Are You Sure You’ve Never Crossed Paths with A Deaf Person Before?

Hmmm.   

How would you know who’s Deaf/HoH and who’s not?

Deaf/HoH People look like humans. 

*GASP* in sign language

That’s why deafness falls into the category of invisible disability. 

When introducing new signers to ASL, they often claim that they’ve never ever met or seen an actual person with hearing loss out in the wild (with the exceptions of friends or family members they might have). Usually, a few minutes later, they recall a moment when they approached a random person at an unexpected time/place who didn’t respond immediately or appropriately. “Ohhh, that person might’ve been Deaf or HoH?!?” 

Deaf folks are doing the most ordinary stuff; I can promise you that. In most cases, the only obvious hint would be if they are using sign language and relying heavily on eye contact. Some might prefer protractile language, which is positively useful for the Low and Vision and DeafBlind community. Some might even be speaking and not using sign language due to diverse upbringings. 

Let me tell you a brief story at a checkout line at a grocery store a couple of years ago. I was second in line and quietly waited for my turn to scan my purchases; everything was just peachy. Then I felt my “Deaf gut” nudging me that I needed to look around, so I did. As soon as my head turned, I only could see a ferocious but sanitary mustache mumbling uncomfortably close to my face. A good minute of trying to pick up more context and clues to make sense of their words, then I lipread a clear, unduly familiar phrase. 

 “Are you deaf or something???” 

For total transparency, I had to inhale and compose myself. Because that was f***ing rude. Then I responded, “Why, yes, I am Deaf. What did you say?” 

I wish I could say that the person quickly resorted to using paper and pen, sign language, or anything at all to clarify, but that was not the case. That would have been a happy ending; nevertheless, life continues. The point here is this person unexpectedly bumped into a Deaf person at a grocery store and then handled it impolitely. Disabled folks gotta eat,too, right? 

Whatever the able-bodied community has been doing, please know that people on the spectrum of deafness have been doing the same. That also extends to the broader community of disabled folks! 

Festivals. 

Libraries.

Workplaces. 

Hiking trails. 

Beaches. 

Bars.

Restaurants. 

Stores. 

Games. 

Conventions. 

Gyms. 

Coffee shops. 

Schools. 

Home. 

Of course, Deaf/HoH people exists online too! 

We outchea – just saying. We navigate through the world a little differently. 

Do you want to learn or improve sign language to prepare for unexpected moments? Visually Speaking provides fantastic opportunities to practice your conversational skills in American Sign Language. Check out the current courses

With motivation and dedication, you will develop the confidence to talk with random Deaf/HoH people (and beyond) you might encounter anywhere!