The Ten Rules of Being Deaf

1.

You will always be deaf.

You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period.

2.

You will learn lessons about being deaf.

You have a full-time informal education called Life.

Each day in this deaf life you will learn lessons

whether you think them relevant and doable ot not.

3.

There are no mistakes about being deaf, only lessons.

Being deaf is a process of trial and error, experimentation.

There are many road signs that are not clear,

but your being deaf shall always be obvious.

4.

A lesson about being deaf is repeated until learned.

A lesson about being deaf will be presented to you

in various modes of communication. 

If you repeat the lesson,

then it may be because of

a wrong mode of communication.

Once learned, you then move on to the next lesson.

5.

Learning about being deaf does not end.

There is no part of deaf life that does not contain communication.

If you discover American Sign Language (ASL),

a real learning process shall begin.

6.

There is no easy answer for being deaf.

When you have an answer, it usually becomes a question;

you will simply obtain another answer that will again

bring up another question.

7.

You will use ASL to describe your being deaf.

Use ASL to describe yourself or be at risk of being described

by others in their language.

8.

What you make of your being deaf is up to you.

ASL is here but the choice is yours.

9.

The answer to questions about your being deaf lies inside you.

All you need to do is to be honest about your being deaf and your use of ASL.

10.

You can not deny either ASL or being deaf.

However, ASL is here and there and everywhere.