Making effort brings its own rewards of course. Taking a stance whereby you refuse to communicate unless it comes via YOUR perferences is quite pointless, and of course wrong. People would never have learnt French/German or other languages if either party had refused to make attempts, find ways, the sign user HAS to make more effort, and knowing as we do, they ARE very able people, there's no real excuse, I find most deaf these days very GOOD communicators.
Perhaps the mind-set is wrong ? I've rarely if ever found, hearing people shrugging me off, when I have tried alternatives, if you show willing they do. Deaf people are TOO fond of each other ! but if you are not going to go that extra mile, then get out of the access area, and stop wasting our and mainstream/hearing time. A few bad experiences don't represent the entire issue, move on, move out. People see you making effort they become interested in our need, it is a win-win situation.
