I can see change happening. Can you? The responses that were made among us readers in the deaf community to a young vlogger named Deaf Sean Berdy highlights this change. It was here in Sean’s vlog that I not only caught a glimpse of a young rising star, but I also witnessed the BEST in us as commentors, rather than the worst. Read on…

Photo by: Siegmar Sommer

Joey Baer’s vlog post entitled: “Let’s Look at the Bigger Picture!” opened another door for the deaf community. It was a motivational invitation to change course, from a period of criticism to a vision of something greater, something more noble than some of the negative and petty vlogs and blogs and comments that have been observed on DeafRead over the last month.

There have been recent vloggers who specifically added to Joey’s call for a new discourse and deaf leadership. Barb Digi discussed history and legacy of deaf leaders and their influence today in her vlog called “The Legacy of Leadership and Joey Baer’s “Let’s look at the Bigger Picture” (DH #5)“.

In her vlog post entitled, “A Video Response to Joey’s Video Post & A Zen Story; “Successor” in ASL,” Teri Sentell shared another Zen story that called us to reflect upon the true meaning and value of a leader or successor.

Actually, there have been other vloggers and bloggers, too numerous to name, who have been respectfully asking, signing, writing, singing, dancing and even pleading for this same change for quite a while now. They must be given their due credit as well.

Photo by: Hamed Saber

Perhaps the posts and comments from all these vloggers and bloggers are finally beginning to be heard and well received, for I can see change happening. Can you? The responses that were made among us readers in the deaf community to a young vlogger named Deaf Sean Berdy highlights this change. It was here in Sean’s vlog that I not only caught a glimpse of a young rising star, but I also witnessed the BEST in us as commentors, rather than the worst.

This 8th grade young man, who is coming into his own sense of self, shared an intelligent and emotional vlog post with the DeafRead community entitled, “What do you think about AUDISM?” Sean deeply and poignantly questioned the meaning of the hurtful, undignified, yet common negative experience of being rudely teased and harassed by his hearing peers just because he was deaf.

Photo by: Siegmar Sommer

He eloquently shared his humiliation of being cut off from a beautiful young hearing girl who approached him innocently and began making conversation, when she was told by her mother not to talk to him because he was deaf and couldn’t speak (even though Sean explains that he has speech ability). It appears that the girl’s mother had no respect for deaf youth and sadly passed this perception onto her daughter and lead her daughter away, as if Sean might contaminate her simply because she was talking to someone who is deaf. What a sad shame.

Sean’s video clip is so intelligent, mature, emotional, sincere and worthy of being shown in every hearing classroom around the nation! Imagine the great insight it would bring to other hearing children in schools when they are discussing “bully prevention” or talking about diversity or anti-discrimination in their classrooms… Wow!

I personally suggested to Sean that he consider captioning his video. With captions, his video clip could essentially become an educational tool for the entire hearing community! His story is so valuable! His emotions are so real and true and worthy of being shared. Hearing teachers, parents and students could access his captioned video at school or at home, and share this as a lesson in empathy and character building. It would potentially help hearing children understand how deaf children feel when they are teased, harassed and oppressed.

Not only that, the comments that were made by other deaf adults were profound and could also be part of the teaching tool associated with this video clip. Here Deaf adults act as role models by sharing coping skills, advice and esteeming words. Their comments would have the potential to help all deaf children learn how to put these kind of scenarios into perspective, how to rise above them, how to hold their head high, be honorable, respectful and proud!

Photo by: Siegmar Sommer

Sean’s vlog was powerful! He has proved himself to be a bright star! He’s not my son, but I feel a sense of pride for kids like him. What a gift he is to the deaf community!

Not only did Sean’s mature vlog post inspire me, but the reader’s supportive comments overwhelmed me! I admit, I was in shock at first. I was simply amazed at the kindness, the encouragement, the understanding and the support that was given to this young man from the commentors. My heart felt full!

Look for yourself at the kindness we are capable of as human beings. Here are some examples of the responses left on Sean’s vlog post:

• “I am very impressed with your presentation, and editing skills… Sean, do not stop what you are doing because you are very talented young man with tremendous potential as a filmmaker (if that is a vocation you desire)… keep up with your great job with video clips!…”
• “Just remember this, Sean, it’s not the end of world as we know it, just consider those people you encountered to be nothing more than ignorant, and they lost an opportunity to get to know you better and learn something about Deaf culture…”
• “Don’t sweat on it, just continue making these great vlogs, I do sincerely enjoy watching yours, and especially your brother’s as well. Have a great day…”
• “Sadly, yes it happen to many of us….If someone harrass me I will do something in nice way. Sean, I’m really sorry it happened to u. My fav quote is “To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence”…”
• “You’re a fine young person and I see much potential in you. Don’t let those creeps get in your head and live there. As you and your friends grow up, you’ll see less of that immature behavior in others and as you develop your coping skills, you’ll be able to control it when it does come up…”
• “Tend your friends like a garden. Tell your friends why they are great people, and ease out the unkind people from your circle of people. Share interesting activities and hobbies with your friends and people will come to you when they hear you’re a fun person to be with. Teach a few signs, it’s the cool thing these days…”
• “When there are bad days, as happens to all young people, remember that you are from good and kind people and there are many more of you than there are bullies…”
• “You are really a mature man! I know you are going to a new High School and grab the great experience!…”
• “For what you are through as I went through are the same boat. It is truly sad that many hearing students were not educated from their parents about the disability issues…You’re an intelligent person. I am very proud the way you handled things like you mentioned in this vlog! I am impressed…”
• “I am so very impressed with your maturity and intelligence for your age. There is someone out there in California who needs more young leaders like YOU. His name is Joey Baer. Please visit his vlogsite: http://www.JoeyBaer.com/p=92#comments He prompts leadership amongst deaf people. It is my belief that leadership training starts at a younger age like YOU!… Gallaudet University, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), and CAD (California Association of the Deaf) need intelligent leaders…Keep up the good work and young people of your generation will be inspired from your excellent vlog. Great minds discuss ideas while small minds talk about people.”
• “I feel the pain there. Like you, I attended the hearing middle and high school. Some kids made fun of me… because I am deaf. These experiences were scarred in mind for years. There were good experiences too. I laughed at one girl who tried to make funny faces at me, and she was cool to me after that. But guess what? You will never see them again after you graduate from high school!!! You will move on in better life, and things will get much better in college. Students are much different at college. They are more mature in graduate school, which are more fun to be with. Stay positive, and these students are only ignorant. You will rise above them. You’re very intelligent and you have so many talents, as we all can see that from your wonderful vlogs. Keep it up!”
• “Suggestion: Share your feeling and experience with your principal and make a proposal that you and your Deaf friends will educate your hearing peers more about Deaf. Maybe during one of your school assembly, you can stand up and share your feeling and help your hearing peers learn more the term, Deaf. Otherwise, we gotta take higher road and show that we will not fall for that kind of behavior. You will earn their respect much more this way!”
• “Try show open your heart telling that You want to show the kids in your school to made your “Audism” video to them, I am sure these kids will shock and Let them learn how to stop made fun to Deaf kids or People. Only way you tell your parents about it then maybe your parents would like to get all the parents and children in your school, get interpreter with your parents to discuss with them. I know how you feel so hard to understand “Why Audism”? We are human being, God love all these people. People does not listening, so that their problem. You and your brother are very intelligent boys, I am very impressed!”
• “You are a bright star, Sean! A natural leader and skilled communicator! You have a bright future ahead of you! Keep your head held high and walk above the rest! I’m one of your greatest fans!”

Photo by: Jinaa جناح ibraheem

See how we shine? Just imagine what this young man is feeling as he reads these kinds of comments! Think of the goodness we can bring to one another as adults by sharing the same kind of kindness, empathy, inspiration and support we share with our deaf youth…

This, my friends, is the kind of empowering legacy we can leave to our children in the deaf community. It’s the kind of comments we are capable of leaving with each other in the adult deaf community as well. The choice is ours.

Posted by LaRonda on Friday, May 25th, 2007 at 8:08 am.