Deaf but not dumb

I refer to the news item entitled Gambler Given Chance To Address Problem (November 17). The Deaf People Association would like to bring to readers' attention the fact that the words "deaf and dumb" should no longer be used. Our association strongly...

I refer to the news item entitled Gambler Given Chance To Address Problem (November 17).

The Deaf People Association would like to bring to readers' attention the fact that the words "deaf and dumb" should no longer be used.

Our association strongly believes that deaf persons are not "dumb" because they have their own language: in our case Maltese sign language. So it is a mistake to refer to a deaf person as being "dumb".

The word deaf is enough for readers to understand that the difficulty is in communication.

It also means that deaf people need support to communicate and this support is available through sign language interpreters.

Such a service is provided free of charge by our association.

The Deaf People Association would like to make sure that these terms are no longer used because they are unacceptable to most deaf people because they hurt.

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