Wow.. I had no idea how much was able to be learned from CC television alone even. He seems to have a very good attitude despite his family's lack of understanding and support for his needs. I can't imagine how hurtful it must be to have someone talking behind your back literally infront of you by covering their face. It kinda goes both ways though, when I'm signing with friends that are deaf and a friend or family member comes by to talk to me I answer then summarize what was said briefly to the deaf friend, if we were having a long conversation and my little sister would be in the room she had no idea what we were saying and would give us curious looks. So for example I'd tell her briefly that we were talking about my deaf friends date and which resturaunt she wanted to go to next. My sister normally wants to be included too and normally has some input which I relay to my best deaf friend (she's over all the time). My sister's starting to learn a little ASL herself too, she's only 12 however and was never exposed to it as she does not live with me and I've only been learning the past 3 years and she personally knows no deaf people except my best deaf female friend. Everybody needs to be included. Equality is the goal for everyone right? That is a really moving video, it's very unfortunate ANYONE laughed at the clown. Reminds me of watching Jeff Dunnam (spelling?) the ventriloquist comedian on TV once and he said halfway through opening something like "I just noticed all the hand moving down there, who takes a bunch of deaf people to a comedy show? Isn't that kind of like taking a bunch of blinds to a magic show?". He didn't get very many laughs on that. It's very sad his hearing friends made fun of him while he was talking to his deaf friends as well. It's no excuse but perhaps they felt disincluded and confused themselves? I know my sister used to feel that way she was just never rude about it. Once again no excuse though, perhaps they should have introduced themselves to his deaf friends and maybe he would have included them in the conversation.
