Many people look at basic sign language as if it were not
even a language at all. I am here to tell you that sign language is most
definitely a language in its own right. It is my opinion that everyone
should know at the very least basic sign language. Sign language can bridge
the communication gap between those who can hear and those who cannot.
The knowledge of basic sign language can benefit society
whether some realize how much it can or not. Many in the deaf population
have learned to lip read quite well, but if they cannot see the lips of the
person speaking, they are pretty much in the "dark" about what is being
said. The deaf population may be discriminated against because most people
cannot communicate with them.
There are many business owners that discriminate
against the deaf because of their own disability of not knowing how to
communicate with the deaf. To me it seems that the deaf are not the ones
with the disability here, it is those who cannot communicate or wish not to
learn how to communicate with them that have the disability. It is sad when
we know we live in a world that can make adjustments for people in
wheelchairs and crutches and walkers but cannot make adjustments for those
who cannot hear.
Yes, those who are deaf can learn sign language to
communicate with other deaf people, but what about the rest of the world.
How are the deaf to communicate with the rest of the world if the rest of
the world does not know or does not wish to learn language. It is wrong to
think that only the deaf should know sign language.
There are many ways someone could learn to sign. For
one, there are many courses out there that teach signing to people that can
hear. Taking a class can give a person that extra boost when they are
learning. Second, learning alone can be another great way to learn if you do
not like the classroom atmosphere. There are many people out there who just
do not have time to take a class but can study in their own time and at
their own pace.
America was built upon the thought that all men were
created equal and since the time of our forefathers that belief has faded.
The hearing impaired and the hearing should be considered equal in
everything. It is true that some deaf people are weakened in today's society
because of discrimination and exclusion, but if everyone just took a little
time to learn some basic signs then I think that would begin to disappear.
