7 things you need to know about deaf culture

In the deaf community, we’re constantly building and strengthening relationships. We are not separated by race, status or gender. We are united by our visual nature. Being able to openly share our thoughts and feelings with people that have experienced similar trials and setbacks motivate us to keep going and move forward.

Our motivations, health and happiness are intrinsic to our sense of belonging. By continuing to trust and rely on each other for support we start to think of ourselves as capable, we identify ourselves as people deserving of employment, friendships and equal access to knowledge and information. Together we are stronger.

It’s such a relief to talk or sign with someone that is also deaf or hard of hearing because they know what to expect. Other deaf people realise the importance of looking at you when speaking and how frustrating background noises can be.

When we get together, we don’t need to prepare ourselves for possible communication difficulties; we can relax and just be ourselves. Having a meaningful conversation and not being completely depleted afterwards is such a joy. The comfort of being able to communicate without stress and anxiety is what will make our culture withstand any and all adversities.

Our brains aren’t different from a hearing person’s; it’s just that growing up we didn’t learn by listening, we interpret the world through sight.

We’re deaf, not dumb. That’s why information sharing is such an important part of our culture. Sharing our experiences enables us to participate more fully in all areas of life.

Technology has changed the deaf culture. The communication revolution started with instant messaging and grew with the evolution of the internet. With blogging, captioning, and social media, mainstream audiences finally started to experience deaf people as contributing individuals with something to say.

Using video chat we can now have lively discussions with people all over the world. In an article published by the Huffington Post, Lydia L. Callis said

With new communication technologies emerging each day, the world is finally getting a true glimpse into the complex and elaborate deaf cultures which quietly evolved over centuries. Using the tools of the modern age, the deaf community is able to amplify its voice. Finally, the mainstream world is starting to listen.

However, as great as technology is, it will never be able to replicate the feel of a real conversation, the subtle sarcasm and silent messages that are given away by our body language. Interacting with another human being and being part of a community remains essential.

In recent years the deaf culture has gone through a type of split. At one end you have a group advocating for cochlear implants and on the other, deaf people who are of the mentality that “if it’s not broke don’t fix it”.

People have different perspectives on being deaf, and this has created a divide in the deaf community. You’ve seen the videos of children receiving cochlear implants and hearing their parents’ voice for the first time.

There are many people in the deaf community that believe cochlear implants are bad, and there are many others that believe the implants are great.

Here’s the important thing. Firstly, cochlear implants are not a cure for deafness; there is no cure. Secondly, the implants don’t work for everyone. Thirdly, it’s a very personal choice. Respect our decision, because it’s ours to make.

It might sound cheesy, but deaf people can pretty much do everything hearing people can.

Examples of strong deaf people leading the way include Richard Webb-Stevens (flight paramedic), Steve Day (comedian), Evelyn Glennie (percussionist), Marlee Matlin (actress), Heather Whitestone (Miss America 1995), Nyle DiMarco (model and actor).

Deaf people generally have difficulty expressing their feelings and thoughts because we did not learn by listening how other people communicated and interacted.

Laurel Hartman, artist and lecturer at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf uses art as a way for deaf individuals to understand themselves and their journey. Painting is a great form of visual expression, an intuitive approach, says Laurel. See the full interview below.

We have rules, we have structure, and we have our own language and our own art.

When painting, some of Laurel’s students might make the eyes and hands bigger and the mouths and ears smaller, as a representation of a deaf person. Some deaf artists use specific colours to try and show pride and beauty for their culture, for example, happy yellow colours as a contrast to oppression, instead focusing on the value our culture provides.