"Opening our Ears to the Deaf" Pamela Weisman at TEDxCoMo

[@Largolady1]

As the mother of a 23 year old deaf woman I am excited that a hearing person is trying to educate other hearing people. My daughter battles everyday trying to communicate with hearing people.

[@robbieacuff]

That's my girl, Pamela! She is one of the most hard-working and fun people I've ever met. So proud to know her.

[@teresakessie533]

If you really respect the Deaf community, there should be an interpreter or good captions.

[@babjwmson]

More than that. There should be better education of awareness. Still many in this modern controling hearing world who have the luxury of such abilities that those with disabilities dont, who separate us as liablity to society and professional occupations rather than trusting our abilities to pursue a professional, successful career, to live and enjoy life without discriminatory barriers. We, the deaf may have certain limited hearing abilities, but there are those, ,like myself, and many others with ambitions and career goals, have a clear conscience mind of understanding what how much effort it takes just to survive each day in the hearing working environment. God bless

[@petrolhead0387]

THANK YOU. I was looking forward to this video, but no captions. No thanks.

[@Funandconsciousness]

Those of us who live "in the hearing world" rarely have any idea what the deaf go through, and what they can teach us of compassion. This is an excellent talk! Way to go Pam!

[@starseeds6258]

I have a sister that is deaf...and it's great to hear the hearing person who understands, respects and embraces deaf people and their culture.🙂

[@gregariousimp]

...So why the hell doesn't this talk (and in fact ALL TED talks) have real captions on them instead of the terrible youtube auto captions?

[@0CocaCola09]

PREACH!

[@greggbell]

@@0CocaCola09 Because the speaker doesn't control the production of the video. Gives a real world example of exactly what the speaker is talking about. =)

[@JessicaFloresLimeMoney]

Hey guys! Just want you guys to know that the auto captions are still messed up. I noticed that there has been a lot of request for these captions to be fixed. Just a suggestion, maybe turn on the CC editor to give access to KZbinrs to fix the captions. Its really hard to get inspired by this talk when you can't even understand what is being said about your own community.

[@jackiedanz]

come on, the captions would seriously be great and needed for us deaf and hard of hearing people.

[@StormsandSaugeye]

Truth be told, scrolling through the comments were more enlightening than the content of the video. On one hand, I'm slowly loosing my hearing (I'm only in my 20's and am at moderate. ) so I kind of wanted to gain some insight into deaf culture. Yet, even then, the comments provide insight into things I didn't even know I was entirely taking for granted. The captioning issue didn't even occur to me because I just turn up the volume so I can hear it well enough, yet I realize that the simple things, things we take for granted are often not even given proper consideration for the deaf community. To the commentators: Thank you for bringing up this actually kind of important realization about accessibility. It was something else to read what others had to say about it and how a video meant to bridge the gap manages to show the most basic gaps that people don't even realize are there.

[@blueheadphones6823]

Wow. As a hearing person who is just scratching the surface of learning ASL (I'm signing alongside a scene in my school play), I am so touched by how powerful what I'm learning can be. Originally I started learning ASL so I could have a fidget before I got phone. And now I can't imagine life without ASL. Thank you :)

[@SC_jamesbond007jua]

Cued Speech (Cued Language Transliteration)?

[@Yianni]

* uploads video about deafness * * DOESN'T HAVE AN INTERPRETER *

[@forest9425]

its not a deaf event it was probaly for hearing so whats the point of haveing a interpiter for those who probably dont know ASL

[@slowfire2]

Its about deaf. Interpreter should be included.

[@TylerSimonds]

@@forest9425 one clear implication of this talk is that folks putting on an event should keep in mind that deaf people are members of our human community.

[@RawrieAddicted]

@@forest9425 Why does it have to be a "deaf event" in order to be inclusive?

[@nielmay3664]

I am not deaf and I have just started to learn Auslan ( AUStralian LANguage). I can understand what she is trying to say in this presentation. How hearing people take so much for granted. Like a autumn day when the leaves fall and you feel the breeze and hear the rustle of the leaves. A deaf person only feels the breeze. The hearing community has tunnel vision they don't look at each other when they talk. Yet a deaf person has to look at the other person to communicate but the also see the beauty of the person face, the expressions in their face the sadness or the joy, the excitement in how the move or sign at the time. The hearing person is deaf to this as they are just looking down as people speak and miss everything else. In class I see how a live the tutors are when they sign. The tell us things twice once as they sign but their body language fills in the gaps. I have now realised how blind and deaf a hearing person becomes over the years with us listen to music on our phones, looking at screens gutting deeper into the rut. A deaf person may not hear the rustle of the leaves in autumn but the will always see the beauty of the leaves.

[@sistrish5933]

I don't think she is claiming to be an expert on ASL or the Deaf community. There are a lot of things about the Deaf community that I never knew until I started studying to become an interpreter. I think this is merely her way to get the hearing community to stop and appreciate, maybe learn a little bit about the Deaf community and their culture. Aside from the lack of captions and interpreter (maybe they were out of the camera shot?), it's all positive to me.

[@themallorygc]

I'm just mad that her teacher told her the best way to practice understanding sign is to practice with those that can simcom. That is NOT the best way to do so. The best way to learn any language is to interact with natives. This also shows respect to the people who own this language, in this case, Deaf people.

[@kczmonkey03]

I also found that to be confusing and counterintuitive to everything I've ever learned about ASL. It's also interesting that her ASL courses were taught in English and didn't have to turn her voice off until the intermediate level courses. Different teaching methods, I guess!

Mallory Cross Amen!

[@Carol-Bell]

Has anybody thought about the fact that the speaker has no power over whether the talk is captioned? She is the speaker, not the producer. As for "speaking for the deaf", she is speaking from HER experience, not presuming to be an expert. Instead of criticizing her for being a "beginner" in deaf culture, the truth is that FINALLY a hearing person got a taste of it and is passing it on! She is just sharing what she was surprised to learn, and what she wishes more hearing people knew. Those of you who ARE "experts", I don't see you volunteering to do a Ted talk on this subject..... this is merely "an introduction to the deaf world", not meant to be the end-all-be-all to everything there is to know about it. And hearing people need to have this information, and you've got to start somewhere.

[@jenniferlloyd4807]

It is captioned... press the CC button. I think it's funny that these hearing people can't figure out how to turn on the captioning. I'm hearing but in school training to be an interpreter. I thought he talk was a good introduction. Every teacher is different and every student is different.

[@archeryangel]

Jennifer Lloyd the automatic captioning is wrong.

[@jenniferlloyd4807]

It usually is.

[@kristenschellbirth]

Jennifer Lloyd For example. She said "The sound of breathing" but the auto captioning said "the sound of breeding." Ha. Awkward. lol.

[@joshsherk1402]

@@kristenschellbirth I also noticed (not the machine's fault) that the word Deaf (on Google Chrome's captioning feature) is consistently spelled death unless the word Culture is right after. Always the same issue when 2 words sounds the same and you need to use context clues to figure out which one. If it's said in isolation, then it's a challenge.

[@shannonhensley2942]

Im hard of hearing and the cc only worked because i could hear a little bit of what she was saying. But for those that must rely of cc its important to have it and for it to be accurate and when you talk about the deaf community and its importance you must also find its importance for correct cc.

[@illusionsfan1]

Me: *clicks CC* CC: Auto-Generated English Me: Never mind it's just *CRAPTIONS.* Video: Dark and dingy and the speaker way too far away to listen to. Me: *sigh* There has been quite a lot of views/potential views on this video that Captioning it would be a reasonable expectation. Please PLEASE Caption this (and other) videos. Especially anything that may be of interest to the Deaf/HOH community.

[@golemraven7765]

originally 'auto-english' to CCraption by the Google translate bots. 😑

[@SC_jamesbond007jua]

ASL is an alien language

[@robertstwin1]

Hi Pamela. Thank you for sharing your experience and what you learned. ASL is a beautiful language and glad you eventually took the time to follow your heart and learn it. I would like to make a suggestion if I may...I know You Tube is not doing well with their auto Close Caption for us Deaf and HOH persons. It is one thing as a Deaf woman I am advocating for. Would you please check into making this and any future videos Close Captioned properly for us & at future talks an ASL interpreter would be greatly appreciated.. All the best to you

[@hannahrosereviews5073]

Lee Roberts It'd be really cool if they could do a split screen!!! You know, an interpreter on one side and the speaker on the other? That'd be really cool!

[@kczmonkey03]

Right as I'm about to comment on this video I catch a glance at previous comments and see that I'm not the only one who is confused as to why a 6-month ASL student got asked to speak on Deaf awareness. But instead of ranting I just want to comment on the lack of captioning on this video-- PLEASE add it! Especially on a video with Deaf related issues being discussed, accessibility is a must. Aside from the fact that it isn't this young woman's place to give a public presentation on this topic, I can see that she is sincerely sharing her experience with others. I wish this could've been done differently but I hope that someone will hear what she's saying and decide to pursue ASL on their own and have a similar experience. This talk should've been given maybe way later in her ASL journey! Or better, should've been delegated to her professor so that instead of quoting her professor every step of the way, we would see it come from the source. She is visibly nervous (I would be too) and she is not qualified to present on this topic other than sharing personal experiences-- which she does well. I don't agree with some of her points but overall I appreciate her perspective as I share it too; I'm a fellow ASL student as well. I'm happy to see that she decided to go overseas and serve the deaf in Asia.

[@eclaire1748]

Anyone is allowed to speak on their experiences. Deaf people are encouraged to give their story as well. Check out some other TED talks

[@warpedpink]

@@eclaire1748 Except as Pamela said, Deaf and hard of hearing people are often denied the opportunity to do so.

[@jaimemelo7511]

Thank you for your insight, I understand the deaf community a little better!

[@IIoveasl10]

Pamela, I just listened to your video. Since 1984, (age 20), I am a special education teacher. When I came to Los Angeles, in 1980, the first book I read was: the life of Hellen Keller. I then learnt 8 years of ASL, 5 years of french sign-language, and two years of israeli sign language. I love sign language more than spoken languages. I now, since 5 years, am volunteering at the "house of Hellen Keller" in Tel-Aviv, and "need to sign". I have to sign. although I am physically handicapped, and cannot be a "translator". But I do agree on everthing you said. I hope you will put some more videos, in ASL I now, live in Tel-Aviv Israel, where my mom was born, and died. Oviously, I know french, english and hebrew spoken languages...otherwise, how could I have learnt the 3 deaf languages? Thanks again for that video. David Barban

[@teresakessie533]

You do not have to know a spoken language to learn the sign language. It is not obvious that you can speak the languages that you sign. The signed languages and spoken languages are very different.

[@ASLInterpreting]

Because the captions are so off, we decided to make a class project to transcribe this, however, it will not let me post a link to this comment box. Anyone who would like to see the transcription made by students in the Austin Community College American Sign Language and Interpreting Program, email me at [e-mail]. We are in the process of having one of our Deaf Interpreters in the program produce an ASL version of this talk. Link coming soon… Lynne Wiesman, Interpreter Educator

[@NSLOKE]

That was a fantastic TED talk. The issue of the Deaf community and its cultural assimilation into mainstream western culture is not an issue I have ever really though about.

[@andreashettle2885]

Excuse me? Why on Earth is a video that is supposedly about being "welcoming" to deaf people ITSELF discriminating against us deaf people by not providing properly edited captions that actually enable us to understand what the video is saying? How is this being "welcoming" of us? The irony is just hurting my brain. TED needs to get its act together and start making sure that ALL of its videos IN EVERY LOCATION WHERE IT IS POSTED ONLINE should ALWAYS have PROPERLY EDITED captions. Not the automated "captions" which are usually so inaccurate they're basically useless. TED needs to stop with this "hit and miss" thing where some of their videos might be properly captioned but so many others aren't--including a number of their disability-related videos!

[@ruffdrive4u]

There are captions provided by Google but, frankly, they are lousy-at best.

[@MillerGradDC2011]

Andrea Shettle Also some youtube videos have captions but aren't always great. I'm very pro advocacy for the deaf and don't like it.. They need the same for their mobile apps too. But its thankfully something marlee matlin is fighting for. But Lord knows when it will happen.

[@michellel9595]

there was a deaf woman that came in to where i worked and she was counting out her change and glanced up at me whilst she was counting an i didnt realise that she was deaf and i just smiled at her coz she was taking a long time. When she left she put two thumbs up and i said thanks but when she was away i felt like a spaz coz i knew the sign for thanks and goodbye but didnt use them coz i didnt realise she was deaf. i would love the learn more about deaf culture and how to communicate with deaf people. You dont realise how frustrating it must be to try and talk to others when they dont understand you

[@lucybrown8902]

+michellel9595 Just a little word of advise although deaf people often don't want to be identified as disabled, so this isn't related to deaf issues but either way the term 'spaz' is a hideously offensive term to disabled people, and if your wanting to move towards being a more tolerant person generally it might be something you want to remove from your vocab :)

[@jwillisbarrie]

Please add proper captions. Still using autoCraptions.

[@dawncore7569]

Very eye-opening!! Thanks for sharing!

[@Tifb87]

Loved this talk!!!! I myself am a Deaf Studies Major, and I love the fact that this imperative information is being shared on this wonderful platform. Thank you Pamela.

[@JulesDameron]

There's no captioning on this video. Would like it very much to understand what Pamela Weisman has to say.

[@kaitlynnmountney8331]

For all the comments about the lack of an interpreter or captions, the amazing part of Ted talks is you can go to the website and they have the entire speech typed out and it will highlight and follow along with the the speaker!

[@asassynation9955]

What about those Deaf people that cannot read?

[@rubentrevino4742]

You did not have cc I'm hard of hearing , my friend did help me to what was being said ..your message so right on...!!!!!!

[@juliepigois3330]

Hearing people always ask of the Deaf, "What does it mean to be Deaf???" What they NEVER ask themselves is what it means to be Hearing within Deaf Culture. Because being Hearing is NORMAL.

[@LiamPorterFilms]

Julie Pigois duh

[@mireilysmartinez2270]

I think the most important point to take out of this is that she is empowering the Deaf community

[@DrCruel]

I think the most important point to take from this video is that the hearing impaired can be just as provincial and as stupid as everybody else. Simply because you have a handicap like deafness doesn't mean you can't be a minority politics goofball as well.

[@catherinegill3704]

I am a bit confused as to the purpose of this, in a contextual way. A bit of background info about why this presentation is being offered would be beneficial. While it is a good intention to spread awareness...I am not sure this is the best way to do so...I am also a bit perturbed that there are no captions except the automatic ones (which are atrocious by the way) and there is no interpreter at this presentation... As to the criticism about why a person with six months of learning ASL is a poor choice, I agree. One time I went to a performance of RENT with "interpreters", while I am not certain as to the credentials of one other than she is a teacher of ASL at a local university, the other person was very arrogant and condescending of the group of us that she saw signing. She actually assumed and had the audacity to ask us if we were ASL 1 students...Later I found out that SHE was an ASL 1 student....Too often people say. "Oh so and so, you've taken sign, you can interpret..." That is like saying, "you've taken a Spanish class, you can speak it fluently now."

[@katherinebrowning6809]

TEDx Talks- Please appropriately caption your videos. These captions are not helpful.

[@TyGiordano]

How about opening your eyes, and noticing the lack of captions? Please caption this! Thanks.

[@jenniferlloyd4807]

Press the CC button to turn on the captioning.

[@kristenschellbirth]

Jennifer Lloyd You can but it's automatic captioning. It's not exactly perfect but it's better than nothing. Still...if the video is about deaf people...there should be captioning for them to be a part of the dialogue.

[@jenniferlloyd4807]

That is a huge issue in the community yes... I felt some were saying it because they didn't see the button which can help partially but not fully.

[@kristenschellbirth]

True.

[@CarlisleRobinson]

Jennifer Lloyd but the automatic captioning is horrible.

[@TSchupner]

This talk about deaf people and deaf culture really should be subtitled. Anyone who thinks youtube's automatic captions are an option really should turn off the volume, turn on the automatic captions and then try to follow the video. Trust me, it's impossible. Of all people, deaf people should be able to view this video. How about these subtitles? Thanks.

[@angd8214]

#CaptionIt This is about DEAF and DEAF will watch it and it is not CAPTIONED????? REALLY?????????

[@chelsey8737]

On the Nyle Dimarco video, where he is actively the whole time obviously, there were no captions and no good angles to view his signs from. The camera moved all around and had no regards for lighting at all. Its absolutely ridiculous. I don't think they even care. I get that not all of these are from the official Ted but seriously at least let someone else caption them if you wont.

[@SC_jamesbond007jua]

Read her lips or you put a hearing aid on your right or left ear!

[@RawrieAddicted]

@@SC_jamesbond007jua Lip reading is not as easy as you suspect it to be, and hearing aids aren't a magic cure as you believe them to be.

[@bbee1601]

She makes some good points and others I disagree with. Her heart seems in the right place whether she's an expert or not, and she's honest about her experiences. I appreciate this talk and I think she will continue to grow personally throughout her journey learning sign language and being exposed to Deaf culture. Good for her!

[@ambrosiasubrosa688]

Has anyone contacted TEDx about the issues that were raised on this? It would be really cool if TEDx got a lot of emails about why they not only chose a hearing girl to give the talk, but also no captions or interpreter.

[@kczmonkey03]

Idk but there are a lot of other videos on their channel that DO have great captions and interpreting. I'm compiling a playlist right now and you're welcome to look at it. As far as informing TEDx about it, I guess commenting on this video is all we can do?? Idk!

[@HCCPracticum]

IT is captioned if you turn them on. CC

[@kczmonkey03]

Sandra Hester The captions are automatic ones that are extremely faulty and cause the message of what's being said to be lost. This video lacks PROPER captioning.

[@archeryangel]

TEDx Talks please caption your videos

[@LorisChannel1]

Interesting that this is about people who are Deaf, yet there is no captioning for the video!!

[@jenniferlloyd4807]

There are captions if you press the CC button.

[@LorisChannel1]

Jennifer Lloyd Go ahead and do that, they are incorrect.

[@jenniferlloyd4807]

I did. Most captioning does suck. Tedx is actually getting sued about this issue. At least there are some offered I assume by KZbin? Open captioning is what would be preferred. I'm just glad that awareness is being raised to the hearing community about the Deaf community.

[@jwillisbarrie]

Please add proper captions. Auto cRaptions are not captions. If you want to be welcoming to Deaf please caption video.

[@Goddessvibesco]

True she should've had an interpreter or captioned a least but it was a good speech

[@deannaheld6729]

Bad captions and no interpreter on video. So much for inclusion.

[@CindyBrown]

A person with six months of ASL is an expert? And this is presented without captions which are needed because said person gave an audio lecture? FAIL.

[@ASLTheatre]

Great talk! Great presentation! My only feed back I would give is to have an interpreter on stage with her.

[@garciabeth]

EXCELLENT! Thank you!

[@hannahrosereviews5073]

That's beautiful. I love this!

[@stacieajdvtv]

Captions? What about opening your EYES to the Deaf?

[@kczmonkey03]

Amen

[@PeaceOwlsLuv]

I think interpreters are on the floor and deaf audience sits in a certain area to see interpreter although i think the interpreter should have definitely been on the stage like to the side for more visibility and understanding

[@adrianne5177]

I can't believe the amount of negativity in these comments..

[@catherinegill3704]

I believe that the automatic captions are sound and syllable based as the video is playing and added by a computer program. If this is the case, the developers should definitely improve or re work the program...

[@mackdarwinian8054]

I don't understand why SEE (Sign Exact English) isn't popular in America.

[@SC_jamesbond007jua]

I don't understand why Cued Speech (Cued Language Transliteration) isn't popular in the USA

[@patstone3259]

Question about closed captioning on tv. Why is it that so many shows have nonsense in the caption bar instead of real words and how can we do something about it?

[@charlesjohnson3011]

Video was posted 2013, nobody has yet to upload a caption file?

[@randompants7311]

No captions? Seriously? How are those of us who are deaf (like me) supposed to watch this???

[@lmanchego68]

Need to fix the captions.

[@LexCazzie05]

for all the people out there saying oh the captions is not right or there is no interpreter for the deaf...the girl is only invited to do a talk..she is not responsible at all on this video..and maybe there were no deaf audience there so no need for interpreter

[@charlesjohnson3011]

Can anyone fix the auto generated captions?

[@WriteSign]

You try the captions on this vid? LOL it is terrible! Wish she would have signed her talk too but that can be hard to match the signs with the words :) Those captions are funny though.

[@PaigeShores]

Fucking weird how does this not have closed captions when you're talking about the deaf?

[@fanichita]

Edvard Munch was Norwegian not German. There was no reason for the name of the painting being written in German. Btw it's called Skrik 😱 in Norwegian.

[@gotobassmsn]

When you drop a pencil and it hits the need we fell the micro vibration it makes when it hits the ground in our feet.

[@gotobassmsn]

In other words or body adjust to compansates when you lose your hearing you're body feels vibrations of things, like a train going by on the tracks that is near your house. And your vision becomes more sensative, even your priferal vision Hightens. And when you lose your eyesight your sensative hearing Hightens to compensate for your vision loss. It is truly amazing to see when a person loses the use of something like their hearing.

[@BEHEARDDC]

Captions or subtitles please.

[@shadenphoenix]

Absolutely

[@ash139nit]

Caption these videos!!!

[@indimatthew2089]

I'm sure this talk was excellent, however because the only captioning option is the automatic captions, I can't really follow it. As a hearing person speaking about Deaf issues, especially someone who has only been learning about Deaf issues for about 6 months, I'd think that you'd really want to make sure it was accessible to the people you're talking about, no?

[@Hypedondew7]

I'm learning ASL and it feels like she's talking down on the video

[@mikecisco243]

OMFG why is everyone talking about captions. Can i see some normal comments and not some educational ones im tired of thinking i need a break.

[@JennaBenna0123]

Needs correct captions..we thank u for caring..I'm hoh

[@modiulelawson9790]

using a sign every now and then whilst talking is actually offensive.

[@warpedpink]

I agree

[@VladimirMorar]

It doesn't matter if you hear that pen drop on the floor because it disappears into a void and you won't find it anyway

[@JanaOwenNY]

Too bad the captions are so poorly done. Not accurate and sometimes hard to follow.

[@Loopyejoopy]

thank you but where are the captions for this talk? Deaf people won't be able to understand this video.

[@beckyengel7007]

I'm sure this is a great lecture, but any lecture about the Deaf and ASL MUST BE CAPTIONED!

[@wisconsinavis001]

There is captioning, however it is so far off the actual words spoken it is appalling. The Deaf would rely on the printed words to understand what is spoken. That certainly would not happen here. :( Come on TedxTalks!

[@tristansaya5110]

“This should have captions”🤓

[@radishwife]

These Captions are really bad. "a secretary Phele Killing ourselves." ? She says I want to talk about an idea but the caption says "and I want a rock band"

[@ariellovely7296]

GUYS STOP FREAKING OUT ABOUT THERE BEING NO CAPTIONS JUST PRESS THE CC BUTTON

[@charliev4156]

Ariel Lovely It's the lack of non auto generated captions that is the problem. There is often a lot of problems with KZbin generated captions.

[@toniisaacson6282]

The teacher needs some education by the sounds of it.

[@Bucherviews]

...And then there are only the bad auto-generated subtitles.

[@melaniegardner8928]

MELANIE RIVERA I am deaf pdsd Phoenix day for the deaf may 2001 ,OLD 36

[@melaniegardner8928]

my Husband yes

[@rapey]

Nothing about us without us! How dare you make this presentation inaccessible to the very community it aims to discuss!!

[@warpedpink]

Spoken like a true newbie to ASL and the Deaf community. Viewers should keep that in mind and I encourage everyone to watch videos made by Deaf ASL users. Do that if you’re brave! Just like if you wear silicone ear plugs and courageously get a small taste of deafness... smh

[@egorfomin4750]

Don't blame the problems of the deaf on me. It is not my fault.

[@melaniegardner8928]

MIGUEL RIVERA my wifE iam deaf Los Angeles California family asl

[@themuseinwillits]

I was super disappointed in the CC. Especially with a TED TALK. It sucked. Sorry but it did... It is sad that CC is not right for the Deaf. It is sad very sad , but I did like the fact that I CAN hear , however some of my friends , including my ASL teacher are DEAF and to watch a very good presentation and read stupid and easy translatable material is sad. Google show be ashamed of their selves.. seriously.

[@ginaweiss3787]

Coffee ☕️

[@bogus69]

13:21 LABRON JAMES

[@nataliemongora5663]

Not bad vid

[@hanhanapoohemelekbonillatepec]

why keep using crap caption??

[@WBTravels]

Deaf culture shouldnt be viewed as impaired or disabled but rather... gifted.

[@ubershorty3277]

Im very dissapointed and pissed off at this video and TED for producing it. 1) theres no captions or an interpreter for deaf people even though this subject is about them and they should be able to understand it and critique it. 2) 9 min in and all i got out of this is how greatful this girl is for her hearing which is... INCREDIBLY inappropriate. 3) This speech sounded like it came from a 12 year olds cultural report since this girl gave only the most basic of facts and acted as though she still had the authority to talk on behalf of deaf folks. 4) Theres a deeper issue to her speech i cant quite put my finger on. But it was at its core insulting, arrogant even. I think shes trying to be a hearing version of "white savior" but its sad TED would give this girl a microphone.

[@amandaharvey6147]

I totally agree with you! She comes off as arrogant. She just started learning about Deaf culture and suddenly she feels entitled to speak about it at a Ted Talk? wow talk about "hearing knows best" attitude. She says don't pity Deaf people but that is kind of what she is doing. "I just discovered how bad deaf people are treated and now I must save all of them by telling hearing people to be nice." She needs to use her hearing privilege to make sure a Deaf person can share their own experiences at a Ted Talk and not take up space talking about something she just barely learned.

[@azores15]

Man, I hate it when smart people knowingly say stupid things. Hearing is an ability. Deaf people ARE hearing impaired. If you can't hear, your hearing is impaired. It's as simple as that. Deaf pride doesn't make this untrue, and Weisman only makes herself look foolish when she repeats this nonsense. My own hearing is quite impaired compared to what it was two years ago.

[@MissSakumiU]

azores15 You literally read my mind on this! I wound up getting really annoyed towards the middle of the talk because of the countless blatant contradictions.

[@WonBotdfLove]

Shes saying that it is a different culture.

[@jamesrumsey]

It seems like such an odd phenomenon, this idea that the deaf have that they aren't disabled. I think it must be tied to communication and socialization. While some may find it aesthetically pleasing, how can anyone argue that signing isn't an inferior mode of communication? The fact that you can't use your eyes to pay attention to something else at the same time is the biggest draw back. That's why deaf people can't join the military. They won't be able to pay attention to their job and receive new orders at the same time. I understand they feel frustrated and angry, but they're shooting themselves in the foot when they start convincing themselves that Cochlear Implants are some kind of conspiracy to take away their "deaf culture."

[@elijahgerard3425]

Sign language isn't an inferior mode of communication because there is no inferior form of communication. It's a DIFFERENT form of communication, and often times those very confident in it (like the deaf) can multi-task. And there's no reason deaf people can't have non-combat jobs in the military. Now imagine they invented a device that made everyone's skin the same color. Don't you think we would begin to forget the civil rights movement? Human have an uncanny ability to forget.

[@mandypearls2845]

We are not disabled. I feel like your way of thinking is highly offensive and narrow minded. It's a different life but a good one. I honestly can't understand how hearing people sleep at night or how they don't constantly have headaches from all the noise. Also to say any language is inferior to another language is just silly. Also Cochlear Implants, and hearing aids are a person's choice, so are their opinions. A lot of times all they end up doing is creating more noise. Not noises you necessarily want to hear either.

[@jenniferlloyd4807]

As a student of ASL it has been made very clear to me that if I am unable to communicate a concept in ASL that it is not due to ASL being inferior. It is due to my lack of ability. This language is much more involved than I ever thought it could be. I will never stop learning new ways to communicate the same concept. I would argue that spoken languages are inferior. In ASL there are two grammar structures and many articulators. Spoken language has only one articulator and one grammar structure. Mr. Fillmore you should perhaps take a class or three and see what you're missing.

[@moonflick]

This is the rant of the privileged.

[@palerori]

that's cool and all but where's the interpreter? what a horrible recommendation from her professor, bi-bi is not the best type of communication bi-bi is more english than ASL if you want to learn ASL then practice ASL with someone that's Deaf.

[@amandaharvey6147]

Bi-Bi is a teaching model that includes teaching both English and ASL to Deaf children. SimCom or Simultaneous Communication is when someone speaks and signs at the same time. The professor was recommending SimCom, not bi-bi.

[@modiulelawson9790]

Voice and sign at the same time,,,,, sorry, this is not right,. Not ASL or Auslan and hearing people should not be teaching.