Most people get nervous at the concept of communicating with someone who is a little different, but it is most important to recognise that we are all human and if we just behave normally, all will be fine!
All Deaf people are different, so it is important to try a variety of these strategies. Don’t assume that if you see a Deaf person wearing a hearing aid that they are a British Sign Language (BSL) user.
For those who are BSL users – it is vital to be aware that BSL is a language in its own right with a different grammatical structure.
Therefore to use plain clear English to ensure good communication is vital. In fact this would benefit both Deaf and hearing people!
Here are a few strategies to consider:
- Start with a positive attitude
- Use gestures
- Point things out for visual aids
- Write things down in Plain English
- Maintain eye contact
- Talk clearly and at your normal pace – not louder or slower
- Get the Deaf persons attention before you begin to talk
- Fingerspell and sign!
If you would like to learn more about Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language training, please contact training@terptree.co.uk to see what we can offer. |