I am not deaf but I understand about the teasing. My Friend was teased for being deaf and supposedly being "disables" which I didn't see it because she was normal. she was different but in an amazing way. I learn ASL because of her and I am happy I did.
learning from other people is good because people can sign word differently. I have a hearing teacher who taught us and now I have deaf teacher and some of the word were different but they meant the same. but ASL is an amazing language :)