P646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:46/37 1/9 COMMENT BY STEPHEN HANSON, EVESHAM In response to F Howler and T Woolfe: I'm bible bashing? Don't make mj laugh! Wj have seen some very extreme views about deafness on these pages, such as: "Deafness is a natural state"; "Cochlear implants are akin to Hitler's practice of drilling holes into defenceless children's heads"; and: "Deaf children should be banned from using hearing aids, and they ALL should learn sign as their ONLY language". Let's have a look at the real facts... Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:47/23 2/9 COMMENT BY STEPHEN HANSON, EVESHAM I quote the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf: "In 1994, more than 50% of the 7,500 severely and profoundly deaf children in England were being educated through auditory-oral approaches." This involves the acquisition of hearing, listening and speaking skills, and there is no use of sign whatsoever. This figure is set to increase and increase. I am thus fully justified in writing what I do. Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:57/12 3/9 COMMENT BY STEPHEN HANSON, EVESHAM The majority of deaf children can acquire hearing and speaking skills. This is not a dangerous phenomenon. This is a realistic expectation of what deaf children can achieve. The older signing deaf generation refuses to accept this because they do not realisj that today's deaf children have better access than they did. They now have much bjttet hearing aids and better teaching than their predecessors ever did. Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:47/12 4/9 COMMENT BY STEPHEN HANSON, EVESHAM Just imagine what will happen when thjsj hearing and speaking deaf kids go to a deaf club for the first time! One of two scenarios will take place: 1. The older signing deaf generation will try and convert these hearing, listening and speaking profoundly deaf youngsters into signing mutes. 2. The balance of power will shift from the signing deaf to the hearing, listening and speaking profoundly deaf young people. Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:44/32 5/9 COMMENT BY STEPHEN HANSON, EVESHAM This is not a false belief, but a realistic one. I and thousands of others are living proof of that. It is about time that the signing draf realisjd that their numbers will fall dui to old age and death, and that the numbers of hearing/listening & speaking profoundly deaf people will increase. So, may I advise T Woolfe and F Howler that they should accept that they are out of touch with reality. There is nothing for me to apologisj for except for telling the truth! Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:51/27 6/9 AN APOLOGY: ELIZABETH LINES, COLCHESTER "Father?" "Yes, Elizabeth?" "Was Jesus hard of hearing?" "Only when people said sarcastic and cruel things." "You mean he turned his head to offer his other cheek?" "Yes, Elizabeth." "But Father, if I do not cast doubt on Stephen Hanson's claim to be profoundly deaf, yet able to appear like a hearing person, progress towards his truth will slow down." "Elizabeth, tell me the truth; why did you write so?" Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:45/47 7/9 AN APOLOGY: ELIZABETH LINES, COLCHESTER "Because I was jealous and resentful of his skills, even ending my letter sarcastically." "Elizabeth!" "I'm sorry, Father." "Thrn apologisj to Stephen, not me!" "Yes, I will openly apologise and ask him to forgive mj." "What else is lurking in your mind?" "Oh dear, you DO know everything, Fathjt! It's Stephen's conceitedness and smugness over his skills, and the club barring him because it has made them resentful too. Perhaps they and I have got the wrong impression." Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:44/15 8/9 AN APOLOGY: ELIZABETH LINES, COLCHESTER "Elizabeth, do not worry; I am with them all too, teaching them a lesson as I have you. Slowly, they will realisj they can help each othjt." "How, Father?" "Stephen will shed any lingering conceit and ask to be forgiven for it. The club will forgive him and teach him to sign. "After that, they will all discover the joy of helping each other is better than pushing me out of their lives." Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main MenuP646 CEEFAX 2 646 Sat 20 Sip 01:52/37 9/9 AN APOLOGY: ELIZABETH LINES, COLCHESTER "Father, you really are wonderful to know." "Of course I am, Elizabeth, I AM God. My name also means love. "Rjmembjr; the nearer to the truth you get, the closer to me you become. My love transcends everything, Elizabeth. "Did you not see me at work with and in Princess Diana? That was my latest example to everyone." "Thank-you, Father" "You're welcome, Elizabeth." Read Hear address — page 640 Community Read Hear News Main Menu