DISABILITY, NOT INCAPACITY: DEAF COMMUNITY. 

Short reflection on deaf

Deaf people are created in the image and likeness of God and have a special place in society, they are not lesser human beings than others despite their condition. My interaction with the Deaf community has brought great awareness that being disabled is not been inability. They have had gifts and talents which they can share with the community. Today in many communities to be deaf or even come from a deaf family is associated with sin or a mistake done in the past as a result the hearing tend to discriminate and ignore the non-hearing. the Family is considered cursed. Due to discrimination, such a family ends up hiding from the community or locking up the deaf child in the house to avoid interaction with others.

To build an inclusive community is to respect and recognize humanity rather than the physical status of individuals, to be a witness is all about bridging the gap between the hearing and Deaf communities. Disability is not a Punishment from God Each one of us is endowed with gifts and talents, and the church is open enough to welcome each person “you are my friends” John 15:14, to make the deaf feel at home is to include them in activities of the church.”

There is a huge difference between hearing and non-Hearing, these two groups view the world in two different ways, and sometimes there is prejudices in these two groups, Pope Francis declares we are all witnesses and no one is excluded in imitating Christ who is the model of the Mission. “Let all the children come to me” nobody is excluded in the Vineyard of God. Each one, in particular, has gifs and talents which we are called to share with others. I have come to realize despite being a small group they have a lot to contribute to society, showing us that being Deaf is not a hindrance to being a witness of Christ in their way of life. The clip helps to bridge the Deaf community with the Hearing maintaining that we are all created in the image of God and no human being is superior to the others despite the physical challenges.

The mission is all about Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Peace, and Kindness all these are gospel values that help us to move out of ourselves to reach others and consider others as important. to relate with others, these values are core values of Christianity witnesses which comes from our faith. Unlike Jewish community which excluded any form of disability in participation in religious function. We are called to break this chain of division and to see the goodness in others just as God sees them.