Challenges Faced By Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Individuals

Brady Mistic, a 26-year-old deaf man, found himself in a distressing situation during a traffic stop in Idaho Springs, Colorado. On September 17, 2019, he was pulled over by police officers. However, due to his hearing impairment, he couldn’t understand their commands.Mistic approached the officers’ car, unaware that they were giving him instructions. A female officer told him to “Sit back in your car!” while a male officer questioned, “Excuse me, who do you think you are?” Mistic couldn’t hear their commands because he is deaf and relies on American Sign Language (ASL) for communication. The situation escalated quickly. The female officer threatened to tase him if he didn’t comply. Mistic tried to communicate that he was deaf, but with his hands already behind his back, he couldn’t effectively convey this. Ignoring his disability, the officers tased him and handcuffed him.Realizing their mistake, the officers took Mistic to a hospital in Idaho Springs. With the help of an interpreter, Mistic tried to explain what had happened. He mentioned that the bright light during the encounter had scared him, impairing his vision and causing frustration. Despite the misunderstanding, Mistic was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. Shockingly, he spent four months in jail for an incident that stemmed from his inability to hear the officersDeafness and hearing loss affect millions of people worldwide. While advancements in technology and awareness have improved the lives of deaf and HOH individuals, several challenges persist. Let's take a moment to explore some of these challenges and, perhaps, discuss the importance of addressing them in the comment section.Discrimination and Accessibility IssuesEven in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was a significant step forward, but discrimination remains a problem. Employers may not always provide reasonable accommodations, hindering career growth and job satisfaction for deaf and HOH (Hard of Hearing) employees. Accessibility is another big problem, especially in African countries like Nigeria. Do they ever think of deaf and hearing-challenged people when organizing the BRT protocols? What about the Cinemas and other venues? They often lack proper accommodations for those with hearing loss. God forbid you find yourself in a critical health condition requiring the intervention of medical personnel or what we know in the United States as first responders. What happens then? They may struggle to communicate effectively with deaf individuals during emergencies, leading to misunderstandings and potentially dangerous outcomes.Misunderstandings and Insensitive RemarksDeaf and HOH individuals encounter various misconceptions and insensitive comments. I've forgotten the name of the Nigerian celebrity who responded with, "I am blind" to a message sent to her by someone who pleaded that he is deaf.People may assume that all deaf individuals can read lips or that hearing aids solve all communication challenges. Some make hurtful comments about deafness, reinforcing stereotypes and perpetuating ignorance. The "Shit Hearing People Say" Video is a humorous video that highlights absurd things that have been said to deaf people.Emergency Preparedness ChallengesDuring crises, communication becomes even more critical. Those who rely on sign language or non-verbal methods face unimaginable challenges in understanding emergency instructions. Ensuring that emergency information is accessible to all, regardless of hearing ability, remains critical.Law Enforcement InteractionsThis is just as serious as any. Police and traffic law enforcement officers often lack proper training to interact with deaf individuals. There was this widely publicized incident in Colorado where a man was jailed for resisting police orders he couldn't hear. Improved training and awareness are essential to prevent such incidents.So, while progress has been made, there's still work to be done. Advocacy, education, and policy changes are crucial to creating a more inclusive and understanding society for deaf and HOH individuals. More importantly, society is made of regular people like you reading this, irrespective of whether you are a government official, medical personnel, law enforcement, etc. We should all be mindful to build an inclusive society for everyone. We're all connected: What affects A touches Z.There's a Whatsapp group for hearing-challenged people formed by some Nairalanders. If you are hearing impaired and would like to join, use this phone number: 07034691446