AllDeaf.com - View Single Post - Should Deaf communicate oral with hearing family and friends?

Belliosto · 06-25-2009, 08:32 AM

Hello and thank you for respond to me. For many years hearing family, who we visited during holidays, not all the time, would talk with Deaf then talk with hearing. Talk with each other always exclude Deaf. Tried to convince some of family to sign ASL. They did go to classes but have to be with Deaf more often. So they lost it. Now young family in the picture and they find it awkward to be with grandparents who are Deaf. They don't see it that they have to work at communication. I personally see this as part responsibilty of grandparents too. To try make it easier for them. I suggest that they even encourage hearing grandkids to oral communicate but work at open mouth more. IIIII wwwwaaaannnnt ssssooooommmme iiiiiiccccceeee cccccrrrreeeeaaaammmmm. As well as sign. Always can rely on open mouth. Better than the kids asking hearing to ask this and ask what is being said by grandparents. But yeah, somewhat dysfunctional that hearing try to avoid Deaf and do best to be nice to Deaf and talk with hearing. I think you have to plunge in with Deaf culture if you are to sign. If not maybe some sign but not enough.

06-25-2009, 08:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
Belliosto Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utica, MI Posts: 4	A little dysfunctional Hello and thank you for respond to me. For many years hearing family, who we visited during holidays, not all the time, would talk with Deaf then talk with hearing. Talk with each other always exclude Deaf. Tried to convince some of family to sign ASL. They did go to classes but have to be with Deaf more often. So they lost it. Now young family in the picture and they find it awkward to be with grandparents who are Deaf. They don't see it that they have to work at communication. I personally see this as part responsibilty of grandparents too. To try make it easier for them. I suggest that they even encourage hearing grandkids to oral communicate but work at open mouth more. IIIII wwwwaaaannnnt ssssooooommmme iiiiiiccccceeee cccccrrrreeeeaaaammmmm. As well as sign. Always can rely on open mouth. Better than the kids asking hearing to ask this and ask what is being said by grandparents. But yeah, somewhat dysfunctional that hearing try to avoid Deaf and do best to be nice to Deaf and talk with hearing. I think you have to plunge in with Deaf culture if you are to sign. If not maybe some sign but not enough.