I think you also have to take into account the incredible diversity in parents.
Highly educated parents, poorly educated parents, parents with a very open or a very restrictive attitude.
Most parents are disillusioned. They think: a deaf child, what are we supposed to do with that?
The image people have of deaf people is more negative than positive.
That will always remain. Because the first thought is: they can't talk, what now?
So that's an issue at that point.
Imagine parents consciously choosing bilingualism and the deaf world, all right?
So they step inside at the deaf club, but: they can't really go any further.
They're still outsiders, they can't really get their foot between the door.
Some parents have managed to do it, but with great effort.
Add to that the fact that parents also lose extra time due to the deafness of their child. They have to repeatedly go to speech therapy, and visit the hospital for the CI.
They're busy, no time, etc.
And now they also have to join the deaf community... do you understand?
Also, the deaf community isn't very interested in the parents.
So I can imagine parents not feeling very welcomed there.
I can imagine.
But I still think it's important to persevere and keep going.
The deaf community simply is a closed community, so it's going to take more time and effort to become a part of it.
To persist and keep going, that's the most important thing.
It's also important to realize most deaf adults were raised orally, or with some signs.
Deaf people think to themselves, I made it through.
The children nowadays have it a lot better, what's the issue?
So the deaf adults don't really see the problem.
While parents are worried their child isn't doing well, deaf adults think: I survived too, right?
So that child will be fine, they'll be alright.