Deaf or not...

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mandi

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I am just posting this here....

I was approached by someone in the store, asking me a question about something. Although the person mistook me for someone who works in the store (I am innocent shopper in the store premise). After I answered her question regarding the product, I was about to turn and walk away.

The lady stopped me and said that I speak really well for a deaf person, she then implied that I am not deaf. I swore up and down that I am definely deaf but do speak very well for a deaf person, I was raised in a household full of hearing family members but I also grew up signing in ASL, PSE and SEE! I am fully ASL as I am now living on my own with my broodings.

I was astonished to hear from the woman who don't EVEN know me telling me that I am not really deaf!!!

What's your intake on that one?????
 
Before coming on this message board I always thought deaf people just couldn't speak right, or fluently or however you see it... Now I do :D

The variety is pretty large... I just hope the woman wasn't mean... she just didn't know better :( Maybe next time you see her around, you could tell her to join AD and learn something about the Deaf :giggle:

Jamie
 
I am in the same boat as Mandi's - I am deaf but raised well in the hearing family and educated mainstreamed. I use AUSLAN and speak very well. I lipread too. Some people are surprised that deaf people are smart after all.
 
I have met several people in the past that was :shock: when I told them I am deaf.

They would tell me they sense my speech was somewhat different but none of them actually realized that I am deaf.


I usually do not get offended by it, when they are like Ohh.


I just get offended when people try me. For an example to test me by whispering or saying that I can hear more that I let on. :roll:
 
same mine! i also deaf

IF i at work i cant hears that so simple!
 
JClarke said:
I am in the same boat as Mandi's - I am deaf but raised well in the hearing family and educated mainstreamed. I use AUSLAN and speak very well. I lipread too. Some people are surprised that deaf people are smart after all.
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You're deaf?? Get outta here! I assumed you were hearing because I recall you saying you've been signing 10 years. Or maybe I just misunderstood.

@ OP: sorry to go OT. :P
 
society's_child said:
You're deaf?? Get outta here! I assumed you were hearing because I recall you saying you've been signing 10 years. Or maybe I just misunderstood.

@ OP: sorry to go OT. :P
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I get to correct that. He is Australian, so AUSLAN is his sign language. ASL is his second sign language. ;)
 
It's okay. It is kinda of not a big deal. Shh, we are part of mystery to hearing people.
 
I can relate to your experience. I've had this happen to me as well. I've had people say to me, "You speak well for a deaf person" or "Deafblind people can't talk."

Unfortunately, many people have all kinds of misconceptions when it comes to people who are deaf or deafblind for that matter.

I just try to do the best I can to educate. Even if I'm only able to educate one person, it makes the effort worthwhile.
 
JClarke said:
I am in the same boat as Mandi's - I am deaf but raised well in the hearing family and educated mainstreamed. I use AUSLAN and speak very well. I lipread too. Some people are surprised that deaf people are smart after all.
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I know the line wasn't directed at me, but I just wanted to say that I never thought that deaf people weren't smart just because they can't hear, or blind people or people sitting in a wheelchair, etc.

Some people are just ignorant or don't want to understand or to believe, which is just ridiculous in my POV... :roll: Bf currently learns a lot from me, just like I do, ever since I joined AD in mid-January and I am glad :D

Unfortunately, many people have all kinds of misconceptions when it comes to people who are deaf or deafblind for that matter. (from HA)
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It all depends on how the people were educated or taught about other people being *different* (<- my excuses for using that term!)

Jamie
 
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