ZipperJJ, you look at the deaf person. This is the same for other languages too.
You could use pencil & paper & talk to the deaf person directly, they really enjoy that too.
Sign Language was #4 language in the US last time I checked but I don’t know about today.
Many times throughout my life I have been in an airport waiting area or on a train and I have come across deaf people (or perhaps people pretending to be deaf) handing out little cards with the ASL alphabet on it. There is usually an attached explanitory note saying that they are deaf and that they expect a donation for the card.
I lived in the same dorm with a hearing guy in college who had two deaf parents and two deaf step-parents. He said to never give those guys money. All four of his parents held down jobs. I recall that his father was a Post Master. He thought that it was demeaning to the deaf community for people to do that and that it shouldn’t be supported.
Thoughts?
Haj
hajario, you have asked a ‘can of worms’ question (lots of tangled opinions, few absolute answers). It probably deserves a new thread, because it is a huge question.
IANAExpert in Deaf culture, but as far as I can tell, it often comes down to this: are Deaf people “disabled”.
(Of course, what exactly is your definition of “disabled”?)
Some Deaf people consider themselves just as “abled” as the vast majority of the rest of the population. As such, they do not want pity or handouts, they feel it demeans them.
Some Deaf people do accept SSI (“Social Security”) and other assistance. They have their own compelling reasons for doing so, and do not feel demeaned by it.
Some Deaf people sell the cards you mention. They consider it their ‘job’. Other Deaf people consider this nothing more than begging.
In general, it’s the disabled people who require special assistance, right? “Abled” people are, well… “able” to get by without this assistance, right? If you accept assistance, is that admitting you are “disabled”?
“You run fast, for a white guy.” “You shoot well, for a girl. You’re pretty smart, for a <insert demeaning slur>.” Are these really complements? Not really. “You run fast. You shoot well. You are smart.” Now those are complements. “Gee, you get along in life just fine, for a Deaf person.” No, no, no… It’s as if being a white guy, a girl, a <slur>, or Deaf is somehow some disability or obstacle to overcome, instead of just the way God made us. Now let’s be realistic, some people do believe these conditions are disabilities or impediments. Those are sometimes considered “unenlightened”.
“But Jimbrowski,” you gasp “surely deafness is a disability!” Consider: a Deaf couple might spontaneously jump in their car, buy a map (and read it), drive to an unfamiliar place, get a hotel room and dinner, go to a movie, go hiking in the national park the next day, send back postcards to their friends, take pictures, overspend on chintzy souvenirs, and brag to their coworkers when they return. That doesn’t fit my personal concept of a “disabled” person. So… are they disabled?
Consider someone who’s missing the bottom third of their left arm (born that way). Are they “disabled”? Several years ago there was just such a person pitching for the Yankees. Most perfectly “abled” people would never be capable of playing in the big leagues, so how can we consider this guy “disabled”? He pitched for the Yanks, that’s about as “able” as you can get.
Now please… I have said things in this post that are strictly matter of opinion, and there will be those with strong opinions to the contrary. Particularly my feeble attempt to define “disabled”; who is and who is not “disabled” is a fiery Great Debate if I ever saw one.
And like I said, this probably deserves it’s own thread (it’s a huge topic).
I think venue is an important thing to take into account here. I mean, if you’re in a flirt-oriented chat room, it is to be expected that folks will occasionally ask everyone to post their age, sex, and location, but here in SDMB’s GQ forum…
::notices facial expressions::
uh…what??
More to the point of hajario’s question…
The people selling the cards are, in your words hajario, “expecting donations.” Donations for what? Well, for being deaf of course. (Capital D is a person, lowercase d is a state of being.)
Why, then, does being deaf entitle someone to ask for donations? That is the tricky question. In fact, them’s fightin’ words to some.
There has already been quite a bit of fighting over that very question. Be careful, this is a very volatile subject for some people. Pursuing this topic will lead to impassioned responses.
I think the General Question is asked and answered here.