Envy wrote:
Of course I knew there were schools for the deaf and schools of the blind but I didn't think such a range of students attended.
Yeah, when I first started attending CSDF that was my immediate impression. If there's one thing I can give credit for, it's how rather accurately they represent the main character's feelings towards going to a school for the disabled. To me, it was like... going to CSDF is like admitting I'm a sub-human too. I know it's insulting, but that's generally how most people feel. So when I first showed up and saw all the mentally handicapped people, all the disfigured and so on people... I was like, why do I belong here? I'm perfectly capable, I'm intelligent, and I'm hardworking! I don't belong in this shithole!
But really, everyone else there felt that way - like we were being swept under a rug by society and pretended we no longer exist. For many of us, and myself included - that was what our parents did as well. My parents shipped me there, dropped me off, said goodbye have fun with your new life! and I lived in the dorm, my parents visited me weekly for about a month, then it was monthly, then I went 3 years without ever seeing them. I'd always hear stories from my brothers about how they are visiting their games, doing stuff with them, and I would be insanely jealous and I hated them all for it.
There's little to no comradie among the disabled. An big exception would be deaf people.
That sucks but it's such negative feelings are understandable, especially those held by young people. I'd like to think it wasn't the same everywhere though but I guess I don't really have any reason to be so positive. Still, I don't think a positive environment like Yamaku would be impossible to create with proper management and dedicated staff.
They do try to create a positive environment at CSDF. There are slogans everywhere "you can do everything but hear!" and so on, and lots of people at your beck and call to make your worries go away. However.... its like... can you really be positive, when randomly every other day, someone's hitting you with a baseball bat to the face, for your entire life? Most people wouldn't be positive. While it's not a baseball bat, but every time a disabled person has to confront a reality that is "I cannot do this" it essentially is as bad as a baseball bat to the face, emotionally.
One thing I didn't realize to mention.. I have a guide dog. She helps me with my daily life.
Cute dog. I'd forgotten they gave deaf people hearing dogs for doorbell alerts or whatever else I can't really think of at the moment.
Well my Priscilla does many things, but most of them I have replacements for. I.e. she can alert me to the door, however I have it wired so that when someone knocks/rings bell the lights flash in my house. She responds ot the alarm, however I have a vibrating alarm. And so on. Her real use, for me as a deaf person, is something of a security blanket of sorts. That's not to say she's a guard dog, I cannot imagine her ever being aggressive towards a human or animal. But more like... dogs are always attuned to their surroundings, and some breeds are more reactive to it than others. German Shepherds are pretty reactive dogs. So whenever she turns her head to look at something she heard, whenever she moves her ears around... I know that there's sound coming from those directions, and I can look and see what it is.
For instance if a car was driving at me and normally I would be oblivious to it until it hits me... with Priscilla at my side she would hear the approaching car and turn her head to see what it is, which would cause me to turn my head and look at what it is as well. It's not something taught to her, just something dogs naturally do. But you can see how the dog's natural hearing function can help me there, right? Someone yells behind me, she will turn her ears back to listen in, maybe not even look back, just turn her ears... and I'd look to see what it is. Maybe someone was yelling at me, or not, I don't know. Maybe someone is talking behind my back, and she's my cue to see if they are talking to me.
Thats the best I can explain her function. Any dog can do that, if they are not lazy. But that's not enough to be a hearing dog. She's extraordinarily trained (has CDX and AX titles from AKC, CGC, and TDI certifications). As well as has functions specifically to alleviate my disabilities.
You're basically asking for my life story there haha. So I'll spare you.
Well, whatever. I don't think I'm only person who'd be interested to hear the reason but I'm not desperate for it.[/quote]
Maybe I'll go over it later, but lunch break is up so I gotta go now.
