Bias In The Deaf Community (American Sign Language Vlog) 

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Was literally just speaking about this to a close pal the other day... I get this thing so often where I feel like I am "too deaf" for the hearing world and "too hearing" for the deaf world and it is endlessly frustrating. And it is even worse now that I have loss a majority of my signing knowledge due to brain injury and, like, I am WORKING ON relearning but it just makes me feel so isolated!!

Ive experienced some of this. I only lost all my hearing back in 2016 so i tried to get more involved with deaf events and clubs but i find the cliques push me away. Its either full-on "real" deaf people who grew up signing with deaf family and friends or hearing people that are fluent signers and both just stick with their own. Not everyone who is deaf is born deaf.. its frustrating as an adult in my 20s trying to get into deaf communities and maybe only have 1 or 2 people that are actually understanding that i cant keep up with their level. I definitely agree on the privledge of being able to speak english clearly so at least we can communicate faster and easier on our end. I had one person question my deafness just because i can speak.. like come on really? One thing ive realized is people are assholes deaf or not. And those asses hurt the reputation of deaf communities and people that want to help and understand.

Thank you for speaking about this topic. The last deaf I went to in LA, a lot of people excluded me because I was not signing well and I told them I am still learning. Being hard of hearing has made me feel like maybe I am not good enough to socialize with others anymore. And the minute others see I am Black, I am treated very differently. I admit it is frustrating having to learn yet another thing on my own, but I am making it worth while.

I can actually understand some of what you’re saying without captions! I’ve got a long way to go, but I finally started taking an ASL class and it’s crazy how much easier it is to understand than English.

I understand and respect Deaf people who don't want to personally make use of any hearing-assistance technology. I really do. Not only is none of the technology even close to perfect, but if you're comfortable and proud of your identity and don't see a need to "fix" or "assist" anything, more power to you. But poo-pooing people who choose to use tech? I don't get that. If technology works for you in any way, it improves your quality of life, and you *want* it, then more power to you! You can still be proud to be Deaf. For some people a hearing aid is little more than a visual signal to strangers around them (deaf included) that they're deaf. It makes an invisible thing visible. Maybe if I had been wearing hearing aids that time a crazy b*tch chased me down and destroyed my umbrella for "ignoring her" when she asked for directions she would have realized I hadn't heard her. Does it make me any less accepting of my identity as a person with hearing loss that I wouldn't mind not having that happen again? I don't think so.

As someone with ADHD: Thank you for the transcript! I tried my best, but if a video makes me read the subtitles through the whole thing (I don't know ASL) it can be pretty hard at times. I just stared at the screen without being able to look around or look at notifications or comments just starting at words that would be gone if I weren't constantly focusing. I gave up after about ten minutes, one of which I read the subtitles but was so focused on them that I didn't comprehend them at all. Using the transcript really helped me to enjoy your video at my own pace without stressing out too much. I'm glad I still get to enjoy your amazing content!

This reminds me of some struggles with people being defensive of in-group vs out-group identity in the LGBTQ+ community. And having to be a perfect member of the community or else being hated on. It adds too much drama sometimes and keeps people low energy whereas they should keep energy up for fighting the real fights IMO. Yes have high standards, but remember we're all human and be careful of burning people out. Thanks for these insights. I'm coming from outside of the Deaf/hard of hearing culture, but wanting to learn more. So I appreciate these videos. Edit: Also, it's sad that we haven't already, but people are finally starting to point out and hopefully address the racism within the LGBTQ+ community as well, just like you are saying it is an issue with the Deaf community. Maybe people in the Deaf community need to be more "out and proud" and get more public like the LGBTQ+ community? They say sunshine is the best disinfectant for finding and stopping anti-social behavior.

My husband is Deaf and he knows he's fortunate to have hearing parents that sign. He had 11 years of speech therapy, but most hearing people can't understand his deaf voice. He knows how to interact with non-signing hearing people to get by, so not being able to speak and be understood doesn't bother him. It's so sad when deaf kids have hearing families that never learn sign. They just implant their kid, force them to speak, lipread, and "hear". I have a few Deaf friends that are in that situation. It sucks! While there is some privilege to be a d/Deaf person that can speak, it also comes with the frustration of having hearing people assume that just because you can speak means that you must be able to hear, too. That's why some Deaf people choose not to speak, even though they can. It also irks me that some Deaf criticize and look down on other d/Deaf that are mainstreamed, grew up with the oral method, or use hearing aid/CIs. A child isn't in control of the education provided to them, and they definitely didn't have a choice if they were implanted as a baby. It's hearing doctors' fault, telling hearing parents with a new deaf child "what is best". The Deaf community should be more understanding and inclusive. Let's hope we start moving in that direction!

OMG you hit every point! I myself is mainstream so I talk more than sign because all of my family is hearing and no one signs. It is easier trying to come into the deaf community as a child because if you sign whether its English or ASL no one really cares as long as you can communicate. Where else trying to do it as an adult is so much harder because everyone has their own little group. It is so much harder coming in when you lived in a different state as well. I'm from MD so it much easier going into the community because I grew up in it.However I live in Chicago now and it soo much harder getting my foot into the door.Everyone wants to stay in their own group instead of trying to bring in a new person. Which has made me lose some of my sign and that sucks. It is already super lonely living in a world of hearing but I shouldn't feel lonely being with people who are the same as me. Also I'm glad you talk about Racism in the Deaf Community it is a huge problem. IDK if you notice but there is also racism in our own ASL Interpreters and you don't notice it until someone point it out to you. P.S Sorry for the super long comment. I'm just so happy that someone has the ''balls" address something that everyone see what going on but no one does or say anything about it!

I am 72. My hearing loss started in my 20's. I had two stapedectomies, one helped, the other failed and left me deaf in the left ear. As years passed my hearing loss grew worse. I found a sign language teacher at the senior center. She taught SEE because she thought it was easier to learn for someone who had always had hearing. I have been in a study group with 3 other people for four years. My learning has been very slow. A few months ago I started finding. you tube videos for ASL. Watching your conversations is very helpful to me. I'm getting a little better with. my signing and a little more fluid. There was a new technology about a year ago that restored some hearing with hearing aids. I love learning sign language! I hope to become more fluent. I have a lot of privilege, white, voice and some hearing with technology. I agree - there should be no bias. We have different experiences. Thank you both for this helpful video.

That feeling, when you’re at least partially hearing, and you’re watching a video with no sound, in asl, and then an add comes on and it is either loud or really startling and WEIRD. Bleh.

As a hearing person who is learning ASL to better communicate with some deaf co-workers, I have been very lucky that the majority of them are very nice and understanding of my blunders. I am barely in the learning stages, but I know how to sign "please slow down, I am just learning ASL" VERY well!! lol . Great video.

It's so interesting to hear about the (US-American) deaf community like this. I have previously heard of cases where hearing people trying to educate themselves on deafness or learn sign language as a means to accommodate others were pushed away, but I hadn't considered that even actual deaf people face these issues. Unfortunately, when groups feel marginalised, they often feel like gate keeping is their way of self-protection. I have experienced this in the LGBTQ+ community, but what you describe seems to be a lot more severe. It is sad that this is even a phenomenon because especially people who differ from the norm and get judged could win so much from fighting for their cause together.

I recently met a group of ASL-speakers through work and they've been so kind and patient with me as we try to communicate with each other. Your videos are helping me learn about deaf culture as well as learning my first signs. Thank you so much for sharing. I hope you keep making videos (but of course, no pressure). I'm going to slowly but surely keep learning ASL because I never know when I'll have the opportunity to use it in the future. *cheers Rikki and Chrissy*

I’m hearing and I’ve been learning ASL because I work in the healthcare field and have come across several d/Deaf patients. I’ve noticed my d/Deaf patients receive a lower standard of care because of communication barriers. I want to be able to provide the best possible care for all my patients. I need to practice my ASL with others, but it’s scary when you have no idea how others will respond to you especially since I’m so new and still sign slow with a limited vocabulary.

I admit I'm scared of what you're discussing here. I'm HOH and learning ASL, and I am concerned that when I try to approach the local tiny deaf community in my tiny town that people will reject me for having a hearing aid or for being a new signer. Regardless of what happens, it does help me to know that Chirssy and you--and therefore others like you--don't feel this way, and if I could meet you (or others like you), you would want to help and wouldn't judge me. This kind of life transition is scary; there's no reason to make it scarier.

Omg, I SO SO appreciate this video, thank you! It's a tender subject for me, because I don't really feel qualified to express an opinion, being a HH person who operates "okay" in the hearing world, but it's also tough being in between. In DC, so much of the Deaf community is around Gallaudet, and I find it tough as someone who isn't in school or working at Gally to really get involved, because everyone's sign is much, much better than mine (or improves very quickly once they're on campus) and then all the socializing is centered around that neighborhood. Because of disability, it's hard for me to consistently get out and participate. I've only just started to feel comfortable with the fact that I sign fairly PSE and am unlikely to ever become fluent in ASL, and having Deaf RU-vidrs who aren't really deep in the community, or who voice, or whatever, has really increased my confidence. I feel like my experience is valid, having English be my language but also needing it to be signed whenever possible. Even just watching this video, it's a relief that way you two communicate, because I can turn off captions and enjoy the video feeling relaxed, since I prefer sign but you also do it "on the mouth" and that aids my comprehension. Rikki, I also really appreciated hearing about your experiences with RU-vid. I've voiced / captioned all my videos so far, in part because I'm kind of terrified of the response if I sign. But I'd like to do some videos in sign eventually.

I'm so glad to see this video. I'm 26 and I'm from KY and I'm losing my hearing. My doctors have said my hearing loss is progressive and I'm already struggling. I am mainstreamed and only know a little ASL, mostly finger spelling from childhood just because I learned it in school. Everything is changing and its isolating. I dont know any d/Deaf people. My doctors never offered any options about learning ASL or anything to me. They just kind of left me to it. But I'm so lost trying to figure out where to go. I have another appointment this week, and I've decided that if I lose my hearing, I'm okay with it. My husband has supported me and is learning ASL with me, and I just want to go ahead and get a grasp on the language and embrace it. But it is scary. Honestly, your videos have been very helpful to me. Thanks.

I think the worst thing about in-group bias and elitism is how it always tends to alienate and push away people who might already feel as though they're on the margins. I'm a person who is hearing, but who also has auditory processing issues. And it's a really shitty and lonely place to be because I really don't feel I have any options other than just muddling through the day and hoping my brain decides to cooperate today. Other hearing people don't get it at all. They'll get annoyed one moment when I can barely understand what they're saying in noisy environments like the store or when the sink is running, but then the next day they'll say I'm just playing it up if I ask for CC during a show. And while I would love to get into really learning ASL with folks in the local ASL community, because I know it would be useful to me in at least some ways, I'm absolutely terrified of annoying/offending people who don't want to waste their time with a new signer.

As someone who is HoH and losing my hearing, but still has enough hearing to interact with the hearing world, I feel this. I’m one of the people that’s hard of hearing, who is worried about trying to get involved in the Deaf community. I’m worried people will say I’m not wanted or I’m trying to go where I don’t belong.

Hey! I am in NC too! There are alot ot silencers t dinners in Greensboro (close to me) but there are many across the state!

Think about Marlee Matlin. Learn from her, she went through the same back and forth in the deaf community. I get what you both are saying. It's a generational thing unfortunately. Some of the signs you guys use are not even signs I use becuase I have old school signs, ASL signs, not PSE or SEE. Some of these new signs are newer generation, example, your sign for signing, or sign is different than mine. As far as you girls go, ignore the haters, just do you. Using your signs, and learning signs, is better than not trying at all. ignore the haters. Seriously. have faith in yourselves and stay in your own lane. All you can do is your best anyway, so you do you and let the haters waste their energy running their mouths. (and hands) Remember this, ASL is a living language, so it will grow and evolve as time does. When I was young there was not sign for internet, email, texting, because we didn't have those. As a deaf adult, I had to learn those. Evolution. its keeps cultures and their languages alive. It doesn't mean that old signs are wrong or that new signs are wrong. Diversity is the key. As a deaf human being, you need to pick and choose the battles you want to show up for and there will always be an invitation to a fight. Preserve your energy for the ones that matter. How will you know what ones matter? Think of things in deaf history that were WORTH fighting for: ex: Gallaudet's "DEAF PRESIDENT NOW" fight. ABSOLUTELY worth showing up for. Whether or not Marlee signed or voiced for her acceptance speech for her COLG award, NOT WORTH IT. Do you see what I mean? Rikki, you are doing a great job. You have come so far in your accomplishments from when you started make up videos. This is your path, you know it in your heart, remember who you are and what you bring to the deaf community. Don't worry about the rest. As a survivor* disrespectful comments will always sting a bit because your past, but they are not yours to take on.(*I'm speaking as a fellow survivor, so I can say that.) You have a new life, and one that YOU created despite a rough path. Both of you girls, keep your chins up and your backs to the haters. You can do this! :)

This was very informative! I'm in a teaching credential program for ASL (I'm hearing) and am trying to balance my passion for the subject vs. my being hearing. One of my teacher's siblings in the Deaf Studies program got a cochlear to help her tinnitus, so she could sleep. Everyone is different but we are all fundamentally human.

I wonder if this happens more in the Deaf communities in the Eastern US? The Deaf community here in Utah is really incredible. People are all so kind, welcoming, and accepting, no matter what stage of Deaf (born or late-deafened), your family, your schooling, or how "ASL" your sign is (or if it's more PSE or SEE). It's a really great community!

Thank you for being brave and discussing this topic. You make a great point about if you make people feel small then they won't want to learn ASL.

I was diagnosed with a hearing loss when I was 3 or 4, and given a hearing aid when I was 5. Because I had been speaking English and I could communicate with others very well, I never learned ASL. I just used the hearing aid. And tbh, my hearing loss is pretty bad. Like if you whisper in my left ear, I will not hear you. I often misunderstand what people are saying because certain sounds are harder to hear. And music, oh gosh. I would either sing the song wrong, only be able to understand some of it, or not be able to sing to it at all. Growing up there was a lot of parties so people being able to sing along was always very confusing to me. I was like “how can you do that?” But thank god for RU-vid bc I can just look up the lyrics XD. My family was hearing and so were my classmates, so unfortunately, my hearing loss got me bullied. People thought I was rude when I didn’t answer them, and two girls spread a rumor that I was mentally disabled (which is ableist as fuck). But in middle school, I did meet a girl who was hard of hearing, but she had a hearing loss in both ears. We’re still friends lol. She learned a little bit of ASL in middle school before the school got rid of it ): and I’m learning it now on my own bc I want to get involved with the community.

hey rickey i love your asl videos! never ever stop doing them! even tho i have to play them in half speed due to my dislexia im glad you are sutch a posative person keep being amazing ill keep whatching

I am hearing and first learned to sign about 30 years ago. I love sign language of any kind and wish the Deaf community were more accepting. How freeing would it be to all of us if Deaf and hearing could be one big world without the bias and limitations? I want to communicate better, but can't learn if I'm not accepted. It's strange how those biases work.

THIS. I agree with everything you’ve said in this video. I’m on this border between worlds. I grew up speaking and using English and being able to hear. I’m now 16 and over the past three years, I’ve been learning ASL as just a “foreign language” class. My hearing has gone to shit in that time and ASL came in like a miracle. Learning about the Deaf community in ASL and through my own experience, it’s scary. I’m not hearing enough to fit the hearing world but I’m not Deaf enough to fit the Deaf world. I get scared when going to Deaf events or chatting with other signers because I’m not completely fluent and I’m still learning. It’s hard enough trying to accept/find your identity and then have someone else criticize you and tear you down as you are trying to come to terms with who you are. Hearing devices are another thing. I don’t have a community around me because I live in a small town. It’s me and one other girl. I choose to have a hearing aid because I don’t have the accessibility and acceptance and support around me to not have one. I know it’s my choice but I don’t live in a place where I could 100% be ok without a hearing aid. I just wish more people would understand this. Thank you for making this video.

A great video! With important topics being discussed. Thanks for making this!

Thank you for a funny but serious help video to warn this new signer what i Could encounter. It means a lot

Love this. Used to go to a deaf camp with my family (my brother is hard of hearing) that was supposed to help support families with resources and networking opportunities. It definitely got clique-ish but I really enjoyed the open minded people there. Miss being a part of that community even though I'm hearing. I think there needs to be more opportunities and less pressure for people to socialize as deaf/hard of hearing/anyone who uses sign language for a variety of reasons. No one is perfect but everyone can try to be kind!

I watched another one of these collab videos yesterday and only JUST realized Chrissy's shirt has the hand signs for rainbow!!!! I didn't see them before cause they blended in with the rest of the shirt but now that I see it -- I totally want one LOL.

I think it's good to sometimes have no voiceover. I am hearing and always have been,but no voiceover helps to me actually learn a little bit of passive ASL and that makes me happy :)

Love this video. It is to the point and full of information. Thank you both.

RU-vid should have video comments sign language accessible

Great video explaining the bias within the community - I personally think everyone should feel included and not be shunned for having differences whatever those choices may be around their hearing loss/deafness

So relatable on many level. I grew up as mainstream kid.

I love watching you Rikki I love your beautiful educational channel

the bias against people with hearing aids/CI's really doesn't make sense to me... if somebody wants/needs to have technological assistance, then they have it, that's all. it doesn't mean they're ashamed of their identity nor does it make them a coward or anything for taking the "easy way". some people need/want assistance and some don't, its really that simple. i was given tech since I was adopted (before i was even 1 so basically at birth) and its helped tremendously. i am not ashamed of my deaf identity, nor do i want to hide it. having assistance or not, you're still deaf and you still have a right to be in the community.

Im not deaf but I learned so much from watching this. Just stumble here by accident. It was fun and an eye opener, and yes I would have like to be able to hear your voices but I understand the technical difficulties, thanks for the CC I learned two new signs cochlear implants and hearings aid! you girls are awesome!

Hi Rikki! I’m a new subscriber and still looking through all of the videos on your channel. I found yours, and several other channels belonging to Deaf and hard of hearing videos because I am trying to learn ASL. I’ve been fascinated by ASL since grade school when one of my classmates was Deaf, but bridging that gap wasn’t something I knew how to do as a very young child. Growing up I’ve loved languages and have spent time self studying several various ones. I decided to try to learn ASL because one of my children just won’t speak. He hears, but at his age his vocabulary is not much. It’s frustrating and I decided that despite the hearing world always saying things like ‘if you sign he’ll never talk’ I simply want to be able to communicate with my child. Over the course of a month of my very novice teaching he already has more ASL vocabulary than English. I know I could VERY easily learn SEE, and perhaps PSE (new concepts for this hearing woman) but it seems more logical to me that I put effort into an actual language used by a community I could easily find myself interacting with at any point. Over the last few weeks I’ve learned of an entire world and struggles I’ve never even known were happening. For example, poorly done, or lacking captions...or hearing people who actually lack hearts and turn their backs if deaf people try to communicate. Or hearing people that don’t know some Deaf people can speak and all cannot lip read, etc. I’ve seen some videos that make me feel like it would be wonderful for more people to know asl, hearing or not, and other videos that make me stop and think ‘is this goal of mine cultural appropriation’. Anyhow, now that you have a little background for why I’m asking, can I ask you to consider doing a video talking about bias in this area? Appropriate avenues the hearing can take if they are interested in learning ASL...ways the hearing might help bridge gaps without seeming to want to take over a culture that isn’t ours? I see how reasonably you and Chrissy discuss Deaf on deaf bias, and I am incredibly interested in your opinion on this. Thank you for your channel, and your time. :)

I know I'm super late to this video but I just want to tell you and Chrissy that discovering your channels is changing my life! I got my first hearing aid for progressive hearing loss in only my RIGHT ear this summer and it's been really strange adjusting to having it, and realizing for the first time that my hearing loss effects my life. I recently got back in touch with my ASL instructor from middle school too, inspired by you guys! I just want to thank you both for explaining things and understanding the different parts of both worlds, and yeah I love you both! If you happen to read this, are there any tumblr blogs you recommend? Long Island New York's deaf community is all middle-age super religious people on FB so I really want to get involved and don't know how!

Thank you.

There’s no “perfect language” we all have some sorta lingo or way of doing things what do ppl expect.

I seriously struggled with my hearing loss. In my town there's no events or free ASL classes for the deaf or hard of hearing they're all in the bigger city so it becomes a struggle.

As someone who is hard of hearing and is mainstreamed and from a hearing family, I’m really glad I learned a lot from this video. I find it very helpful and it has been 5 years now that I am learning sign language but not fluent like Rikki. But I really love the culture and the community; it is just tough because I don’t get to sign everyday and my family doesn’t really want to sign but at least my sister know the abc if I don’t understand a word and that is really really helpful. I think this past couple years, my lip reading and possibly the hearing I have left gotten worse which is why I like to rely on sign language more... do you and Chrissy relate? Like is your boyfriend learning sign for you? It be a good idea for you to make on what is your communication preferences with a significant other. Great video guys!

I love this. we need to have a conversation. There are so many parallels to this and neurological memes in terms of crowd-thought. Throw a mail my way please.

Man, i been scared to actually try to get involved with the D/deaf community here because i'm only single sided deaf with a moderate to servere in my other ear. Don't know ASL(but I am currently trying to learn it) I've finally accepted my identity. I feel they won't be as welcoming since I was main streamed and such

I have difficulty understanding your signing because I am more proficient in British Sign Language but I get a lot of it. I really like your discussions though.

I just started dating a girl who’s deaf, and I’m losing my hearing. When I go to her school dances (she goes to a school for the deaf. I go to mainstream) I sometimes feel “too hearing” because I’m not completely deaf. Has anyone else had a similar situation?

I'm learning my country sign language, LSQ (wich is very similar to ASL) because I have hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. Ok now, I do hear "well", but when I told my teacher I had tinnitus and hearing loss, she doesn't seems to believe me for the hearing loss part (my teacher is really nice, she's cool and all. Just saying. ). On the contrary, I encounter a deaf woman in my school and we signed together and she also had tinnitus and we talked about it. It was like, two different point of vue

I think that the both of you do wonderful things for the deaf community and should be commended for it, instead of questioned. Inclusivity is key in any community and moreso in communities, where said community might already be excluded from certain aspects of mainstream society. I think that all this in-fighting serves to accomplish is creating unnecessary turmoil. I can understand how some members of the deaf community might shun speech, since members of the speech community have shunned them, and they now feel that they have their own community and no longer need to take part in orally-speaking communities. However, I think that this serves to separate everyone even more. It's definitely an argument w/ valid points on both sides, and it's unfortunate there are individuals, such as you two young ladies, who get caught in the middle.

I love Chrissy's sweatshirt! Where can I buy it??

I was mainstreamed and never learned to sign. It feels like such a huge task. I am learning Arabic instead at the moment and it feels easier than confronting this part of my identity.

Don't feel badly. It is more difficult to learn ASL if you first borne hearing or HoH then learn it cus you mainly still think in verbal English form.

I am Deaf and hard of hearing. I myself have been learning sign language before learning any other language; in fact, my mom taught me sign language and used that to help me learn English. I've come a long way with just these two languages. Yeah, school had never been easy, as I never really had that access to an interpreter for until college (although not quite university, because where I live has a rather unique education system), but getting these interpreters was the best thing that ever happened to me. I've had interactions with the Deaf community (with a program that lasted until midway through high school and more recently on online classes at Gallaudet University for two semesters), but it's not easy to have these interactions because of how massive the mainstream society is. Despite all these challenges, I persevered, and am now an advocate for bringing inclusion to my community with sign language. NO ONE should ever have to experience the loneliness or awkwardness of being the odd one out in school.

I would like ASL or whatever the local equivalent is taught from kindergarten in all school, kind of like French immersion is. It would remove a lot of barriers between people, and learning more than one language growing up only enhances your language learning capacity. There will always be people with biases. That's just the nature of humanity. We separate ourselves into tribes to decide who belongs and who doesn't. If we just start looking at each other as different human beings with different backgrounds and experiences, as Chrissy said, then maybe there will be just a little less strife in the world.

What you 2 are saying remind a lot of some people in the mental health community especially in the neurodiversity movement. Some people are saying that schizophrenics shouldn't take pills, people with personality disorders shouldn't go to therapy, etc. It really piss me of, like having bpd, i consider myself as a member of the neurodiversity movement but i also know that some us (like me) need their treatment in order to be functional. Honestly, an ideology which try to force conformity inside it's own community can be really dangerous.

This sounds depressing but I’m glad to know you’re experiences . I’m HOH the only Deaf 🧏‍♂️ person I know is my Uncle.

I'm just going to watch later high

Be nice "chrissy"

I have seen the bias in my past due to family being deaf. As a hearing person I want to learn asl for a few reasons. My paternal grandfather was deaf from an accident, but deafness also runs on his side of the family. I have a chance of having a child who is born deaf. I tried learning asl in college but I had to give up to focus on my core classes. How do I start learning again and how do I find someone to help me or to get involved in my local community (wi)??

You are very right. I am profoundly deaf in both ears but can hear quite well with hearing aids and can speak understandably well also. I was mainstreamed in school. The deaf who signed or couldnt hear at all with aids completley would not have a thing to do with me. So i always just considered myself as not part of the deaf community just because they wouldn't accept me as one of them anyway... I also haven't signed since i was 3 years old. So that doesnt help either.

I hear. I'm teaching myself ASL. I know there are super awesome people who I would miss knowing simply because of a communication issue so I'm trying my best to learn but I have, I guess you'd call it anxiety or a social disorder...in my day it was called an inferiority complex. I see such opposite versions of the Deaf community that I'm terrified to even try to approach anyone. Can you give me an honest opinion? Should I even keep trying?

Me, too, especially cus I am only HoH, not fully deaf, and am not Deaf (not fully in the Deaf culture). I do sign, but only as a last resort cus I was borne Hearing and I'm used to voicing. When my hearing did start to go, it went so slowly that I could mentally adjust and keep voicing and singing. But, for times when I cannot risk saying "What?" all the time cus I might miss something important, such as during appointments, I just ask ahead of time in appointments for more repetition, for them to write it down, or for an interpreter. I got mocked by Deaf for not being deaf nor Deaf, for being Hearing cultured and choosing SEE instead of ASL when I use sign language. I get mocked by Hearing if I use interpreters. I cannot win no matter what I do.

I have tried to get involved in the Deaf community, but I have had Deaf people bluntly tell me that I don't belong because I can still hear so I'm hearing not deaf. I can still hear sounds, and with my hearing aids I can figure out voices and talk to people, but once those hearing aids are out, I cannot understand anyone and can barely hear anything. My dad, who is deaf himself with worse hearing than me, got mad at me the other day. First thing in the morning, I'm waking up and getting ready. I don't have my hearing aids in. My dad knows this, but insists on trying to talk to me. When I don't answer, he gets mad. When I finally notice him, I either sign and/or tell him that I can't hear him. He flat out told me, "Don't you start that with me! I know you can hear me." This pisses me off, because I'm like, "Excuse me?"

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I have seen lot of time those people make the decision CI OR HEARING AID. So we can not tell the people what do that there's choice . I have a friend who have CI don't bother me at all..

Hello Chrissy 👋 Martin you are right all deaf different but I'm hearing aid grew up I can hear anything I feel like connect Marlee who is hearing impaired and good speech lip but I'm closer to hers age but I'm not aware are I'm live here big area but I'm try find right.person like your socail. How do that ? Thanks

My brother said the big one back in Cali was Riverside by the college (funny story, he first started learning asl to hit on this girl, and she was cool, but it was her sister who made a huge thing about how "if you're going to to talk to my sister, you should talk to her in her language or f - off". The sister more so I think used that as a long line of excuses because she never liked my brother lol)

ooohhh na sign l. deaf ASL goods youtube!!

The Deaf community has a few cliques, but no more or no less than other communities within the wider disability community.

Will the next videos have sound? Or all videos with Chrissy will be in ASL?

English is my native tongue, but I have learned a few languages in my day, ASL being one of them. First, I would like to say that these in-group/out-group cultural biases and gatekeeping are not exclusive to the Deaf community. They exist in most marginalized communities. For example, I also speak Spanish, and as a white, non-Latina who learned Spanish just for funsies, I am often highly praised for whatever Spanish I know. But then you look at Latino celebrities who have only moderate Spanish abilities, and they're often chastised by other Latinos for not speaking Spanish well enough. This also exists in the mainstream in dialectual elitism. Like how speakers of SAE typically look down on speakers of AAVE, Spanglish, Cajun English, etc. This sort of thing occurs all around the world, not just the US. It's crappy, but it's human nature. But anyways, regarding ASL specifically: I am a polyglot and linguist at heart, so I have done a lot of examination of the signing that I have witnessed in my day to day encounters with Deaf people. And I can tell you that the majority of Deaf people (especially Gen X and younger) sign PSE either all the time or half of the time, no matter how much they claim to be "strong ASL". Now, this is not an indictment of people's signing abilities. (I don't believe in linguistic superiority.) It has just been my honest experience as a signer with a linguistics background. And it doesn't matter if someone was mainstreamed vs Deaf school, hearing vs Deaf family, deaf vs HoH, pre-lingual vs latent deaf. It all comes down to which language/dialect they learned. Some learn PSE and others learn "native ASL". But the confusion arises when the PSE folks are told that they're signing ASL, since PSE is almost always called ASL in everyday, non-academic settings. And truthfully, many Deaf people have never (or rarely) encountered pure, authentic ASL, since, like I said, most Deaf people actually sign PSE. And even most "ASL" textbooks teach more PSE than ASL, since they're tailored towards English-native adults. Plus, not too many Deaf people have taken an ASL linguistics course, which would show them the difference between the two. So, yeah, cultural biases plus a general ignorance of linguistics have given rise to a linguistic superiority within the Deaf community. Which is too bad, really, because all signed languages are a beautiful thing and should be encouraged. P.S. - For any linguists who may be reading this: Why do we still call it "Pidgin Signed English"? Since there have been generations of Deaf people using it as their common vernacular, it should be called "Creole Signed English", should it not?

Hello Rikki. I'm a brand new subscriber to your channel watching from London UK. 🇬🇧 I'm hard of hearing. 👂👍

It's absolutely ridiculous I agree with you what is this some sort of Cult lol I don't like how people get treated differently in the deaf community specifically it's just wrong like they don't even know you and they're already judging you we are all human beings aren't we? So why the judgment? Also isn't this a form of discrimination or bullying? It's all just so weird to me as you said everyone has different experiences I just don't understand the judgment or hate at all especially towards new signers PSE things like that is it such a hard concept to grasp that we're all different? I've always found the biased toward new signers really really stupid people should be happy that someone is trying to engage with them and can we stop the debate on weather PSE is real language or not? Just be happy that someone is trying to engage with you

what is SEE?

What’s a SEE signer?

I always watch videos but very rare to comment. Don't know why. But anyway, after watch this video, I decide to comment. First of all, about CL, this topic is very rare bring to my attention. But if that topic is bring up, I always say that I am (personal) strong against it. But to give anyone some advice, I always give both positive and negative and let them decide for themselves. Anyway, back to bias, to be honest, I am deaf all my life but don't go to deaf community for many reasons, such as dramas, drinking, etc... So I don't know too much except I want to say about my own opinion and from my experience. I think that deaf people need to be more open mind, which I am. I would love to meet either hard of hearing or hearing loss and am very happy to teach sign language if they are willing to. I agree with people is people, they are all the same. But unfortunately, I spend a lot of time in hearing world and some say they wanted to learn ASL but never show up or get involved, and I give books and videos to my family so we can communicate better, they keep say, too busy. Lol that's true! Anyway, I never blamed anyone who end up at mainstream schools. I do know that it's parent's choice, not the kid's. I am lucky to attend deaf school. Anyway, I always enjoy your video and will subscribe to Chrissy's. I always enjoy to watch RU-vid.

Hi good night sis 🙂po

she cute af

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The thing is hearing an CI. Don't give you hearing maybe improve bit what you have left... For them to hostility towards people who make that choice I do think is wrong... Now if it was a cure then I think I could understand why more ... But no technology can do that yet.... Also not everyone can sign ASL ... Some do PSE etc... I think community and culture is very important worth fighting for.... Its worth noteing that at lest in UK deaf club sre on the decline this very worrying... Same. As.... In deaf community the ideas on what deafness is ... Were you are as a deafened HH person.I think basic because what hearing people have done its spilled over in the community .. We so busy fighting for rights freedom s ..we forget our own. Self's ... Yes I do agree just because you can use oral speak don't mean your not deaf or you don't sign for me the deaf community is my community a lot hearing don't like that.... Bisa in more than one areas..... I noticed as you say ....©..... They keep in groups and don't mix.with other deaf people in the community I've seen that over the years.... You raise some very good point s both of you Rikki an Chrissy....;) thankyou for the very important video and views

I hope you improve on your signing soon.

"TRANSCRIPT FOR BLIND VIEWERS:" transcript. . . for the BLIND! hahahahahahahahah im dying XD