Deaf ideology | Marika Kovacs-Houlihan | TEDxUWMilwaukee

Pathological ideology is an imposed view,
stemming from values and beliefs, which place
high value on speaking and hearing. Hence, the
pervasive definition that “deaf” is a condition,
a deficiency, which it creates a language delay,
has become a fiber of our society. We need
to challenge people to “react differently” when encountering the ideology of what is means to
be DEAF. Deaf people are a culturo-linguistic community and when they are allowed to create their own ideology in their natural environment, they can, in return, be celebrated for their contributions to society.

Marika is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the American Sign Language Department. She brings passion to all facets of her life.

[IIoveasl]

Great presentation. I am a hearing person. I also am a special education teacher. . Back in 1984, I started working with handicapped one day, my director came to us and said: we are going to receive deaf kids. Well, I started learning ASL....being physically handicapped, I had to adapt it for one hand. I learnt French sign language and learnt Israeli sign language.  I volunteer today in Israel with deaf blind adults. I think Sign language should be thought in school as a mandatory language. It is a beautiful language, and it does serve if you meet a deaf person. Just something to think about.

[kirstycollins]

So great. I went deaf 5 years ago and got a cochlear implant. The necessary mask wearing for the pandemic has rendered my lip-reading useless. I'm finally learning Australian sign language. I'm learning to be deaf! These videos are fantastic! I cannot survive without sign language.

[obriensign]

OMG, I've only watched two minutes so far, but I have to stop and comment. THANK YOU for using ASL on stage and NOT signing in a more English order (which, unfortunately, many presenters are apt to do). THANK YOU for giving your interpreter a script that follows the nuances and meaning of your message, rather than word-for-word. THANK YOU for this truly amazing presentation (that I know is going to be great for the last 15 minutes, even though I've only seen 2 minutes so far. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

[keramiroberts]

Have to agree that TED have really let the side down in the filming of a visual language.

[melaniepthornton]

Great video. My only concern is that Deaf people continue to push back about being identified as Disabled, but by doing so it sends the message that being Disabled is a bad thing. Many Disabled people have a positive identity and have Disability pride just like Deaf people have Deaf pride. Let's work to embrace diversity in its many forms and not diss other groups of people.

[slowfire]

Why does the camera keep shifting to being far away, making it way harder to see what she's saying?

[Chaotic_Mind_System]

This was a terrible video. It's on deaf culture and the video moves everywhere. How about next time you set the camera IN FRONT of the person so we can see the sign language? Rude.

[Sarah-kqpu]

Just echoing the sentiment that it is very ironic and odd that this was filmed from a hearing perspective rather than a Deaf one. A person trying to understand her signing would struggle with these camera angles. No reason the filming shouldn't have been straight-on to see her better.

Also, it was cool to see ASL used instead of PSE or SEE. That's kind of rare in hearing world.

[phitjade]

Chills! I LOVE this! I've advocated for this type of thing for so long! Adjust the world to accommodate deaf & EVERYONE benefits (gains). Before I even saw the comments though I thought, "I wish I could send this to my deaf friends without them having to use the CC."

[imjustsayin]

maybe setting up the camera for deaf folks can see.

[tgbrowning]

Amazing! I had that same experience (offer of a wheelchair) in Phoenix. I told them I was deaf, not paraplegic! Didn't help.

[koda]

amazing! I'm new to the Deaf community (in school to become an Interpreter), and loved how this was so eloquently stated. Hearing viewers have no excuse NOT to watch this, and I'm sharing with all my deaf friends :)

[murphbee]

I was never exposed to deaf culture until I met my daughter -in-law whose father and only sibling are both deaf. It has been a gift to get to know these men and I’m working at learning more of their language as it isn’t fair to my DIL and her mom to always interpret and to them that the onus of our conversations is making themselves known in a language that the are functionally unable to participate in.

[chanelleatkinson]

I have just started to learn BSL and already I'm in awe of this. I have grown up taught to love and appreciate all sign languages and personally I feel they are far more expressive than most verbal languages. I do find it mind bending that people view deaf people as somehow lesser or disabled? Every experience I've had with a deaf person made me feel I was desperate to learn the language. Even not knowing more than a handful of signs as long as you pay attention to the whole person you get a real sense of them as a person, their personality and a rough idea of what they are trying to say - if you just try to listen with your eyes! I've been watching and reading as much as I can about deaf culture and as a hearing person I have to say its self me feeling ashamed of how hearing people generally have treated the deaf. Trying to "fix" or "change" or make them speak - all this time has been wasted when personally I feel sigh lessons should have been put in all schools. In Wales and Ireland they want to teach their children Welish and Irish to preserve the culture because the language is part of who they are. Why isn't sign viewed the same? Deaf people are part of our community and part of us as people! I wish I could have learned from a young age and I wish I had the privilege of knowing more deaf people. The few experiences I've had taught me about myself and exposed me to the most beautiful and expressive languages I've ever known. When I see someone sign I feel privileged to be with them and I wish I was better as signing so I may be able to be part of it.

[GrahamLloyd-fe]

This is a beautiful presentation. Thank you Marika Kovacs-Houlihan!

[jennylynnmason]

Love this! Just wish the camera would stop change angles, missed some of the speech.

[GrahamLloyd-fe]

Marikaa Kovas - Houlihan is an excellent signer! Thank you!

[zennish]

A talk about being deaf and signing and the camera angles are from the side. You can't tell me that you didn't know she'd be signing this speech. It's a visual language that must be seen head on.

[austinsmith]

I'm a hard of hearing individual and trying to learn ASL it's very difficult to be hard of hearing and learning the language that I should been doing from the start I'm inspired by people like Markia Erin and others that have met over the course of my journey and who I want to be . My goal is to along with teaching special education teach ASL classes In a high school setting

I am who I am I love being identified as hard of hearing because it has open so many doors in my life that I never would though possible like being able to interact with my community is a blessing both as a member and alley to them

[bonnieschwebke]

Well done job, Marika! ! Hope your presentation will impact the society to UNDERSTAND and to learn how to treat everyone equal, no matter what!