Deaf Umbrella

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If you’ve ever been asked this after speaking while Deaf, you know the look: the confusion, the guesses, the awkward silence.⁠ ⁠ Spoiler: It’s not from France. Or Eastern Europe. Or space.⁠ It’s from growing up Deaf in a hearing world. It’s called a Deaf accent, and it deserves the same respect as any other voice.⁠ ⁠ Your speech tells a story of learning through sight, touch, repetition, and determination. It’s not foreign. It’s not “off.” It’s not wrong.⁠ ⁠ 💥In our last article, we break down what the Deaf accent really is, and we have also added 5 ways to respond to this question with clarity, confidence, and a little bit of grace (no TED Talk in the Tesco queue required).⁠ ⁠ 💬 Comment “ACCENT”, and we’ll send you the link straight to your DMs.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #DeafAccent #DeafAwareness #HowToRespond #DeafVoice #DeafCulture

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As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), we’ve seen all sorts of reactions when people meet Deaf parents who use sign language.⁠ ⁠ Sometimes the interaction is completely normal. Other times, it becomes awkward, frustrating, or even funny.⁠ ⁠ Here are some familiar types:⁠ ⁠ 🤩 The enthusiast. Usually very kind and keen to show their knowledge of sign language 🤟 Sometimes a little over-enthusiastic.⁠ ⁠ 🫣 The shy one. They avoid eye contact so they don’t have to interact with the Deaf person. Please relax. It’s really okay.⁠ ⁠ 🦥 The slow talker. Speaks extra slowly and exaggerates lip movements. This doesn’t help. It actually makes lipreading harder.⁠ ⁠ 🤷🏻‍♀️ The one who talks to the interpreter (a family member, in this case). If you’re having a conversation with a Deaf person, face them and speak directly to them, not the interpreter. It might feel unfamiliar, but it makes a big difference.⁠ ⁠ 🫠 The one who only speaks to the hearing people in the group. Yes, this happens. Deaf people get ignored while others talk only to the hearing person. Even when we’re not the one being ignored, it still hurts. Please don’t do this.⁠ ⁠ 🆘 The helper. Very keen to offer “accessibility”, but misses the mark. Think offering a Braille menu in a restaurant or a wheelchair at an airport. True story 🤦🏻‍♀️⁠ ⁠ 😳 The embarrassed one. Uncomfortable with facial expressions. Facial expressions in sign language are mandatory. Asking a Deaf person to “tone it down” because it makes others uncomfortable is offensive. Deaf people rely on facial expression, body language, and context to understand meaning.⁠ ⁠ 🤓 The patroniser. Comments like “you speak so well for someone who is Deaf” can be very offensive. No one enjoys being patronised, and that includes Deaf people.⁠ ⁠ Feel free to add yours in the comments 👇⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #communication #accessibility #DeafAwareness #DeafUmbrella #DeafCommunity ⁠

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"Have you tried just ignoring it?" "Maybe some white noise?" "I read somewhere that spinning three times under a full moon cures it!" 🫠⁠ ⁠ We know you mean well, but when tinnitus is at its worst, the last thing we need is another quick-fix suggestion. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and trust us—we’ve already tried everything.⁠ ⁠ The best way to support someone with tinnitus?⁠ ⁠ ✨ Listen to their experience ✨ Ask what actually helps them ✨ Support without trying to 'fix' them ✨ Learn about tinnitus from reliable sources ⁠ Sometimes, just knowing someone understands means more than any advice. ⁠ ⁠ Comment "TINNITUS" below if you want to learn more about tinnitus, real support strategies, and what actually helps. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #TinnitusAwarenessWeek #ListenAndLearn #MindYourEars #Tinnitus #TimeToTalk TimeToTalkDay MentalHealth