9/13/2023 0 Comments Dragon prince amaya mute or deaf![]() When I was seventeen years old, I started doing more research as I knew there were early military programs for high school students. ![]() Growing up, it never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be allowed because I was deaf. I used to tell people that I wanted to be a soldier, but apparently, I have such a reputation for being kind, that my friends and family laughed at the idea of me being a soldier. I still have that assignment tucked away in one of my memory boxes. All the other kids were writing down that they wanted to be doctors, lawyers, firefighters, veterinarians, but I decided I wanted to be a soldier. I remember the first time I was ever asked the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I was in kindergarten and still learning how to write. The topic of deaf in the military hits home for me. Thus the bill ended up getting swept under the rug. Trump has never been supportive of disability civil rights. Obama was a big supporter of Nolan, but the bill didn’t reach congress until Trump was in office. Unfortunately, the bill suffered from bad timing. If it went well, it would open the doors to regular service and test programs in other branches of the military. The bill would open up a test program for the Deaf in the Air Force. Nolan’s activism was successful up to the point that a bill, named after him, was drafted and sent to congress. Women as well were banned, but now they’ve been allowed. “If you remember back in US history, African-Americans were told they couldn’t join the military, and now they serve. Nolan also traveled to several other countries to interview deaf soldiers actively serving in military roles and wrote a 98-page paper on why the Deaf should be allowed to serve. He participated in an ROTC program for two years and was able to earn the rank of a cadet private before he was barred from advancing any further simply because he was deaf. Keith Nolan, a deaf man and a teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf, has been fighting for years to get the military to open for the Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing. Or, if you look at this issue from a historical standpoint, there have been deaf soldiers serving in every single war in US history up thru WWII. America is one of a small handful of countries that do not allow people with disabilities to serve, in contrast to the rest of the world where they are allowed and even encouraged to serve. This becomes even more questionable when looked at from a global standpoint. “If the US military can retain their disabled soldiers, why can’t they accept disabled citizens?” Keith Nolan ![]() So there are people with disabilities serving, but only able-bodied people are allowed to join. ![]() If a soldier in the military acquires a disability during active service, the military will make all accommodations necessary for them to continue doing their job. That’s because the US military has a loophole. Now, that might come off as strange to you and maybe you can think of a few examples of disabled veterans who are actively working in the military. In America, disabled citizens are not allowed to join the army or serve in any related military role. Serving in the military alone is something extremely meaningful and powerful for the Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing community. General Amaya is also in a position of power-one of the King’s most trusted advisors and one of the highest-ranking Generals in the Katolis Army. Plus there are some hilarious jokes you’ll only catch if you know sign language. I think this choice has a powerful impact because it allows the audience to see her differently. You have to know sign language to understand. And-something else that is noticeable-when she speaks, there are no subtitles to translate what she is saying. It’s not just a few token signs to help sell the part. Not only is General Amaya deaf, but she uses real sign language-like proper grammar and everything. For that reason alone, it comes across as special and meaningful because so many minorities are being represented at once-and in positions of power! You have LGBTQ+ queens and assassins, so many powerful female leaders, and people of color by the dozen (among both elves and humans). It was literally designed to push for diversity and representation. In general, the whole show is amazing on so many levels. While it wasn’t the first deaf character I have come across, General Amaya was the first portrayal of a deaf person in a position of power and who plays a big role across the story that I have experienced. Getting my childhood dream at the age of twenty-two, you bet I cried. General Amaya, front and center, with her trusted advisor Commander Gren (left) and her nephew Callum (right). ![]()
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