Understanding Deaf culture in a hearing world

At UTRGV, the ASL Club not only encourages students to learn American Sign Language, but it also fosters awareness of Deaf culture and the negative connotations some people have about it.

The officers said the club promotes the use of ASL through tutoring sessions. Events are held at least once a month and are announced through social media or WhatsApp, said Nayeli Ramos, vice president for the ASL Club.

“That invites not just the students here on campus, but also, like students from outside,” Ramos said. “And then the deaf come to the social events, too, and they actually have, like, a real-life experience of interaction … with [other] deaf people.”

José-Ovi Velasquez, a lecturer II in the American Sign Language Interpretation Program who is Deaf, said through an interpreter that it is important to meet deaf people in the community to learn about the cultural aspect of it, like learning to tap on a deaf person’s shoulder as opposed to waving.

Velasquez said there are many deaf people who reside in the Rio Grande Valley, and learning sign language has all kinds of benefits for a hearing person as well.

Mercedes Flores, historian for the club, said teaching her children sign language made it easier for them to communicate and express themselves.

“It was easier for them and it would lessen the tantrums because they were able to communicate and tell me exactly what they needed instead of just yelling and pinpointing at things,” Flores said.

The Rider asked what external issues the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community face, especially in the Valley.

Velasquez replied an external issue the Deaf community faces is when people ask if they can read lips.

“That’s really upsetting to me,” he said. “Can deaf people read lips and understand clearly? No. It’s only about 30% of the communication that you actually get. Lip reading is not something that’s clear. It’s my pet peeve is, that, just expecting that a deaf person can read lips.”

Jewel Palomo, president of the club, said another issue is when a deaf person is asked if they know Braille. 

Ramos said another issue is when parents give birth to deaf or hard-of-hearing children and are unaware of the importance of teaching them ASL.

“They try to, you know, just use gestures instead of using an actual language that has already been built up that’s been many years of, you know, strong foundations,” Ramos said. “So then the kid at home goes through language deprivation, [not] learning how to communicate with their family. And the only way they can communicate is with other deaf kids at school.”

Velasquez said there are many different negative connotations that can come up in parents’ minds when a child is born deaf.

“They think it’s a punishment or a trial that they have to go through, and it’s not their child’s fault,” he said. “It’s just that they’re ignorant of … when the kids grow up in that situation.”

Velasquez said the university has promoted using sign language through workshops and an upcoming theatre performance, “Metamorphoses,” that incorporates a deaf actor for the first time.

He said the RGV community and university can meet the needs of deaf people by simply starting to learn ASL, learning accurate signs and taking a Deaf culture course.

Velasquez brought up audism, a form of oppression where hearing people view themselves as being superior to deaf individuals.

“A lot of people just have the expectation and understanding that hearing people are normal and deaf people are not,” Velasquez said. “… And so that experience through life, and what happens, it starts even when you are a baby. … UTRGV needs to help accommodate to that understanding and inculcate a culture of respect.”

Flores encourages students to join the club’s Zoom meetings, held every Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and to check the club’s social media accounts for any postings or events.