American Sign Language in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community

     The deaf and hard-of-hearing communities have been struggling for equal access and opportunity for quite some time. Although there have been many improvements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the requirement for interpreters at COVID-19 briefings, these communities still have a ways to go. As an ASL interpreter, I hope to be able to be a voice for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Not only do I want to interpret, but I also want to be an advocate and speak up for the rights of the deaf and hard-of-hearing. I have had a passion for ASL since I was a sophomore and I hope to continue to grow that passion in the future as I continue to study in the American Sign Language program at Valdosta State. 

  The Coronavirus pandemic, which came to the United States in January, has impacted the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in both positive and negative ways. One of the struggles has been the face masks, which cover the mouth and make it impossible to lip read. Now, to fix this problem, there are accessible face masks. One of the first people to come up with this solution was Apple with the help of Gallaudet University. " The Apple Face Mask is comprised of three layers of filters and is washable for reuse up to five times. ClearMask’s FDA-approved, completely transparent masks show the full face which allows for better and more accessible communication" (Graham). The clear screen allows deaf people to see people's mouth, making it easier to lip read.      Another problem the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities faced was access to an interpreter at COVID-19 briefings. " The deaf and hard of hearing community could not understand President Trump's White House p...

     When communicating between English and ASL, people use interpreters. They help interpret spoken words from the hearing community into signs for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.       American Sign Language is the most common language for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in America. It also differs a lot from English.  ASL is a language completely separate and distinct from English. The article "American Sign Language" discusses how: " It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order...For example, English speakers may ask a question by raising the pitch of their voices and by adjusting word order; ASL users ask a question by raising their eyebrows, widening their eyes, and tilting their bodies forward" (American Sign Language). Not only is ASL very visual, and it also can change based on the location. Just like how people have different accents depending...

       Interpreters, an essential part of the deaf community, are used to communicate between the deaf and hearing worlds. " Interpreters...help ASL users communicate with hearing individuals, and the ADA required public institutions and schools to provide ASL interpreters for those who need them" (Robyn Correll, MPH). American Sign Language interpreters help bridge the gap between these two worlds. They are also a part of both worlds.  "ASL interpreters walk the fine line between the hearing and deaf communities and, as such, must remain culturally sensitive" (Delgado & Wright). By being a part of both of these communities, interpreters need to be educated on both cultures.      There are actually two types of interpreters: deaf and hearing. A common misconception is that there is usually only one interpreter at all events. " Even when a sign language interpreter is provided, sometimes it’s not enough. In certain situations—such as a doc...

     Over the course of the years, the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities have had a lot of progress that has gained them more access. Different pieces of legislation have also been passed to help these communities. One example of this is the Americans with Disabilities Act also known as the ADA. This piece of legislation, passed in 1990 helped give people hearing problems an easier way to communicate.  The impact was monumental. Employers were no longer allowed to discriminate against those who were deaf or HOH. Relay services allowed some to make phone calls for the very first time, no longer needing to rely on hearing friends and neighbors call their cable company or make a doctor’s appointment. Captions appeared below the anchors during the nightly news, and schools and hospitals began providing interpretation services for those who use American Sign Language. The communication chasm between the hearing and non-hearing worlds began to narrow (Robyn Correll)....

     The challenges facing the deaf and hard-of-hearing community have been going on for some time. According to an article by Robyn Correll, MPH, "When a big storm destroyed Ben Soukup Sr.'s farm in 1960, he went to banks all over town to get a loan to rebuild. Every one of them denied his application for one simple reason: He was deaf" (Correll). While there have been laws passed to help the community, they still face different problems today. They deal with issues such as mental health and prejudice. Parts of the community often find themselves struggling with having access to proper mental health help. " Mental health services are difficult for deaf people to access. One small study involving 54 people found that more than half hadn't been able to find mental health services that they, as deaf people, could use" (Marcia Purse). Not only are mental health services hard to access, being deaf can lead to these issues as well. It's a horrible cycle that ...