Deaf Awareness Month: Stories of Communication with Deaf People and Dogs
September is Deaf Awareness Month (in the world of people, not in the world of dogs), and it has made me reflect on our recent experiences communicating with both deaf people and dogs. Today, I want to share a couple of stories on this topic, as well as plan some Instagram posts. But first, a little bit of background:
My daughter, Sophie, who is 6 years old, has mild hearing loss. Deafness comes in varying degrees—it's not a black-and-white concept like "you hear or you don't." Sophie attends a school with an American Sign Language (ASL) immersion program and wears hearing aids. She is learning to speak both in English and through ASL, and our family is also learning sign language. Unlike Sophie, the rest of us have normal hearing.
My dog, Charlie, who is about 3 years old, is completely deaf. She can't hear anything and also has impaired vision, but that’s a story for another day.
Today, I have two stories for you: one about the right way to introduce yourself to a deaf person or dog in public, and one about how not to do it. These lessons can apply to any disability, not just deafness.
How to Approach People with Disabilities
This summer, our family attended a local festival organized by schoolchildren. They hold it every year, and it's always a joyful event with lots of activities and food.
This year, we brought Charlie along because she loves new places and meeting people.
Sophie was wearing her hearing aids, and Charlie had a special leash with a tag that read "Deaf Dog." Throughout the day, people were very respectful, asking how they could greet Charlie and how best to get her attention. Some even thought that Charlie was a service dog. It was a wonderful day full of politeness and kindness.
How Many People Perceive Disabilities
Unfortunately, not all our experiences are this positive. Most of the time, interactions with people are quite different.
Often, when we take walks after school with Sophie and Charlie, we draw attention. One day at the playground, a grandmother and her grandson approached us. She asked for directions to the play area, and while we talked, her grandson noticed Charlie and hid behind her.
The grandmother explained that the boy was afraid of dogs due to a bad experience with his uncle’s dog. I offered to let him pet Charlie, assuring him that she doesn’t jump and is very gentle.
As the boy got closer, the grandmother noticed the tag on Charlie’s leash and sadly said, "Poor dog, that's so sad." I replied, "Not sad at all! Charlie is happy and thrives with the help of sign language!"
This story is a reminder that it's important not to pity or feel sorry for people or animals with disabilities. You don’t need to feel bad for a deaf dog because she lives a full and happy life. In fact, she may even have a more peaceful life, as loud noises like thunderstorms or fireworks don’t bother her.
Conclusion
Did you know that September is Deaf Awareness Month? If you have any questions or personal experiences related to deafness, feel free to share them in the comments!
