Title: Hearing privilege and Deaf disempowerment • Access • Public Address
Headings: Access
by Various artists

Access by Various artists
Hearing privilege and Deaf disempowerment
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Content: Every other disabled group has access to hearing privilege. Naturally, Deaf, like other linguistic minorities, need interpreters to act as intermediaries between themselves and the hearing world. Deaf need to use hearing people to overcome the systematic barriers put up by hearing privilege. This is why hearing leaders are hired: because of their hearing privilege – that is, their ability to engage with the hearing world on behalf of their Deaf employers. Hearing privilege is all-pervasive. Hearing people do not have to constantly explain and defend themselves. Hearing people can expect their parents, doctors, teachers, and community will share the same education, culture and language as themselves. Hearing people can expect that they will be represented accurately and fairly in the media. Hearing privilege is when hearing people decide what is best for the Deaf community without their input, insight, or consideration.