Many of us can’t hear.
One in eight Americans above the age of 12 has hearing loss in both ears, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
And while approximately 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents, hearing people still lack an understanding and awareness of deaf accessibility challenges and the social isolation surrounding hearing loss.
In honor of the recent Deaf Awareness Week, people on Twitter spoke out about this important issue. Here are 30 powerful Tweets on #HearingPrivilege:
#hearingprivilege being able to hear the "loud and verbal commands" given by cops before they shoot
— DG (@notthreefifths) September 26, 2016
Being able to find and meet with #MentalHealth professionals who speak my language. #hearingprivilege
— T.L. (@talilalewis) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is faith accessibility. To be able to walk into your gurdwara, mosque, church, temple & fully understand & participate.
— Jo Kaur (@SikhFeminist) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is being educated in your own language, alongside people you can actually understand.
— Jen Dodds (@deafpower) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is being able to choose ur friends. My friendship w/ nonsigners is based on whether they are willing to communicate w/ me.
— Leala Holcomb (@LealaHolcomb) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is never having my intelligence or work ability questioned based on my language modality.
— Martin Watkins (@Martin_A_Wat) September 26, 2016
Like other forms of #privilege, #hearingprivilege is having the choice not to listen
— Ryan Lepic (@ryanlepic) September 26, 2016
#hearingprivilege is not needing a stranger present while giving birth to your child so you can understand the doctor and nurses
— Heidi Givens (@heidigasl) September 26, 2016
In the event of a dormitory or apartment fire, I would wake up to the alarms and have the opportunity to evacuate #HearingPrivilege
— Lydia Callis (@Lydia_Callis) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is watching almost any video on the Internet I want, captioned or not.
— ASL Exchange (@ASLXchange) September 26, 2016
#hearingprivilege means being trusted to sit at the exit row on a plane. You are automatically considered capable of being heroic.
— Hearing Privilege (@HearingPriv) August 21, 2013
#HearingPrivilege is hearing your child's first words, and hearing you mother's final words
— Joseph Swain (@LumenderVirus) September 28, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is doing a presentation and worrying about looking stupid because you weren't prepared, not because of a bad interpreter.
— Carrie Lou (@carrie1ou) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege not being questioned on your ability to care for and raise a child #audism
— Yikés (@lil_misslioness) September 28, 2016
#hearingprivilege is signing up to join the US Army/Navy/Marines.
— Jodi Skeris (@JodiSkeris) September 28, 2016
#HearingPrivilege when everyone's seen the latest movie & you haven't cause it isn't subtitled 🙄
— Leesa ✌️ (@leesaftw) September 27, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is not being in additional danger when swimming bc you have to remove your hearing aids (thus miss any shouted warnings).
— Nicole Elizabeth P (@NicElizP) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege : being able to call 911 in an emergency
— куинн (@dana_scvlly) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is not worrying about group calls or dim lighting when talking with someone
— Zabrisa Zelinski (@zabrisaz) September 27, 2016
#HearingPrivilege being able to buy a mobile phone contract and use the inclusive call minutes and listen to voicemail too.
— Lianne Herbert (@lianne_herbert) September 27, 2016
#hearingprivilege is not when your Uber ride cancels out on you because the driver keeps on calling you, not answering your texts.
— Sammy Siedschlag (@sammyjoyseed) September 27, 2016
#HearingPrivilege Being able to have a conversation with your family.
— Becky Yaworski (@beckyyaworski) September 28, 2016
#HearingPrivilege has the ability to respond to customer's request to move their cart istead of crashing them into yours for ignoring them.
— Roro Tétreault (@LeMondeDuRoro) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege is not missing bits and pieces of conversation and not wanting to intrude because there will be a simple "never mind".
— Aaron (@urbngenius) September 26, 2016
#hearingprivilege is being able to know today's specials at a restaurant when the server shares them at your table.
— Nick Zerlentes (@NZerlentes) September 26, 2016
#hearingprivilege is having access to other people's conversations when you pass them on the street
— Meggy (@meggy_girll) September 26, 2016
#HearingPrivilege Being able to see your doctor when you need it most, not when an interpreter is available.
— Rosie Malezer (@rosiemalezer) September 26, 2016
#hearingprivilege is being able to use the drive thru with ease. #Deafed
— Mark Holcomb (@MarkH_TSD) September 26, 2016
Getting to decide whether providing accessibility options (captioning, interpreters, etc) is "in the budget" or not. #HearingPrivilege
— Lydia Callis (@Lydia_Callis) September 26, 2016
#hearingprivilege is assuming my hearing aids or cochlear implant provide the same access as "typical" hearing does
— Stephanie Gardiner-W (@StefGWalsh) September 26, 2016
