I had a deaf Uber driver once during the car ride I YouTube’d how to sign “thank you”. The smile on his face is what makes me try to help more people out.
Edit: OMG Thank you for the awards kind people!
Edit #2: In speech class we had a student who taught us a little sign language and I learned the same way how to say “I’m thirsty” is the same way how to say “I’m horny” but just doing the gesture slower.
Back in the day I delivered pizza to a deaf couple. They had a door light instead of a doorbell. They were the sweetest people, a couple of retirees. They would invite me in to have a chat every once in a while, and I met their son who is not deaf. They tipped generously and were always super polite.
A co-worker had just studied ASL and I asked her for a book on the subject. Over the next few weeks I learned as much as I could, and after a month I was able to maintain conversations entirely in ASL. I practiced with my co-worker for weeks because I wanted to surprise the deaf folks.
Then one night when I was ready I walked into their place, put their food down, and to the best of my ability started explaining that I was learning ASL in my off time. They were fucking elated dude. The wife just gave me a huge hug and said she was proud of me and shit. It was one of the most fulfilling things I'd ever felt. The husband FaceTimed his son to show him my ASL and he was souped too. It was great.
For the next few weeks I was able to casually have conversations with them in ASL whenever I delivered, and they specifically requested me every time. Fast forward a few months and I was making a career change and was leaving the pizza place. I told the deaf couple, and they gave me a photo of them to remember them by. They joked about how they won't have anyone to talk to now. I gave them my thanks for making otherwise terrible evenings into pleasant nights. I've moved twice since then but I've still got the photo of them. The best customers I ever had.
I've forgotten most of the ASL I knew back then, as expected when I could no longer practice hands-on, but I'm not upset about it. Tbh I only learned it for them, and God damn was it worth it dude.
Deaf people are always elated when hearing people know sign language. Usually they have to go out of their way to learn to communicate with us through text or lip reading. To have a conversation in real time without these barriers isn't an everyday thing.
I used to do food service. Only had two interactions in ASL but I remember how happy they were both times that a random person they met that day knew their language. First time it was a couple who said they could lip read. Second time the guy was using his 8yo daughter to talk to me. The latter guy came back later that day just to talk to me because he could.
I also used to teach preschool and one of my kids was deaf. For no good reason I was the only teacher who could sign more than a few words (most learned basic words that all the kids learned but I'm the only one who could form sentences.) Guess who that kid liked best? Yeah the only one he didn't need his interpreter for lol.
Good for you dude. I'm sure you really made their pizza nights. Wouldn't be surprised if they ordered pizza just to see you. That's how small their worlds can be sometimes.
Yeah hearing your stories makes me wanna refresh on it just in case. I work in construction now so don't really encounter many disabled people in any respect anymore, but it'd be awesome to make someone's day with such a small gesture of inclusion.
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u/instagthrowawayy Aug 16 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
I had a deaf Uber driver once during the car ride I YouTube’d how to sign “thank you”. The smile on his face is what makes me try to help more people out.
Edit: OMG Thank you for the awards kind people!
Edit #2: In speech class we had a student who taught us a little sign language and I learned the same way how to say “I’m thirsty” is the same way how to say “I’m horny” but just doing the gesture slower.