Hearing people take the ability to hear for granted.

They don’t have to worry about whether

the other person they are conversing with is understanding them, in the way deaf people do when

they communicate with the rest of the world. From the documentary, ​Through Deaf Eyes,​ I

learned more about how the Milan Conference affected the deaf community, how ASL and deaf

culture changed, and some of the struggles deaf people face every day. I felt it gave me a better

understanding of deaf people and the community because it went into detail of all the extra

struggles they have to face to get the appropriate accommodations and acceptance so they can

get the right education to succeed in life just as any hearing person can.

To begin, in my previous ASL classes we had assignments about the Milan Conference but

didn’t go in-depth about the extent of Alexander Graham Bell's involvement in the movement of

banning sign language. The video opened my eyes to what actually happened when they were

forced to become strictly oral. It also explained how they had extensive speech training in hopes

that they would magically become verbal. In my opinion, that is wrong. Just because it works for

one person doesn’t mean it will work for all. The deaf individual should ultimately be in control

of the communication method that works best for them and their families, whether it be strictly

oral, ASL, or both. There isn’t just one correct way to communicate with others.

Next, American Sign Language and deaf culture has become more accepted over the last

several decades. Back in the 20th century, ASL was frowned upon by the hearing society,

leaving the deaf community feeling ashamed just by how they communicate. From the video, I

drew the conclusion that just like other minorities in the world, deaf people are looked down

upon because they happen to be different. This lead the deaf community to hide when they used

ASL in public. As we grow as a society we are becoming more aware. In order to become more
aware, people must take a class and learn about both the language and culture. This will help

ASL become more widely accepted and more freely used.

Lastly, deaf individuals have everyday struggles that they have to overcome. For example,

they can’t make a phone call on a typical phone, hear alarms for danger or doorbells. Over the

last several decades inventors have come up with some ingenious inventions to make deaf

people’s lives easier in the hearing world. I think the Telecommunication Device (TTY) is very

beneficial because it gives them the independence, freedom, and privacy to make the calls on

their own. Another invention that not only gives the deaf community independence, but also

safety that they need is the alarms that make the lights flicker when there’s an emergency or

someone is at the door. In my perspective, this device is great because it notifies them when

there is a fire or any other emergency situation. Not only do they have to find alternative

solutions for certain items to stay but they also have to deal with the stigmas of not being capable

of doing the same as others. If a deaf person met the criteria of the job and has an excellent work

ethic then they should be given a chance to do anything they set their minds to. Just because a

person can’t hear, they shouldn’t be judged on every other aspect of life.

The documentary ​Through Deaf Eyes​ has reinforced some topics I already knew about and

explained ones that were new to me. Throughout the video, I learned more about how the

community was affected by the Milan Conference, how ASL and deaf culture evolved, and some

of the daily struggles of deaf people. I also gained more understanding of the battles they faced

just to get an education like everyone else. Hearing is a gift that people take for granted, but,

even without the gift, people have learned to develop their own strengths that make them just as

unique as everyone else.