Hi, everyone! We’re going to talk about Deaf Education and the Deaf community.
We want to educate and inform hearing people about Deaf culture and Deaf Education in college.
In this episode, we will interview Deaf students at Eastfield College about their experiences
and their education. We will also talk with hearing students about the Deaf community.
How do you face the challenges here? The DSO office provides interpreters and also
provides a testing center without any distractions. That helps the Deaf focus and be able to get
closer to graduation. How will you succeed in the future?
I will plan to transfer to SMU and focus on art and also business so that I can set up
my own company. That way I can hire Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people all to
work together and never feel separate or apart. How does it feel to win awards for your artwork?
Well at first I had a lot to learn here. I wasn’t that experienced. But as I was given
more challenges, and as I was evaluated, I developed more concepts. I began to improve,
and then I won awards. Later I won the top prize at a national competition. That’s
the drawing that won the competition: 1st place.
So you enjoy working for the Et Cetera newspaper? Oh yeah, I really do. Because it’s a great
opportunity to learn how to get along with hearing people in the world and show that
Deaf people can work side by side with hearing peers, even if there aren’t interpreters available.
Boy, have I learned a lot.
So the Et Cetera has helped you to gain opportunities that will enhance your future.
Oh the Et Cetera has helped me grow. How does the newspaper staff communicate with you?
Sometimes we write notes (and I use actions and gestures)
And so do do you think the hearing and Deaf have different cultures?
Oh yeah! What do you mean?
They like to chat and chat and it goes on and on... You start to say goodbye and then
they think of something else and it takes forever. But with a hearing person, we say,
"Bye", "Bye", and we're gone. I understand what you mean.
How do you help Deaf students become successful for the future?
I try to figure out exactly what your interests are, what you like to do, so that I can help
you find a major that will help you get a job in the future. If you're not interested
in the subject, you're going to be so bored at your job and I don't think you'll stay
a very long time at that work.
So, Johnathan is our photo editor, and what makes him really special is, he's hearing impaired.
I'll admit, at first, it was a little hard
trying to figure how to communicate with him, but once I realized that if I use hand gestures,
saying "Can you take a photo of this?" ...
Deaf students are challenged in their education and life in college. Hearing people can learn how to sign for communicating with Deaf students
here at college. Take an ASL class to learn more about Deaf Culture. Deaf students can
become successful in obtaining college degrees. Thank you for watching and learning more about
Deaf Education and the Deaf Community.