This is not a normal post for me. I seem to be veering off into more personal posts lately - those about my pregnancy losses and now this post rather than about my stories. However, I will say that this post is more in line to experiences I've had in both the hearing and deaf worlds, so it's not too far off my normal blogs. And since this is another topic that is important to me, it is also a vital aspect in my life.
This month, September, is National Deaf Awareness Month.
What does this mean?
This is a month where Deaf culture, experiences, and community is highlighted to both the hearing and the deaf worlds. It is a month where Deaf / hard-of-hearing are celebrated. It's also a month in which the Deaf community really strives to bring awareness and education about how to be an ally for the Deaf community.
Why does it matter about being an ally?
Have you ever muted the T.V. but left the show going? When you turned your attention back, you had no idea what had been going on?
Or, closer to home in the past year, have you been helped by someone wearing a mask that talks quietly and have no idea what they are saying and you ask them to repeat themselves and they look at you like it's a huge inconvenience?
What about if you need something for your work that should be provided, but at the last minute, they tell you they can't get it - or you'll just have to do without? For example, your work keyboard has randomly been disconnecting from the computer, keys are sticking, and sometimes what you hit uses a completely different letter, so you ask your work to replace and they tell you, "It still works, so it's fine" or "You can go purchase a new one" or "Your laptop has a keyboard too, just use that one." It doesn't seem "fair," does it? You're not getting equal access to being able to work to the best of your ability like another worker.
Granted, these seem like silly examples, but it's part of what the Deaf community faces all the time. Lack of access, frustrations when asking someone to repeat, and more.
Why post now?
Why, today of all days, did I post about Deaf awareness - or lack of awareness? I remember. Live captioning wasn't really a thing twenty years ago. If it was available, it skipped every other word, or had the wrong words. And in schools, the televisions didn't really have captioning on them - they were older televisions. Half the time, they didn't work. They did work that day. I remember exactly where I was when the Towers were hit. My 8th grade math class - the teacher turned on the T.V. and turned up the volume.
"Wait - don't you have hearing aids?"
*Insert rolling eyes.*
Yes, I do. They amplify the sound, but don't make anything clearer. With everyone yelling, crying, and not sure what was happening, it wasn't until I grabbed someone and had them face me, did I understand what had happened. While everyone else watched the T.V. and could understand what was being said off-screen, all I could see was the image of the Towers being hit over and over. They didn't go back to the reporters - they kept the image up on screen and spoke off screen. We did get sent home that day, but it wasn't until I got home, and could have a conversation with my parents, did I fully understand what had happened.
That night, we kept the T.V. on. No captions, but we had to sit in the living room as we waited to see what was going to happen next. What did I do? I wrote a story and read - it's not like I could understand what was being said on the screen. Every time I asked what was said, I was told they'd tell me "later."
This "later" happens often - to this day. At least, most days, live captioning is a thing (even if it still isn't great). Keeping someone in the loop isn't hard - it just takes a few extra minutes, whereas lack of access can be detrimental and make someone seem ignorant.
How can you be an ally?
There are several things you can do:
Follow and support Deaf content creators. A few that I love: The Daily Month, Adjacent Space (Birmingham, AL), ASL That, ASL Nook, Deaf Millenial Project, The Lady with Red Glasses (TikTok), The Ariel Series, SweetSignsShineCo (Janet), ASL with Heart, Deaf Education, Deaf Memes, What the Deaf, That Deaf Guy, Deafinitely Us, Being Her, ASl Connect, ASL Shop, and so many more!
Caption your content - ALL of your content. The biggest pet peeve of mine is when I'm trying to see a video and really want to relate to the creator, but I can't understand because there are NO CAPTIONS. Even captions with mistakes or missing words are better than none. We know captions are time consuming, but they provide equal access to the same content. Now, most platforms have auto-captions, which saves so much time. Maybe you don't care who reads or watches your information. But, what if it could save a life? (So maybe what I look at doesn't, but I'd follow so many more writing tips or authors if they captioned their content).
And as for the platforms that don't have auto-captions, why the hell not? It's 2021. The technology exists.
Learn sign language. Even a couple of words that could help with access to communication brings relief. Even if you are fingerspelling every word - you are communicating.
If you don't learn sign, at least be willing to write on your mobile or paper/pen. And don't get super frustrated if they ask you to repeat yourself... more than once.
If you are behind a plexi-glass and wearing a mask and they haven't offered their phone or paper for communication, lower your mask. They may be able to lip-read.
Don't just follow ADA. Actually believe in it. This means provide interpreters without grumbling. VR is not the same as an interpreter.
Stop asking for a sign name. If you know sign language and are involved in the community, you will be (eventually) given a name. No, you cannot give one to yourself. No, another hearing person (even an interpreter) cannot give you a sign name. Once a person in the Deaf community is comfortable with you, they will give you a sign name.
Don't take over for the deaf / hard-of-hearing person. What do I mean? Don't assume, that because they can't hear, that they can't take care of themselves. For example, if you are at restaurant, don't order for them - unless they asked you too. They will let you know if they need help.
Now, if you are at the same restaurant and you know sign language - go ahead and sign for the waiter so the person you're with can follow along (especially if the waiter is wearing a mask). That little bit helps!
A big question that I've seen around - in regards to any marginalized community (and believe me, the Deaf community is marginalized) - is why is [discrimination, lack of access, etc.] still so prevalent? It's 2021.
Finally, if you aren't sure how to help or support the community - ASK. We don't bite and we love to educate as long as you're willing to learn.
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