One of the biggest reasons why people fall apart or fail to understand each other is because of a lack of communication. More often than not, language is the barrier that pulls people away and causes differences. Differently abled people would understand this better than anyone else, especially those with hearing and speech disabilities.
Just recently, deaf artist Nyle DiMarco highlighted the ignorance of Illinois airport authorities when they handed him a braille manual for being deaf. Doesn’t make sense, right?
To bridge the language gap between people, Nyle made an entire thread on how to communicate with deaf people using sign language.
It’s funny, light-hearted and honestly, heart-warming. So here’s a little lesson in learning the sign language, spread love and inclusivity.
1. Start with hello, shall we?
So there was a viral post about a Deaf Uber driver and so many wished they knew sign language
… THREAD FOR A MINI LESSON ON ASL! pic.twitter.com/9R3Vpwms5k
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
2. Old school small talk starter.
If you wanna know how your Deaf friend is pic.twitter.com/gVo6ONiSn8
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
3. Millennial conversation starter.
Or I mean… if you wanna look super cool while wanting to know how your Deaf friend is pic.twitter.com/XRz7I3phQn
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
4. When you run into them sometime.
What do you sign after bumping into a Deaf person pic.twitter.com/7nMewoqRSu
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
5. Or just want to call bae anyway.
Well if you see a cute Deaf person and wanna call BAE right away… pic.twitter.com/339IjnX8No
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
6. They have preferences too, ask them.
I mean… just in case if you're sleeping with a Deaf person pic.twitter.com/eo6uavLFkN
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
7. Don’t say you asked unless you asked like this.
After your third date with a Deaf person, this is of course appropriate pic.twitter.com/HyR707p7be
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
8. Weather card ALWAYS works.
If you want to just talk to a Deaf person but do not know how to start a conversation… use the weather card pic.twitter.com/iiVbx0Y9eh
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
9. Not everything has to lead to Netflix and chill, you know. maybe you can only Netflix. Or only chill.
When you just wanna chill, not netflix and chill pic.twitter.com/qIio4s2wOf
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
10. No one should feel down in your Uber, okay?
When a Deaf person feels down in your Uber pic.twitter.com/tZMLm9Izn8
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
11. Spread the joy of Christmas to everyone.
When you bump into a Deaf person on Christmas Day pic.twitter.com/8hDOK9exou
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
12. Errrrrrybody loves Britney.
When you see Deafies at @britneyspears concert
(deafies love britney, whoo-hoo) pic.twitter.com/b5gik0CSlX
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
13. Smize, please?
When Deafies ask you to take pics of them at Whole Foods pic.twitter.com/Jiry7l7A1E
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
14. They drive pretty well, tbh.
When a Deaf person has a driving test (yes we can drive) pic.twitter.com/fEsnKIEC7m
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
15. Just give them the chance and they’ll surprise you with how much they talk. I speak from personal experience. It’s nice, really.
I swear, Deaf people make great dates and we promise we wont be quiet 😉 pic.twitter.com/Lz42fULP4o
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
16. Or wait until movie theatres consider making it accessible to you too.
When Deafies want to go to the movie theaters but you know it's inaccessible AF 😂 pic.twitter.com/sEYwq9uTzT
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
17. You can say it out of the kitten context too. #justsaying
When you see a Deaf person bring down an adorable kitten that was stuck in the tree pic.twitter.com/KDX9ZpgecH
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
18. There you go, little one!
When you meet an adorable little Deaf boy pic.twitter.com/vJiopiF0d3
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
19. Umm, Nyle, we’re learning still. To do or not to do?
When you see adorable Deaf couple on a date (no please dont do this) pic.twitter.com/fce9wUO7N2
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
20. Or if your friend is graduating, feeling down, needs a little nudge – anything.
When your friend of a friend of a friend's cousin's sister is Deaf and is graduating from middle school pic.twitter.com/o3QJTgz0BF
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
21. Show some enthusiasm, be happy.
When you want to say goodbye to your Deaf friend pic.twitter.com/hFcX4Id0bj
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) April 19, 2018
While it would be great if the educational system includes learning sign language as part of the basic curriculum, this mini-guide should help you communicate well with, as Nyle likes to call them, deafies.