The one comment I always receive when encountering with hearing individuals is always, “Sorry never mind,” I always wondered why.
Accessibility has come a long way in terms of language and communication.
There are gadgets, automatic translations and interpreters, however, it is not always 100% available on the spot unless someone has the knowledge and assertiveness to make a conversation happen when the moment presents itself.
According to the National Deaf Center web page, Nationally there are roughly 237,000 enrolled college students.
There is a total of 17 Deaf and hard-of-hearing students at San José State, according to staff ASL interpreter Dane Lentz.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students are part of San José State and there is one Deaf faculty member who teaches here. Chances are that you have come across these individuals.
I, myself am a Deaf and hard-of-hearing individual.
Throughout my time at SJSU, I have had my fair share of experiences with feeling left out on many occasions due to the lack of inclusivity.
There were times that I was approached by hearing persons and was brushed off because they thought that I was not interested in knowing what they had to say, or probably they just panicked at the thought of not knowing how to communicate.
Whether it was at a tabling event, promoting an event, or canvassing, I felt I was being avoided when I tried to get information or wanted to participate in certain activities.
I came to notice that people would anxiously ignore or avoid me. You are often deprived a or interaction and important information about campus.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals preferred method of communication is American Sign Language (ASL). However, that does not mean you need to know ASL to provide information. You can grab a pen, and paper, and write whatever information you are trying to put out there to show assertiveness and the eagerness back that you want to share a message, just like you do with any other person.
In a Dec. 13, 2023 publication from Sign Solutions, it was emphasized that communication plays a key role in interaction with one another. Understanding the nuances is important when engaging with individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing, as it promotes inclusion and allows people to connect with each other to build rapport.
There are many apps to provide communication to Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, such as Cardzilla, Big Text and Notes. Efforts, however, do go both ways for Deaf and hearing people. The trick is to ensure that both put in the same amount of effort rather than just one person doing the heavy lifting.
The National Deaf Center determined that it takes a joint effort to achieve effective communication with flexibility and creativity to get the message across, according to a National Deaf Center webpage.
Everett Smith, an SJSU Special Education professor, sets an outstanding example of what inclusivity should be by not closing a gap in communication but looking beyond that.
He teaches American Sign Language and Introduction to Deaf Culture and provides an opportunity to bridge the communication gap for students.
“Deaf people have a lot to offer, and more than you think,” Smith said. “They are and can be a huge asset to SJSU in many ways and in life.”
Students can take his courses, to not only learn ASL but learn more about the Deaf community. Deaf and hearing people have a lot more in common than many think, perhaps we have the same major, interests or the passion for change.
According to the Sign Solutions web page, the world prioritizes diversity and equality, however, there is a responsible from everyone to ensure the communication gap is closed.
SJSU provides services for the Deaf and hard of hearing through the Accessible Education Center (AEC) with interpreters, real-time captioning, notetaking and other services.
An interpreter can be requested for events through either party this is a way of having inclusivity, according to the SJSU’s Accessible Education Center Deaf Hard of Hearing webpage. Anyone can check this out to obtain more information.
Besides highlighting the focus on accessibility, let’s not forget that Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are just human beings too. They have so much to offer, and they are at SJSU for the same reasons you are in continuing their higher education, attaining new opportunities, and looking to thrive as contributing members of society.
Let’s change the dialogue and be more open to making an effort instead of dismissing a person.
Regardless of language, the next time you are about to say, “Sorry, never mind,” just remember that you are shutting out someone who wants to be part of something that you are.
