When people realize that they need not view themselves or what they “struggle with” as a life-limiting factor, it enables them to accomplish what they can in society. Having such a mindset is also what enables one to comprehend how deaf people contribute to society and how they can have a positive impact on the world by being their natural selves and then with what they decide to do.
You will find that deaf individuals in their ordinary day-to-day life and existence can penetrate different areas of society and a simple reason for this is that deaf individuals are humans. Like every reasonable human being, they ought to seek society’s improvement. Let’s see how they do so without letting the fact that they might continue to be a minority group in society, get in their way.
Deaf Individuals Promote Sign Language and Preserve Deaf Culture
Although the concept of ‘deaf culture’ would not have come into existence if there were no deaf individuals, its significance has moved beyond embodying only deaf individuals or people who suffer from any hearing condition whatsoever.
Today, people who are part of the deaf culture are those who embrace the fact that deafness is only a uniqueness and not a physical deformity and it is deaf individuals who have brought this to the limelight. Through them, the world continues to understand how relevant ASL is, that sign language can be used by any and everybody (by deaf individuals as well as hearing individuals) if it is viewed as a language in and of itself, expressive in nature, able to break all communication barriers.
Deaf Individuals in the Education Sector
From early childhood educators especially for deaf kids, deaf individuals find themselves in education also contributing to educating the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Deaf Teacher Demographics and Statistics in the US show that about seventy-five percent of deaf employees in the educational sector have more female deaf teachers than there are males.
Aside from teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, other deaf professionals in the education sector include educational audiologists who provide various hearing tests to kids in schools.
Can a deaf individual be an educational audiologist? Examples of deaf individuals in the health sector as explained below will give you a hint.
Deaf Individuals in the Health Sector
Image by World Bank Photo Collection
From being physicians to sonographers to nurses to dentists, deaf individuals have been able to find themselves in various health sector careers that prove that ability to hear sounds should not in any way be a hindrance to how impactful they can be in the world.
Click here to find a long list of deaf individuals who are breaking ground in the health sector.
Due to the presence of deaf individuals in the health sector, there has been research into the development of treatment and therapies for various hearing problems, helping deaf individuals navigate the world better.
Deaf Individuals in Art and Other Forms of Literature
It is beautiful to learn that deaf individuals can create wonderful art, music, and other forms of literature. The Deaf Art website features some of the numerous works of art from deaf individuals. Their works include plays and books showing that literacy is beyond one’s ability to hear. Here we find the various deaf theater groups where plays are on display with sign language. In the entertainment industry, deaf individuals have collaborated and made available movies that other deaf individuals can understand.
Click here to find a list of deaf musicians.
Deaf Individuals in Research and Technology
Behold, deaf scientists exist. They range from biologists to chemists to astrologers to anthropologists and more even if it is not a common phenomenon, it remains amazing. Check here to find a broad list of dead individuals who are scientists.
Deaf Individuals in Community Service
Most community services largely involve sharing (ideas and items) between people and nowhere is sharing a task that is hindered by one’s hearing conditions. It may make the process a little bit slower but it is still possible. Therefore, deaf individuals can and do volunteer in charities and non-profit organizations.
They can engage in clean-up projects as well as assist in local food shelters.
Also, some deaf individuals act as sign language interpreters for events and fundraisers.
Deaf Individuals in Advocacy
Some deaf individuals who actively take part in creating deaf awareness have their roles extended to deaf advocacy where they make campaigns and events that discuss issues related to the deaf community.
Collaborating with advocacy groups and organizations to fight for policy changes to laws about the deaf is also a form of advocacy deaf individuals participate in.
Deaf Individuals as Sources of Inspiration
When you look at this short list of deaf individuals and what they were able to accomplish during their lives you will discover that what they did was not defined by their ability/inability to hear. They prevailed against the odds of society and brought about ideas and inventions that people all over the world are still benefiting from. This fact alone makes them great sources of inspiration to all.
What Hinders Deaf Individuals From Contributing to Society and Making a Positive Impact in the World
Discrimination against deaf individuals occurs simply because of their hearing conditions. When deaf individuals get into any space, their capacities are judged by their wrong hearing capacity. This is a sort of unconscious discrimination. This has a way of hampering their involvement in society and making them isolated from social communications and involvement.
Conclusion
Most of the involvement of deaf individuals in society is made possible via sign language. This mode of communication allows them to participate in education, health, advocacy, art, and other areas of life.
Deaf individuals do not need to allow anything to hinder their contribution to society. What is more, is that those around them can facilitate their contribution by learning sign language.
You can learn ASL with ASL learning resources from SignBee Academy.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Image by Independentman on Openverse
