What does it take to make a person? Skin, hair, eyes, hands, ears, lips, and legs among many other qualities. In this day and age we take these things and make our decision about a person or group based on these things that are completely out of their control. Children don't choose the family they were born into, the place they live, the skin that covers their bones, or the language that they speak, or the ones that they don't.
Instead of disliking someone for their thoughts or actions, an unsettling amount of people choose to make their decision about a person by first glance. They do this even though throughout childhood they were told to not judge a book by its cover.
In the last few months I've had the most eye opening experience all while I pursued a long standing dream of mine. Ever since I knew it existed I felt a strong need to learn American Sign Language, ASL. It seemed an impossible feat, as I had never had any training on the subject. I was wrong.
I first thought that my dream could be a real possibility when I got into college. I group with another girl, who was deaf, for my class. Her interpreter informed us that we could just call her "The Deaf Girl" instead of her actual name, because everyone did. This really bothered me. This happened to her enough that she didn't think twice about it! It was that moment that I decided, sign language was something I needed to do more than just talk about. It was time that I took the leap, and started to learn.
After each class I found myself more and more skilled in sign language. Slowly I was able to understand and be understood. The first time I really felt like I was becoming fluent I had brought a close friend with me to an event for the deaf community and I was able to translate entire conversations. I was so excited!
Once I entered ASL 3 this summer I got introduced to a fun new aspect to the class I had grown comfortable with, field trips. Once a week we would go to a store and be partnered with a deaf person and learn the signs in the store, or just talk. It was the best learning experience of the week, because it was real application of the words we had learned that week.
A few weeks ago our trip was to Walmart. This trip, unfortunately, wasn't the best experience. One of the groups for our class walked past the Cox Communications booth. The saleswoman waved over one of my classmates, and since we were in class and weren't allowed to speak aloud she politely signed no thank you, and walked away.
As she walked away, though, the woman said something that changed the groups happy experience. In an annoyed voice the woman proclaimed that the group really should learn how to speak, and read lips. Not only was it incredibly rude and uncalled for, but she thought it was OK to say just because the group couldn't hear her. Unfortunately for her, though, not everyone in the group was deaf. After the class was over a few of my classmates confronted the woman and told her that they heard what she said. The woman immediately denied it! She was so embarrassed that she started crying, because she would never say something so thoughtless. Even then she was sure that just because the deaf person in the group couldn't hear her meant that she was in the clear. Did she really say it if the person who it offended didn't hear it?
With a level head, one of my classmates interpreted for the deaf tutor and she explained to the woman that just because the saleswoman was inconvenienced doesn't mean that she should change. The woman should learn sign if she wants to talk to her so badly; and just because she is deaf doesn't mean she is stupid.
What really gets to me, though, is that it isn't that hard to learn a little sign language. Seriously, if you want to learn, it's as easy as going online and learning the alphabet. Master it! This will help you! Each word you don't know how to sign, you can spell it. Next download the ASL Dictionary on your phone, its $5 but so worth it! In this app there is a recorded video of a ton of words! They're not always perfect but if you mouth the word as well as sign it, they will understand, trust me. Learn the words slowly and again, if you learn nothing else at first. Whatever you do, don't shout. It makes them feel uncomfortable, and everyone else around you. Shouting actually makes it harder. If you want to help, enunciate your words, or write down your thoughts on a piece of paper.
Learn ASL, you won't regret it. Trust me, these are people you want to get to know.
