Ahmed: I feel professional.
Hello, good morning news.
*microphone drops*
Inform, deaf... I know that was noisy, it was loud.
Hearing sensitive, wow.
Shot one, I hope this is shot one!
Jazzy: Hello, welcome back to a new video. Guess who I'm here with?
Ahmed, the beautiful TV presenter of This Is Deaf!
Ahmed: It's wonderful to be here with Jazzy, I'm excited.
This week is Deaf Awareness Week, so we are here to talk about why is deaf awareness important?
That's a good question, I have to do some homework to do some research on computer and write on paper!
Deaf awareness is only for a week, but we are deaf every day,
I feel like deaf awareness should be everyday not a week as it's not good enough, don't you agree?
- Yes, that's right. Do you think we're only deaf for a week? No, we are deaf everyday.
Deaf awareness should be throughout the year, not just for a week!
I feel like some hearing companies act like Deaf Awareness only exists for a week
and then we all should move on, like it doesn't work like that.
It's so important to raise deaf awareness as a lot of hearing people don't realise many things about deaf people.
For example, when I made a video with my best friend, Benny going through a McDonald's drive thru being deaf.
- That video made me laugh!
So basically, this video shows how deaf people go through the drive thru without hearing the speaker and order in a different way.
Lots of hearing people never thought about that.
So, I'm hoping to see more deaf awareness videos to spread the message more to help raise deaf awareness massively.
- I agree, did I tell you that some deaf people are lazy? Stop being lazy and do your work to help raise deaf awareness!
Work hard!
- I don't know if your generation is the same now, but in my old time, D E A F - what does this mean?
Deaf expect anything free!
Ahmed: I'm so up for it. Jazzy: I agree!
Ahmed: When I visit a friends house, we're always in the kitchen asking for food because we don't want to pay for food!
Jazzy: Our generation do the same thing.
Ahmed: Really?!
Jazzy: Yup, still the same. That never changes.
- Ah, I'm proud... Sorry to say but I'm proud of my generation passing that onto her generation. I'm very proud.
This happened to me recently, I went to a lively bar. *giggled* I found a smart way.
- What is it?
I typed on my notes saying that I'm deaf and it's my best friend's birthday, so can you provide a free drink. I gave them a puppy eyed look.
- Smart!
The barmaid said ok she'll give us a free shot and the manager came and said, no give them a free Prosecco with an ice bucket.
I was shocked and was like, do I have to pay for this?... He was like, no it's your treat!
My hearing friend said, "Why always you?!"
- Her offer is better than mine in my old time, don't you guys agree?
In my old time, we always ask for a discount. I got a ticket for free when I went on a museum guide with my deaf friends
and we said, there are no accessibility like no interpreter, so they panicked and gave us free tickets. It was 6 of us!
Also, with a long queue for the airport or train etc... we couldn't be bothered to wait
so we went up to them and let them know that we're deaf and we can't understand anything,
they were like ah okay, follow me to cut the queue.
What a beautiful life I've got.
Deaf people always get their own way.
Ah, it happened to me before when I tried to get my own way and told a hearing person that I'm deaf etc,
they were like, I can sign and my heart dropped. I had no word.
If every person knows Deaf Awareness and sign language, then we won't get some stuff for free anymore.
Good bye free stuff. We have to pay for everything.
But it's important for hearing people to learn sign language so we can feel included.
- This is mostly important, forget about free things, being inclusive is a lot more important. More inclusive please.
When I go to a shop or cafe, I know that most hearing people don't know sign language
so I feel nervous about the communication barrier... there are a few hearing people that know basic sign language which makes me happy.
It doesn't matter how much you know sign, little or big, it still makes me happy.
- Yes totally, basic sign language makes a big difference as it gives us confidence.
So, for things not say to deaf people. Do you have an example?
- Erm... In my old time...
it happens, very often, when I let them know that I'm deaf, they get shocked, walk back slowly and disappear.
It made me feel like a monster or maybe I smell, who knows?
My advice for some hearing people, just be yourself and you know when a deaf person meets you, they get nervous too.
Realising that it's ok, it will happen.
So, what are the deaf cultures?
Just giving you a heads up, deaf people can be... blunt.
Jazzy: Ahh, I've seen you on TV you were brilliant and thin, but now you look a bit overweight like wow.
Ahmed: Haha I know... typical of deaf people being blunt.
We have to put up with it.
Jazzy: Confidence drops.
Ahmed: What else? There are more!
Jazzy: When it comes to meeting a person, hearing people take it simply. But with deaf people, we ALWAYS hug.
We are like hello! We give each other hugs all the time, it's a must. We have noticed that.
Both: Thank you for having me!
Both: Take care!
Deaf people's connection is strong, sometimes we haven't seen each other for ages or any deaf people so we give each other big hugs.
I have noticed that hearing people don't give each other hugs as much as deaf people do, they hug like that.
I was like, give me a big hug! They just gave my back some hand hits. Maybe they're not used to my hug.
Deaf people just love to hug, the connection.
Jazzy: Maybe some hearing people have an allergy to us?
Ahmed: Maybe...
I still can't believe that she called me fat.
Ahmed: Ooo! Deaf people love going to events with FOOD. Food and food. Jazzy: Ah, it's a must.
If you don't provide food for deaf people, and then you know what that means.... Jazzy: Bye.
Ahmed: Mmm, I like this.
Can I please have a plate?
Can I have it all?
Jazzy: Uh... It's up to you, I guess?
I have a funny story to tell that I will never forget, it was at Alton Towers with a CICS group back in 2010/2011, I was young.
We were at a disco night, there are families of deaf and hearing people, as we all meet each other.
There are some hearing people at the disco.
Once the buffet was ready to serve, deaf people were rushing to the queue. Hearing people were in the back of a queue.
Their faces dropped. My family was like, woah, why are all the deaf people rushing for food?
Hearing people were the last people to grab food.
It was such a funny memory, thats when I realised that deaf people LOVE food! Just something about it.
- We didn't mean to be rude, it's just our culture of being happy and healthy. I think (?)
Every time I go to a deaf pub, it's always the hearing people who are the first people to leave the pub when it shuts,
and theres us the deaf people staying and signing along. The bar staff would get annoyed.
- That's right, deaf people love to stay and chat for hours.
About hundreds of years ago, deaf culture is not the same as now, we all have lights as it's modern.
Back in the hundreds of years ago, when pub or restaurant shuts, there were a lamps outside in the street where all the deaf people would stay and sign for hours.
Since then, we're still chatting for hours. We can't help it.
Ahmed: Ahh, thank you! Take care and I'll see you soon. Jazzy: You too.
Ahmed: Oh yeah, forgot to ask you. What's your plan for this weekend?
Jazzy: Us deaf people are going to a pub!
Ahmed: I'm up for it! Why not?
Be prepared, when you go to a deaf event, the conversation will go on for hours and hours. We all have to be patient. Good luck!
- If you go on a night out with deaf people, you watch we'll be the last people to go home.
It's always like goodbye...then the conversation is still going on, then good bye... then going on... then goodbye. Hours later, we're still there.
- It's never a goodbye, the conversation always go on and on unless they kick us out.
She's right!
That's why This Is Deaf!
It's been fun talking about deaf cultures with Ahmed!
Ahmed: Learn! Please learn!
I really enjoyed my conversation with her.
I thought my old generation is finished now, but it looks like deaf cultures have passed onto the young generation!
I have to say that I'm proud!
Jazzy: Thanks for watching, bye!
Again, again!
Oh! It's recording!
Ahh!!