Columbus deaf community wants you to know it’s struggling

As the world falls ever deeper into the COVID-19 pandemic, people are more reliant than ever on technology. For some, this change has been positive, or even for the better. For those who have difficulty hearing, this change has rendered daily life almost impossible. Using facemasks compromises sign language abilities; many businesses won’t let people enter without calling ahead. Understandably, traditional phone calls are difficult for many in the deaf community.

“ASL is their first language,” ASL teacher Stephanie Logan explains. “English is their second language. If someone’s first language is Japanese, you don’t expect their English to be perfect.” Many deaf people feel left out and ignored due to these mandatory regulations. Perhaps more awareness will help solve this issue.

Read the full article here: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/columbias-deaf-community-wants-you-to-know-that-its-struggling/article_6364230c-0724-11eb-a0b8-631ba74e14f0.html