Hi. I guess I have had it easier than some being accepted in the deaf community. It's the hearing people who make me want to spit most of the time!
My acceptance by deaf and deaf/blind has been for the most part wonderful. There are always those who do not want to waste time with an ASL/hearing person, SSP, or spouse of HOH/deaf or not. I do not worry about them, they will either get to know me or not. Same for hearing people, especially those who act all superior or embarrassed because I sign.
One recent thing that made me angry.
I was standing at the hostess station waiting to be seated, a deaf friend came in and we started to chat, the hostess stepped right between us and shouted 'this way' and walked away toward a table. My friend and I said a quick goodbye and I follwed the hostess. I was angered and it caught me by surprise. Later, a teacher and mentor said I should have polietly asked the hostess to move from my signing space/sight and wait until I finished my conversation. Rudeness like this happens a lot and I'm still shocked by it when it happen.
My DH who is severly HOH is happiest when we are out with deaf friends or at silent dinners. He doesn't miss conversations then.
Just my humble 2 cents
