deaf: redefined.

Posted on May 30, 2009 - 04:36 PM

I don’t usually write notes, essays, letters, or anything. Not since undergraduate school, really. And I have lost all sense of structure as I write, so bear my randomness and rambling. So just write this off as a creative note.

Today, I felt so excited, so happy, as if all my angers of being deaf or hard of hearing or being a minority, or hearing about people throwing asl away and focusing on speaking and trying to be like others…

...simply, went, away.

So here’s the thing. After learning about the results of the Think Tank, in Washington, D.C., and chatting with a dear friend & philosopher, Bob Arnold & getting all these deaf gain values from my close friends, Ryan Commerson, Wayne Betts, Jr., Erik Call, Amber Zion, and so many others, I finally took it upon myself to do something for myself. To actually SEE for myself what the hell I could do on my part to be a deaf “gainist.”

I signed in ASL completely. In Starbuck’s. Panera. Coffee Bean. That’s three hits so far. And all were unexpected homeruns. With ABSOLUTELY NO communication issues. The people who had the handicap of hearing actually smiled, and was thrilled to participate in this new ASL bond with me. I had so much fun. It was so cool to be me, and to connect to them. They became more HUMAN to me.

Yes, you read it right. They understood my ASL with no problem at all.

“I want a latte, and a rice krispie bar.” Got it.

“A sourdough bread bowl of french onion soup, small coffee.” No problem there.

“The coffee ran out-- you have to refill it.” Yup, even this one.

“Oh, this is a latte with a little bit of ice, medium-sized, not the other one.” A smile on his face with a light in his eyes with a nod.

Wow. At this moment as I write, (you know the lump you have in your chest that you usually have when you’re depressed? Imagine the exact opposite of that.) I have this feeling of excitement and the only thing that’s holding me together is my skin. “Freedom at last, freedom at last, thank God almighty, freedom at last!”

Just think: If EVERY deaf person in the world (who knew sign language) did this exact same thing everywhere… We’d all lead better lives. Everyone would be interested in signing, and we’d form a bond of something that we all shared… an understanding of each other. Which is simply rare to get-- even with spoken communication. My god, look at this. Sign language requires eye contact and tactility and organic intuition, and that in itself just dramatically improves your relationship with the other person.

It’s not about being deaf anymore. It’s about the better language to share, to connect with others. And the time is now. During the internet era, the era of isolation. We need to CONNECT.

It’s definitely true. To sign is human.

I’m so addicted already to doing it this way.