ASL Club
Digital Bulletin Board
Deaf Etiquette
Flashing Lights
This is one way to gain the attention of a deaf person/let them know you have entered the same space or room as them. This is usually done for large groups of people.
Flapping/Waving
Hand
This is a way of getting a deaf person's attention. When doing this do not frantically wave hands about, but move hand enough to attract the person's attention.
Do Not Exaggerate Mouth Movements
When speaking to a deaf person do not over pronunciate your words. If a deaf person can read lips and is trying to read your's, exaggerating the movements of your mouth will make it more difficult to understand what you are saying.
Don't Look at the Interperter
Stomping Feet
This is a way to gain the attention of a deaf/let them know that you have entered the same space or room as them. This is typically a way that works best for one, or a few people.
Do Not Pretend to Understand Something if You Don't
If you are unclear about something that is being communicated to you by a deaf person do not just let the conversation continue; stop and let the person know that you are lost so that you can work together to understand each other.
Walk Normally Through People Signing
If you must walk through people who are having a conversation through sign language, walk normally. Walking hunched over or at an odd pace draws more attention to you and can be distracting to the people having the conversation.
When communicating with a deaf person via an interpreter look at the deaf person that you are having the conversation with while listening to the interpreter. You are not having a conversation with the interpreter, so make sure your attention is on the deaf person that you are communicating with.