The world in normal times is fraught with communication obstacles for deaf and hard of hearing people. Communication obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic are even more challenging to navigate. The results of these compounded barriers can range from frustration and misunderstandings to life and death situations. One thing is clear, trying to [...]
One of the ironies of being deaf: We rely heavily on visual cues to navigate this world, yet our disability is largely invisible to the naked eye. “But ... you don’t even look deaf” is a surprised comment many a deaf individual has encountered. Without seeing immediate telltale cues like sign [...]
“A deaf person walks into a bar.” It may sound like the start of a classic joke formula, but this what actually happens all over the world daily, along with: “A deaf customer walks into your retail store,” or “a deaf taxpayer walks into your tax prep office,” or “a deaf driver [...]
In Mandarin, goodbye is “zai jian.” In German, it is “Tschüss.” In French, it is “À bientôt.” Short, quick and snappy. After a hearing person says it, she walks away or hangs up the phone - promptly. Now, get your stopwatch for a cultural experiment: Just how long is a deaf goodbye? [...]