Joy said:
i noticed when i go places with my deaf friend and we are having one of my on the spot asl lessons (basically i sign to her how sign and fingerspell or point to what i want to sign and she signs the word i m looking for) and people act strange
we will be at a restaurant and people will be cold or reserved (or at one place actually talking bad about deaf people right infront of us) but when i speak and give the order they are all smiles (or mortified in the case of the latter place)
i encounter the same kind of rudeness towards deaf people at work too
i guess what i m trying to ask here with this long ol post is how do you react to that kind of thing? i know at work i can t really do anything unless i m told to but on my own time what would i say?
Welcome to the sign-language using world! I am hearing, but I sign enough with deaf friends and hearing friends who know sign, I get plenty of stares.
Personally, it doesn't really bother me. I am proud of my signing ability, not embarrased to be using sign as a communication device, and I hope that people seeing sign will have their interest perked and will maybe have a desire to learn sign themselves. I think giving hearing people exposure to sign is good, and it makes more accepted.
That said, I HAVE NOT grown up having to deal with the stares. I do have the option to hang out with other hearing people and not sign. Unlike deaf people, if it does bother me, (it hasn't yet, but if it does) I do have the option to escape it.
I think the best thing to do when you feel uncomfortable is either ignore it, or look at them and smile. Don't be ashamed that you are using a different language than they are to communicate; ASL is not inferior to English. Most people who watch people signing are just curious, if you saw people signing, you might watch as well, even if it was just to join the conversation.
If your coworkers or someone else you know is rude to a deaf person, or just behaves rudely, LET THEM KNOW. If they are making comments about a certain person's behavior, or about anything deafness related, give them good, truthful information. Let them know you are open to questions if they have any, if they have some questions that you don't know the answers to, ask a deaf person. If it is possible and the deaf person is willing, have them communicate with each other. The only way things are going to get better is if people understand each other.
When strangers make a rude comment, and it is incorrect, you can correct them. If they're just rude, give them a sharp glance if you want, but those people aren't worth your attention.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents, the Easter Bunny is supposed to come soon, so I better get to bed.
ttyl,
Kelsey