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Web Empowers a Deaf-Blind Individual

© Glenda Watson Hyatt

I met Craig MacLean during my final year at Simon Fraser University. However, because of our disabilities, we never really talked. I have cerebral palsy, which significantly affects my speech; visual cues often help people to understand what I am saying. Whereas, Craig is deaf and blind, which also poses severe communication problems. We found face-to-face communication not to be effective, so we did not pursue it.

One form of communication we both find quite liberating is email. Email and the Web are great equalizers for people with disabilities who are otherwise isolated and marginalized in society.

In between him writing papers, chairing a conference, teaching A.S.L. (American Sign Language), and other fascinating stuff, I interviewed Craig about being deaf-blind and how the Internet creates freedom and power for him.

Glenda: For anyone who is not deaf and blind, it is difficult to imagine what it is like to be deaf-blind. Please explain what is it like to be deaf-blind?

Craig: To be deaf-blind is to be isolated, from sounds and sights, but mostly from people. It is difficult to converse with other people who do not understand you or your communication style. Out of the 10 years that I've been in post-secondary education I have only accomplished about 5 friends.

To be deaf-blind is rare. Most people have diminished senses, but not fully impaired. For example, many are born fully deaf, but become blind due to genetics and other fuzzy stuff. It can also happen the other way around, being born blind, then losing hearing.

If you look through a smoky glass window, it is kind of like what some of us see. If you try to look through black cloth, that can be what other people see.

For hearing, if you have a horn playing full blast, and trying to converse on the phone, that is what some of us hear. Or, some people do not "hear" anything. In short it is really a quiet room, but they cannot hear anything.

Now, put those two together and you got it - there is a slew of possibilities and no two deaf-blind individuals are alike. Each has their own hearing and seeing impairments.

In short, there is a magnitude of differences.

Glenda: In day to day life, how do you communicate? Do you use sign language or special technology? Can this be limiting or isolating?

Craig: Yes, it is isolating. I use American Sign Language and have interpreters for class. But free time and study outside of class time are my own. I don't have interpreters during those times.

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