How To: Approach A Deaf Person

Deaf people rely heavily on facial cues to know your mood. Don't start your interaction off on a bad note; approach deaf people with a friendly face.

Eye contact is a huge part of Deaf culture, if you want a deaf individual to pay attention to you, you'll need to catch their eye and continue looking them in the face throughout the conversation. This helps the deaf individual follow your body language and aids in lip reading.

Some deaf people prefer to write notes back and forth, while others may be comfortable reading lips. For short encounters, some deaf people prefer to use gestures and pointing. Each individual is different! If you are confused, simply ask the person in writing-- either on a piece paper or on your phone-- the best way to communicate.

If a deaf person asks you to repeat yourself, don't get frustrated! In addition to language complications, there are also cultural differences that may require more clear explanations.

To get another person's attention, a deaf individual might gently tap them on the shoulder or wave their hand near that person's face. Depending on the situation, a deaf person might pat you on the back, arm, or leg to emphasize a point or demonstrate empathy. Generally physical contact is not intended to be disrespectful.

Many hearing people are afraid of offending deaf people, or seeming ignorant about Deaf culture. Asking a deaf individual how to communicate is the opposite of ignorant!