Using American Sign Language (ASL) to talk when you’re Deaf or Hard of Hearing can be pretty tricky. The big challenge is getting everyone on board with using ASL. This matters a lot in families, when dealing with customer service, making friends, and especially in partnerships. You know how when you hear someone talk, you naturally want to talk back? Well, imagine relying on ASL because you don’t hear well – it makes things tough because most people are used to talking.
But guess what? You can make a change. Try not using your voice for a while. I can personally promise you, things will shift. When people realize you’re not using your voice, they might start seeing that talking isn’t the only way. They will fumble and start finding other ways to communicate. Hopefully they will realize they can use their hands and facial expressions, which is the heart of ASL. It might take some time, but it’s worth it. By putting your voice on pause, you open up a whole new way of connecting, one that goes beyond words and dives into the world of gestures and signs.
Donations may be allocated to support Certified Deaf Interpreters, DeafBlind interpreters and support, ASL interpreters from marginalized communities, as well as fund requests for event access for Black Lives Matter (BLM) and various marginalized community events.