ASL Rant Reply to feedback on

ASL Rant Reply to feedback on "Hearing people presenting themselves as Deaf/HH"

shelllium September 27, 2016 in ASL 56 Subscribers Subscribe

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Hi! Comments and feedback welcome!
Quick Outline:
1. Using ASL/signing to avoid uncomfortable or even dangerous social interactions (men bothering women etc...) is a temporary solution some people use to handle their social interactions.
This is different than presenting oneself as Deaf/HH in a way that the Deaf community, or individual members of the Deaf community, repeatedly think a person is deaf, when they are actually hearing.

Tips:
1. Introduce yourself either as hearing by title (Interpreter, CODA, Speech therapist etc...) or by including hearing in your intro: "I'm a teacher, hearing"....etc Quick, simple intro.
2. Have a solidly "hearing" attitude about yourself and interact in hearing norms when in public, using your voice and signing for yourself rather than thru an interpreter present for the D/HH person.
3. Use mouthing. Own your hearing identity and be respectful of the Deaf Community.
4. Of course sign when in signing environments/ASL spaces. But introduce yourself and own your hearing identity so that the Deaf Community members are not getting mixed messages.