I'm Deaf | True Life | Full Episode Video

True Life
I'm Deaf

Posted 7/20/08
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On this episode of True life, we follow Christopher and Amanda as they try to fit in with the hearing world.

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Lynny (6/10/2012 2:18:30 PM)

I was in ASL classes for a couple years, and one thing my teacher always empathized was the deaf community and feel about these surgeries and hearing aids. Always made it seem like when someone got help to hear it was an attack on the community, which sounds ridiculous to me. I don't see how anyone can be mad at someone for doing something that only effects themselves. It's nobody else's business. It would be nice for MTV to explore the other side too, but these people's stories have value too

Wealthy (3/6/2012 11:26:51 PM)

Kissdeaf.com is an online community for deaf, ASL and hearing-impaired friends and singles! Have fun with photos, message boards, chat, blog and more.

birdi_gurlie (12/13/2011 8:53:16 PM)

There's more to the deaf community than being able to hear. My college has a deaf education major and they work with a deaf school near us. I have learned a lot just from our lunch lady, who is deaf but reads lips really well. She helps me learn new signs. But everyone here has made a good point that it isn't the same as what was shown here. I think you should show someone who solely uses ASL, in deaf culture, no CI. I mean, lip reading is great but hearing isn't always desired in the community.

marriedYoung (12/5/2011 3:23:35 PM)

YOU ARE ABSOLUTLEY RIGHT!!!!

Alicia (12/3/2011 3:24:01 PM)

I am currently trying to learn ASL, unfortunately I'm not taking actual classes yet but I am finding things on the internet. I wish my school had deaf classes like Chris's so that I could talk to deaf kids and learn more about the culture. I really hope that Christopher's speech develops well and that Amanda makes whatever dance teams she auditions for. (:

Mary (12/1/2011 9:35:05 PM)

MTV needs to show all sides of Deafness. They showed oral and CI, but what about someone who uses ASL, is immersed in Deaf Culture, and doesn't want a CI? Christopher's parents learned sign which is great but it didn't seem like he knew there was a whole other culture out there he could be a part of. Don't be so one-sided MTV and make another True Life: I'm Deaf, after doing more research.

marriedYoung (11/21/2011 3:31:04 PM)

The CI is not a cure for deafness. They cannot hear like a normal hearing person. Their hearing is different. I am not saying there is anything wrong with choosing an implant for yourself or your child but no one should think of it as a cure to deafness. Also there is nothing stopping a deaf person from getting married or having a job and living successful lives. There is an entire Deaf Culture that most hearing people do not even know exist. If hearing people could be more excepting of deaf people and more willing to meet them half way instead of expecting them to learn to speak and get surgically altered so hearing people don't have to change anything about themselves I think the world would be a better place. I love ASL and deaf culture. It is a beautiful language that many people do not understand because they do not realize it is just that, a language. People think it is just gesturing but it is so much more than that. The hearing kids in Christopher's school really tick me off because they are shunning him just because he is different. There are deaf schools as well but if a deaf child is main streamed it is sad to know that the hearing kids in his class really can be so mean about it. Hearing people need to be more willing to meet them in the middle not just be annoyed that they have to do ANYTHING for a deaf person because I can garuntee that deaf person is bending over backwards to try and make it as easy as possible for them in mainstream settings

Teresa (11/5/2011 7:58:18 PM)

I am attracted to uniqueness...so these people would def be my friends because I would be attracted to knowing them and understanding them. I find their voices interesting, I am jealous of their language sign language, and they are soooo smart to learn to talk when born deaf. I have one deaf friend and he is awesome! And makes me laugh because he is so animated and his facial gestures make my day everytime im sad. :)

RaNdOm_HeRo420 (8/4/2011 10:07:34 AM)

this episode made me tear up, that must be amazing for them to actually hear after so long of complete silence, especially there parents must be so happy to know that they can experience all the sounds in the world.

David (7/9/2011 10:12:06 PM)

your pop up ads keep covering up the closed captioning

Ellen (4/1/2011 6:32:13 PM)

very nicely said!

Ellen (4/1/2011 6:28:53 PM)

agreed

Ellen (4/1/2011 6:28:31 PM)

how do you know it changed your life if you never knew life as a real deaf person...?

Ellen (4/1/2011 6:27:27 PM)

why don't you learn ASL? That would also open up a new world for you where you wouldn't have to ask people to repeat things...

Ellen (4/1/2011 6:26:00 PM)

You don't have the best of both worlds... you're not Deaf, you're just deaf. There's a difference.

CocoChanelnel (3/21/2011 11:12:54 PM)

christopher is super hot! i love how appreciative people like him are when they are opened up to a world we all normally take for granted, and hot happy he is to hear his names. sooo touchingly simple.

Grizzy (1/13/2011 7:16:38 PM)

One of my fav. episodes. Proud of both Amanda and Chris for their bravery.

Meredith (12/29/2010 5:03:52 PM)

That is so moving and wonderful to me. I am only 11 years old and i have a group of friends that are deaf and they are bullied and called outsiders by people i thought ( and used to think) were my friends. But they can't hear the rude remarks, and that makes it even more fun to the bullies and sad to my friends. I stick up for them and I help them all of the time, and they really appreciate it. I rather be an outsider than to be a person that treats someone that might not be perfect in every single way like crap. It just makes you feel crappy.

ChemicalGlitter (11/5/2010 11:03:21 PM)

wow...i cried at the end...tears of joy tho!!! :)

tmoney (11/1/2010 7:11:25 AM)

I happened to catch this episode this weekend. The story was very moving. Something else that struck me though is that it appears that a local principal, Brian Betts, who was murdered in April 2010 appeared in the episode at 00:16 & 33:39 (judge in the center with the goatee). A quick online search didn't come up with any info about his affiliation with Baltimore Ravens Cheerleading Squad. Just curious about whether there's any info out there.

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