I am deaf – ASL makes a better experience for everyone | Michael Agyin | TEDxManhattanBeach

TL;DR

This talk explores the speaker's experience as a deaf individual and their search for a sense of belonging, highlighting the power of American Sign Language (ASL) in building connections.

Transcript

[Applause] I hear you but can you hear me I don't think you can and the reason for that is because I use American Sign Language to communicate this talk is about a search for belonging now I grew up as the only deaf member of my family my parents had immigrated from Ghana and West Africa during their re time there they experienced many hardships bu... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Growing up as the only deaf member of a family can lead to feelings of isolation and the need to constantly prove oneself.
• ❓ Discovering ASL can be a transformative experience, providing a sense of completeness and belonging.
• 🥺 The deaf community faces challenges within their own community, such as perceived levels of "deafness", which can lead to exclusion.
• 🙉 Advocacy efforts focused on communication rights and accessibility benefit not only the deaf community but everyone.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker feel growing up as the only deaf member of their family?

The speaker felt different and struggled with a sense of not fitting in, despite their parents' support and love. They were often bullied by other children because of their deafness.

Q: What was the speaker's transformative experience in college?

College was the first time the speaker met other deaf individuals and experienced Deaf culture. Learning ASL for the first time was a revelation, allowing them to see the words, voices, and emotions. It gave them a sense of belonging.

Q: Why did the speaker face challenges when joining the deaf fraternity?

The speaker, who was new to learning sign language and still used their voice often, faced exclusion from the deaf fraternity. They were told to stop talking and only sign, which made them feel like they didn't belong.

Q: What advocacy efforts did the speaker engage in during their college years?

The speaker focused on prioritizing communication and ASL. They served on the University Student Union, streamlined interpreter requests for events, and improved campus emergency systems for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. They became one of the first black DEA board members.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker, who grew up as the only deaf member of their family, shares their struggle to fit in and belong.

• They discuss how discovering ASL in college provided a sense of completeness and belonging.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of communication rights for the deaf community and their advocacy efforts to improve accessibility on campus.