What It's Like To Be Deaf | AJ+

Deafness is not a disability – it's a community and culture with its own language. Here are some answers to the questions you might have about what it means to be Deaf.

Note: When "deaf" is capitalized as "Deaf," it's referencing the Deaf community, an important and empowering distinction to those in the community.

Transcript available in the comments.

Music tracks courtesy of APM and Audio Networks.
Special Thanks: Hugo Lopez

#deaf #deafcommunity #deafculture

[ajplus]

Transcript

Cahlah Chapman: I am 23 years old and I'm in college, I have a job, I pay my bills and I'm perfectly fine.

Title:
AJ+
Untold America
5 Myths About What It Means to Be Deaf

Rocco Lauricella: When it comes to meeting hearing people for the first time, my experience is that they always try to talk to me, and I’m like, I can't hear, so they think they can speak louder. But that’s not really helpful because I’m Deaf.

Text card: Myth 1: All Deaf People Can Read Lips

Lower third: Rocco Lauricella, Videographer, Editor

Rocco Lauricella: And then they will probably think that I can read their lips. Not all Deaf people can do that. Some can. They’re really good at reading lips because they've been practicing their whole life.

Lower third: Shaheem Sanchez, Dancer, Actor

Shaheem Sanchez: I read lips, but most of the time they have to repeat. Huh? Say it again. Sometimes people say never mind, never mind. And that's kinda rude. Deaf people want to know what's going on. What you say? Don’t say never mind to me. I want to know what you saying. Help me show it. You know, then I can help you. If you help me, I can help you.

Text card: Myth 2: Sign Language Isn’t a Real Language

Lower third: Pearl Pearson, Jr., Retired Department of Defense Employee

Pearl Pearson: And sometimes when hearing people see Deaf people signing, they think it means that we're dumb or that the signing is wild or out of control, and they don't understand what it actually means.

Lower third: Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Director of Training, Gallaudet University

Bridgetta Bourne-Firl: ASL, American Sign Language, is a language, a language that has its own formal syntax, grammatical structure.

Rocco Lauricella: First, I’d say, it's a beautiful language and it's a wonderful way to express yourself.

Bridgetta Bourne-Firl: It is a formally recognized language aligned with any other language, like Spanish or French.

Text card: Myth 3: Deafness Is a Disability

Bridgetta Bourne-Firl: So is being Deaf a disability? It's true, I don't hear certain things that those of you who can hear are able to hear, and yet why should that be the focus, on that deficit way of thinking, when instead we could focus on all the good that life brings to people who cannot hear, the amazing things that people who are Deaf have, as opposed to focusing on what it is they don't have?

Lower third: Victoria Hoyer, Substitute, Iowa School for the Deaf

Victoria Hoyer: We are a loud people because we will speak up for our community, we will protect our own, we are not a quiet, subdued people.

Text card: Myth 4: Deaf People Are All the Same

Lower third: Cahlah Chapman: Gallaudet University Student

Cahlah Chapman: I identify myself as a Black Deaf woman.

Shaheem Sanchez: Even with a hearing aid, I’m hard of hearing, I’m still Deaf at the end of the day.

Lower third: Jessica Vallejo, Student

Jessica Vallejo: Yes, I like to have my [cochlear] implant. I can’t really hear when you really whisper. I can’t at all.

Rocco Lauricella: I'm still struggling with my own identity. I’m fourth-generation Deaf. My grandparents and parents are Deaf.

Lower third: Talila A. Lewis: Attorney, Deaf Rights Advocate

Talila A. Lewis: So within Deaf communities, we have people of all races and ethnicities. We have people who are gender-nonconforming and trans, we have blind and disabled people, we have CODAs – children of Deaf adults. So the community is much more rich and varied than most people think.

Visual Description: The word “CODA” and an arrow points to Talila.

Text card: Myth 5: The Deaf Community Is a Closed Community

Bridgetta Bourne-Firl: There are some perceptions about the Deaf community that we are a very closed community and that we're against spoken English and the Deaf community is against cochlear implants.

Often young Deaf people will find themselves and find their identity whenever they become a member of the Deaf community, where they discover others who are like them.

Victoria Hoyer: We don’t bite. We’re actually a very friendly, opened, welcoming group. And when a hearing person connects to the Deaf community and learns how to sign, it’s a beautiful thing and it’s a beautiful connection between that person and the whole community.

Lower third: Jeffrey Newton, Engineering Drafting Clerk

Jeffrey Newton: You know, we can be funny, we use body language, we laugh, and hearing people give us a look sometimes and we have that same humanity.

Jessica Vallejo: Just treat them like hearing people. They don’t like the way you talk slow. Like, "Heeeey, my…" No. Just don’t. Just say, "Hey, my name is Jessica, " whatever.

Pearl Pearson: I want them to know that we'll come up to them, that we'll talk to them. We can talk about what we like to do, what our name is. We just want to talk to them. We want to have that chance, and we have to do that through acting and through writing and through smiling, but that's, that's all we want to do.

AJ+ Producer: This video is part of a larger series on the Deaf community. Here are some of the incredible people featured in this series. Subscribe to catch all of these amazing stories on this season of Untold America. And let us know what community we should cover next.

Senior Producer
Maggie Beidelman

Producers
Jun Stinson
Emily Gibson

Camera / Video Editor
Michael Nguyen

Animator
Marisa Cruz

Executive Producer
Sarah Nasr

Interpreters
Jake Alexander
Monque Clark
Folami Ford
Justin Kirk
Carolyn Ressler
David Smith

Special Thanks
Kelly Kurdi

Story Consultant
Melissa Elmira Yingst

[starcherry]

I'm guilty of being that person who assumes that all deaf people can read lips!
Sorry guys! I'll do better I promise!!

[fanichita]

My dad was progressively losing his hearing. One day he said that he had asked his colleague to repeat something and the guy had said never mind and got irritated. I remember how hurt my dad was by that. Never say never mind!

[ms.rstake_]

The 23 yr old lady in the beginning is doing better than a lot of us

[Bootstataboots]

It is indeed a beautiful language. I apologize if I stare sometimes, it's because I'm mesmerized by its beauty when I see people communicating in ASL. I only know how to spell my name but I hope to learn more and speak to others in ASL.

[ladyinara]

Video about Mental health and working. The struggles of employers who don't work with employees, and states that are "at will" employment states. Etc.

[pimstroomer]

I love this series! So glad a bigger media outlet with such a large sphere of influence is giving attention to the community

[yodelissosa]

I can understand what these people have been going through since I was born half-deaf. I learned how to read lips as a child but can still catch up in some conversations. Most of the time people get upset or offended because I have to ask them to repeat what they said. One of the reasons why I keep to myself. Anyways, I’m glad that there’s people out there that I can relate to.

[carlygirl]

I am deaf with coclear implants and I can definitely agree with some of the things they have to say. I can especially relate to the girl with a CI. I can hear but not as well so I still feel isolated with the people around me. I hate when people say never mind just because I couldn't hear them. It hurts sometimes. I would rather if they repeat it again but louder or just wait to tell me when I can hear them better. Or text it to me. Whatever that works best. I want to learn more about the Deaf community and learn ASL because I think this would be a good thing for me

[Andi_Signs]

I am this channel. I'm a hearing CODA from South Africa

[tudormiller]

Wowsers! That guy was fourth generation deaf ? Then you have others who are the only deaf person in thier whole family. I'm intrigued to know what it's like growing up in a deaf family. Watching from London UK. 🇬🇧 I'd love them to cover topics like friendships and relationships within the deaf community. Deaf parents raising deaf children. Having a deaf accent in a hearing world.

[vickyallen]

Great job! I will share this with my students! THanks!

[BB]

Always been intriguied by this culture. Can't wait to learn and listen from different perspectives.

[evie]

I have 46% of my hearing in one year and i really understand the struggle of people not repeating what they said and instead saying "nevermind", its frustrating not to hear them and them not understanding us

[margies]

My best friend in college could speak and read lips, but still often looked to me for interpretation, saying that he usually only got about %30 of a conversation.

When I was young, my eyesight was considered legally blind. There was plenty of assuming going around by well meaning people in regards to my potential, including doctors. Sometimes, the biggest handicap can be what people are led to believe about themselves, and it takes work to adjust that.

[idontknow-msmc]

I watched 'Switched at Birth' on AbcFamily faithfully (until the very last episode) so...I at least know being deaf isn't a disability.

Edit: i really loved that show. Kind of wish we had more shows with deaf actors/charactors. It's an interesting bit of diversity.

[robertcarey]

I grew up as a Deaf person and attended Deaf and mainstream school. I prefer to attend the state school for the Deaf reason of equal access improving educate. I attended Gallaudet University but didn't graduate and would have attend NTID but never happen due to decide to start family. I worked for Military Ammunition Plant and retired there. You see The Deaf people can do it and the only they can't do is hearing. So I have seen the hearing people do have accident on their job long story short example we Deaf worker aren't allow to drive the fork lift on military base due to their military regulation which is wrong and I told my boss about why do I have a drive license to drive!!?? DUH so I dare them I drove the fork lift even through not allowed and ever since I worked there I was the safest driver on the base. So on So on there are no excuse for the hearing people afraid of just make funny noise, getting loud, weird body language, and etc.. Believe me the hearing people will love the Deaf people if they open their mind and try to get connect and they will enjoy friendship. Need lot of pray for our Deaf community's access. I can go on blah blah blah but common sense is the issue need to be done!! Happy New Year everyone. Thanks for read my Blogs.

[natethepnda]

I actually know all this and I'm surprised people believe in these myths, I have a sign language printout in my wallet and take it with me just in case I run into anyone who is deaf, it can be a pain but it's better than writing on a paper, communicating with another persons language can truly bring you closer to each other . The deaf are not as disabled as you think, I met a teacher who is deaf and works at a school for the disabled he teaches and signs for people with the same disabilities, he can lip read which is why he's really good. Anyway don't look down or try to separate yourself from them they are just human like us.

[lapaulg]

I looked on the Untold America page but could only access seasons 7 & 8. I didn’t know if you’ve done the blind community yet. We have great stories as well.

[shanhussain]

do a video on the link between mental health and gun violence: is it actually a real thing?