National Association of the Deaf

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), in a letter from President Andrew J. Lange, criticized People magazine for perpetuating offensive stereotypes and derogatory terms when it published a letter to the editor on May 23, 2005 by a mother of a deaf child that included the term "deaf and dumb," an insensitive, insulting and archaic term. Lange commented that it is "inexcusable for a mainstream publication such as People magazine to perpetuate stereotypes and derogatory terms."

The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, used the term "deaf and dumb" because he felt that deaf people were incapable of being taught and that they could not use reasoned thinking. He thought that if a deaf person could not use his/her voice in the same way as hearing people, then there was no way that this person could develop cognitive abilities. This term "deaf and dumb" has since been viewed by the deaf community as extremely offensive, negative, and derogatory. For more information, see: http://www.nad.org/deafanddumb

The National Association of the Deaf is urging individuals to contact People magazine to share their views and let them know that that this term is extremely offensive, by taking action at:
http://www.nad.org/peopleaction

Lange continued, "Mainstream magazines do not print offensive terms for other minority groups. By publishing this derogatory letter and intentional humiliation of deaf and hard of hearing individuals, People magazine has become a tool for bigotry, and that is not acceptable!"