How to Ask a Deaf Person for a Date
Many of us feel intimidated by those who are different from us. It is often hard for people to feel comfortable around the deaf because it is difficult to communicate with them. It is especially hard for one to do three difficult tasks at once: Feel comfortable with someone deaf, communicate with a deaf person, and ask someone out.
[edit] Steps
- Write your name and your Instant Messenger screen name and give it to them.
- Talk to them as they might be able to read lips.
- Notice that if they hand you a little pad and pencil it means they want you to write to them as they do not understand what you are saying. It may also show that they do not read lips (or do not want to).
- Speak to them by writing back and forth, and if you want to ask them out for coffee or coke or to a party, write it down.
- Also write that you would like to learn how to sign, and can they suggest a proper place or book to learn it from. There are different types of sign languages, so make sure you learn the one they know or understand.
- Treat them as you would any hearing person. If you want to shake hands, then just put your hand out. They are not naive; they simply cannot hear you.
- Some people can talk a bit, it is not as clear as your speech because they cannot hear how they sound. If they do talk, then just answer in any manner that they can understand.
- Do not act as if they were different or you will make them feel self-conscious.
- Many movie theaters offer captioned movies for the hearing impaired, so if you want to go to a movie find out if the theater does captioned showings.
- Learn "can you hear me?" in sign language. If they do talk normal, they may think that you think that they're stupid.
[edit] Tips
- Treat them as you would anyone else.
- Get their attention before attempting to communicate.
- Learn sign language.
[edit] Warnings
- Do not think that because they are deaf, they are stupid. If they do not have a computer, find another means which which they can contact you.
- Don't rely on writing things on a pad of paper too much, or you may be seen as not caring about them enough to learn their language.
[edit] Things You'll Need
- Sign Language handbook
- Instant Messenger client
- Instant messenger screen name
- Computer
- Writing instrument such as a pencil
- Paper
- A deaf person
- patience










