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Made by Maansi Gangotra, Mackenzie Hayden, Yuxuan Ji, Sheung Chi Claudia Lam, Justin Leung, Raghav Saboo, and Kamilla Suleimanov

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If you wish to know more, the Canadian Association of the Deaf's website provides further information, as well as ways you can get involved (advocacy, membership, donating, etc.).

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1. Deaf people can't be audist. Both the hearing or the deaf can be audists. Even deaf individuals can exhibit this attitude.

2. Its not safe for deaf people to drive. When it comes to navigating roads, sight is far more essential than sound and deaf people have better peripheral vision.

3. Deaf people cannot talk. Depending on the kind of their deafness, background, etc, many deaf individuals can talk pretty well. Some even consult speech therapists to refine their vocal skills.

4. Deaf people communicate by reading lips. While people with hearing loss pay close attention to the lips of people they are talking with, it is impossible to always catch what someone is trying to say just by tracking their lip movements.

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“Audism” is a term describing the phenomenon where a person believes that the ability to hear makes someone superior than one who cannot, and they are known as “audists” (Bauman). This includes both people who can hear and people who themselves have hearing loss. First coined in 1975, this concept and idea has since then influenced many discussions, including bringing to light the discrimination deaf people faced and still faces, and the concept of the ability to hear being inherent and essential to a person’s identity (Bauman).

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H-Dirksen Bauman's Audism: Exploring the Metaphysics of Oppression outlines three forms of audism:

Individual audism: This refers to audism perpetrated by indivudals against the deaf, such as offensive jokes about the deaf and violence or hate crimes against deaf people.

Institutional audism: Defined by Richard Eckert and Amy Rowley as "a structural system of exploitative advantage that focuses on and perpetuates the subordination of Deaf Communities of origin, language, and culture". Government policies and laws that disadvantage or discriminate against deaf people are examples of institutional audism.

Metaphysical audism: Defined by Bauman as "the
orientation that links human identity and being with
language defined as speech."  In other words, metaphysical audism is the belief that the ability to speak is what makes us human (and to be unable to implies that one is lesser than human).

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A quick video about audism from the perspective of two deaf individuals

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What is AUDISM? | Hermon and Heroda Pink {CC}

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Over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss (World Health Organization). This issue is thus applicable to a very significant number of people.

Although audism is a less known and discussed form of discrimination compared to others such as racism and sexism, it still has just as great of an impact on the deaf community.

Because audism awareness is so low, it makes it so much more likely to occur. This could be at an individual, institutional or metaphysical level causing great stress on the deaf individual.

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How would you react in these scenarios? Do your responses display audism or are you able to respond appropriately?
Take the quiz.
http://www.quiz-maker.com/QM1V10O4J

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You are a cashier at a grocery store: A customer comes to the till to check out and starts loading their groceries onto the conveyor belt. Once you ring the groceries through you ask them

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Bauman, H-D. L. “Audism: Exploring the Metaphysics of Oppression.” Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, vol. 9, no. 2, 2004, pp. 239–246. Accessed 3 Dec. 2021.

Richard Clark Eckert, Amy June Rowley. “Audism: A Theory and Practice of Audiocentric Privilege - Richard Clark Eckert, Amy June Rowley, 2013.” SAGE Journals, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0160597613481731?journalCode=hasa.

5 Signs of Audism - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOnFFvb7ojs.

“Audism.” Canadian Association of the Deaf - Association Des Sourds Du Canada, http://cad.ca/issues-positions/audism/.

“Alexander Graham Bell's Oralist Mission Still Harms Deaf and Hard of Hearing People.” CBC, 11 June 2021, https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/unsound-the-legacy-of-alexander-graham-bell-1.6020596/alexander-graham-bell-s-oralist-mission-still-harms-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-people-say-critics-1.6025659.

“Deafness and Hearing Loss.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss.

“Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Audism.” LibGuides, https://libguides.scf.edu/c.php?g=984915&p=8404691.

Brentari, Diane, et al. “Sign Language Phonology.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics, 30 July 2018, https://oxfordre.com/linguistics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.001.0001/acrefore-9780199384655-e-117.

Academic.oup.com, https://academic.oup.com/jdsde/article/12/1/1/435942#6488647.

Chandran, Sheela. “5 Ways to Avoid Audism.” The Star, 24 Sept. 2021, https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2021/09/24/5-ways-to-avoid-audism.

“What Is Audism? 5 Examples to Learn and Avoid.” Ai-Media, https://www.ai-media.tv/what-is-audism-5-examples-to-learn-and-avoid/.

“Tips for Being Deaf-Aware: Part 2.” Ai-Media, https://www.ai-media.tv/tips-for-being-deaf-aware-part-2/.

“Tips for Being Deaf-Aware: Part 1.” Ai-Media, https://www.ai-media.tv/tips-for-being-deaf-aware-part-1/.

“What Is Audism and How to Avoid It?” EASIER, 21 July 2021, https://www.project-easier.eu/news/2021/07/21/what-is-audism-and-how-to-avoid-it/.

“Manitoba School for the Deaf (MSD).” The Manitoba School for the Deaf (MSD) - Deaf Culture, https://www.msd.ca/deaf-culture.html.

“Debunked: Top 8 Myths about Deafness You Need to Know.” Deaf Unity RSS, 2 Feb. 2017, https://deafunity.org/article_interview/debunked-myths-about-deafness/.

“Introduction to Audism.” SlidePlayer, https://slideplayer.com/slide/4444299/.

“Deaf Community Etiquette.” VAWnet.org, https://vawnet.org/sc/etiquette.

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Throughout history, sign language has faced a stigma due to the audist belief that it is is inferior to typical oral language. However, linguists widely believe that sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL) form a complete language, with the following characteristics:

- Phonemes in ASL are based on location of body parts, movement, and handshape
- ASL follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) order
- It is possible to build syntax trees for signed languages (see image)

Moreover, just like any other language community, there are certain social norms that must be observed within the deaf community as well. For example, one must maintain eye-contact while communicating. It is considered impolite to not be succinct, whether in opinion or description. Walking between a group of people communicating in sign language is considered disrespectful. Physical proximity including touch amidst conversation and hugging during greetings is appreciated and encouraged. Facial expressions are closely associated with the semantical meaning of what's being expressed and one should be mindful of their body language while communicating. Stamping, flickering lights or banging on the table to get someone's attention, which would probably be considered rude in some other language communities, is also considered acceptable.

Therefore, we find that Sign Language is also highly nuanced and demonstrates a variety of social norms just like any other language. There is no linguistic basis for the audist belief that sign languages are inferior to spoken languages.

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The 5 signs that Audism is occurring include:

1. Not assisting with communication

2. Assuming deaf people cannot do things

3. Approaching deafness as a tragedy

4. Patronizing behavior

5. Employment discrimination

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Institutional audism has occurred via the banning of sign languages in schools. This occurred in 1880 at the Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf, which passed a resolution banning the teaching of sign language in schools in favour of oral education. The resolution would only be repudiated after 100 years.

Alexander Bell, inventor of the telephone, dedicated large efforts and funds towards abolishing sign language education in favour of oralist eductaion, which forced the deaf to speak (CBC). Today, his efforts are widely considered to have harmed the deaf community and caused generational trauma.

Dan Foley, a former student of an oralist school, describes the abuse he suffered as a result of his deafness:

"They'd make me sit on my hands. I'd be forced to try to speak. And if I did try to sign, I would be punished — [if I was] just waving like, 'Hello' or something like that, or pointing like, 'Over there' or 'What's that?' or something"

Audism can be seen in many different ways such as:
- Assuming being deaf is a disability
- Assuming that those with better speech/verbal skills are superior
- Jumping into a conversation to "help" the individual communicate
- Asking a deaf individual to "read your lips" or write after they have mentioned that this is not their preferred method of communication
-  Refusing to call an interpreted when one is requested
- Making phone calls for a deaf individual since they " can not"

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Audism's Effects on Mental Health in the Deaf Community

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Audism's Effects on Mental Health in the Deaf Community

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Research has shown that many deaf individuals experience an increase risk of anxiety or depression. This is somewhat predisposed due to having more challenges to begin with compared to the non hearing impaired.

Although the disability itself can bring upon mental health challenges, the way the non hearing impaired society treats deaf individuals will significantly contribute to anxious feelings and hopelessness.

Dr. Hauser, a deaf neuropsychologist, hosts a webinar on the effects of audism on mental health in the deaf community. He believes that if we can learn to recognize the symptoms of audism then we can decrease these behaviors and alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety on the deaf community. Here is a link to sign up for his webinar:
https://tndeaflibrary.nashville.gov/psychological-impact-of-audism

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Now that we've presented the importance of addressing Audism, here are some ways you can avoid it for each sign of Audism behavior:

1. Stay engaged in the conversation, and keep the person included. Understand that deafness is a spectrum, and each person will have different preferred ways of communication.  Follow their cues to understand if they prefer sign language, gesturing, writing or speaking. Look directly at the person and maintain natural eye contact, and be sure to listen to their feedback.

2. Don't assume that they cannot do something just because they are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing.  Many successful actors, musicians, inventors, authors, etc. were deaf (Beethoven, Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, etc.). That does not mean it will hinder their abilities.

3. Don't treat deafness as a tragedy. There is no need to apologize - it is not an illness or a disease. Don't assume that life with deafness is miserable.

4. Don't be patronizing: commenting on how "well" a person speaks or does something "despite being deaf", or speaking to them in an exaggerated manner.

5. Do not discriminate or turn someone down from a job just because they are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing. Have a discussion with them to understand any accessibility needs they may have. Understand that your workplace will benefit from people with diverse backgrounds.

6. Be considerate and accommodating: There are many ways to accommodate a deaf person's needs.  If creating video content, be sure to add subtitles or provide a transcript (which can now be easily done with online automatic transcription software). If you happen to host an event with speakers, consider enlisting the help of a sign language interpreter. Such actions can greatly enrich a deaf person's experience.