What people think deaf people’s problems are.

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]I can look at this Instagram post.

[00:00:08]This post has gone viral and I came across it.

[00:00:12]So, I wanted to translate it into my ASL.

[00:00:17]Kudos to the original creator for sharing this post.

[00:00:21]From a hearing perspective, deaf people's problems are often reduced to just not being able to hear or speak.

[00:00:29]Is that all you think that people struggle? There are many more challenges, especially those created by hearing people. These examples will explain it to you a little bit. Take a look.

[00:00:39]Two individuals are talking. A hearing person approaches.

[00:00:43]Hey, you can't hear? You can't speak?

[00:00:46]No, we are deaf.

[00:00:48]Wait, so can you hear me if I speak louder? That's weird.

[00:00:52]Go away. They are so pushy.

[00:00:55]Two hearing people continue discussing.

[00:00:59]A deaf child sits with them feeling perplexed.

[00:01:10]They both kept speaking. I didn't understand anything.

[00:01:14]But they still decide things for me without including me.

[00:01:19]This is strange.

[00:01:22]I'm going to the bank. Oh, what for? To collect my disability pension.

[00:01:27]Customer care calling.

[00:01:29]Got it.

[00:01:30]Please wait. Somebody's calling. This is weird.

[00:01:35]They could have texted or sent a message instead of calling. It's not accessible, right?

[00:01:40]True, that's right.

[00:01:42]Customer care drops the call.

[00:01:47]A hearing person teaching ASL to hearing students.

[00:01:54]A deaf individual teacher watches from the door.

[00:01:58]The hearing person is taking over instead of respecting them.

[00:02:04]Hey, what are you doing here?

[00:02:07]A hearing person is also stepping in my SL teaching.

[00:02:12]Oh, no. It's wrong. They are just pointing at our language.

[00:02:16]Two hearing people are laughing and talking. A deaf person enters.

[00:02:21]What are you talking about?

[00:02:23]Oh, I'll tell you later.

[00:02:26]I don't understand. I want to know what they are laughing about.

[00:02:29]But hearing people keep saying later, and I end up feeling left out.

[00:02:34]Hearing individuals standing together.

[00:02:38]They are inviting the deaf person to join them.

[00:02:42]What are you talking about?

[00:02:45]I'll tell you later.

[00:02:46]Say this, I was invited excitedly to join them, but they just kept talking, and now I feel completely isolated.

[00:02:54]A father brings his deaf son to a doctor's room.

[00:02:59]The father forces him forward. He resists.

[00:03:03]Take a seat.

[00:03:06]The father starts explaining about his son's hearing loss.

[00:03:10]What are you talking about?

[00:03:12]Please wait.

[00:03:14]Doctor continues talking.

[00:03:16]What is this? They're talking about me without including me. They are all stepping. One day you will be able to hear.

[00:03:21]These examples are not the only ones.

[00:03:23]There are many more instances.

[00:03:26]Some hearing people assume they can make decisions for deaf people because they think deaf people cannot hear or speak.

[00:03:32]But being decided for creates more barriers and stress, leading to greater suffering.

[00:03:38]This needs to stop.

[00:03:39]Instead of deciding for us, communicate directly with deaf individual and provide accessible options such as interpreters, writing, texting, and other communication methods. This helps break down barriers.

[00:03:51]Remember, nothing about deaf people should be decided without them. It's better to ask deaf people.