Mistake

Here's a funny little story about disability accommodation.

So I'm a bit deaf. Like...I have a prescription for a hearing aide but don't own one kind of a bit deaf. And I used to work at this noisy ass addiction treatment clinic. So even in my office I relied a lot on lipreading.

So one day I'm working with this client, and she's getting more and more upset and shut down, no matter how I try to steer us onto a calm, relaxed subject of conversation. And I can't figure out why the conversation has gone so far south.

And then I realize I am sitting at a buckwild angle in my chair, leaning waaaay over to the side. I'm almost falling off this chair. I look like a total goober.

And then I realize I'm doing that because I'm trying to lipread this client, who keeps turning further and further down and away from me. I probably would have noticed sooner but lipreading is actually kind of hard and I was focusing on noticing her upset rather than my body language.

And then it clicks.

She thinks I'm leaning like this because I am being a passive-aggressive asshole who is trying to force/shame her into making eye contact with me. I'd known this client enough to know she hates eye contact- possibly autism, possibly anxiety. Always possible it's both or something else.

I sit up straight and say. "Oh! Hey, I don't give a shit about eye contact, I'm trying to read your lips so I can understand what you're saying to me."

Instant vibe change. She relaxes, and sits upright comfortably in her chair, looking about a foot to the left of my head, so I can see her face clearly but she doesn't have to either fake or evade unwanted eye contact.

From then on things go a lot smoother, and we can get some good work done.

One side benefit from normalizing accommodations and reducing barriers to them is that it allows for low-stress conversations about what everybody needs in order to fully participate in an interaction. If I hadn't named the need I was trying to meet, she wouldn't have realized she could have her need met as well.

Stereotypes

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Stereotypes in American Sign Language. The sign labels: fingertips of U shape brush across open B handshape a few times. And the sign universal: hands in Y handshape, palm down move horizontally in a circle. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green, blue, purple, and pink in different stages of the sign.

End ID]

Whiskey

Sources: Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID: the sign for Whiskey or Alcohol in American Sign Language. Both hands in 1-I handshape. Dominant hand taps base hand with both hands sideways, palms facing signer. Designed to look like whiskey being poured. End ID]

Cook

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Cook in American Sign Language. Both hands in open B handshape. Dominant hand hits base hand palm with palm down then palm up. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green, blue, and purple in different stages of the sign. Background is transparent.

End ID]

Protest

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Protest in American Sign Language. S handshape palm facing signer and elbow resting on base hand in open B handshape palm down. Fist twists out and arms move out slightly. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green and blue in different stages of the sign.

End ID]

[Image ID:

Image 1: Protest in ASL. Arms are different darker skin tones.

Image 2: Protest in ASL. First set of arms are in Gay pride colors. Second set are Trans pride colors.

Image 3: Protest in ASL. Arms are different skin tones in a black wrist brace.

End ID]

so I'm deaf, and I get new hearing aids every 4-5 years. every time I do this, the sound is different, and I have to take some time to relearn sounds. my most recent pair is a very different brand from what I've previously had, meaning that the sound is very different as well. this, of course, means extra word to relearn sounds. this is absolutely exhausting.

I just find it strange that, while I am relearning a sense, I can't realistically take time off of school. I still have so many assignments and stuff that I have to do, all while feeling like a toddler that's been up too long.

basically, I should be allowed to have a break when I get new hearing aids without having to do 12 billion catch up assignments afterwards

New

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

The sign for new in American Sign Language. Both hands in bent open B handshape. Dominant hand scrapes across the palm of the base hand and up following the curve of the hand. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent blue, purple, and pink in different stages of the sign. Background is transparent.

End ID]

Anthropology

Sources: ASLDeafined

Bonus: Ant Throw Apology Lifeprint

[Image ID:

The sign for Anthropology in American Sign Language. The sign is made up of three signs: Study, Human, and Behavior.

Study: 5 handshape with palm facing signer, fingers pointed down towards base hand, bounces towards base hand and wiggles fingers. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent shades of blue in different stages of the sign.

Human: hand in H handshape touches shoulder and waist on dominant side. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent shades of purple in different stages of the sign.

Behavior: both hands in B handshape move back and forth at waist level. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent shades of pink in different stages of the sign.

Background is white.

End ID]

Tired

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Tired in American Sign Language. Fingertips of both hands in bent open B handshape touch the chest and hands droop down so the sides of the hands rest on the chest with palms facing up. Face outline and arms are white. Background is black.

End ID]

Major

It's my first day back to school. Comment/tag your Major!

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

The Sign for Major in American Sign Language. Both hands in B handshape. Pinky edge of dominant hand slides forward against thumb edge of base hand. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green and blue in different stages of the sign.

End ID]