Community Members Share Information with Students About Being Deaf, Hard of Hearing in Today's World
September is National Deaf Awareness Month and in the spirit of this year’s theme of love and trust, transcending barriers, and uniting hearts in the spirit of understanding and compassion, Collegiate invited several members of the community to share information with middle and upper school students.
With the help of Lauren Gonzalez of GoSign Interpreting, who is the mother of Livia ’33 and Olenna ’36, the panel of guests connected with students about what it means to be deaf and hard of hearing in today's society.
Richard Reed and his wife, Chen Reed, along with Shernika Holley, Deaf and Hard of Hearing outreach coordinator with the Endependent Center, explained how each of them came to be deaf or hard of hearing and how it changed their lives. They explained how sign language is used and how various devices help them communicate in their lives. The guests also explained to students how they should communicate with someone in the deaf and hard of hearing community.
At the end of the forum, students submitted questions for our guests. Here are some of the things that students asked.
What do you wish other people knew about the deaf community?
“We are equals. I just can’t hear, but everything else is the same,” signed Holley. “Hearing impaired, dumb and mute are not the appropriate words to use. Use deaf.”
“I love music. I love the story of the song and the beat,” signed Chen.
Do you think or dream in sign language?
“I can see my daughter signing in my dreams,” signed Chen.
What’s the most important thing you do as an advocate?
“More of the public needs to become more aware,” signed Richard. “We need to be able to provide interpreters. For the last 20 years, we have had an improvement, but we need to continue to do more.”
“Include us in your everyday. Don’t say ‘it’s not important.’ Try your best to include us in your conversation,” signed Chen.
Most importantly, all of the guests emphasized avoiding audism, which is when you discriminate against someone who is deaf or hard of hearing. Include them in meetings by having an interpreter and include closed captioning in movies, for example.
