Disability is not Inability

:: One woman shocked about Deaf.

I met my lost friend last saturday and we started talking. Both of us are deaf so we were using Sign Language. One woman saw us talking and stood there watching like she could not believe. She stood watching us for a long time. She stood for a long time behind us. When we turned to see her, she moved to us and said hello. "Hello" we answered.

Reading her lips she asked me what we doing moving hands and no voice. I replied "We are deaf can’t hear". We cant hear what you are saying but i can read your lips" She Asked, "How? what is deaf". I replied to her "God created us deaf and it is normal. It is not bad, please understand" She Saiud "I have seen many types of disability, but never, never hear or seen about that deaf.

The woman was very anxious. I called another friend who is hearing and knows sign language to help us communicate well. The woman wanted to know Many things. How do the deaf live, how do the deaf go to school, job and etc. I told her do not be anxious, the Deaf can do anything like any other person. we go to school from primary,secondary, college, and get an education. the teachers use sign language. We are employed and work like others.

She asked again, "how can deaf read books in school. She said the teacher, teaches us differently not like children who are hearing. we learn to read well and later can read newspapers if you go to a good school. There are deaf students who get C+, C- or Grade C plain and they go to college, university. She could not believe that a deaf student can get C plain. Why, she thought that the deaf can only get Grade E. So i showed her my certificate and she was very shocked suprised.

She said she always thought deaf people cannot be beauitful girls or women. When she met us deaf and very beautiful ladies, she was very suprised. She could not beilieve that the re is a person who is deaf, beautiful and very proud to be what she is. "How do you feel about being deaf?" "I am very proud. There is no difference between deaf people and hearing people" i told her.

I told her I have two deaf brothers and she asked me why. I told her truly i dont know only God Knows. He made us that way. We have lived like that all our lives and are thankful to God. We are Happy and am live well. There are families with six children who are deaf and they are OK. To be deaf does not means something bad.

How do you communicate with nurse in hopsital? she asked me. I told her some nurses there know sign language other don't. I a nurse does not know sign language i can go with an interpreter or i can just explain using the small way i know. Other nurses we can write on paper.

She immediately wanted to learn sign language. I directed her to where she could get classes. and she was very happy.

More people are getting to learn sign language so that they can also serve clients with hearing imnpairments. usually they get a persosnal experience like this to help them make the decision. We have seen social workers especially many nurses and doctors learing sign language. The demand for equal service in public institutions like hospital makes this necessary.

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