5 Creative Ways the Hard of Hearing Can Help Their Communities

You want to show them how much you appreciate what they did for you while at the same time giving back to the hard of hearing community — after all, not everyone is as lucky as you. 

Here are just a few ways for you to give back and help those who are struggling.

Society as a whole needs to sit down and have a chat about accessibility. You can get the ball rolling on that conversation unexpectedly — through volunteer work. Although many nonprofits have shut their doors during the pandemic, there's still a great deal you can do remotely.

What does this have to do with hearing loss, though? Simply put, society has proven either unwilling or unable to meet the needs of the D/deaf and hard of hearing. As a result, many local communities are left without enough people, forcing them to over-rely on just a few volunteers. 

By offering your time to these nonprofits and pushing them to offer more accessibility options, you're killing two birds with one stone. Alternatively, you might consider volunteering your time at a larger organization such as The Hearing Charities of America. Don't just focus on manual labor, but instead ask what unique skills you have and how to leverage them for a good cause. 

It's easy to rant on social media, then do nothing about the subject of our ire. Most of us have done so at least once by now. On some level, it's understandable. 

As a hard of hearing person, it's challenging to watch members of your community struggle with inaccessible resources, and it's all too easy to feel helpless. 

But you aren't. You can push for change, hold governments and corporations alike accountable for not offering accessible communication during a global pandemic. The World Federation of the D/deaf is a great place to start if you want to get involved. 

You probably have some old clothes you aren't using or some old electronics sitting around gathering dust. Consider donating them to your community center or an associated nonprofit. We're at the tail-end of one of the worst economic collapses since the great depression, so resources are scarce — meaning every little bit helps. 

You could even take things a step further and use your skillset to create something that can be donated, such as masks.

When's the last time you saw digital content that was created with the hard of hearing in mind? 

The chances are high that the answer is 'never.' You can be the one to change that. Produce translation videos, write transcripts for popular shows or YouTube content, or simply write about your experience with deafness. Whatever you choose to do, you'll not only be contributing to visibility but also potentially building a new source of income. 

Giving back to the community doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to involve nonprofits or grand gestures. Sometimes, joining a support group and using your experience to help the people there can make all the difference in the world. 

As a bonus, you can brainstorm ideas, make new friends, and even help one another find employment. And you'll have a place you can go for emotional support that doesn't require you to spend 40 minutes talking about how your hearing loss came to be. 

These are difficult times, but we need not face them alone. By giving back to your community, you're proving that to your peers. You're showing them that no matter how bad things get, they still have people looking out for them.