Deaf Culture And Community

Question: I need some help with my Sign Language.? There all True or False questions. 1. When referring to the audiological condition of not being able to hear, deaf is written with a little "d." 2. "Big D" Deaf refers to deaf people who share a language (ASL) and a culture. 3. You become a member of the Deaf community simply by losing your hearing. 4. The majority of ASL users live in the United States and Canada. 5. The knowledge, beliefs, and practices that make up the culture of Deaf people are actively transmitted from generation to generation.

Answer: Your cute <3 -kisses-

Question: How can I communicate the lack of attraction? So there's this girl I met in one of my classes a year ago. She's deaf and I know sign language so I introduced myself to her and since then we've formed a friendship. Well..... turns out she may have been looking for something more. She is EXTREMELY touchy-feely (which is more common in deaf culture) but it's out of hand. She constantly wants to hold my hand if we're walking somewhere or she'll start stroking my hand while eating lunch, or leans against me while sitting next to each other. People constantly ask if we are dating or married, I immediately shoot those questions down, but it seems she dances around the question as if we were, but we don't want anyone to know. People have come up to me and ask if I'm dating her while I'm alone. (word travels fast in deaf community). I pull myself away from her when she's being touchy-feely and tell her to stop the flirting when it gets out of hand. What more can I do?!?!?!

Answer: Be very clear that you're not interested in her as a girlfriend. Tell her that she's disrepecting you and herself by misrepresenting your relationship.

Question: help with sign language homework!? 1. When referring to the audiological condition of not being able to hear, deaf is written with a little "d." (1 point) true false 2. "Big D" Deaf refers to deaf people who share a language (ASL) and a culture. (1 point) true false 3. You become a member of the Deaf community simply by losing your hearing. (1 point) true false 4. The majority of ASL users live in the United States and Canada. (1 point) true false 5. The knowledge, beliefs, and practices that make up the culture of Deaf people are actively transmitted from generation to generation. (1 point) true false

Answer: You Should E-mail me so we can help eachother out. Misslanejane@yahoo.com 1.True 2.True 3.False 4.True 5.True

Question: A question for Deaf people...? I'm a hearing person who is beginning to learn about the Deaf culture. I don't personally know any deaf people. I began learning ASL this year because it's a great language and I really enjoy it. But the more I read on Deaf blogs and the more I watch opinions on Youtube, the more I am wondering if I should even bother learning ASL. Because I can hear, it seems like I am already disliked and hated. Because I can hear, am I truly labeled "dumb'? If I become fluent in ASL and seek out native signers to practice with, will I be turned away and mistrusted? Granted, you can't get a feel for a whole community based on the postings on the internet. And granted, some deaf people get some rotten treatment by hearing people. But are all hearing people judged on the basis of what goes on with their ears rather than what goes on between them? I'm hoping for some opinions that will clear this up for me.

Answer: 1 thing you have to understand is that forums like blogs and youtube is a way for people (anyone) to vent frustrations that they normally wouldn't face to face. The negativity you see/read is probably related to a specific situation between that Deaf person and a hearing person... not hearing people in general. They might say "stupid hearing people", but they are just venting about a problematic situation they experienced with a hearing person. (I've said the same thing!) I guarantee you will NOT be "turned away and mistrusted" for just becoming fluent in ASL. You would actually have to DO something inappropriate to make a Deaf person not trust you. (Just like anyone else).

Question: Question on Bilateral H.A.? This is my second post on subject but would like new answers. Almost profound deaf have hearing boyfriend. Iam thinking maybe to get bilateral HA. I am function most in Deaf community. He is thinking is good idea to look into I am thinking about it. We do live together may make it easier. I am not even sure if will help any though. I mostly use sign. Also another problem I am fearing if my Deaf friends at school and work think iam abandoning my culture. Would like oppinion of Deaf, Hearing or HOH people thanks!

Answer: If you have never worn aids and you are profoundly deaf you will not likely benefit a lot from hearing aids. You will get some sound stimulation, but I'm 99% sure you won't be able to understand speech with the aids. You will still need to sign and use visual cues to communicate. The Deaf culture is tricky. I know how much the culture frowns upon looking at your deafness as a handicap, and I imagine that if you were to try hearing aids some may look at it as you trying to "fix" your deafness. Go with your gut. Don't get them just because of your boyfriend. You have to want them in order to be a successful wearer. Just be advised that not a tremendous amount of benefit can be provided to a long-standing profoundly deaf patient. With that said, you probably should not consider cochlear implants. I doubt this is even an idea since you're worried about how the deaf culture will react to hearing aids.

Question: need oppinion on Bilateral HA...? This is my second post on subject but would like new answers. Almost profound deaf have hearing boyfriend. Iam thinking maybe to get bilateral HA. I am function most in Deaf community. He is thinking is good idea to look into I am thinking about it. We do live together may make it easier. I am not even sure if will help any though. I mostly use sign. Also another problem I am fearing if my Deaf friends at school and work think iam abandoning my culture. Would like oppinion of Deaf, Hearing or HOH people thanks!

Answer: Your not abandoning your culture, you are trying to broaden your horizons by exploring another one! Get the HA, signing for you is a way of life, even with bilateral HA, you will not hear as well as the average non hearing impaired person, so you will continue to sign, in load places, (clubs, restaraunts etc) the noise will keep you from utilizing the HA, and you will find yourself reverting to signing again. I dated a deaf girl once, we used to sign even when we were close enough to lip read, only got us in trouble once.....we were discussing what we wanted to do (intimately) when we got home, and it wasn't until the couple silently standing behind us the entire time started to sign to each other, that we trealized how much they had caught of our conversation....:)

Question: Why is he such a black sheep in deaf community? I have had a couple deaf friends in high school and know a few in college that I’m at now. I know that deaf people usually are very proud of their culture and very close knitted community. But there’s this deaf guy in my photography class. He’s very disturbing to many. His works is amazing and have so much crazy stories behind them. But they’re rather dark and creepy. Many have nude female, gas mask, blood, bondage theme, etc… They are very tasteful but still really creepy and disturbing to others. Many of his pictures were taken in illegal places such as mausoleum, abandoned building that are known to be incredible difficult to sneak in, and other things. He has spent a night in jail once for such thing. The teacher seems to think he’s so awesome and laugh at his story all of the time. His profile for the class stated he like to box and kick boxing and his interest is girls who like taste of blood. What is even weirder is, many deaf people don’t know of him, only very few know of him and most says he’s very aloof and a really jerk. But one girl says he’s really cool but doesn’t tolerate nonsense at all. People in the photography class say he’s a very nice guy but you really need to have some guts to work with him and if you did, it’s so much fun. What is this guy’s issue? Why is he like this? He doesn’t seem to fit in deaf community or have anything in common with any of them.

Answer: Really? I am deaf. Why are you talking about him? I have meet few weirdo hearing men , but I don't talk about them.

Question: need oppinion on Bilateral HA...? This is my second post on subject but would like new answers. Almost profound deaf have hearing boyfriend. Iam thinking maybe to get bilateral HA. I am function most in Deaf community. He is thinking is good idea to look into I am thinking about it. We do live together may make it easier. I am not even sure if will help any though. I mostly use sign. Also another problem I am fearing if my Deaf friends at school and work think iam abandoning my culture. Would like oppinion of Deaf, Hearing or HOH people thanks! If anyone has adivce how deal with this subject or personal advice...thanks..:D

Answer: I'm not deaf, although I can fool people with my signing. I understand a lot about the Deaf culture, and it took me several years of living with Deaf people, and Gallaudet College. So I have some idea of what you're dealing with. You are right to be concerned about losing your culture. Deaf folks may become unsure of you. But you already know this, and that's why you're asking. There isn't any sense in me going over why you would think it's not a good idea. The main questions are: Are you willing to loose your Deaf-ness? Are you willing to become deaf? Are you willing to give that up for someone else? Does your boyfriend under-stand the difference. Does he understand how important that difference is? If he did understand, would he really want you to risk your life as a Deaf person? You will always be deaf, but do you want to be Deaf? I am not Deaf, but I have an idea of what you would be giving up. Personally, I don't think I could give up who I am for a boyfriend. Boyfriends come and go, (no offence meant), but you will always have to live with you. If you need to talk, email me. Blessed Be & may Peace be with you