Disability rights are about removing barriers, not policing identities

Disability rights are about removing barriers, not policing identities!

It is inaccurate to equate a legal and policy-recognised term such as hearing impairment with outdated and offensive labels such as deaf-mute or deaf and dumb. These terms have entirely different histories, meanings, and purposes.

The debate around terminology should not distract from a more important issue: ensuring that people who have hearing loss can access their rights, receive reasonable accommodation, and participate equally in society.

The South African White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2015) recognises the rights of persons who have sensory impairments, including people with hearing impairments. The White Paper emphasises accessibility, inclusion, equality, and the removal of barriers that prevent full participation in society.

Among its key principles are:

• Accessible communication, including South African Sign Language interpretation and alternative communication methods.
• Equal access to education, healthcare, employment, transportation, justice, and public services.
• Reasonable accommodation measures to remove barriers and promote equal participation.
• Inclusive design of facilities, services, information, and environments.
• Training and awareness programmes that promote disability inclusion.
• Representation and participation of persons with disabilities in decisions that affect their lives.

The social model of disability recognises that people are often disabled not by their impairment alone, but by inaccessible environments, systems, attitudes, and communication practices.  Importantly, the social model does not deny the existence of impairment. Rather, it highlights society’s responsibility to remove barriers and provide accommodation. Acknowledging hearing impairment is therefore not inconsistent with the social model of disability; it is often the starting point for identifying barriers and implementing solutions.

This is why terminology matters. For many people, the term hearing impairment provides a recognised basis for accessing accommodations, support measures, assistive technology, communication access, and legal protections. It enables individuals to engage with disability legislation, workplace accommodation processes, educational support systems, and accessibility policies.

At the same time, language is deeply personal. Many culturally Deaf people reject the term hearing impaired because they view deafness as a linguistic and cultural identity rather than an impairment. That perspective deserves respect. Equally deserving of respect are those who identify as hearing impaired, persons who have hearing loss, cochlear implant users, or any other term that reflects their lived experience.

The principle should be choice, not prescription.

No individual or organisation should impose a single identity on all people who have hearing loss. Likewise, no one should stigmatise or delegitimise terminology that others rely upon to describe their experiences or to access rights and accommodations.  My concern is with efforts to dismiss or belittle the term hearing impairment altogether. Doing so risks undermining the inclusion of many people who have hearing loss in engaging with existing disability rights frameworks. It may also discourage individuals from seeking the accommodations and support to which they are legally entitled.

South Africa is home to millions of people who have varying degrees of hearing loss. They come from different cultural backgrounds, speak different languages, use different communication methods, and have different identities. Some identify strongly with Deaf culture, while many participate primarily in mainstream society. Their experiences are diverse, but their right to dignity, inclusion, accessibility, and accommodation is universal.

The real issue is not which label should prevail. The real issue is whether people who have hearing loss can access education, employment, healthcare, information, communication, and public services on an equal basis with others.  Disability rights are ultimately about removing barriers, not policing identities. A truly inclusive society recognises that people have the right to choose how they identify, while ensuring that disability terminology remains available as a tool for accessing rights, protections, and reasonable accommodation.  The goal should never be to silence one group in favour of another. The goal should be to create a society where all people who have hearing loss—regardless of how they identify—can participate fully, equally, and with dignity.

Fanie du Toit
Mentor, Hearing Loss Matters
Cochlear implantee