In my experience that used to be far more the case, but it’s been changing since the 00s. Growing acceptance of the impacts of mainstreaming and the ways in which the hard of hearing have been hurt by anti deafness has created a situation in which we’re increasingly accepted by the deaf even when our sign is absolute dogshit.

If I were to reproduce I would’ve broken the tradition of mainstreaming my family had and I would’ve committed to ensuring my children were native signers as well as speakers. That attitude is increasingly common among us HoH folks and it’s part of our contribution to mending the divide, an acceptance of the value of Deaf culture and community.