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Large vs. Small City: How Does it impact the Deaf Population?

By Deaf411 | May 30, 2008

[Deaf411] Living in a large city has benefits. With a larger population, there is more variety in places to see, areas to live, choices of restaurants, recreation, and people. Yet living in a small city has its own benefits – people taking the time to know and help each other, giving more attention and devoting more times to each other’s needs!

Does the same apply to deaf people? Does a bigger city mean more options for deaf people? Or is living in a smaller city better because people are more patient and respond to your needs?

Large City Scenario

Looking up on the Internet, you find that the movie you have wanted to see is showing with captions this weekend! You can choose from five to ten show times!

When you call the doctor’s office to make an appointment, the secretary asks you which interpreting agency you prefer them to use. You pick the agency and a qualified & certified interpreter shows up at your appointment.

Arriving home from the doctor, there is a letter from a prospective employer who interviewed you recently for a job. The letter informs you that you did not get the job. That’s alright, you start thinking right away of other options… reading through the newspaper, you find several possibilities. You apply and the following week, hear from several. Two of them, once they find out you are deaf, are agreeable to arranging an interpreter for the interview.

Last weekend, a club is hosting a potluck dinner, and another organization is also hosting a deaf bowling event. While you are bowling, you catch up on news and gossip and also meet some new deaf people. Someone mentioned that the deaf school is hosting an alumni dinner and basketball game for those who graduated between 1990 and 1999. As you are an alumni member, you plan to attend and watch basketball games between four deaf schools, all located in the same city.

Small City Scenario

An email reminder asks you to bring food to a monthly picnic. After putting food on the table, you join the conversation with several teachers and old friends. You go greeting everyone else and catch up on news. You know almost everyone at the picnic… most of them are deaf families with deaf children and grandchildren as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins…

Someone mentions a popular movie is finally being captioned in a nearby town. You check to see the show times and there are only two times that day. After watching the movie, you drive home very late.

When you arrive home, you see a “missed videophone call”. The next day, you return the call and discover that your friend has lost his job and seeks your help finding another job. It takes several weeks before your friend finds and applies for a job. He also needs your help finding an interpreter as he is having hard time getting one. The local interpreting agency says that they do not have any interpreters available, so your friend has to wait another week to have the job interview with an interpreter. Good news follows when your friend calls to inform you that he finally got the job!

Question: Is having more choices in a Large City more important than having more time and attention in a Smaller City?

More than one school, one club, many interpreters and flexible schedules, more captioned movie show times, jobs, understanding and more funds to support deaf needs and sensitivity?

With less people, more personal involvement with people who take their time to recognize needs of deaf people but yet “one of everything” (one school, one captioned movie, one club, etc) and deaf people know each other very well?

What says you?

We welcome your ideas and thoughts! Send your email to survey@deaf411online.com.

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