Yes we are human like everyone else but we do have a disability. It is ridiculous and selfish to try and change everyone else for our special needs like suggesting that everyone learns ASL is impossible and it will never happen unless half the population suddenly becomes deaf. Just because your colleagues took the time to even bother learning ASL from you is great, I can't even get my own mother to learn it. Yes-we should encourage everyone deaf or HOH to strive and try to become part of society-become something to be proud of but it doesn't always work. I am also HOH like the origional poster and I am losing my job this month. I also have been to many interviews only not to be called back or offered a job. I am in information technology and working on servers does not require hearing but I do need to attend meetings and I do need to communicate well. Hence all jobs in IT have the clause "excellent communications skills are required". I am not giving up but-if I can get help from SSI or go on SSDI or if a student can do the same they should not be looked down upon. Looking for working, or working as a hearing person is stressful and hard enough, when you add a disability like HOH, deafness, or blindness it makes it so much more stressful-is a persons pride for a disability really worth the stress of trying to prove your human like everyone else-NO! This should already be understood. The fact that your colleagues were willing to work with you is a rare commodity-they should be commended.
