Many people in the deaf community may find these terms offensive: "hearing impaired" and "disabled." The terms "deaf" or "hard of hearing" may be more acceptable.
When the exchange of information is complex (e.g., during a job interview or doctor's visit or when reporting a crime) the most effective way to communicate with a native signer is through a qualified sign language interpreter. For a simple interaction (e.g., ordering in a restaurant or registering for a hotel room) writing back and forth is usually okay.
To learn best practices when interacting with deaf or hard of hearing individuals, visit Helping Deaf Patrons
Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States and the first deaf graduate of American University's law school. She currently works as a Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile within its Diverse Voices team.
To get to know about Claudia Gordon, her career, and her inspirations, visit Claudia Gordon