Now that all you cop bashers have had your say, a comment from someone who has a deaf aunt, a son with a deaf girlfriend, deaf friends, and has studied ASL (American Sign Language):
In the good old days (I’m approaching 70, and studied ASL 40 years ago) the sign for “I’m deaf” was “Ear + Closed”. Point to your ear, then make the “closed” sign. Pretty clear. If one was “core deaf” (i.e. born deaf as opposed to loosing their hearing later in life), a spoken word or two after that was signed once or twice is so different from what we normally hear is enough to drive the point home to even the dimmest among us.
The PC movement has affected the deaf community, too. See: http://www.handspeak.com/word/search.php?wordID=deaf&submitword=Find
That old sign is now #3 on the list, and, although it was widely recognizable by hearing people, is frowned upon by ASL teachers.
The core deaf have a great deal of trepidation about driving at night and being in an accident or being stopped by the police - for good reason. I tell them the same thing we tell the concealed carry class students. If stopped:
1/ Pull way off the road, turn on your flashers and turn off your engine
2/ All interior lights on, and, weather permitting, all windows down.
3/ Hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel
4/ Don’t reach down under the seat; don’t lean over to reach into the glove box.
AND/ Don’t use that dumba$$ politically correct sign for “Deaf”. Have a sign, or a small note pad with “I am deaf; can you please write me a note?” pre-written on it easily accessible. (My son’s girlfriend uses one of those electronic pads that you can write on without a pen).
excellent ideas!
I cant imagine always being well understood..as a hearing person, and given that as a point of reference cant imagine my chances at clear communication with the hearing were I deaf!
Thank you!