Aaliyah Bryant

Chapter 181 of For Hearing People Only called “Do deaf people face discrimination and

how often?” talks about Deaf discrimination. Discrimination to Deaf people is not a new thing.

This is something they have been dealing with while. So, when the ADA became law, they

fought very hard for rights. However, audists and oralists have responded negatively by forcing

the Deaf community to assimilate to them. Yet, they have no problem providing

accommodations to those who use wheelchairs and those who are blind. Deaf people have dealt

with sign language being outlawed and ignorance from the medical and audiological sector. Still

to this day, the Deaf community are fighting to be equal.

In this chapter, I have learned how the Deaf community has been treated differently than

other people with disabilities. To people with wheelchair, they have ramps, curb cuts, lowered

drinking fountains, and modified public toilet cubicles. To blind people, they were provided with

Braille and tactile aids. However, Deaf people are told to “get themselves fixed” instead of being

provided with accommodations. I have also learned about that it was challenging to get Deaf

people to represent a Deaf constituency. I never knew this nor understood it. I always thought

that all people who represent a Deaf constituency were Deaf. It would make sense for Deaf

people to represent a Deaf constituency but I guess that not always the case.

How I can apply this to my life is to be patient with Deaf people. I remember working in

a pizza restaurant and hanging up on a relay call. I was very ignorant on why Deaf people used

relay calls. I didn’t understand why they couldn’t order online, it wasn’t that hard. Now, I know

that the next time that I have a relay call, I will answer it, take the order to the best of my ability

and just simply be patient. Since I work in the food service often, I can use my ASL skills to the

best of my ability and also use pen and paper if I can’t use ASL.