deaf parents find it difficult to access or participate in school life adequately due to staff inability to communicate in sign language or because of lack of Deaf awareness.
• Deaf Parenting UK offers the following services for Deaf parents and Deaf parents to be:
Deaf Parenting Skills Workshops for deaf parents with young children, teenagers and expectant parents.
Befriender Services
One – to – One Parenting skills support at private home or at own discretion.
Tailor – made parenting support services to meet Deaf parents’ needs.
DPUK can deliver presentations/consultation meetings giving an insight into the service that we offer.
• Deaf Parenting UK have been recognised on local, national and international level especially on recent World
Federation for the Deaf’s conference where we realised the uniqueness of Deaf Parenting UK as a national organisation in UK. We checked with other countries and there were none like Deaf Parenting UK apart from small projects here and there, but not a formal organisation of Deaf parents for Deaf parents. It shows on how important for Deaf Parenting UK to present itself as a good model for other countries across the world on enabling confidence, supporting and empowering Deaf parents
• To learn more about Deaf Parenting UK and to qualify for free membership for Deaf parents/ families, please
visit our website on http://www.deafparent.org.uk.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
[...] First post on this subject last April: http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2008/04/14/victory-for-uk-deaf-parents-five-lsd-arrests-bot-unaw... [...]
March 5th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I don’t often comment on blogs but just needed to stop and say that I like yours.