I'm autistic, which is way different. But parts of this story make me so angry. I have similar disability stories that all boil down to "someone didn't take the time or energy to accommodate me". It just backs up the social model of disability. and it really sucks the most when it is your family.

What is WITH that mother of his??!!!

how has this not been turned into an oscar-winning film yet?

WOW! I cant believe how unthoughtful your family was. If i was your little sister, i would have changed the tvs during that night by my damn self. How can parents be like that? How?

My wife is hearing impaired and losing her hearing quickly. Eventually she will be completely without her hearing. I want to learn how to speak to her with my hands if not my words because the conversations we have are everything to me...

I'm am not deaf but have learned enough Auslan to have a very basic conversation with a deaf person, and one day at work a deaf person came in and I was signing to take her order (I work at McDonald's) and because I didn't know how to use the register I had to pass the order on. I had no idea that the person could read lips and my colleague said that this was stupid and that deaf people should have there order written on paper in advance to save time... At this point I seen the disappoint on the customers face and she explained she would go elsewhere. At this time I realised how repulsive some people can be to others and how daily tasks can be made difficult and sad just because you can't hear! There really isn't a point to this story but please people think before you do because one little thing could be the thing to push a person over the edge...!

Awesome video. I am the father of a deaf or HOH child. I never know which is the more appropriate to say. My son is 15 and hears 'well' with his hearing aides. He hears well enough that I often forget about it. Your comments about asking what they said in a movie or TV show really hit home for me. I am really big into the 'tempo' of a show or movie. I don't like to pause or interrupt the movie for anyone (ask my wife) - much less my son who has hearing aides and an FM system that is directly connected to the Audio system. I often tell him to put his "ears on" whenever he isn't wearing his hearing aides and starts interrupting the show with questions about who said what. Your video has opened my eyes to just how offensive that must be to him. I am trying to raise him to be independent in a hearing world, but I should be more sensitive to his needs than that. I really do thank you - your video has made a difference for this ignorant hearing father.

im a hearing person and theres this kid at my school that is hard of hearing, so im teaching myself sign language to be able to communicate with her since ive noticed her only friend seems to be her teacher. The Deaf community really needs to be learned about more so that people are more educated in the culture.

I have noticed that the closed captions on youtube do not do the speech recognition very well so for some of my videos I retyped them. Then I figured, "Well I will just link to the written instructions." But I now realize that merely linking to written instructions is not enough because there are things in the videos that are not in the written instructions. Thank you for making me realize that many deaf people also want to "experience" a tutorial not just read instructions.

hes so handsome

I worked at kfc when I was 16 and a deaf guy and I'm guessing his brother came in near the end of a rush. This was my first time witnessing ASL. I don't even think I saw ASL on tv before then. Ever since then I've wanted to learn but didn't have a chance to learn till this past week. Me and my 2 year old son are learning together now and shockingly my husband has asked about a few signs himself today. Hopefully we become a hearing family that knows ASL so we can welcome and communicate with them just like everyone else :)

I'm deaf I know what is like when I was growing up hearing people bully me jump me because I was nice different but they know I was deaf they did not care about so they bully me and the hearing teachers did not care about it I got jump so I got home on the yellow bus I cry all the way home to tell my mom what happened my mom is hearing my family is hearing I'm the only deaf one in the family my mom was happy to have a deaf baby girl my dad was not okay with me born deaf my dad not in my life so my mom family teach me how to read lips understand what they say so being deaf in school with hearing kids was hard my mom fight the teachers for not giving me classes to learn understand my mom push the school to give me a try in different classes my mom said to me in front of the principal don't never let a hearing person say you can't do anything because you you are very smart . so what that my child is deaf my mom said my daughter deaf but all the hearing teachers did not wanna have me in there classes my mom stand by me and said to everyone you are going to give to teach my daughter the teachers was scared of my mom because see fight for me and she love me just the way I am so teach gave me a try in there classes they were shock I understand what I was doing my mom said my daughter us just like other kids but difference in her own way as deaf is beautiful to watch my daughter sign language in school I was still bully but that did not stop me from coming to school I teach some hearing kids sign language they wanna learn what is like to sign I said to the hearing kids you want to learn from me sign I laugh so I teach them I never been to a deaf school I learn what is like to be a hearing teenager but I'm still deaf forever I don't wish to be hearing because I like being deaf my mom always told me fight back at the hearing don't let them put you down like your dumb or something you are a smart baby girl I ever had my mom said she smile at me and hug me the end .so now I'm a woman 2014 I'm proud to be deaf I thank my mom for everything in my life she helped me stay strong woman my mom teach me to understand the outside world hearing people I thank my for standing by me.:-) :-)

This is going to sound cheesy, but I honestly started trying to learn sign language because of the TV show Switched at Birth. But honestly, as I researched more into Deaf culture and language, I've found I've really come to have such an appreciation and respect for it. I couldn't imagine how difficult it is, yet I've seen so many Deaf people share their stories throughout which they're so positive. Rather than being pessimistic about their circumstance, they don't let it hinder them at all and so many of them come out with such amazing character! I think it would be really beneficial if it were possible for hearing people to try to go just one week without hearing. I think their perspective would really change and they'd be able to understand and respect Deaf people much better. I'm hoping to spend a part of my future helping to educate Deaf children as they grow up, and give them the love and support they need and that their families might not always provide simply because they don't know how. Keep being strong and confident in who you are! :) You're awesome!

I don't know why I can concentrate more on videos like that than long videos with talking people

Hi! I'm a sign language teacher in Puerto Rico (a little island in the Caribbean, where Ricky Martin is from). I was looking for videos to show to my new basic PRSL and ASL group (Puerto Rico, as many regions, has it's own signs) and I found you! This is a very inspiring story for my kids to watch. Thank you for sharing this with the world. I would also like to explain that deaf people not necessarily want to become part of the hearing world. It is, as this video explains, a matter of culture. Just because there are cochlear implants it doesn't mean that every deaf person wants to go running and make themselves hearing. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING DEAF. The only people that find it inconvenient is the hearing. As I teach my kids, if you encounter a deaf person don't assume that they are ignorant. Ask them if they read lips and, if not, offer them a paper and pen so they can write their message. If someone from China comes up to you, you don't immediately say "Learn English!", right? Well the same thing goes with the deaf. It's just another language, another way of communicating. Learn it! The deaf community is part of your country, your community. They are soldiers, nurses, teachers, vendors, etc. Be thankful and more sensible to your fellow deaf brethren. Kudos on your VLOG!!!

very enlightening. I gotta say, and i feel kinda ignorant for saying this. But it was hard watching a video for 26 minutes with my headphones on, but hearing no sounds at all. I mean, i could still hear outside noises. But my focus was on the video, and it was just hard (I wanted to hear stuff), i almost felt like i didn't want to watch, because there was no sound. But the things you were saying really held my interest. Than just thinking about not being able to hear anything ever. After just watching a video for 26 minutes with no sound.. Its unimaginable, i think i would panic and completely freak out. I think it would feel like i was no longer connected to the world.

i'm deaf too : ]... I understand what you feel... come on, we continue our lives with courage : ]

I love watching stories like this & watching things in sign language.... I am very well educated of Deaf culture & im hearing. I know sign language more than I know spanish, & I'm hispanic.-. im not that fluent but I can get by in conversations&understand alot. im still learning & im proud to consider ASL as my secondary language. I love it. its an amazing way to communicate in my opinion.

I just wanna cry and hug this guy, not because that happened to him, but because he overcame so much (and he's pretty attractive). I hate that he barely even had his family in his corner, but he gained a new family at his school that gave him so much. His sense of pride is so admirable... I just love this video!

I really enjoyed your video. FYI, some "families" are "shitty" regardless. I am physically disabled and was harassed and ridiculed by my relatives... made to feel guilty about asking for help, lording it over my head about how MUCH they HAVE to do for me... But it made me a stronger, more independent person... sure, I've met other insensitive people in the world... but I've been more impressed with how many good people are out there. I'm an author and working on my next book: "Hidden Disability." I write from the perspective of physical barriers... but I'd love to learn more about your culture and struggles so that I can incorporate that into my "Hidden Disabilities" book. Because yours truly IS hidden. **So glad to see your positive attitude. Thank you for making this.

Dude thank you so much for not accusing hearing people for being ignorant. We can't help it that we don't get much exposure to deaf culture, and so many times we are bewildered with how to act, or what to do. Some deaf people's videos I watch just accuse and accuse and I'm just like "I'm sorry! I didn't know!" I completely agree that it is up to deaf people to educate us hearing people as long as the hearing are willing to listen. Be patient with us, we want to learn but we will not be perfect. I understand some people make fun of your deafness, and they are wrong for that.

Wow... His stories really upset me. I cant believe that there are so many rude and obnoxious people out there. And even more so, how many uneducated hearing people don't understand what it is like being deaf. Of course I know that no one, other than a deaf person would know what it is like being deaf but to satirize a deaf person and not be welcoming and accommodating is just ridiculous. I'm a hearing person... I don't know anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing or mute and yet I took it upon myself to learn Basic ASL in case I ever did meet someone who was. Its about being friendly to everyone. Doesn't matter if you are deaf or hearing or hard of hearing or mute... You're a person and you deserve to be treated like you ARE a person and not a side show. This is upsetting.

I'm a hearing student in the UK, and part of my university course is deaf studies, and learning BSL. I've only been signing for four months and I am already able to have an understandable conversation with my teacher (who is completely deaf). I'm not saying this to brag, simply to say that sign language has enriched my life in a way which I wasn't expecting. It's such a visual, rich, language which I'm sad I haven't known for longer. Still, I look forward to (hopefully) becoming an interpreter one day! I found this video so interesting as I can connect with the feelings of disappointment which you expressed- I find it very frustrating when people have poor deaf awareness, so I could definitely connect the frustration which was expressed in the video! I look forward to watching the next vlog :)

You've demonstrated to me more of why having the ability to hear should NOT be taken for granted. My heart goes out to you sir and all deaf people. God bless.

my daughter is hearing. no one in my family is deaf but since she was a few months old I've taught her a few words in sign. she knows thank you, more, milk, all done, bath, momma, daddy, brother, an our newest word is please. she just turned 2 in December and I intend to further her sign vocabulary.

This guy is definitely such an amazing and a very VERY patient one. I'm currently learning ASL and it was amazing to hear stories about ones struggles with being deaf, I 100% respect them.

This is what I posted on my FB, please keep in mind I am not deaf, and stumbled apon this piece of pure gold by accident. I try to understand different cultures and different people, and I think that this is the biggest eye opener. It is 25 minutes or so long, no sound, no nothing. With me, I can only focus on the text, so I can not watch his animation, but PLEASE give this a watch, and let itopen your eyes a bit more then they are. I also posted the link to this video. I do not have the time to rewatch it (right now) for his expressions, but I will tomorrow. One word comes to mind while I watched this: "Tolerance". We need to learn it.

This guy's really cool, I love his story

I am a hearing student at a public school, and there is a deaf girl in one of my classes. she has an interpreter. she was put in my group for a project and ive been really inspired to learn sign language and to communicate with her, but I didn't really know how to approach her. but hopefully I can make friends with her!

Wow.. Your story both breaks my hearts and thrills me. It's very touching and reminds me of what I have encountered with many Deaf people. Thank you for sharing...

"...but it's not their fault since they were never educated about deaf culture." Wow. This got me.

damn this video hit me hes so amazing nothing can let u down man hes so awesome i would give him a big hug if i could i swear

WOW! Thanks for sharing this video. I am hearing. I am the Deaf Ministry Leader at my church. This video is a God send. I feel like God is calling me to start a "Resource Center" to help educate people about Deaf culture, to be a support system for parents as they are confronted with the choices they must make for their deaf child. I have talked to some of the deaf around my area to see if they would help by sharing the very thing you have shared in the video, their experiences growing up deaf. I would love to be able to use this video to show parents of deaf newborns. Thank you again for sharing. You are helping to make a difference not only for deaf but for hearing people as well. God bless you!

I may have never been deaf but when I was younger, I couldn't speak properly so I had to learn some of the basic sign language to get me through the day, Later on my speech was okay but I got surgery and go my tonsils removed but I ended up getting an infection and learned how to sign better than what I had, Yeah people made fun of my signing cause it was unusual and they would try to get me to speak but i couldn't, but it is never good to make fun of someone cause of there (as people would say it even though i don't see it as that) disability

This is an amazing video. I honestly loved it. I am a hearing signer from Portugal, have been a Portuguese Sign Language Interpreter for almost 14 years, now I'm a researcher on Deaf culture and the main focus of my work as been and will continue to be to educate hearing people on Deaf issues. So congrats!! I hope there will be more of these valuable experiences for the whole world to watch!

Im 15 and i am Deaf. I was soo happy when i watched your video because i personally thought i was the only person going thru so much. I have always gone to hearing schools and it has been very rough on me. I am very quiet and i dont speak much, so i was wondering if you had any advice for me. I want to get better at socializing with hearing people. Thank you again! :D

I want to hug this guy

I always try to put myself in other people's shoes. I always try to relate. I can imagine what it would feel like to not really get some things, but I get angry with people who can't relate. Who are just so caught up in how things are normally they just can't be bothered to think abnormal stuff. They just can't be bothered to think and it upsets me.

Yes, that is true ! I know how you feel ! I am deaf. Now I am 59 years old. I have been through many tough paths. The most tough part in my life is at work, Also my hearing family do not tell me everything. Even my children know more about my family than me ! I have to be a survivor.

Honestly there were times where I had to stop and rewind the video because I wasn't paying attention to what you were saying because you're So handsome! But anyway, my great grandparents were deaf and when they were kids they didn't have deaf schools. So when they we're adults they found out about the school and attended one. My grandma taught me the basics of what she remembered and I will never forget how amazed I was that A. Some people actually couldn't hear and B. That There was another language that used hands to communicate. I'm trying to Learn sign language because I think it's so beautiful, and because of my great uncle. He's schizophrenic and with all the medications that the doctors have him on, he can't make out words. It just sounds like incoherent mumbles. But he still remembered sign language and we've been sort of communicating that way. Sorry for my long ass story lol. I felt like I needed to share that (:

Thanks for sharing your stories ^_^ Im trying to learn ASL. I'm a hearing person but as a child I always saw my deaf uncle trying to make gestures so that other people could understand him and since from a young age I knew that there was sign language I always wondered why had nobody teach him or why didnt nobody at his home used ASL?! You could see his frustration at times when nobody understood his gestures :( . By the way, I plan to teach my future children ASL as soon as baby age. God bless you.

It is hard to read lips unless you have captions, I tried but didn't understand unless I read the captions first. I'm learning asl in school and hopefully I can communicate with deaf people even if it isn't that much

It is so disappointing to hear stories of peoples needs being overlooked. I am hearing but have been learning ASL for years on my own and am finishing up my secound ASL class, it is such a beautiful language rich in tradition and culture. I appreciate videos like this because not only does it allow me to practice my receptive skills but it is important that people understand the needs of others. I'm glad you were able to find a place where you felt free to be completely yourself. Thanks for letting us have a look of a world that we ( the hearing community) would other wise not be able to fully understand.

I'm hearing, and I just watched 26 minuets of a video without noticing anything else around me. My whole focus was turned to this man as he spoke about how he felt, and how it was to be deaf. I was and I am still mesmerized by Sign language. It might not be the greatest thing to be deaf, but that's OK. Its not the best thing to be hearing either. You hear the damage of the world that you want to be covered up. So for those people who can't hear, know its OK. Find the bright side of things and live it up to the fullest. :) Best Of Luck to everyone!

Did anyone not need the subtitles? I've known ASL for ages even though I know no deaf people, it's a good way to communicate across a distance or in places where you can't talk like class or even a test XD!

hello my name is tommy .. one day i have jumped in the water . with my head in front in a pool .. AND i have heard what deaf hear .. or maybe not .. its the powerfull sound of universe extremenly loud that u cannot listen anything else ... i was in the water . and i feel th power of sound in a fraction of second i can hear mostly anything . like other human .. i have a sensivity on my ear too ... i think .. since i have feel both hearing ... that the real is in between . u have to teach us what u think about your sound in your head... because its so pure.... purity is like too much for most of all of us

I'm hearing sometimes I wish I was like you guys. Your culture is so accepting of people with differences. For instance I heard that racism really is not a big thing in the deaf culture. That's amazing! I am so excited that I have the opportunity to learn a new language and start getting involved with this type of a culture! Thank you so much for enlightening me more on this subject!

I absolutely loved your video and i wanted to share a small story of my own. I am a hearing person, 18 years old, and I used to work at a grocery store. I never realized how many deaf people were in that town until i got that job. My co-workers would get frustrated because they couldnt understand what they were trying to say and wrote on a piece of paper to communicate. I saw them signing to communicate, but they didnt care enough to learn to understand them. I went home that night and studied the basics for ASL to make things easier for them. I was able to help them and communicate with them and I could tell that it meant the world to them. It made me happy to see them smile because a hearing person put in the effort to reach out to them. Not all hearing people are bad. You just have to find the right ones :)

Curious.. when are you planning to make part 2 vlog? I showed your video to my ASL class. They have learned a lot from you! Even share this information to hearing parents with deaf child. :-)

thanks for sharing as a hearing woman I hadn't realized how it was and how I never took time to think about how difficult it could be. I'm a security guard. I decided to learn a second language. I'll learn to sign. thanks again

How can people be so insensitive and have no empathy for what others may require to live a normal life? I am hearing, and currently learning ASL. Trying my best to find resources about Deaf culture. I find the language so expansive and rich. All my teachers and classmates have been so welcoming also. I am honored to be welcomed into such a great community. Your story is inspiring and I wanted to truly thank you for sharing with us.

I stumbled upon this video, and my eye were glued to it, because I have always wanted to learn ASL, and now at 33 I am learning it in college to become an interpreter. What really touches me is that it's not just a language, it's a culture, and a way of life, things like not wearing shoes in Asian homes, and explaining why you're late in Deaf world. I thank you for sharing your story. I will always subscribe. And share and learn from you!

Thank you very much for this vlog. I am grateful for you willingness to educate us hearing people and share your experiences. It takes a strong person to over-come the injustices they have endured and not fall into anger but want to educate others so that misunderstand does not keep happen. Thank you for sharing this.

I am learning Asl and the dead culture is so welcoming an the hearing people should do the same. Great story!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences as a Deaf individual! I think your experience with your family and the tv is very interesting, it is unfortunate that your family was not educated at the time of Deaf needs and Deaf culture. I think you are a very humble individual and I find your life story very interesting. I am a ASL studies major and i am applying to the interpreter training program this spring at the university of wisconsin milwaukee and learning from you, your personal experiences will help me to better understand Deaf Heart. Thanks again for sharing, Maggie Downey

Thank You for not giving up on hearing folks and still spreading the love.

Tears watching this

I'm hearing and learning ASL at school and I love ASL and its culture. It really makes me mad when my fellow hearing classmates who don't take ASL make fun of the language when I tell them I'm learning it. They always do pretend "signing" which makes them look like idiots. *Sigh* -_- Anyways to all of the h.o.h and deaf people, stay strong and you guys are amazing!

I'm not deaf, but I sign and I love deaf culture. I think parents who adopt a deaf child should be willing to meet their unique needs. Thank you for standing up for deaf children's needs.

Why did I have my headphones plugged in while watching this? Great video!! I work as an optician-assistant and I had a guy in the store who was having an eye examination. His girlfriend (which I didn't she was at the time) walked towards the counter looking down at her phone where I stood looking, when I asked if she needed any help (unknowing she was deaf). She just walked right past me without even giving me a simple "no" or shaking her head. I thought "wow what a rude person" and turned around. Then she came back and said something I thought was another languages accent in swedish, so I tried figuring out what she said and she pointed at her ear saying that she was deaf. So I them realised that "Oooh! She was asking in what room he was!" and instantly felt so insanely embarassed that I thought she was rude, it really broke my heart and I felt so ashamed. I was so impressed by her. She had actually learnt how to speak without hearing, even if it wasn't perfect, it was still such an amazing job and I don't know how she managed to regardless of how much training she's went through. I would never be able to do that. That was such a strong moment for me and I think that I will remember that for a long time.

This was so inspiring. Sign language and deaf culture are so beautiful. I'm really enjoying learning about them. Thanks for telling your story. (:

I'm hearing by I'm so so interested in the deaf community

I'm not deaf or anything but I was curious as to what's it's like to be deaf, and I thank you for even uploading this. Many people, including myself truly don't understand the true struggle of being deaf.

Amen. I lost the hearing in my right ear about 10 years ago. I was 14 at the time. It completely changed my life. People think that because I can communicate with the hearing world that I'm fine but it's really challenging. You look at the world completely differently. When I first lost my hearing, being in middle school everyone thought it was so funny to whisper in my ear to see if I could hear. They would all joke and laugh at me because I was "different". Typical school aged kid stuff. I learned sign language and it changed my life. It gave me a whole new respect for Deaf culture. I felt connected & that I wasn't broken and this wasn't going to control me. Even to this day my friends who know I am half deaf will jokingly mimic me (I sometimes sign when I'm talking and don't even realize it). I have to ask them not to and explain that it isn't funny, it's part of who I am. People need to get with the program and start being more respectful and sensitive to other cultures.

This was awesome!

Awesome story man! I'm a hearing guy but would love to learn a lot more about your culture and currently learning sign language now.

it's true we learn something new everyday, I'm hearing and I feel like my eyes have been opened to an entirely different perspective. I've met a few hearing people that sign and I think it's awesome. I definitely want to learn ASL myself. thank you for sharing your story, there were parts where I just wanted to reach out and hug you...we are all betrayed at some point -hearing or not but I'm glad you have the courage to stand out and be the voice of many ♡

You touch my heart! yes, Your story broke/hurt my heart, My wet eye rolled down on my cheek, yes I know how bad your feel, I'm so amazing how strong your attitude is, your patience, your spiritual, your sweet native handsome young man that I am real real love you so much for as who you are. I wish that you were my adopt son, because we are Deaf family - And still I'm glad that you are doing this alike your blog, you are educating to our Hearing communities, co-workers, and anyone. I have a side job as ASL mentor with Hearing students that I real, real, real love it so much. I have both Deaf/Hearing sons - age 32 and 28. I must have both side of two world cultures and hopeful that we grow all diversity of cultures together and respect each others. My granddaughter is signing her first basic sign language from my Hearing son's family that have to be sign language all the time. She will be having two languages (English and ASL) when she is growing up. tsk tsk I talked too much… I hope that I would love to meet you in real person in someday. I'm looking forward to see your next new part 2. {{{{HUGS}}}} oxox Lala (Deaf Mother)

I like this guy

Man, is the guy in this video still around? I wish I could get to know him because he seems like such a great guy...cute too lol! It's sad to see how people can be so rude and disrespectful.

I LOVE this video. Oh my gosh. I was in tears a couple times. Your stories were so sad and beautiful. I'm not deaf myself, but I've taken ASL classes and spoke with many deaf people, and they've told me similar stories. Especially about miscommunication and ignorance. I can't even begin to imagine the pain and frustration. But to overcome those things is truly inspirational and amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. You're incredible. ❤️

I couldn't help but be struck by the pain in his eyes and disappointment on his face as he shared these stories, especially about his family members. Thank you for sharing.

*applauses* that was so beautiful!!! ='D

I'm deaf in one ear, so I don't know what it's like to hear completely or not hear at all lol

Honestly it amazes me how many stories Ive seen of Deaf people not knowing about Deaf appliances or even ASL. Your stories don't make me so much sad as angry. Being hearing and learning about how wrongly we've treated the Deaf, unleashes almost a hatred toward hearing people. But please know that there are hearing out there that support you and are also horrified by the offensive behavior of other hearing, although I'm sure you already know that. Also, for anyone who thinks its a waste of time to learn ASL, it is the most beautiful language I have ever experienced. People say all the time that Italian and different languages are the most beautiful, but once it hits you on how amazing it is... I can't explain it. I've been signing for a year and a half and it hit me one day, watching someone sign a song, of how much more beautiful that was than hearing the music. Truly it brought me to tears. Once you start learning ASL, your life won't be the same. It will be the most amazing thing you'll ever learn Thank you for the post

Deaf culture was introduced to me when I started taking an American Sign Language class. Needless to say, I support deaf culture, and I feel much less ignorant. It made me realize so much when I started taking the class. My teacher is an amazing teacher, who's actually deaf, and talking with her, I learned that she has just as big as a personality as a hearing person. I love her to death, and I thank her for helping us high school students learn such an amazing culture.

I think your language is beautiful :)

What a story and I am impressed. I have had the same experience growing up with my hearing, competitive family. I was the only one born deaf and the last baby in the family. I want to express myself in that vblog. How do I do that? My experience is very poignant one. Yours is amazing, thank you. I feel everything you went through you. You are so awesome, and I am proud of you for educating the hearing! Gayle

truely inspiring. after i hear this i quickly went online and looked up dr. vicars of asl university. now i can sign almost 500 words. we need more hearing people reaching out. i go to church and try to inspire them to learn asl and have interpreter on site. for me i have always been that kind of ignorant hearing person for over 20 years and never knew it until watching this vlog. again your video was inspiring.

Hi. I'm Brazilian and I had more contact with the Deaf Community last year. I'm sorry about what people have done to you. I can't use sign language, I know almost nothing about deaf culture but I know to treat well people. I smile, touch their hands, and show that I care about them. You are a winner. You were born to win. God made you with a special purpose. Think about that. He is full of grace and forgiveness. God bless your life! Take care

I was about to make myself deaf by having my volume up to 100 and playing this O_O RIP

I wished I could learn sign language, but anyways it would be a waste of time, sign language is different from country to country ...

I a currently a Liberal Arts Deaf Studies Major at Laguardia Community College in Queens N.Y. I am also A CODA. I would like to say I was very moved by this mans honesty. I am an older student (almost 50) my mom is Deaf and grew up in a hearing household, hearing children, went to an oral school. In our home we finger-spell, lipread, ASL. Taking the Deaf culture course was eye opening and made me have such a deeper respect for the Deaf journey of past generations. Spreading awareness of the Deaf culture with the rest of us is important for everyone.

I had a deaf man come into my workplace (a small coffee shop) and I felt such a great connection being able to communicate with him being a student of ASL. It really touched my heart. I had a co-worker who didn't know he was deaf and started to tell him to have a good day, he understood and read her lips, and showed her the correct sign. I told her after he left that it was rude for people to speak around deaf people, but being hearing she did not know that. I appreciate your video and your outlook on life being deaf, and some of the challenges being deaf. You are an inspiration to me, thank you.

I have always wondered, why do signers move their mouths when they sign? I watched that whole video, and the mouth movements sometimes look like words, other times not. I do not mean to offend, I am really curious.

Your girlfriend being a cheating bitch who didn't treat you with the respect you deserved has nothing to do with hearing people being ignorant. It's just a lack of respect. Cheaters are gonna cheat. Don't put one person's shitty decision on the whole culture. And this video just makes me sad... Adopted or not, your family... *smh*

As a deaf person living in a hearing world and trying to learn ASL at 40+ years old, I can truly relate to this video and encourage the attitude of positivity and teaching the hearing world about deaf culture as I learn it. BRAVO!

I love him ..he is a cool dude ..I believe seeing no evil is wonderful and hearing no evil is priceless. .👐

Ive been teaching my son ASL since he was 9 months. I couldn't stand not knowing what my son was crying about.Note: Nor him or I are DEAF, I just wanted to be able to communicate with him without all the frustration. Me and my son had the pleasure of meeting mother whos child was deaf at our city DMV. It filled my heart with joy watching my son interact with her daughter. I was even able to communicate with the child mother. Even tho my vocabulary was limited, just being able to properly greet them both was rewarding. Thank you for sharing:) Think I may take another ALS class.

My daughter is deaf, she is my angel. She is the only deaf person in our family. We are very close and loving, but sometime (like at Thanksgiving Dinner) you can see sadness and hurt in her eyes. It is so important to make an effort to communicate and include DHH people. Thank you for your story. You are an inspirational young man. Your attitude is a blessing your forgiveness and acceptance of others oversights is awesome. I am looking forward to more videos.

Best video on the internet, these are amazing stories

I'm so touched watching this. Especially when he said "Silence is the Loudest Sound." That is so true in both the hearing a deaf world. I've been taking ASL for four years now and I love learning about the culture and people. Listening to people like him helps me get a better understanding and one of my best friends science 5th grade is deaf. I really feel for him when he talks about how deaf people feel and how he felt. "Respect"

I've have gained so much respect for def people ever since my eardrum was perforated, just temporary losing hearing in one ear for a while has been enough to make me break down a few time, you guys are brave, my hat is off to all of you.

This video is beautiful! I'm a hearing person learning ASL (I'm Autistic and occasionally go nonverbal) and I saw this video on the recommended list. Your stories were very enlightening, and I loved to see how excited and truly happy you were to experience closed captions for the first time! It goes to show how much consideration for disabled people really matters; it makes the world feel less like an abled-only zone that disabled people simply have to "deal with."

This was really powerful/ I think a lot of people assume that a family of a deaf or hard of hearing person will accommodate them, get them the AT they need, but, they may not because they don't take a proactive view of disability access and rights. I grew up in this kind of household, but for the times, it was the common view of disability and so I appreciate your feelings of isolation, because it was so sadly unnecessary. If your family took a bit more effort to consider your world as it doesn't relate to them, they could have been more proactive and found ways to include you or break your loneliness. I get the "fuck you" deaf have for hearing people and appreciate the effort your make from compassion. Bless your journey.

For real I'm a hearing person and I've been in ASL for 3 years now and I love it the deaf Community as a whole is amazing it's great to hear and learn story's and to be able to understand a decent part of what he is saying.

Best video I have ever seen on deafness, I'm a CODA who has spent years trying to educate the hearing, in 25 minutes you did an awesome job!

Hey man, I really appreciate that. I have no deaf family whatsoever, one of my moms best friends growing up was deaf, so she knows a good deal of sign and thankfully has taught me a few words. You seem like a person who is really interested in helping others and I definitely respect that, and I agree that we as a hearing community take for granted some of the simple life functions that the deaf struggle with. I definitely need to be more thankful and more understanding. I visited Yellowstone National Park and I saw a deaf man signing to his family, I was really afraid to greet him at first because my sign isn't great but I said hello and I asked him how he was doing; he was pleasantly surprised that I knew some sign, it's like his face light up when spoke his language, he was really kind. I'm like you and I'm interested in helping people too. I've discovered in my short lifetime that giving of your time, heart, and resources is such a rewarding lifestyle. Deafness is one of the many challenges that this world has caused humans to face and I look forward to the time that the Bible speaks of in Revelation 21:4 when suffering, pain, and death, will be no more. The Bible also speaks of a time when "The eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped" (Isaiah 35:5) and that change will take place right here on this earth. Hey I don't even know if you'll see this but I really hope you do. Any tips on learning American Sign Language? I don't know if your familiar with jw.org but on this site there is a wealth of practical and encouraging information in ASL and hundreds of other languages... Check this link out PLEASE: www.jw.org/ase/ Looking forward to seeing more videos from you in the future.

You are such an inspiration to me. I want to learn very badly. I took intro classes, but couldn't pursue it further because of the cost. I know how to spelling words cause I've mastered the alpha's . It is hard, but looking at your video is a reminder how it is even harder for the deaf to live in a society that is very ignorant of deaf culture on a daily. I don't know your name, but thank you. Thank you.

This video is spacial. I'm in the process of learning ASL just because I have a love & respect for Deaf people, because they are "people" & should be treated as so. I want to teach my whole family ASL so they can communicate with Dead people, & respect their culture & language as being something special and not something weird. This video is great for so many reasons, but what sticks out for me is all Hearing people having RESPECT for the Deaf community. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙌