A few days ago, I went to update our camp information for the 2026 season, I was surprised to find an outdated term when reviewing the camp submission. This was not for the public to see, but under \u201cCamp Emphasis\u201d the older term \u201chearing impairments\u201d popped up. I immediately reached out about changing it to the current preferred term: \u201cDeaf and Hard of Hearing\u201d as was shown in the public camp listings, which had already been changed a few years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I received an immediate response from Eric Beermann detailing they have been working on updating terms and sometimes they get hidden and not noted during the first go-thru of the site. Websites do have many layers, and it can be tricky to figure out what is hidden and unnoticed. They thoughtfully sent me a link for me to verify and see that it had indeed been changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It seems like a small thing and was quickly resolved. And since the location would never be seem by the public, why did this matter at all? Why did I feel that it should be taken care of, and right now? Why do I even mind? I grew up with this term. I was in an educational \u201cprogram for children with hearing impairments\u201d for five years before I was fully mainstreamed. This is how I was labeled medically and educationally. I even described myself this way, along with \u201cdeaf\u201d or \u201chard of hearing.\u201d I never really gave it much thought. But as an adult, I met many others who were Deaf or hard of hearing, who did, in fact, mind. They minded quite a bit. It was pointed out that we don\u2019t call people who rely on wheelchairs \u201cwalking impaired.\u201d People who use elevators aren\u2019t \u201cstair-impaired.\u201d The term \u201cImpaired\u201d has many negative connotations. When people drive under the influence they are \u201cimpaired.\u201d The idea is to Fix \/ Correct\/ Replace whatever\/whoever is impaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As you update your camps, think about what words you are using to promote the populations of your camps. Camp Chris Williams often serves children with multiple disabilities; we don\u2019t list them all because the core of our camp mission is that they must be deaf or hard of hearing to join our camp. About 30% of children who are deaf or hard of hearing have another disability, so we are indeed a Very Special Camp, and grateful for this site so families of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and DeafPlus (D\/HH\/DB\/DP) children can find us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nan Asher<\/p>\n\n\n\n