I work with a lot of disabled people and while obviously my sample size isn’t large enough to write a paper, the ones capable of understanding consent all think this is a terrible, terrible idea.
Being disabled in some area really makes you think “I had better take care of what I have left” rather than “what are my options for modifying and upgrading what is left?”
There is actually a strong feeling in much of the deaf/heard of hearing community against cochlear implants because it is “othering” them in the process.
I’ve healed various parts of myself that have been fucked up, mostly mentally and emotionally, and when I’ve found myself normally able, the first reaction I have is grief. For all the years before I even knew such things existed.
I steer, on purpose, into gratitude, and I take what I can get. But there’s a little secondary voice that wants to be bitter and hold it against people who had the ability while young.
As someone with physical disabilities I grieve the life I had before them and the things in life I won’t be able to do in the future. Like spend a full lifetime with my kids.
Bitterness is not a reason to avoid a cure if one is available.
I lack the eloquence to describe the look on her face when she found out about it. But her answer was, “Oh, great, so I can trade in the problems I have now for new ones we can’t even accommodate yet!”
Which is stupid because they were “othered” by their physical disability and are being returned to the fold by having that ability restored.
Also it’s a minority of deaf egoists who think they’re special because they lack normal capacity and turned their disability into their personality, not some strong feeling in much of the community.
Just because a culture adopts a narrative doesn’t mean it’s the only functional narrative.
It’s just as feasible for someone to think “hey new sense, fuckin sweet!” or even “Hey new sense, nah I’m good”, and in both responses not find any insult at all in the offer.
I work with a lot of disabled people and while obviously my sample size isn’t large enough to write a paper, the ones capable of understanding consent all think this is a terrible, terrible idea.
I don’t blame them. I can’t imagine voluntarily getting brain surgery unless it was life or death.
Being disabled in some area really makes you think “I had better take care of what I have left” rather than “what are my options for modifying and upgrading what is left?”
There is actually a strong feeling in much of the deaf/heard of hearing community against cochlear implants because it is “othering” them in the process.
I’d find it hard to believe people paralyzed from the neck down would share similar views.
Again it’s not a huge pool, but one. One paralyzed lady who thinks this an atrocious idea. But I bet its more than you’ve asked personally!
Why is that? I think it’s a really exciting technology.
I’ve healed various parts of myself that have been fucked up, mostly mentally and emotionally, and when I’ve found myself normally able, the first reaction I have is grief. For all the years before I even knew such things existed.
I steer, on purpose, into gratitude, and I take what I can get. But there’s a little secondary voice that wants to be bitter and hold it against people who had the ability while young.
As someone with physical disabilities I grieve the life I had before them and the things in life I won’t be able to do in the future. Like spend a full lifetime with my kids.
Bitterness is not a reason to avoid a cure if one is available.
I lack the eloquence to describe the look on her face when she found out about it. But her answer was, “Oh, great, so I can trade in the problems I have now for new ones we can’t even accommodate yet!”
She’s very much an enemy you know type of person.
Which is stupid because they were “othered” by their physical disability and are being returned to the fold by having that ability restored.
Also it’s a minority of deaf egoists who think they’re special because they lack normal capacity and turned their disability into their personality, not some strong feeling in much of the community.
Thank you. Much better put than my comment.
Just because a culture adopts a narrative doesn’t mean it’s the only functional narrative.
It’s just as feasible for someone to think “hey new sense, fuckin sweet!” or even “Hey new sense, nah I’m good”, and in both responses not find any insult at all in the offer.
Learning about cochlea implants right now in SLT school, this is beyond me lol
How many of them are paralyzed from the neck down?
All the more reason to not let someone fuck with the last bit that works lest they set your brain on fire with nerve damage.