I'm deaf, but we can still talk | Rebekah Afari | TEDxExeter
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Published 2018-06-07
At TEDxExeter 2018 we focussed on making connections - and building bridges. Our speakers challenged us to reflect on how, in this interconnected, interdependent world, global issues affect all of our lives, and our actions affect others. In these turbulent times of shock political outcomes, “fake news”, data breaches, war, mass migration, rapid technological progress and climate change we believe that ideas have the power to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately, the world.
TEDxExeter Curator - Claire Kennedy @clairekennedy__ - tedxexeter.com/
Production Manager - Andy Robertson @geekdadgamer - youtube.com/familygamertv
Film & Livestream - First Sight Media @firstsightmedia - firstsightmedia.co.uk/
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Rebekah Afari was born profoundly deaf and comes from a hearing family. Her first language is British Sign Language. Rebekah is passionate about deaf issues, having faced many challenges herself, and hopes to increase awareness of the barriers deaf people face, aspiring for equality in a hearing world. During her early teens, she was a member of the youth advisory board of the National Deaf Children’s Society. She is currently seeking employment, having recently completed a BTEC level 3 media course in Exeter, where she was the only deaf student on her course. Rebekah enjoys a variety of sports, cooking, reading novels and filmmaking. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
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To the video editor: PLEASE don't cut away from someone who is signing. Imagine how fustrating this would be to watch for a deaf person. It would be like the a hearing person trying to listen to a video where the sound randomly and repeatedly cut out. It's particularly egregoious because this talk is about the need to make the world more accesable to deaf people!!
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Thank you for your lovely comments! It is very encouraging :-) You are welcome to share it as well!
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I love that you described your world as "beautifully silent."
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I imagine being deaf is like having normal hearing, but other people can communicate using telepathy while I can’t.
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Watching this as a 2nd year ASL (American Sign Language) student made me soo confused until I realized that she is signing in BSL. Amazing message though!
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It's interesting how the audience did the applause in BSL. But because it didn't feel complete they had to clap "normally" afterwards when she had turned her back towards them.
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Thank you for your talk. Sign Language is something very important. And I think it should be taught at schools.
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Im from the US and I love this talk. I agree! Especially parents having access to their childrens main mode of language. Its so important!
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people who become deaf but learned how to speak english can still speak it, it just feels weird to not hear your voice, but you can feel the vibrations in your throat.
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I am 1 year into a 3 year interpreter training course and this has been a fantastic clip to watch. Thank you to Rebekah for sharing your story and to the fantastic interpreter for a smooth; professional voice-over xx
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Why doesn't this have more views????
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Note: For Deaf people, BSL is their first language. English (or any other...) is the second. 6:00 Delay language -> delayed communication --> leads to isolation and mental health problems. Solutions: free/cheap access to BSL classes for parents with Deaf child. 45000 children deaf in the UK, but only 23 schools for deaf children in total (giảm từ 77 xuống 23) 8:00 78% of school aged deaf children attend mainstream school (where there's no specialist provisions)
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As a deaf teenager who has always relied on english and is just now learning asl, I always relied on lip reading. From a young age I have done this and it has become another sense for me. I struggled watching this because I am so used to reading lips that I don't like watching her sign
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I didn't realize this was BSL until 4:14.
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You are spot on in everything you said. I also think B.S.L. should be taught in schools from the 1st to last year's. Your rights are not being met that is against the law. I wish you well and that your dream comes true.
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Was confused till I realized she was signing BSL instead of ASL lol. Beautiful message, great show
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You are really brilliant and very eloquent. You're lucky you had a good opportunity to give your signed presentation at the TedxExeter - I've dreamt of giving my presentation at one of the TEDx events in London! It reminded me of failing to get a ticket at TedxClapham on Father's Day tomorrow (17th June 2018).
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She is so beautiful.
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I'm DeafBlind, for me communication is harder, Deafs use sign language, I use tactile sign language and sometimes pro-tactile sign language. With hearing I use Lorm (Special Handspelling for deafblind) and some hearing over my Hearing Aids!
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Love this, made me cry actually, lol. Because we still face some barriers and some very harsh situations and at times we have a mental breakdown because of the lack of access through school, college, work, etc. Everyone of them has a very different story but all end is the that fact that we need the same equality as the hearing people.
