'It is not disability but an attitude problem of others'
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Your support makes all the difference.Alistair Wright is the severely deaf father of a six-year-old son who has normal hearing. Mr Wright, a single parent, aged 33, works for the National Deaf Children's Society which brings him into contact with many deaf parents and their children. He also has a deaf sister who has children of her own.
Alistair Wright is the severely deaf father of a six-year-old son who has normal hearing. Mr Wright, a single parent, aged 33, works for the National Deaf Children's Society which brings him into contact with many deaf parents and their children. He also has a deaf sister who has children of her own.
Any genetic test that can help to diagnose deafness in babies at an early age would be welcomed, Mr Wright said. But such tests should never be used to alienate deaf people in society. "Naturally, I am concerned at the possibility of it being used for 'cleansing' of deaf children but it can be a great tool in early diagnosis for hearing parents in order to prepare all the support for their deaf child," he said.
"For hearing parents, the earlier they know if their child is diagnosed as being deaf will be an enormous help in their preparation for having a deaf child. It will enable them to be aware of the audiological, communication, language, educational and social issues of which approximately 90 per cent of parents will know very little about," said Mr Wright
Mr Wright went to a boarding school for deaf children and much of his social life is centred around deaf people. He believes that pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is unlikely to be used by many deaf people to ensure they have a deaf child, but neither would it be used to ensure they have a hearing child. He said: "It is a hearing-oriented society and that will be helpful in bringing up hearing children for deaf parents. Being deaf with their own experiences will give them the skills required to bring up deaf children.
"Parents should not be under any pressure to have hearing-only children as deafness is not a disability but an attitude problem of others ... Deaf children face a brighter future than those of the older deaf generations."
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