Approaching a door: Somone who is not deaf/HOH

[GraysonPeddie]

In the hearing world, when a hearing person knocks (or uses a door bell) a door and someone inside a house approaches the door, a hearing person will ask "who's there" or "who is it" before opening a door.

In the deaf world, let's pretend that there's a pizza man (who is not deaf) approaching a door (once after you order a pizza like through relay).

So if a door has no window in it, how would you suppose to know who's there (like if there's a pizza man)?

How is this work?

 

[Silentwolfdog]

Hmm that would be strange, not having a window near the door or door itself. Maybe there should be video camera added or person need to add window.

Sometimes deaf people will buy things to help them out.

But if there is no window at all, I would open the door a little and using chain so that door can't open fully to see who that person is. If that person is okay, then I unlock the chain and open the door.

But if there's no chain...then I dunno what to say...maybe have dog beside me so that person know he can't attack me if he decided to do something bad while I open the door for him.

 

[webexplorer]

All you have to do is to plug the alive wire wire around the doorbell so he won't come back to your house ever again. If he is a pizza deliver-man, this would be a problem.

How about if you install an outdoor video camera so that you would know who is at your door?

For now, just look out the window to see if you know this person. If not, then don't open the door.

I would rather to have a screen front door so that I could see the person and say something instead bringing him/her in my house. The screen door is pretty safe to me.

 

[Interpretrator]

If there's some way to fit a paper under your door, you could leave a note outside explaining that you're deaf and requesting that the visitor write a note identifying himself and slip it under the door.

I've never lived anywhere that didn't have a chain or a peephole or a little window in the door or something, myself; I very much do not like opening the door to people I don't know, unless I'm expecting a delivery. Like if I order a pizza and someone is at the door an hour later, I don't worry about using the peephole.

 

[GraysonPeddie]

If there's some way to fit a paper under your door, you could leave a note outside explaining that you're deaf and requesting that the visitor write a note identifying himself and slip it under the door.

I've never lived anywhere that didn't have a chain or a peephole or a little window in the door or something, myself; I very much do not like opening the door to people I don't know, unless I'm expecting a delivery. Like if I order a pizza and someone is at the door an hour later, I don't worry about using the peephole.

Okay, thanks for sharing (good suggestion). Is that what deaf people do when they expect someone who are not deaf like if they have ordered a pizza (to have it delivered, for example)?

All you have to do is to plug the alive wire wire around the doorbell so he won't come back to your house ever again. If he is a pizza deliver-man, this would be a problem.

How about if you install an outdoor video camera so that you would know who is at your door?

For now, just look out the window to see if you know this person. If not, then don't open the door.

I would rather to have a screen front door so that I could see the person and say something instead bringing him/her in my house. The screen door is pretty safe to me.

Well, there is a window next to a door, but it’s too far away to look and my mom/dad had a TV in front of the window (my mom’s apartment is very crimpy, so don’t have much room to move around, like a computer furniture and a TV).

Unless there is a battery-operated (long-lasting), wireless camera that can be sticky-taped to an outdoor wall, there’s no way I can do that in my mom’s apartment. I don’t want to put a big hole through an outdoor wall for plugging an outdoor camera to a wall outlet (no outdoor wall outlet near a door or around an apartment).

But if there is no window at all, I would open the door a little and using chain so that door can't open fully to see who that person is. If that person is okay, then I unlock the chain and open the door.

Good suggestion, Silentwolfdog. The front door does have a chain.

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Note: I do have a wireless doorbell with a doorbell chime. I used a tape for the doorbell that sticks to the wall so when someone presses a doorbell, my chime sounds (I am upstairs using my computer so a chime makes a big help rather than a door knock).

By the way,

All you have to do is to plug the alive wire wire around the doorbell so he won't come back to your house ever again.

While it may seemed funny, it's not nice (I'm not talking about would-be criminals out there). My topic is all about how the deaf people encounter someone (who's at the door) that are not deaf. I'm wanting to find out about the "deaf world/culture."

 

[farmerjoe]

This is what the "peep holes" are for. Also you could install a chain if you don't have one already.
you might be interested in something like this

Image Wonders Enterprises

it seems more user friendly for people who would have trouble with regular peepholes.

 

[webexplorer]

Good suggestion, Silentwolfdog. The front door does have a chain.

That is a good suggestion.

I was thinking about getting a wireless video camera, and I am not ready. There are some pros and cons.

Cons: poor quality video with a night-vision at night, and blackout power. Expensive one for a best quality.

Pros: safe to find out who's there at the door or backyard, color monitor, and no messy wires. I refuse to open the door if Bush toward to my door.

 

[GraysonPeddie]

This is what the "peep holes" are for. Also you could install a chain if you don't have one already.
you might be interested in something like this

Image Wonders Enterprises

it seems more user friendly for people who would have trouble with regular peepholes.

Hmm...not for apartments I bet...

For me, seeing through peephole is a bit hard for me to see.

 

[webexplorer]

This is what the "peep holes" are for. Also you could install a chain if you don't have one already.
you might be interested in something like this

Image Wonders Enterprises

it seems more user friendly for people who would have trouble with regular peepholes.

I had the peephole for my former apartment. It was helpful. Now, I have a half window door.

 

[Interpretrator]

Okay, thanks for sharing (good suggestion). Is that what deaf people do when they expect someone who are not deaf like if they have ordered a pizza (to have it delivered, for example)?

I'm confused by your question. I thought you were looking for different suggestions; I don't know anyone who uses the note method, it was just something I thought of if you have absolutely no way to see the person through a peephole, chained door, or window.

As far as I know, if deaf people are expecting a visitor or delivery, then they simply answer the door when the person arrives. (Assuming the doorbell is hooked up to a flashing light.) I don't know why there would have to be some kind of complicated method to find out who someone is if you're already expecting them, whether you're deaf or hearing. Like I said, if I order food and someone comes to the door an hour later, I don't look through the peephole, I just open the door.

Now if someone comes to the door and you're not expecting anyone, that would be when you might need to have a way to visually identify them (like I will open the door for UPS but not Jehovah's Witnesses), but in your scenario it doesn't seem necessary.

 

[farmerjoe]

Hmm...not for apartments I bet...

For me, seeing through peephole is a bit hard for me to see.

I thought a regular peephole might be hard for you to use which is why I posted the link,

In the last three apartments I've been living in they all had peepholes in the door. You should be able to have a special peephole installed even if you're renting. It's an equal housing issue. If you want to have a special peephole installed, and the landlord says no, talk to your local advocacy group.

 

[Reba]

I'm hearing, so I use the peephole to see who's at the door. I've never said, "who's there" thru the door. Our house is pretty sound proof, so it's hard to hear voices thru the door. Also, people can lie about who they are. I'd rather see for myself.

I've never used a chain at the front door. Those are much too easy to kick in.

One suggestion for Deaf or HOH pizza customers. When you call in your order, request that the delivery person use a pre-arranged signal, such as three short doorbell rings. Or, request that the delivery person call you from his cell phone when he gets to the door. Whatever works for you.

 

[Dixie]

I would use the peep hole and have a security company install you a wireless camera that can be hooked up to your computer monitor and TV so that when the door chimes you'll get a little flash on the screen (or icon that pops up), and you can switch to the Camera mode to see who's outside your door in a clear view. It might be a little costly financially, but you can't put a cost on your life and safety. Also I have heard of deaf people's whose homes were rigged up that when the doorbell was rung, the lights would flicker throughout the house. You would just have to leave a note on the door stating that all visitors should ring the doorbell, you don't have to say your'e deaf. Leaving a note that you are deaf would probably entice an intruder to come rob the place while you are home since they are not likely to be heard by you. Plus myself, I would never open the door without some visual verification. Luckily we have a front door that has a window in it that is reinforced with steel that looks docorative.