It is so easy to become annoyed, frustrated and furious at the oppression that the disabled and the Deaf Plus (Deaf plus another disability) face both in the “real” world and in Gallaudet University. I have personally faced countless instances of oppression by my peers and even by disability-related services on campus, such as Residence Life and the Office for Students with Disabilities. I have lived that same experience of oppression that we Deaf face in the hearing world in the Deaf community.

But this article isn’t about bitching. This article isn’t about rubbing the oppression in your face. This article is about making change.

Before we make the change, we must first answer very difficult, personal questions that we ask ourselves. Why is “disability”—whether it is deafness, blindness, or physical disability—such a negative thing? Why do we feel so uncomfortable in the presence of people who are different than ourselves? Why does this fear or discomfort force us to act differently towards people who are different?

To begin the process of changing the perceptions of the disabled, we need to learn to accept that disability is not a negative or scary concept. We need to embrace disability as “just another kind of Deaf,” because that’s what we really are.

Disability is neutral; it is our actions towards the label and the people who are labeled as disabled that make “disabled” such a negative category to be associated with.

Recently, a group of students met on campus to discuss their experiences as Deaf, Deafblind, blind, Voice-Deaf, and disabled persons in the Gallaudet community. People shared countless stories of anger, oppression, sadness, and the feeling of being taken advantage of. These stories should make me angry. But I’m not.

Here’s why I’m not an angry, Voice-Deaf, functionally hard of hearing girl. Our experiences build the foundation for who we are and what labels and identities we choose to reveal in the Deaf and hearing worlds.

However, our experiences don’t mean that we have the right behavior and attitude. We, as Deaf individuals, need to accept that we do oppress those who are different than us. Then, we must figure out how to change our actions into acceptance and celebration of different people on campus.

How we do this is a difficult and sometimes scary process. I don’t claim to have all the answers. I aim to ask each and every one involved in the Gallaudet community and the Deaf world to self-analyze.

Think about how you could change your views and opinions about those who are disabled.

Think about how your actions can be changed.

Chat with a Deafblind student or staff member. Join a table of wheelchair users.

Listen. Listen with all you’ve got to learn the stories and shared experiences, rather than focusing on what makes you different from the disabled.

Ask questions. Learn! I dare you to accept that deafness is a disability—which is a positive, not a negative!

Celebrate disability in any way you can and any way you feel comfortable in.

Together we can make Gallaudet University a more “safe space” for all students on campus: Deaf, hard of hearing, hearing, Deafblind, Voice-Deaf, disabled and “others.”

Please, don’t focus on what makes you angry and scared. Focus on why we’re all here. Focus on what makes us the same. If you must focus on the differences, accept and cherish how those differences are something to be celebrated, not looked down upon.

I’m not an angry disabled girl; I’m just a girl looking to make some change for the better for all students on campus. Unify. Accept. Celebrate diversity. Deaf President Now helped pave the way for the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but twenty-five years later, we are still focusing on what makes each of us different from others and viewing these differences negatively. Don’t just tolerate our differences. Learn from them and learn how similar we are in spite of what makes each of us a unique human being.