1. Deaf Culture

2. What’s polite? Eye contact o Means you’re listening. It’s a sign of respect. If you need to look away, there are appropriate ways to do that: o Sign: ONE MOMENT o Sign: HOLD ON o Sign: EXCUSE ME Other signs: o EYE CONTACT o LOOK-AT-ME o PAY ATTENTION

3. Walking through… If you need to walk through a conversation, don’t make a fuss, just hurry through. You don’t need to stop and ask permission. It causes more disruption.

4. SIGN always! If you are in a group of Deaf and hearing, always sign. If you don’t, it sends a strong message that including Deaf isn’t important to you. ISSUE: Signing and talking at the same time.

5. Terms to Know

6. DEAF Culturally Deaf. Big “D” Deaf. ASL users.

7. deaf Auditory term. Not cultural.

8. Hard of Hearing One foot in Deaf world, the other in hearing. ASL/Signed English user.

9. Late Deafened Become deaf later due to illness or life circumstance. Belong to hearing culture. Sometimes sign.

10. Hearing Impaired NOT an acceptable term. Medical perspective.

11. hearing You guys. Typically not capitalized. “THINK HEARING”