Questions/ A Discussion on Being Part of the Deaf Community

[pgasson01]

Hi! I'm an Anthropology Student studying the Deaf community. I wanted to start an open discussion to widen my knowledge of Deaf culture. Here are some questions I came up with after looking through the forums here:

1- What are things others do that are considered inappropriate, annoying, or rude within the Deaf community?

2- What is the general attitude towards those of hearing? Like/Dislike/Don’t care/Doesn’t matter?

3- What are some slang/terms specific to the Deaf community? Are any of those terms offensive to hoh/Deaf?

4- What is it like to go to school as hoh/Deaf? Is it challenging/easy? For those who go to a school specialized in supporting the Deaf community in learning- what’s the style of learning like (Is it any different from a public school in teaching methods/environment)?

5- What are some struggles faced in day-to-day life? Are there ways in which the rest of the world could be more accessible to those who are hoh/Deaf?

6- What are some things that define Deaf culture?

7- What are any subjects/messages not mentioned above that are important to touch on regarding the Deaf community?

***If anyone would be willing to have further conversations with me one on one, lmk!! Thank you!***

 

[n.bex]

Hi there, I am Late Deafened, so my answers may differ from someone who may have been born deaf.

1- What are things others do that are considered inappropriate, annoying, or rude within the Deaf community?
I think probably some of the rudest things i have encountered are these for me:
1. Staring. People staring at me and then saying the dumbest comment like " You don't look deaf" is probably one of the most annoying things. I have actually heard this comment like at least 6 times.....I don't get it and it exudes ignorance when people say it.
2.Yelling , Speaking and mouthing super slowly or talking down. Deaf people are not stupid...we just can't hear...that is it! Yelling is not going to help us hear nor is being overly expressive with your mouthing.


2- What is the general attitude towards those of hearing? Like/Dislike/Don’t care/Doesn’t matter?
Again, I came from a hearing world, so I have not faced some of the challenges and adversities that someone who has been deaf all their life, but I will say I kind of understand the animosity with hearing vs deaf. I realize that hearing people can be very absent-minded and non- accepting of something different or out of the normal spectrum of their preferred communication. It is like they tend to shut down or not even try to converse with a deaf person because they deem it " too challenging to make an effort. 9/10 Deaf people have no issues with you just speaking normally or write it down or text it.


5- What are some struggles faced in day-to-day life? Are there ways in which the rest of the world could be more accessible to those who are hoh/Deaf?
Not being able to hear my favorite voices, favorite laughs. Music is felt rather than heard. Haunted houses are not scary anymore. The silence can be unbearable, I almost feel like my life is one giant silent movie and that takes a toll on the mental. There is no going to the drive thru anymore, always have to stop and go in. Pressure to get hearing devices that insurances barely cover the cost of, but yet cost as much as a car. Reading captions on meetings and calls can get taxing on the eyes.



7- What are any subjects/messages not mentioned above that are important to touch on regarding the Deaf community?

I feel like with anything, the world just needs to try to understand one another. We are all different with different challenges. Sometimes we halt diving into another perspective because we fear we can never fully relate. The things is, no one is asking for that. But opening your mind to accepting someone's challenges enough to understand perspective and appreciate coexisting with all our differences goes a long way.

~Bex

 

[EllietheEncourager]

Hey Bex, I have seen the drive-thru still be possible. Just stop to see what you want; type it up and pull up to the first window. I can't promise it will be smooth sailing every time because every interaction with anyone will be different but I think it could work more often than not; from the videos of many Deaf youtubers. Just a thought.

 

[n.bex]

Yes, a couple people have mentioned this to me, so I will try it out. That and someone mentioned there is a screen at the bottom in most places. I haven't seen this, but then again I wasn't actively looking for it lol. Thanks @EllietheEncourager !

 

[Jane B.]

Yes, a couple people have mentioned this to me, so I will try it out. That and someone mentioned there is a screen at the bottom in most places. I haven't seen this, but then again I wasn't actively looking for it lol. Thanks @EllietheEncourager !

At the places that do have the order verification on screen you may have to ask for it as not all order takers think to use it.

Even places that do have it it can be "down" at the time you are there. Both in that case and at places that don't have it I have found mentioning your hearing and pulling up to the first window to either verify what you asked for at the order speaker or show them on a phone what is your correct order.

 

[Nita Thomas]

Hi! I'm an Anthropology Student studying the Deaf community. I wanted to start an open discussion to widen my knowledge of Deaf culture. Here are some questions I came up with after looking through the forums here:

1- What are things others do that are considered inappropriate, annoying, or rude within the Deaf community? Thinking deaf or hard hearing means we are stupid and we are no more or le.as intelligent than th hose who hear well. Also when struggling to understand what was Saud people often talk very slowly or loudly to us.

2- What is the general attitude towards those of hearing? Like/Dislike/Don’t care/Doesn’t matter? Generally they expect us to do whatever it takes to get 100% hearing capabilities. They don't realize hearing aids only help not restore our hearing abikities.

3- What are some slang/terms specific to the Deaf community? Are any of those terms offensive to hoh/Deaf? Not sure here possibly deaf and dumb, but I haven't heard that expression for quite a few decades.

4- What is it like to go to school as hoh/Deaf? Is it challenging/easy? For those who go to a school specialized in supporting the Deaf community in learning- what’s the style of learning like (Is it any different from a public school in teaching methods/environment)? Being pulled out of class for speech classes made me feel like I was severely impaired and impacted my self esteem negatively. Because I couldn't hear my own maturity level was not up to par with th hose who could hear. I chose younger friends at home.

5- What are some struggles faced in day-to-day life? Are there ways in which the rest of the world could be more accessible to those who are hoh/Deaf?
biases. People are very biased and all to frequently will not allow us to try things we could do or to achieve all that we can. Also personal biases cause a lot if issues when seeking employment and even while employed. I lost a,job despite being written GED because the employer did not want me there. Also interpretation of the words spoken is a problem for many of us. Why a re hearing aids and helps for deafness so expensive and not covered by all insurances? How come you can purchases two different lenses for our eye glasses or contact lens, for eyesight issues with health insurance benefits but not two hearing aids?

6- What are some things that define Deaf culture? We have more empathy than many hearing people do. It is a daily struggle since not everyone lip reads or signs. we love taking our hearing aids out if our ears.

7- What are any subjects/messages not mentioned above that are important to touch on regarding the Deaf community? The ability meet others , get an education, and gain employment at the same rate if pay as hearing people.

I went thru hell in public school.that stressed oral.speech, refused to let me sing and decided I was too dumb for college. I read at a college level so in 6th grade per my godmother a,reading readiness teacher in another town I aced my ACT and SAT tests in math only to be put in pre calculus at college which I flunked out because the teacher wasn't equipped to teach someone with a hearing loss. Different deaf and hard of hearing kids are often victims of abusive situations.

I w.would be interested in conversing with you if it will help.

***If anyone would be willing to have further conversations with me one on one, lmk!! Thank you!***

At the places that do have the order verification on screen you may have to ask for it as not all order takers think to use it.

Even places that do have it it can be "down" at the time you are there. Both in that case and at places that don't have it I have found mentioning your hearing and pulling up to the first window to either verify what you asked for at the order speaker or show them on a phone what is your correct order.

 

[Wyld Fae]

Hi! I'm an Anthropology Student studying the Deaf community. I wanted to start an open discussion to widen my knowledge of Deaf culture. Here are some questions I came up with after looking through the forums here:

1- What are things others do that are considered inappropriate, annoying, or rude within the Deaf community?

2- What is the general attitude towards those of hearing? Like/Dislike/Don’t care/Doesn’t matter?

3- What are some slang/terms specific to the Deaf community? Are any of those terms offensive to hoh/Deaf?

4- What is it like to go to school as hoh/Deaf? Is it challenging/easy? For those who go to a school specialized in supporting the Deaf community in learning- what’s the style of learning like (Is it any different from a public school in teaching methods/environment)?

5- What are some struggles faced in day-to-day life? Are there ways in which the rest of the world could be more accessible to those who are hoh/Deaf?

6- What are some things that define Deaf culture?

7- What are any subjects/messages not mentioned above that are important to touch on regarding the Deaf community?

***If anyone would be willing to have further conversations with me one on one, lmk!! Thank you!***

Hello, I am nota sure you would like my thoughts? I am late deafened adult stemming from a near fatal attack by my EX Husband. I am also nota from America so some of my words stem from Eastern Ireland. Something that drives me crazy is people assuming because I can talk clearly I hear. Another one is not looking directly at someone who is talking to me but still answer because I do see it unless totally at my back. I also get masks are/were important however I missed too many social ques and was actually attacked by a very angry person. It has caused me to not go to town unless it’s very important. I am extremely Isolated.

Somethings in my bag of tricks are watching reflections. Reading upside down and backwards. Vibrations I am acutely aware of these. I also take cues from the animals around me.

I ken Irish Sign better than Asl, and my sign is not offered by and vrs or interpreters so have a cousin FaceTime me and he signs important information for me such as the doctors appointments.

My home is very dangerous as I have zero devices to alert me. Last year a forest fire broke out in the middle of the night and I had to evacuate immediately. Thankfully a neighbor came and woke me up, I had no idea.

My situation is very different from someone living in a zone with internet. We just recently received one mobile tower so purchased my very first mobile, only when Iphone 12 came out. Again very spotty mobile service because of my remote location.

If anything I say that you would like a conversation please contact me. Peace, hope, love Kelly

I went thru hell in public school.that stressed oral.speech, refused to let me sing and decided I was too dumb for college. I read at a college level so in 6th grade per my godmother a,reading readiness teacher in another town I aced my ACT and SAT tests in math only to be put in pre calculus at college which I flunked out because the teacher wasn't equipped to teach someone with a hearing loss. Different deaf and hard of hearing kids are often victims of abusive situations.

I w.would be interested in conversing with you if it will help.