I have faced many interpreters in my college lifetime now. Prior to RIT, I only probably had at least 10 interpreters. Now I had numerous. Challenges from interpreters have opened up my eyes and I realize that many people don't realize what us deaf folks go thru with interpreters.
At RIT, most classes would have a team of 2 interpreters who takes turn to interpret every other 15 or 20 minutes. First, its challenging to get used to the interpreters when we settle in our new routines. Everyone assumes that interpreters are all same and that every single deaf person understands every interpreters.
Wrong! There has been bad batch of interpreters I faced. What makes them bad? They miss out too much words which makes me miss out information in the classroom. Or their signing styles. Unprofessional. The list goes on.
I had interpreters that would text or chat with the other interpreter which I really hated. That was distracting when I had interpreters that would chat to each other during class as well making me miss out information.
Distractions from interpreters also are included. What kind distractions there possibly be?
1) I have had many male interpreters lately, and it is a huge distraction when they wear tight pants. C'mon. You can paint that picture.
2) Same as above related to female interpreters. Tight shirts, low cut shirts, tight pants/skirt, too short skirts, etc.
3) I once had a tiny petite female interpreter with HUGE breasts. She never wore low cut or fitting shirts but it still was distracting.
4) Interpreters with really bad eye sights that their glasses have double lens. It is distracting when we, deaf folks have to look at the eye while reading their signs.
5) I once had interpreter that looked more like a con man. He had that light blue shirt with pants which made it look like prison uniform. His hairdo matched the look of a con man as well.
6) Attitude. I had diva interpreters, I had tough interpreters, I had feminine interpreters, etc.
7) Many male interpreters are likely to be gay (NOT ALL) and I have come across some feminine type of gay interpreters who would sign in a feminine way. It is very distracting because it doesn't match with them being dudes.
8) Tattoos. I had interpreter with covered arms. Who the heck hired her? Piercings as well, I experienced one interpreter with multiple piercings on her ears - she had this bed spring style earring that went in all holes. Stretched ears are also distracting.
9) I had an interpreter who freely shared with me that she had a lot domestic violence situations at her home which resulted in her having a lot scars and bruises. No bother to cover them up with make up or something.
10) Hair coloring/hair do/etc. My interpreter showed up to class with pink streaks in her hair. She also was wearing it in pigtails style. It looked like she came from a performance where she had to dress up her hair like that straight to a Prosecution class.
People don't realize what we go through with interpreters. It may seem simple to read their signing and get on with life. That's just one huge challenging part of being deaf.
26.10.10
22.10.10
Sgt. Anthony Wallace
Hello folks, I know I have been gone from this blog for a while. I apologize for that. I have obviously got busy with my studies. My senior year is really overwhelming. I came back to the school year with strong goals to go to law school, only to realize I had short time of preparation for that. I decided to hold it off because I lost the motivation since I felt like I was being rushed. I also wasn't 100% sure if the courts system is really the area I want to pursue, as I have many other areas of criminal justice that I am passionate about. Exciting news, RIT had a club called Criminal Justice Student Association which kinda shut down over past few years due to lack of interest - CJSA just came back this year. I am the Vice President of Programming. I am thrilled about that position, as it will bring me wonderful experiences.
Speaking of criminal justice, The RIT community lost an amazing person by the name of Anthony Wallace back in August due to being shot while on duty as a police officer. He was a police officer in Hoonah, Alaska. He is hard of hearing. He graduated from RIT, and then worked as a Public Safety Officer at RIT til 2007, when he went to Alaska. I came to RIT with no belief that I would be able to pursue my dreams due to the limitations with my deafness. It wasn't until my interpreter in my law enforcement class (Corruption in Law Enforcement) told me about Anthony Wallace. That was the day a lot things changed for me.
Anthony Wallace. That name is a tattoo in my head. I couldn't believe there was actually a hard of hearing police officer. I was floored by that fact and I was amazed by his accomplishments. That name forever changed my mind frame and my future life goals by giving me so much more motivation.
I could not tell you how DEVASTATING it was to open up my RIT e-mail to find a message about Tony's passing in the past August. I cried all night. I was visiting my boyfriend in Connecticut so he comforted me for the longest time. I kept thinking how it could happen to Tony. Yesterday, RIT held a memorial service for Tony which I attended. It was beautiful service, and it definitely showed who Tony was. The kind guy that everyone loved. He really lived his life to the fullest, and went after his dreams regardless of the challenges he faced. He is a huge inspiration in my life that I will never forget. He will be my constant reminder to pursue my dreams to do what I really love.
Rest in peace, Sgt. Tony Wallace - forever my inspiration, forever alive in my heart.
Speaking of criminal justice, The RIT community lost an amazing person by the name of Anthony Wallace back in August due to being shot while on duty as a police officer. He was a police officer in Hoonah, Alaska. He is hard of hearing. He graduated from RIT, and then worked as a Public Safety Officer at RIT til 2007, when he went to Alaska. I came to RIT with no belief that I would be able to pursue my dreams due to the limitations with my deafness. It wasn't until my interpreter in my law enforcement class (Corruption in Law Enforcement) told me about Anthony Wallace. That was the day a lot things changed for me.
Anthony Wallace. That name is a tattoo in my head. I couldn't believe there was actually a hard of hearing police officer. I was floored by that fact and I was amazed by his accomplishments. That name forever changed my mind frame and my future life goals by giving me so much more motivation.
I could not tell you how DEVASTATING it was to open up my RIT e-mail to find a message about Tony's passing in the past August. I cried all night. I was visiting my boyfriend in Connecticut so he comforted me for the longest time. I kept thinking how it could happen to Tony. Yesterday, RIT held a memorial service for Tony which I attended. It was beautiful service, and it definitely showed who Tony was. The kind guy that everyone loved. He really lived his life to the fullest, and went after his dreams regardless of the challenges he faced. He is a huge inspiration in my life that I will never forget. He will be my constant reminder to pursue my dreams to do what I really love.
Rest in peace, Sgt. Tony Wallace - forever my inspiration, forever alive in my heart.
12.9.10
The ultimate role model
I have met the ultimate role model of teachers. I never analyzed what would make the best teacher, other than the common answers (i.e. the one who cares about students, etc). In my 2nd year of college, I approached the criminal justice department to transfer into their program from the arts program. I met my advisor, Professor Gravitz. She apparently was only professor on the criminal justice board that was advocate for the deaf community. She held other job which was advocating for the deaf, lawyer, rabbi, and I don't know what else.
Professor Gravitz also taught several criminal justice courses at RIT as well. I took three courses with her, which were Concept in Criminal Law, Computer Crime, and Cyberlaw. The Concept in Criminal Law class was first one and I was just blew away by her teaching method. Why was that? The professor, herself had been hearing but already a huge advocate for the deaf community so she knew sign language. Rumors is that she had been an interpreter at one point too.
In the classes she teaches, she signs for herself. The deaf students still have to request interpreters to voice for us. Some students still request C-Print as alternative method if they don't know sign language or don't understand her specific signing ways. C-Print is captioning on laptop - student(s) has a laptop propped up in front of them while someone is sitting on the side of classroom typing everything the professor says. It is almost like TV captioning.
Professor Gravitz is the ultimate role model of what every teacher should be like at RIT. There is a large deaf community so I feel it is necessary for every professor to know some sign language. I was the most comfortable in Gravitz's courses. I never had been the type to speak up in classes to participate in discussions or ask/answer questions, however that wasn't the issue in her classes.
She was aware of the deaf's needs and she fit so perfectly in the ultimate teacher for the deaf community. For example, she signed for herself making us more comfortable to be in mainstreamed classes, and I didn't feel like I was "the deaf student". The C-Print people who types captioning cannot go the full class time (1 hr 50 min) so there usually is a second person that shows up for the 2nd hour to complete C-printing. Gravitz often pauses the class at that time to allow them switch places without the C-print students missing a word. In other classes, most often the students will miss at least 5 minutes of what teachers said while the C-print people switched positions. This gave me the impression of Professor Gravitz having that knowledge of the needs with deaf community, it shows that she truly cared for us. I don't feel that impression from the other teachers. Other professors may do care but their way of showing it may not be similar or they don't have the full knowledge or understanding. I am honored to have that experience of being in her classes as well having her as my professor. Professor Gravitz comes highly recommended!
Professor Gravitz also taught several criminal justice courses at RIT as well. I took three courses with her, which were Concept in Criminal Law, Computer Crime, and Cyberlaw. The Concept in Criminal Law class was first one and I was just blew away by her teaching method. Why was that? The professor, herself had been hearing but already a huge advocate for the deaf community so she knew sign language. Rumors is that she had been an interpreter at one point too.
In the classes she teaches, she signs for herself. The deaf students still have to request interpreters to voice for us. Some students still request C-Print as alternative method if they don't know sign language or don't understand her specific signing ways. C-Print is captioning on laptop - student(s) has a laptop propped up in front of them while someone is sitting on the side of classroom typing everything the professor says. It is almost like TV captioning.
Professor Gravitz is the ultimate role model of what every teacher should be like at RIT. There is a large deaf community so I feel it is necessary for every professor to know some sign language. I was the most comfortable in Gravitz's courses. I never had been the type to speak up in classes to participate in discussions or ask/answer questions, however that wasn't the issue in her classes.
She was aware of the deaf's needs and she fit so perfectly in the ultimate teacher for the deaf community. For example, she signed for herself making us more comfortable to be in mainstreamed classes, and I didn't feel like I was "the deaf student". The C-Print people who types captioning cannot go the full class time (1 hr 50 min) so there usually is a second person that shows up for the 2nd hour to complete C-printing. Gravitz often pauses the class at that time to allow them switch places without the C-print students missing a word. In other classes, most often the students will miss at least 5 minutes of what teachers said while the C-print people switched positions. This gave me the impression of Professor Gravitz having that knowledge of the needs with deaf community, it shows that she truly cared for us. I don't feel that impression from the other teachers. Other professors may do care but their way of showing it may not be similar or they don't have the full knowledge or understanding. I am honored to have that experience of being in her classes as well having her as my professor. Professor Gravitz comes highly recommended!
8.9.10
Back to School
September only means one thing. Back to School. Hooray.
I am officially done with my first days of classes for my undergrad college years ever. It's an awesome feeling. Even better when I will be at that point when I'm 5 weeks away from graduation in May. It's weird to think I'm already a senior. College flew by. I have many regrets that I didn't live up the years, but yet have good memories that I will hang onto.
Ok, my first day of classes on Monday & Tuesday were interesting. Why? One of my classes for Monday & Wednesday is Deaf Arts & Cinema. My professor for that class is deaf, with a mainstreamed class of hearing and deaf students. Majority of hearing students are usually the interpreter major students. I have had this kind of class with a deaf professor with mainstreamed classes for second time now. It's interesting perspective for hearing student to be enrolled in that class because they're the ONE who needs interpreters. Imagine that! I think every single hearing person should have that kind experience at least once, because that's what the deaf community is faced with on daily basis. What a better experience than to put themselves in deaf people's shoes? I also have a night class on Mondays. I am the only deaf person in that class with a team of 2 interpreters that changes every 15-20 minutes (it can be challenging to sign for 4 hours straight). I always feel awkward to use sign language even through the students are familiar with deaf community's existence on the campus but yet I still feel that feeling every single class I have took in college.
Tuesday's classes are different from Monday's (Monday's class is only every Monday & Wednesdays... Tuesday's is every Tues & Thurs). I had three classes on Tuesday. First class was Irish Step Dance. I always wanted to take that to learn my heritage (Irish) dance. I cannot tell you how difficult it is for interpreters in P.E. courses. P.E. courses are usually physically moving with exercising in some kind of forms, right? Dance often have 'steps' that are counted. I cannot look at the interpreter to see what count, because I have to look at the instructor and follow what she's doing. It is challenging for me in P.E. classes. Some deaf people don't even request interpreters for P.E. classes due to that challenge, they do mostly focusing on the instructors. I want to learn every possible thing so I don't want to miss a single thing which is why I have an interpreter.
My other two classes were criminal justice courses for my major on Tuesday. Both classes are mainstreamed with team of interpreters just like Monday's night class. This is the usual setup for the majority of my classes at RIT. I noticed something interesting in comparison of the professors in both classes. The first class- the professor had handouts to the students of the syllabus. Interpreters usually want a copy to be aware of what the professor will be discussing about. I was impressed that the professor handed them a copy. Meanwhile, the professor in second class did not. That would give me the impression of which professors are more helpful to the deaf community like I would be more comfortable to ask for help or whatever else with the first class's professor rather than the second class. Little things like that can build up my comfortability level with professors, people, etc.
I had several professors that were either very deaf friendly, somewhat friendly, or not at all. It was challenging to be in the courses with not so deaf-friendly professors. Deaf-friendly is when someone is aware of the deaf's needs in the classroom, work with the access team (interpreters, notetakers, etc), and work with the students with no issues of communication. Not so friendly professors would basically ignore deaf students the whole class term. I had classes when professors never would call on me which I liked but the problem is, it would take away participation for the grades. It was difficult to be in these kind classes because I would have to make the effort to participate. I even faced a class when every time I raised my hand to participate, the professor would ignore me or call on me if students call out to him that I had something to say. Humiliating. It makes me feel horrible about myself but it's really the professors. Just because RIT has large deaf community doesn't mean everyone likes deaf people.
Coming next: The ultimate role model of what all professors should be at RIT.
I am officially done with my first days of classes for my undergrad college years ever. It's an awesome feeling. Even better when I will be at that point when I'm 5 weeks away from graduation in May. It's weird to think I'm already a senior. College flew by. I have many regrets that I didn't live up the years, but yet have good memories that I will hang onto.
Ok, my first day of classes on Monday & Tuesday were interesting. Why? One of my classes for Monday & Wednesday is Deaf Arts & Cinema. My professor for that class is deaf, with a mainstreamed class of hearing and deaf students. Majority of hearing students are usually the interpreter major students. I have had this kind of class with a deaf professor with mainstreamed classes for second time now. It's interesting perspective for hearing student to be enrolled in that class because they're the ONE who needs interpreters. Imagine that! I think every single hearing person should have that kind experience at least once, because that's what the deaf community is faced with on daily basis. What a better experience than to put themselves in deaf people's shoes? I also have a night class on Mondays. I am the only deaf person in that class with a team of 2 interpreters that changes every 15-20 minutes (it can be challenging to sign for 4 hours straight). I always feel awkward to use sign language even through the students are familiar with deaf community's existence on the campus but yet I still feel that feeling every single class I have took in college.
Tuesday's classes are different from Monday's (Monday's class is only every Monday & Wednesdays... Tuesday's is every Tues & Thurs). I had three classes on Tuesday. First class was Irish Step Dance. I always wanted to take that to learn my heritage (Irish) dance. I cannot tell you how difficult it is for interpreters in P.E. courses. P.E. courses are usually physically moving with exercising in some kind of forms, right? Dance often have 'steps' that are counted. I cannot look at the interpreter to see what count, because I have to look at the instructor and follow what she's doing. It is challenging for me in P.E. classes. Some deaf people don't even request interpreters for P.E. classes due to that challenge, they do mostly focusing on the instructors. I want to learn every possible thing so I don't want to miss a single thing which is why I have an interpreter.
My other two classes were criminal justice courses for my major on Tuesday. Both classes are mainstreamed with team of interpreters just like Monday's night class. This is the usual setup for the majority of my classes at RIT. I noticed something interesting in comparison of the professors in both classes. The first class- the professor had handouts to the students of the syllabus. Interpreters usually want a copy to be aware of what the professor will be discussing about. I was impressed that the professor handed them a copy. Meanwhile, the professor in second class did not. That would give me the impression of which professors are more helpful to the deaf community like I would be more comfortable to ask for help or whatever else with the first class's professor rather than the second class. Little things like that can build up my comfortability level with professors, people, etc.
I had several professors that were either very deaf friendly, somewhat friendly, or not at all. It was challenging to be in the courses with not so deaf-friendly professors. Deaf-friendly is when someone is aware of the deaf's needs in the classroom, work with the access team (interpreters, notetakers, etc), and work with the students with no issues of communication. Not so friendly professors would basically ignore deaf students the whole class term. I had classes when professors never would call on me which I liked but the problem is, it would take away participation for the grades. It was difficult to be in these kind classes because I would have to make the effort to participate. I even faced a class when every time I raised my hand to participate, the professor would ignore me or call on me if students call out to him that I had something to say. Humiliating. It makes me feel horrible about myself but it's really the professors. Just because RIT has large deaf community doesn't mean everyone likes deaf people.
Coming next: The ultimate role model of what all professors should be at RIT.
21.8.10
Jersey Shore
I am just back from fist pumpin' with Ronnie, Vinny, The Situation, Pauly D, JWoww, Sammi, and Snooki. My family took a vacation to the Jersey Shore before going back to school/work for a long time.
So many things happened in Jersey that I wanted to blog about. I couldn't believe many things that I saw. Pretty much all of these were from the boardwalk.
First, there had been a tram car going up and down the boardwalk carrying lazy people, and they are driving it on the boardwalk WHERE people are actually walking. I was amazed to see that they had no kind of signal on the tram to let deaf people know they were coming up from behind. They kept announcing, "Watch the tram car please", repeatedly. Ok what about people who can't hear that? The boardwalk t-shirt stores had a joke shirt about tram cars, which had an image of a duck being hit by the tram car. It could've been a deaf person. I was amazed at this, and I really wanted to test it out to walk in their way to see what they would have done. And give them that slap in the face that I'm deaf.
The boardwalk stores, what a pain in the arse. We all know how the workers of boardwalk stores are. There was loud announcements about their rip-off deals or music blaring. How do you communicate with that?! My mom is hard of hearing, and had to practically yell at them to talk. Who was the genius that said it was ok to blast music in stores everywhere nationwide?
Also in one store, I was looking at the tee's designs because they are fun to look at. One guy came up to ask me if I needed help, in which my dad who was with me at the time replied to him that I didn't. About 10 minutes later, the same guy approached me again talking to me the entire time behind my back while I was alone (my mom came in middle of it when she came to ask me something). What part of "she's deaf" you didn't understand? I have came across that before in my life. People hear that I am deaf, they either keep talking to me like that's impossible for anyone to be deaf, and/or talk louder (yes, even maybe YELL). Really? If they can't understand that I am still deaf and nothing will change, I'd say for those people to go back to school, IDIOTS.
So many things happened in Jersey that I wanted to blog about. I couldn't believe many things that I saw. Pretty much all of these were from the boardwalk.
First, there had been a tram car going up and down the boardwalk carrying lazy people, and they are driving it on the boardwalk WHERE people are actually walking. I was amazed to see that they had no kind of signal on the tram to let deaf people know they were coming up from behind. They kept announcing, "Watch the tram car please", repeatedly. Ok what about people who can't hear that? The boardwalk t-shirt stores had a joke shirt about tram cars, which had an image of a duck being hit by the tram car. It could've been a deaf person. I was amazed at this, and I really wanted to test it out to walk in their way to see what they would have done. And give them that slap in the face that I'm deaf.
The boardwalk stores, what a pain in the arse. We all know how the workers of boardwalk stores are. There was loud announcements about their rip-off deals or music blaring. How do you communicate with that?! My mom is hard of hearing, and had to practically yell at them to talk. Who was the genius that said it was ok to blast music in stores everywhere nationwide?
Also in one store, I was looking at the tee's designs because they are fun to look at. One guy came up to ask me if I needed help, in which my dad who was with me at the time replied to him that I didn't. About 10 minutes later, the same guy approached me again talking to me the entire time behind my back while I was alone (my mom came in middle of it when she came to ask me something). What part of "she's deaf" you didn't understand? I have came across that before in my life. People hear that I am deaf, they either keep talking to me like that's impossible for anyone to be deaf, and/or talk louder (yes, even maybe YELL). Really? If they can't understand that I am still deaf and nothing will change, I'd say for those people to go back to school, IDIOTS.
15.8.10
Is the sand real?
Earlier today I strolled down memory lane with my mom and brother. My brother had brought up a quite funny memory that occurred in Williamsburg, VA which I thought to share with all of you. My family had went on the traditional summer family vacation to Williamsburg, VA out of interest with the colonial days history and Busch Gardens.
This particular memory had occurred at a museum, I do not remember the name. The only thing I remember about it was the colonial history of Virginia. There was only one part of the entire museum that I remember so well.
This exhibit had been a beach scene (don't remember why)... with the whole set up with beach theme, sand, etc. My brother and I had went up to the display. My brother was perhaps 10 years old at the time. My brother had the curiosity of whether the sand was real or not. I was standing right next to him, with a sign in both of our faces that clearly stated, "Do not touch the display".
My brother had touched the sand, then he walked off to my parents while I stood there still looking at the beach scenery display. When I turned around to meet rest of my family, I was faced by a staring audience. Why were these people staring at me?
I wandered clueless to my family. As we left that exhibit area, I had found out that the alarm went off when my brother touched the sand on display. It made a buzzing noise that lasted a few minutes which apparently got people's attention. Unfortunately, it wasn't good for me being deaf at that time as my brother left me there to take the blame and be stared down by people.
Funny? Someday I'll have a huge revenge lined up for him :) Of course, out of sibling love.
By the way, the sand wasn't real.
This particular memory had occurred at a museum, I do not remember the name. The only thing I remember about it was the colonial history of Virginia. There was only one part of the entire museum that I remember so well.
This exhibit had been a beach scene (don't remember why)... with the whole set up with beach theme, sand, etc. My brother and I had went up to the display. My brother was perhaps 10 years old at the time. My brother had the curiosity of whether the sand was real or not. I was standing right next to him, with a sign in both of our faces that clearly stated, "Do not touch the display".
My brother had touched the sand, then he walked off to my parents while I stood there still looking at the beach scenery display. When I turned around to meet rest of my family, I was faced by a staring audience. Why were these people staring at me?
I wandered clueless to my family. As we left that exhibit area, I had found out that the alarm went off when my brother touched the sand on display. It made a buzzing noise that lasted a few minutes which apparently got people's attention. Unfortunately, it wasn't good for me being deaf at that time as my brother left me there to take the blame and be stared down by people.
Funny? Someday I'll have a huge revenge lined up for him :) Of course, out of sibling love.
By the way, the sand wasn't real.
3.8.10
"Miss! I'll take that cart!"
Today I went to a store to get a pair of this high heels I've been craving to get. Once I walked out of the store (of course, after purchasing the shoes), the store alarm went off.
Now, that's one thing about being in Rochester with the awareness of deaf community. I walked out, and I always have the tendency to walk slow anyways ONLY because of that. A lady pushing her baby in a stroller motioned me to look behind me which I did and the cashier apparently forgot to remove the security sticker on shoe box.
I experienced this in my hometown at Victoria's Secret store. I walked out after purchasing several things from the semi annual sale (yay!) and the alarm went off. Of course I didn't know, and kept walking. Later on, there had been two ladies that I knew through my mom in the store when the alarm went off and apparently the cashier yelled non stop at me while I wandered off clueless. That's what I despite. People always assume that EVERYONE is hearing. You can not always depend on that. After hearing that, my immediate reaction was that I felt humiliated for being that clueless girl walking off from someone yelling. I shouldn't even be feeling humiliated, when it should be that cashier girl from Victoria's Secret because she is the one who yelled at a deaf person!
I cannot say how many incidents I've came across in my entire life when people assumed that I was hearing. Another incident that I recall was at the grocery store parking lot, where I was walking the cart to the drop-off area for carts. An older man was yelling at me "Miss, I will take that cart", "Miss!" then after several attempts he yelled "Jesus Christ!" which at that point, my mom heard him and yelled "SHE'S DEAF!". I recall turning around after dropping off the cart, the only thing I saw was that man raising his hands in the air out of frustration but I had no idea. Then I saw my mom yelling at him, then I saw his face sulk from the expression of being frustrated. He apparently was embarrassed and continued walking towards the store.
Also in Virginia on a family vacation, I was using the computer at the guest house office at my hotel resort. My brother was sitting on the couch behind the computer desk where I was IM-ing my friends. At that time, I was perhaps 15 years old. A girl who was around my age came in, and I was focused on IM-ing with my friends, clueless that she had begun to talk to me. She was asking how much longer I would be on the computer. After getting no response from me, she said "whatever" with an attitude and stormed out of the room which got my attention. I looked at my brother in confusion and my brother told me what happened. Although, my brother sat there and didn't say anything... I was upset at him that he didn't put the slap in her face that I was deaf.
How am I suppose to feel every time these incidents occur? It always make me feel like it is my fault, after all I am the deaf person. This wouldn't have occurred if I was hearing. This kind incidents have always brought me down because it makes me feel like it is my fault and it also keeps shoving the fact that I am different in my face. For these people that did got the slap in their faces that I am deaf, who knows if it changed their perspective? I think people may forget after a while, and go back to doing the same thing - assuming that everyone is hearing.
Now, that's one thing about being in Rochester with the awareness of deaf community. I walked out, and I always have the tendency to walk slow anyways ONLY because of that. A lady pushing her baby in a stroller motioned me to look behind me which I did and the cashier apparently forgot to remove the security sticker on shoe box.
I experienced this in my hometown at Victoria's Secret store. I walked out after purchasing several things from the semi annual sale (yay!) and the alarm went off. Of course I didn't know, and kept walking. Later on, there had been two ladies that I knew through my mom in the store when the alarm went off and apparently the cashier yelled non stop at me while I wandered off clueless. That's what I despite. People always assume that EVERYONE is hearing. You can not always depend on that. After hearing that, my immediate reaction was that I felt humiliated for being that clueless girl walking off from someone yelling. I shouldn't even be feeling humiliated, when it should be that cashier girl from Victoria's Secret because she is the one who yelled at a deaf person!
I cannot say how many incidents I've came across in my entire life when people assumed that I was hearing. Another incident that I recall was at the grocery store parking lot, where I was walking the cart to the drop-off area for carts. An older man was yelling at me "Miss, I will take that cart", "Miss!" then after several attempts he yelled "Jesus Christ!" which at that point, my mom heard him and yelled "SHE'S DEAF!". I recall turning around after dropping off the cart, the only thing I saw was that man raising his hands in the air out of frustration but I had no idea. Then I saw my mom yelling at him, then I saw his face sulk from the expression of being frustrated. He apparently was embarrassed and continued walking towards the store.
Also in Virginia on a family vacation, I was using the computer at the guest house office at my hotel resort. My brother was sitting on the couch behind the computer desk where I was IM-ing my friends. At that time, I was perhaps 15 years old. A girl who was around my age came in, and I was focused on IM-ing with my friends, clueless that she had begun to talk to me. She was asking how much longer I would be on the computer. After getting no response from me, she said "whatever" with an attitude and stormed out of the room which got my attention. I looked at my brother in confusion and my brother told me what happened. Although, my brother sat there and didn't say anything... I was upset at him that he didn't put the slap in her face that I was deaf.
How am I suppose to feel every time these incidents occur? It always make me feel like it is my fault, after all I am the deaf person. This wouldn't have occurred if I was hearing. This kind incidents have always brought me down because it makes me feel like it is my fault and it also keeps shoving the fact that I am different in my face. For these people that did got the slap in their faces that I am deaf, who knows if it changed their perspective? I think people may forget after a while, and go back to doing the same thing - assuming that everyone is hearing.
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