There is no denying that the Deaf Community has experienced a lot of positive changes over the past few years. The introduction of social media has been a significant life improvement factor. Those who grew up deaf, found it quite challenging to interact with the outside world, especially without the use of sign language. With the use of social media, it has become a lot easier to share ideas with the rest of the world, start businesses, and finally create a voice. Despite these socioeconomic evolutions, some challenges remain without much improvement.

Employment

Believe it or not, Deaf people face the most barriers within the economic sector. According to the American Community Survey, less than 40% of those in the Deaf community have succeeded in finding a full-time job. The main challenge begins with communication during the interview process. Most companies require phone screenings before they can schedule a one-on-one meeting, but since the Deaf Community relies on visual communication, it becomes a challenge. Once an in-person interview is scheduled, the lack of a sufficient ASL interpreter becomes yet another hindrance. On top of everything else, the majority of employers are still not 100% convinced that a Deaf person can effectively complete their tasks.

Fortunately, changes in law, advances in education, and technology have opened doors to more opportunities for the Deaf Community. The persistence of advocacy and anti-discrimination groups has been a key contributor to breaking down employment barriers. Ignorance, which has been the main huddle for centuries, is gradually being neutralized through Deaf Awareness campaigns. Changes in the law have also been a milestone for the deaf community in the employment sector. 

Hearing Family Members

Feeling isolated in a family of hearing people is another problem that still troubles the Deaf Community. How often do you interact with your deaf relative or close friends? For many years, Deaf people have been oppressed and forced to rely on lipreading and oral communication as a means for grasping bits and pieces of the overall dinner conversations held simply because their family members are not signing. This results in the psychological impact of such challenges and tends to be more evident in children than adults.

Medical Cover

According to the Health Insurance Coverage report, at least 45% of Americans in every state get their insurance coverage through employers. Since more than half of the Deaf community is either unemployed or working part-time, most of them depend on public programs whose coverage varies by state. On average, only 10% of deaf people in the U.S. are insured, which is still a huge problem, even today.

Access to Public Health Services

Discussing health issues with a hearing medical professional can be frustrating for Deaf people. Lack of certified or qualified interpreters at the hospital forces many Deaf people to rely on lipreading and written communication. Hospitals tend to be hesitant to provide such services because of its costs. Deaf Awareness campaigns are aimed at eradicating this challenge, and with support from newly established healthcare laws, deaf people rest assured that their communication needs are met.

Of course, changes of this magnitude will not happen overnight, but gradual changes are apparent. Keep sharing your knowledge and skills with those around you and help improve the interaction between the Hearing and Deaf Communities.

Let us know about the challenges you’ve been through as a Deaf person, as an advocate within the Deaf Community, or as a witness of such oppression in the comments below. As a hearing person, we appreciate your view on these challenges. Alternatively, you can leave us a message on our social media pages, and we will get back to you!