5 - Deaf young people in a hearing world

Summary

Later on in life, you get more and more things you don't know what to do and then I ask my father what to do and then I know what happens in the future. Its like when there's an accident or something like that happens in the house – I don't know how to claim insurance. Or I have to ask my mother and she'll explain about the mortgage level, or phone and they'll send me a form to fill in and it's clear and I fill it in, but first I show mother and see if it's right because it's the first time I've filled one in.

Paula, 24 years, BSL

From their teens onwards, young people in general are increasingly expected to take control of their own lives and manage their own affairs. As well as being a time during which they are starting training or work and developing their social lives and relationships (both dealt with in other parts of this book), they are becoming increasingly independent in the areas of shopping, housing, banking, travel, medical care. Young people usually get support in this from their families and their peer group as well as information from the media and from schools and colleges.

Developing independence requires increasing interaction with institutions and organisations within the hearing world. However, this world is by and large ill-equipped to respond to deaf young people. Few hearing people are aware of the implications of deafness and BSL is still not recognised as an official language in this country, although it is recognised by the European Parliament.