Carolyn Mason
I was interested in immersing myself with this group because they are a community of people that I’ve often wondered about. I’ve always wondered about the way they communicate with others and was it hard being deaf or hearing impaired in some ways. As myself, I learned that most people feel uncomfortable when meeting a Deaf person for the first time and this is very normal. When we communicate with people, we generally don’t have to think about the process. When faced with a Deaf person, we are uncertain which rules apply. We don’t know where to look, or how fast or loud to speak. When the Deaf person gives us a look of confusion, we don’t know how to correct the problem. Accept the fact that your initial communications will feel uncomfortable and awkward. I learned at the deaf event that as you interact more, you will start to feel more comfortable and know how to make yourself understood. A friend of mine took American Sign Language as one of her college courses. From what she was telling me and demonstrating, it seems to be an interesting subject and I’ve thought about taking it. Quina was of good use when I chose this topic. She was able to inform me on events which were held for the deaf community. I decided to attend one of the deaf events with her. Apart of the deaf community where individuals who communicate via signed languages, individuals who attended schools for the deaf, children of deaf parents, and sign language interpreter. Although culturally deaf people use sign language, not all signers are deaf. There are many hearing signers who grow up in or interact with culturally deaf communities. Because deaf people usually have hearing parents, many have relatives who learn sign language and become involved in deaf communities. And like children born to Spanish-speaking families in the United States, hearing children of deaf parents learn spoken English from relatives, friends, and other English-speaking adults in their
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