ChasingRainbows
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2013
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Before I start I would like to state that I am being genuine, and I am not trying to offend anyone or step on toes.
So I recently signed up for online ASL courses. It's harder than I though it would be. I thought it was mainly about the signs alone (I'm not deaf so I had no way of knowing). Finding out that there is a lot more to it led me to seeking out deaf websites and deaf/HoH people to talk to and make friends with (I don't just seek out deaf people when I want to make friends by the way. I actually meet the majority of my hearing friends online, and that's where I met my fiancé).
I've gotten the impression that a good chunk of deaf/HoH people are not receptive to Hearing people "butting in" to their community, despite good intentions and honest questions. This is based on my personal experience as well as several posts I have seen on here.
I am wanting to become fluent in ASL so that I could work with deaf or HoH kids in the future. With signs being only part of it, how can one learn about the deaf community and culture if they feel unwelcome or like they are doing something they shouldn't be by wanting to learn.
I'm really wanting to become familiar with every aspect of the deaf community, but I'm wondering if it is worth the time, money, and energy that would be spent on ASL if I am unable to learn about the social part of it.
Is what I've said the general consensus of the deaf, about hearing people wanting to learn about the deaf community and culture?
By the way, I am not "using" the deaf for my education. I am genuinely interested.
So I recently signed up for online ASL courses. It's harder than I though it would be. I thought it was mainly about the signs alone (I'm not deaf so I had no way of knowing). Finding out that there is a lot more to it led me to seeking out deaf websites and deaf/HoH people to talk to and make friends with (I don't just seek out deaf people when I want to make friends by the way. I actually meet the majority of my hearing friends online, and that's where I met my fiancé).
I've gotten the impression that a good chunk of deaf/HoH people are not receptive to Hearing people "butting in" to their community, despite good intentions and honest questions. This is based on my personal experience as well as several posts I have seen on here.
I am wanting to become fluent in ASL so that I could work with deaf or HoH kids in the future. With signs being only part of it, how can one learn about the deaf community and culture if they feel unwelcome or like they are doing something they shouldn't be by wanting to learn.
I'm really wanting to become familiar with every aspect of the deaf community, but I'm wondering if it is worth the time, money, and energy that would be spent on ASL if I am unable to learn about the social part of it.
Is what I've said the general consensus of the deaf, about hearing people wanting to learn about the deaf community and culture?
By the way, I am not "using" the deaf for my education. I am genuinely interested.