Deafly Offensive
(I’m hard of hearing, and always have been. I usually have hearing aids, but since I can sign and read lips, I don’t always need them. An older Latino woman comes through my line.)
Customer: *something in a heavy accent and softly, while looking away from me*
Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m hard of hearing and I didn’t catch what you said.”
Customer: *what I heard* “I… coffee… roll… please.” *keeps looking away while speaking quietly*
Me: “I’m really sorry, ma’am, but I can’t hear you.”
(I point to my ears to emphasis my hearing loss.)
Customer: “Oh, are you deaf?”
Me: *pause* “Yes.”
(She up and goes to a neighboring register to someone who speaks fluent Spanish. My friend later tells me:)
Friend: “You know that Spanish lady?”
Me: “Yeah?”
Friend: “She asked me if you were [disabled slur], and then mentioned how you couldn’t hear her. She said she was offended by it.”
Me: “But I told her I can’t hear!”
(Really. It’s not like deafness is based on race or language.)