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  • Writer's pictureGenesiz C

Deaf Awareness


(Picture of different types of Hearing aids, and their descriptions)


September is Deaf Awarness month! Its during this month individuals spread awareness of Deaf people,culture and problems affecting the Deaf community. The last week of September is International Week of the Deaf! International week of the Deaf is a week of celebrating Deafness.

The week focuses on promoting the positive aspects of Deafness, encouraging social inclusion, and raising Awareness of the organizations that support those who are Deaf.


But what does it mean to be Deaf? To have Hearingloss?

The Definition of Deafness is the condition of lacking the power of hearing.

For some, hearing may be possible with surgery or a hearing device. Lip-reading skills,

written or printed text, and sign language may help with communication.



But in most regard Deaf and Hard of Hearing people don't believe that they have a disability or that they are impaired in anyway.

Matter of fact "Hearing Impaired" is seen as sort of a derogatory term, it causes much offense usually. It is because we as Deaf people can "do anything a hearing person can do, except hear."

Calling someone in the Deaf community "Impaired" is implying that we are broken in a way and that is taboo.

Deaf people have struggled throughout many decades with trying to gain acessibility.

Often referred to as "Mute, Dumb, and Retarded" and often treated as such.

Alexander Graham Bell, the creator of the telephone, and refiner of the phonograph, taught the Deaf, but he hated the Deaf community. Although his life pretty much revolved around the Deaf, his mom was deaf, his father taught the deaf, he taught the deaf and even married a deaf woman 10 years younger than himself. Alexander believed that sign language, Deaf schools, clubs, and newspapers encouraged intermarriage between Deaf and hearing and he feared "contamination" of the human race.

Even in this day, Deaf people are looked down upon and as less than.

The Deaf community is full of a rich, and proud culture! With a beautiful, expressive language.

But for those of you that don't know, SIGN LANGUAGE IS NOT UNIVERSAL!

Just like how spoken language isn't universal, each country has their own languages and sign languages.

But not all Deaf know how to sign. And most of the time Deaf children are born to hearing parents.

The Hearing community looks at the Deaf community as "broken" and looks at it like something that needs to be fixed instead of a language 1st community. If sign language was taught to infants when their parents find out their baby was born deaf or with hearingloss rather than how can we fix their loss, with hearing aids, speech therapy, surgery? Than there wouldn't be a fear of language deprivation, or fear of slow development. When deaf children wanted to use sign language, they were often made to sit on their hands or they would get their hands slapped.

Sign language should be offered in school from elementary, all the way to college. Hearing devices and batteries should be free, and businesses should be educated on how to make their establishments "Deaf friendly". So in September we advocate even more for awareness and accessibility for the Deaf.


I try to spread Awareness every chance I get for my Deafness (and other disabilities.)

I found out I needed hearing aids about 5 years ago as my illnesses progressed it caused me to rapidly lose my hearing. I started teaching myself sign language and saw the struggle for the deaf.

Especially Black Deaf as there is very little representation in media and movies. And any access to BASL (Black American Sign Language) is almost impossible to find. The Deaf still get ridiculed, and made fun of on social media, and are played by hearing people in the movies and shows, so no authentic representation there either. Just like how it is for disabled people who are often played by abled bodied actors.

I don't have a lot of exposure to the Deaf where I live, but I practice everyday.

Covid has made it even harder for Deaf to lip read, with all the face masks and people often time don't know sign and dont want to write everything out with pen and pad. It was hard before covid because of people not caring enough, and the Deaf being an after thought.

There is still so much inaccessibility because of this and places not paying for interpreters, especially for important appointments, school or legal needs!


So please learn to sign, even a few words to your local Deaf, learn the culture,and history, be patient, find ways to interact and spread awareness!! (Also Don't harass a Service Dog - Hearing Service Dog!)

It will really make a Deaf person's day!



_Stay Lovely_





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