2 answers
McKinley
Student
Las Vegas, Nevada
1
Question
Asked
168 views
Why do you think Deaf people are so aware of hearing people, but the hearing community can scarcely communicate with them?
I'm taking a Survey of Deafness class as a part of my studies for interpreting. I find it a shame us hearing folk do so little for the Deaf community.
Login to comment
2 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, McKinley !
I am a hearing person who has had ten years training in Deaf Culture and used minimal ASL with Deaf clients when I was a social service case manager. Your question is quite curious because I do not find it to be true at least in the area in which I live or through my experience.
Deaf people being "aware" of hearing people and hearing people not communicating with the Deaf is a generalization and something such as social interaction like that just can't be generalized. It's also not clear what you mean by "aware". Every hearing person has a different reaction to the deaf and every deaf individual has their own identity within their community.
Since there are only 3.6% of Deaf people in the U.S., some hearing people never encounter them. It's a small population in a sense. To understand the social experience of deaf people, it's important to know the history of the stigma deafness used to carry. Despite today's emphasis on communication and cultural identity, back in the olden days, deafness was viewed as a medical and social deficiency. There were times when deaf people were wrongfully looked at as developmentally disabled/mentally, intellectually and socially inferior, and there wasn't much education that supported the way people saw deaf individuals. Sign language was highly discouraged and actually banned in some schools for the deaf, instead insisting that they learn to read lips so they'd seem more "normal". Mainstream institutions discouraged the deaf from advocating for their rights. The history is quite sad, but strides have been made for today.
Since it's such a small population, many hearing people just don't have experience with deaf people, but many do, especially involved family members. A milestone came in 1973 with the passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibited discrimination based on disability in programs receiving federal funding. It was just a federal law, however, not a local law.
Today, deaf individuals have choices. They can integrate into the hearing community or choose to be in an exclusive deaf community. Hearing aids or no hearing aids, Cochlear implant or no cochlear implant. Reading lips, ASL or written word for communication. Gallaudet University offers deaf students an education in elementary, secondary, undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies.
So basically, the way hearing people view deaf individuals today is based on what they know about the deaf community. Most people are considerate and helpful, however, even with little knowledge of deaf culture. You can probably take a course to study this aspect of deaf culture through a psychology or sociology or Deaf Culture department or program. Something like "Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects of People who are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing". It' s important to know the history to understand the possible experiences that deaf people have.
This was a good question. I hope it helps and I wish you all the best !
I am a hearing person who has had ten years training in Deaf Culture and used minimal ASL with Deaf clients when I was a social service case manager. Your question is quite curious because I do not find it to be true at least in the area in which I live or through my experience.
Deaf people being "aware" of hearing people and hearing people not communicating with the Deaf is a generalization and something such as social interaction like that just can't be generalized. It's also not clear what you mean by "aware". Every hearing person has a different reaction to the deaf and every deaf individual has their own identity within their community.
Since there are only 3.6% of Deaf people in the U.S., some hearing people never encounter them. It's a small population in a sense. To understand the social experience of deaf people, it's important to know the history of the stigma deafness used to carry. Despite today's emphasis on communication and cultural identity, back in the olden days, deafness was viewed as a medical and social deficiency. There were times when deaf people were wrongfully looked at as developmentally disabled/mentally, intellectually and socially inferior, and there wasn't much education that supported the way people saw deaf individuals. Sign language was highly discouraged and actually banned in some schools for the deaf, instead insisting that they learn to read lips so they'd seem more "normal". Mainstream institutions discouraged the deaf from advocating for their rights. The history is quite sad, but strides have been made for today.
Since it's such a small population, many hearing people just don't have experience with deaf people, but many do, especially involved family members. A milestone came in 1973 with the passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibited discrimination based on disability in programs receiving federal funding. It was just a federal law, however, not a local law.
Today, deaf individuals have choices. They can integrate into the hearing community or choose to be in an exclusive deaf community. Hearing aids or no hearing aids, Cochlear implant or no cochlear implant. Reading lips, ASL or written word for communication. Gallaudet University offers deaf students an education in elementary, secondary, undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies.
So basically, the way hearing people view deaf individuals today is based on what they know about the deaf community. Most people are considerate and helpful, however, even with little knowledge of deaf culture. You can probably take a course to study this aspect of deaf culture through a psychology or sociology or Deaf Culture department or program. Something like "Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects of People who are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing". It' s important to know the history to understand the possible experiences that deaf people have.
This was a good question. I hope it helps and I wish you all the best !
Deanna Hernandez, MSPM
Consultant - Implantation Contract Management
4
Answers
Fresno, California
Updated
Deanna’s Answer
Hello! Similar to others speaking different languages, some people are just not aware because they have never encountered someone who is deaf or speaks a different language. The deaf community in some areas is small or very scarce. I have been lucky enough to have deaf baby sitters as a young child, but the connection with the family did not end there. As an adult we are still considered a part of the family. Due to my background if I notice someone who is deaf or someone having difficulty communicating I will try to assist with my (elementary) sign language. There are many times I have encountered someone who is deaf due to their prior treatment of hearing people they have carried a notepad with them. I do wish more people were aware or would show more kindness when coming across someone who is deaf instead of shouting, and they took the initiative to sign something simple like "I understand you are deaf, is there any other way we can communicate? As I know very little sign." this would open up the conversation to allow the deaf person to opt to suggest writing or finding someone else who understands sign.